Chapter 45 Viktor's Return
DANIEL'S POV
Viktor's return violated the truce he had promised and his army were way larger than the force he had commanded before. I, Lisa and Ryancoordinated the defense, we had to keep aside our personal problems buried for now.
But something was wrong with this attack. The rogue assault was too strategic, too focused. They were targeting specific buildings and pack members rather than just causing chaos or attempting to overwhelm us with numbers. The pattern was deliberate and I could not figure out the purpose until Nathan's voice cut through the mind link.
"They are trying to separate Lisa from the pack," Nathan said, his tactical mind recognizing what I had missed. "Look at their movements. They are leading us thereby creating distance between Lisa and our warriors."
He was right. The rogue were used stylishly isolating Lisa, cutting off support and protection from her. This was not a battle for territory or resources. This was an extraction operation.
Viktor's voice suddenly boomed across the battle, loud enough to carry over the sounds of fighting. He stood at the edge of the conflict, protected by circle of his best fighters, and his eyes were fixed on Lisa with obsessive intensity.
"I came for one thing only," Viktor called out, his words clear and carrying threat that made my blood run cold. "The silver wolf. Give me Lisa Marcus and my forces withdraw immediately. Keep her and I burn this pack to the ground, kill every man, woman, and child until nothing remains but ashes."
It was obviously a trap. Viktor had no intention of honoring any agreement or allowing peaceful resolution. But the threat was also working exactly as he intended. I saw some pack members exchanging worried glances, they looked exhausted, we have had months of constant conflict making them vulnerable to fear.
We had been fighting threats for so long. Sophia's manipulations, the challenge, now Viktor's return with overwhelming force. Some wolves were wondering if surrendering Lisa might actually bring peace, even if they felt guilty for the thought.
Lisa saw the doubt spreading through our ranks and her expression hardened with determination. She would not allow pack members to die protecting her, would not let families be destroyed because Viktor wanted her specifically. I knew my sister well enough to recognize the decision forming before she moved.
Lisa stepped forward, ready to negotiate or surrender or do whatever she thought would save the pack. But three men moved simultaneously to stop her before she could speak.
Ryan, Nathan, and I all blocked her path, forming barrier between Lisa and Viktor's forces. We moved without saying a word, united by single the purpose of defeating these rogue clowns
Ryan spoke first. "You want her? You have to go through me first."
Nathan added immediately, "And me."
I growled low in my throat, letting my wolf rise close enough to make my eyes flash. "She is my sister. You will have to kill all of us before you touch her."
Our united front clearly surprised Viktor and he laughed darkly. The sound carried malice and amusement in equal measure. "The silver wolf has collected quite the collection of protectors. How touching. Fine. I will take you all then."
The fight that followed was brutal beyond anything we had experienced before. Viktor's rogues were exceptionally well trained, moving with discipline that spoke to months of preparation. These were not desperate criminals or disorganized attackers. These were soldiers.
Viktor himself was a tough match, he had decades of experience making him dangerou, strength alone wasn't enough to face him. He commanded his forces with hand signals and strategic precision, adapting to our defensive positions with ease that indicated extensive planning.
His attention was on Ryan, he knew she was Lisa's mate and therefore he we her greatest vulnerability. Viktor's attacks on Ryan were came as personal, he attacked him badly to wound Lisa emotionally.
I covered his blind spots as he protected mine. Years of training together made our coordination instinctive and we moved as a unit. Nathan covered our approach angles,
Lisa fought with silver wolf abilities that made her faster and stronger than normal wolves, but Viktor had clearly studied her, heknew her strength and weaknesses. He anticipated her moves, countered her techniques, and slowly drove her back toward an isolated position where his forces could overwhelm her.
The battle was turning against us despite our best efforts. We were outnumbered and Viktor came prepared with his rogues, they capitalized on the fact that they took us by surprise. Our Pack members were falling, injuries kept on increasing, and our lines were breaking under sustained assault.
Then Viktor made his move. He moved toward Lisa, drawing Ryan's attention, and when Ryan committed to protecting her, Viktor changed direction with speed that caught us off guard. He got behind Ryan before any of us could attack, his claws wrapping around Ryan's throat from behind.
Viktor lifted Ryan off his feet, claws positioned at killing angles. One squeeze would crush Ryan's windpipe, one swipe would open his throat. Ryan struggled against the hold but Viktor's strength was overwhelming and the position gave Ryan no leverage.
"Enough," Viktor called out, his voice carrying over the battlefield. The fighting stopped instantly.
"Your mate's life for your freedom, silver wolf. Come with me willingly right now and I let him live. If you refuse,
Be prepared to watch him die slowly while your pack falls around you."
Lisa's face went pale as she stared at Ryan trapped in Viktor's killing hold. The mate bond between them flared with Ryan's pain and fear, the connection transmitting his desperation directly into Lisa's consciousness.
Ryan tried to speak, to tell Lisa not to surrender, but Viktor's grip tightened enough to cut off his words. Blood trickled from where Viktor's claws pressed into Ryan's skin, not yet killing but promising death with smallest increase of pressure.
"Choose quickly, Alpha," Viktor said, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "Your mate's life for your freedom. What is it going to be?"