Alpha Eric's Promise, Protecting those he loves

Ella

After the battle lingered like a heavy mist over the pack. Victory had come, but The Archon's final words about Richard's hidden heir hung in the air, gnawing at the edges of our peace. It was far from over.

Eric had been pacing for hours, his brow furrowed in thought. I could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on him our pack's safety, the looming threat, the uncertainty of what we might face next.

"Eric, you've been at this all night," I said softly, standing at the door of our room. "Come rest, please. We'll figure this out together."

He stopped and looked at me, his eyes clouded with worry. "I can't rest, Ella. Not until I know for sure there aren't more threats out there. If Richard had another heir…"

His voice trailed off, and I could sense the depth of his unease. His father's shadow, once believed vanquished, still reached for him, threatening the stability he had worked so hard to rebuild.

I approached him, placing a hand on his arm. "We'll find out the truth, Eric. But you don't have to carry this alone. Let's call on Olivia again. She might have more insight into Richard's secrets."

Eric nodded, though I could tell his mind was still racing. "You're right," he said. "We need every advantage we can get. I'll arrange a meeting with Olivia. In the meantime, we should prepare for any possibility."

The next morning, Olivia arrived, her expression serious. She was cautious, glancing over her shoulder as if she were being followed. Eric greeted her at the door, and we gathered in the living room, where the tension was palpable.

"You've uncovered something, haven't you?" Eric asked without preamble, cutting straight to the point.

Olivia sat down, folding her hands in her lap, and took a deep breath. "Yes," she said, her voice low. "I didn't want to believe it, but after The Archon's words, I started digging through old contacts. Richard's true heir wasn't just a rumor. He does exist."

I felt my heart pound harder in my chest as Olivia continued. "Years ago, Richard had a child with a woman from a distant pack, someone outside of the usual circles. The child was hidden away, meant to be a backup plan in case things went south with you, Eric."

Eric's jaw tightened, and his fists clenched at his sides. "Do you know who this heir is? Where they might be?"

Olivia hesitated. "I don't know the exact identity yet, but I've heard whispers. Whoever they are, they've been well-hidden, likely trained in secret. They may not even know who they truly are."

Eric exhaled sharply, turning to me. "This changes everything. We can't just wait for the next attack. We have to go on the offensive, find this heir before they find us."

Olivia nodded. "I'll keep digging. But be careful, there are still loyalists out there who will stop at nothing to see Richard's legacy restored."

As the days passed, Eric intensified his efforts. He sent scouts to investigate surrounding territories, hoping to uncover any leads about the mysterious heir. Ryker, still reeling from the betrayal of his brother, threw himself into the work, determined to prove his loyalty and protect the pack.

Meanwhile, life at the pack's grounds tried to return to normal. Aria and Alex continued their training, their skills growing sharper with each day. They were determined to be strong enough to defend their home, and I couldn't help but admire their resilience. But as their mother, I worried. The danger they faced was too real, too close.

One afternoon, while watching them spar under Ryker's supervision, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I scanned the treeline, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Still, the feeling lingered.

A week later, we received a message, but unmistakably a warning. It was delivered by an unknown courier who fled as soon as the note was handed over. The parchment smelled of pine and damp earth, its contents scrawled in a hasty, uneven hand.

*The heir knows. They are coming for the Alpha's throne. Prepare yourself, for the battle is not over."*

Eric read the message aloud to the inner circle that night, his face grim. Ryker, Olivia, and I sat around the table, the tension thick between us.

"We need to track down the source of this message," Eric said, his voice steady but filled with urgency.

Ryker nodded. "I'll put our best scouts on it. We need to find out who sent it and if it's connected to Richard's loyalists."

Olivia, sitting beside me, frowned deeply. "The heir is more dangerous than we thought. If they know their identity now, they'll be looking for support. We can't underestimate the influence Richard still has in certain circles."

I glanced at Eric, whose eyes burned with determination. "We'll be ready," he said. "Our pack will stand strong against any challenge."

Over the next few days, the message haunted us. Patrols were doubled, security around the pack was tightened, and Eric worked tirelessly to solidify alliances with neighboring packs. Each night, we barely slept, our minds filled with the looming threat of Richard's heir and the possibility of another attack.

Then, one evening, the pack's warning alarms rang out. I rushed to the front of the house, where warriors were already assembling. Eric stood at the head, issuing orders.

"It's the southern border," Ryker shouted as he approached. "Scouts spotted movement, looks like a group of outsiders approaching fast."

Eric's expression hardened. "We'll meet them head-on."

As we gathered at the southern edge of our territory, the figures in the distance came into view. They moved with purpose, a small group of five, cloaked in darkness. But the figure leading them stood out, a tall, imposing presence with an air of authority that sent a chill through the pack.

As they came closer, I could see their face, a young man, no older than twenty, with Richard's unmistakable features. My heart sank. This was the heir.

The young man stepped forward, a confident smirk on his lips. "I am Adrian Drake," he said, his voice cold and commanding. "Richard's true heir, and I've come to claim what's rightfully mine."

Eric stepped forward, his stance strong. "This pack is under my protection. Richard's reign is over."

Adrian's smile widened. "Not yet, it isn't. You may have taken down my father, but you won't stop me."

The tension in the air was electric. Eric's eyes locked onto Adrian's, and for a moment, it felt like the world held its breath. The young man's followers shifted restlessly behind him, ready for a fight.

Eric's voice was calm, but filled with authority. "This pack will never fall under the control of Richard's legacy again."

Adrian's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that."

With that, the battle began. Eric charged forward, meeting Adrian's strike with precision and power. The clash of blades echoed through the trees as our pack joined the fray. 

I fought beside Ryker, both of us pushing back against Adrian's followers. The young heir was formidable, fast, skilled, and driven by an intense desire to prove himself.

As the fight wore on, it became clear that Adrian was not just a pawn in his father's legacy. He had his own plans, his own ambitions. And as I looked around at the chaos surrounding us, I realized that this battle was not just about Richard's downfall, it was about the future of our entire pack.

In the end, the question wasn't whether we could survive this battle.

It was whether we could survive the storm Adrian Drake was about to unleash.