Alpha Eric's Promise, Protecting those he loves

 The Betrayal Unfolds

The words hung in the air like a heavy fog. Daniel. Richard's heir? My brother, The one orchestrating all this chaos? Eric's shock was evident, but there wasn't time to dwell on it. The pack is still reeling from the recent attacks, and now we knew the true face behind the rogue army.

Eric paced in the command tent, his mind whirling with strategies. "We've been played," he said through clenched teeth. "Daniel has been close to us, watching every move we made. No wonder the rogues were always one step ahead."

Ryker stood by the entrance, his arms crossed, eyes narrowed in thought. "We need to tighten security immediately. If Daniel is this close, it's likely he has spies in our ranks. We can't afford another ambush."

Olivia stepped forward. "We'll also need to keep the pack calm. If they find out it's Daniel behind all this, it could cause widespread panic, especially for those who trusted him."

Eric couldn't shake the shock. My brother had always been distant, but this? Leading an attack on his own family? "How did we not see this coming?" Eric muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Eric turned to me, his voice softer. "You're not to blame for this. None of us are. Daniel made his choices. But now we need to focus on stopping him before it's too late."

"I agree," Ryker said, stepping into the circle. "We need to outthink him. If Daniel has been manipulating things from the shadows, he's been working under the assumption that we don't know. That gives us a small advantage—for now."

I nodded, steeling myself. "We need a plan. Something decisive, something that cuts his power from under him."

Eric sighed, rubbing his temples. "We can't just storm his camp. We'll be walking right into a trap. We need a way to draw him out."

Olivia's eyes gleamed with an idea. "What if we use his own tactics against him?"

Ryker frowned. "You're suggesting we feed him false information?"

"Exactly," Olivia said. "We make him believe he's won—let him think we're vulnerable. Then, we strike when he least expects it."

Eric leaned forward, the beginnings of a plan forming in his mind. "If we leak the right kind of intelligence, something tempting enough, Daniel will take the bait. He's overconfident. That's how we'll catch him."

I nodded, my pulse quickening. It was risky, but it could work. Daniel always thrived on control, always thought he was the smartest in the room. If we could use that arrogance against him, we might just stand a chance.

The next few hours were a whirlwind of planning. Eric, Ryker, Olivia, and I laid out every detail, every possible scenario. The trick was to make it look believable, to create just enough chaos to lure Daniel out without tipping our hand.

As the night wore on, fatigue began to settle in, but none of us was willing to stop. There was too much at stake. My thoughts kept drifting back to the moment I saw Daniel in the rogue camp, commanding those soldiers like he had every right to lead them. How long had he been planning this? How many lives had he sacrificed for his ambition?

The weight of the betrayal was crushing, but I forced myself to focus. There would be time to process all of it later. Right now, we had to stay sharp.

By dawn, the plan was in motion. Olivia would handle the infiltration of Daniel's spy network, carefully feeding false information about a supposed weak point in our defenses. Meanwhile, Ryker and his team would prepare for the ambush, setting traps along the path Daniel's forces were most likely to take. Eric would remain behind to maintain the appearance of vulnerability, ensuring the pack stayed unaware of our true intentions.

I was tasked with overseeing the coordination, keeping communication lines open and making sure everything ran smoothly. The role was daunting, but I couldn't afford to let fear get in the way. If this plan failed, the consequences would be devastating.

The next few days passed. Tensions were high, and every member of the pack could feel it. Eric kept up appearances, continuing his duties as Alpha while Ryker and Olivia worked in secret. We couldn't let anyone know what was really happening—trust had become a fragile thing.

Eric spent his days checking in with the scouts, tracking rogue movements, and making sure our decoy was convincing enough. The anticipation was suffocating. Every hour that passed felt like another step toward the inevitable confrontation with Daniel.

On the evening of the fourth day, a scout returned with news: Daniel had taken the bait.

"He's mobilizing his forces," the scout reported, out of breath from the run. "It looks like they're heading toward the eastern border, just like we planned."

Relief and dread washed over Eric in equal measure. This was it. The trap was set.

Eric nodded, his expression grim. "Get word to Ryker and Olivia. We move at first light."

The scout nodded and sprinted off. Ella turned to Eric, her heart pounding. "Do you think it'll work?"

Eric met her gaze, his eyes hard. "It has to."

The night passed in tense silence. Ella didn't sleep, too anxious about the battle that lay ahead. Her thoughts kept drifting to Aria and Alex. She hadn't seen them much since they set this plan in motion, and the fear of leaving them behind gnawed at her. But she knew that if they didn't stop Daniel, the future would be far worse for all of them.

At dawn, the pack was ready. Those not involved in the ambush were stationed at key points around the camp, keeping watch for any unexpected rogue attacks. Meanwhile, Ryker, Olivia, and their team were already in position near the eastern border, waiting for the right moment to spring the trap.

Eric stood beside Ella as they watched the sun rise over the trees. "No matter what happens today," he said quietly, "we're going to end this."

Ella nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I hope you're right."

We waited, the minutes ticking by like hours. Then, just as the sun reached its peak, a howl echoed in the distance. It was the signal.

"They're here," Eric said, his voice low and steady. "Let's move."

We made our way to the eastern border, where Ryker's team was lying in wait. The tension in the air was palpable as they approached the edge of the forest, where the trap was set.

Suddenly, the trees rustled, and through the thick foliage, I saw them—Daniel's forces, moving in formation. At the front, leading them with the same cold precision we'd seen before, was Daniel himself?

My breath caught in my throat. There he is, the brother I had once known, now the enemy I had to defeat.

Ryker's voice cut through the tension. "Wait for my signal," he whispered to the team, his eyes fixed on the approaching rogues.

Daniel's forces were almost within range. Any moment now?

And then, just as they stepped into the trap, Ryker gave the signal.

All hell broke loose.

The battle was fierce and chaotic. Ryker's team sprang from their hiding places, ambushing Daniel's forces with brutal efficiency. The rogues, caught off guard, scrambled to defend themselves, but we had the upper hand. For the first time, it felt like we were in control.

But Daniel was not a fool. He rallied his troops quickly, fighting back with a ferocity that took us all by surprise. Despite being outnumbered, he seemed to anticipate every move we made, countering our attacks with unnerving precision.

Eric fought her way through the chaos, determined to reach him. This had to end—one way or another.

Finally, Ella saw him, standing in the middle of the battlefield, his eyes locked on him. For a moment, everything else faded away. It was just the two of us, surrounded by the carnage of our own making.

"Daniel," Ella called out, her voice hoarse with exhaustion and anger.

He turned to face her, a cold smile curling his lips. "Sister," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "I see you've finally decided to face me."

Ella tightened her grip on her weapon. "This ends now."

Daniel's smile widened. "Oh, I don't think so. This is just the beginning." He said.

Without warning, he lunged at Ella, his speed and strength far beyond anything I had anticipated. I barely had time to react, dodging his attack by a hair's breadth.

The fight was brutal, each of them giving everything they had. But she could feel herself tiring. Daniel had the upper hand, and he knew it.

Just as Ella thought she couldn't hold out any longer, a flash of movement caught her eye. Ryker.

He charged at Daniel from the side, tackling him to the ground. "Go!" Ryker shouted at me. "I'll handle this!"

I hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. Ryker was right—there was no time to waste.

I turned and ran, weaving through the battlefield toward the heart of the rogue camp. We had to finish this. The pack's future depended on it.

As she reached the center of the camp, she saw Olivia, bloodied but still standing, fighting off the remaining rogues. Together, they pushed forward, cutting down the last of Daniel's forces.

By the time the battle ended, the ground was littered with the bodies of fallen wolves, both rogue and pack alike.