Alpha Eric's Promise, Protecting those he loves

 The Ties That Bind

The days following Daniel's departure felt like a long stretch of quiet tension. Eric went through the motions of his duties as Alpha, but his mind was elsewhere, constantly replaying our last conversation and the implications of what he'd said.

 If there truly were packs backing the rogues, then this wasn't just a matter of defending their territory—it was an all-out war for dominance, a war they weren't prepared for.

Eric found myself standing at the edge of the forest more often than not, staring into the trees, wondering when the next move would come. The sun was setting now, but it did little to soothe his nerves. Each patrol report that came back without incident felt like a ticking clock, counting down to something he couldn't see.

Maya approached quietly, her steps barely audible on the forest floor. She had a way of moving silently, like she was always in tune with the world around her. Even before she spoke, Eric knew she was worried.

"Any news?" she asked, coming to stand beside he.

"Not yet," Eric replied, not taking his eyes off the horizon. "Daniel's supposed to check in soon."

She nodded, her expression thoughtful. "And if he finds proof? What then?" She asked.

The question hung in the air between them, heavier than it had any right to be. If Daniel came back with evidence that other packs were involved, it would mean war. And war meant casualties—more lives lost in a fight they didn't choose.

"I don't know," Eric admitted. "But we'll have to act. We can't sit by while the rogues grow stronger, especially if they're being backed by other packs."

Maya reached out and took his hand, her fingers cool against his skin. "You'll figure it out, Lucas. You always do." He said.

He wanted to believe her. But the truth was, he wasn't sure if there was a right answer anymore. The lines between friend and foe were blurring, and every decision Eric made felt like it could tip the balance in the wrong direction.

They stood there in silence for a few moments, the sounds of the forest filling the space between them. Birds called from the trees, and a breeze rustled the leaves overhead. It was peaceful—deceptively so, given the storm brewing just out of sight.

Eventually, Maya broke the silence. "I've been thinking about the silver wolf."

Eric glanced at her, surprised. They hadn't talked much about the mysterious guardian wolf since the attack. There were too many other threats to focus on, and the silver wolf's appearance had felt more like a fluke than anything else.

"What about it?" Eric asked.

"I don't think it was just a coincidence that it showed up when it did," she said, her brow furrowed in thought. "Wolves like that don't just appear out of nowhere. There has to be a reason."

Eric considered her words. The silver wolf had been an enigma from the moment it arrived—appearing just in time to fend off the rogues, then disappearing just as quickly. No one had seen it since, and the pack had all but given up on trying to understand its motives.

"What kind of reason?" Eric asked, curious to hear her theory.

"I'm not sure," she admitted, her gaze distant. "But I think it's connected to everything else that's happening. The rogues, the other packs... it all feels too deliberate, like there's something bigger going on that we're not seeing."

A chill ran down Eric's spine, despite the warmth of the evening. Maya's instincts were rarely wrong, and the thought that there might be more to this than we realized was unsettling.

"You think the silver wolf is working with the rogues?" Eric asked, trying to wrap his head around the possibility.

"I don't know," she said slowly. "But I think it's here for a reason. And until we figure out what that reason is, we're fighting blind."

Eric nodded, knowing she was right. There were too many unknowns, too many pieces of the puzzle that didn't fit together. They needed answers, and fast.

As they stood there, the sound of footsteps approaching caught Eric's attention. He turned to see one of the scouts jogging toward them, his face flushed with urgency.

"Alpha," he called, breathless. "We have a situation."

Eric tensed immediately. "What is it?"

"Rogues," he said, panting as he came to a stop in front of him. "We've spotted a group of them on the northern border. They're just standing there—waiting."

Eric exchanged a glance with Maya, dread settling in his chest. This was it. The next move.

"How many?" Eric asked.

"About a dozen," the scout replied. "They haven't crossed the border yet, but they're making it clear they're not leaving."

His mind raced as he considered their options. A dozen rogues wasn't an overwhelming force, but it was enough to cause serious damage if they attacked. And if they were just waiting... it meant they had something up their sleeve.

"Get the patrols ready," Eric ordered. "I want every available wolf on alert. No one moves without my command." He said.

The scout nodded and hurried off, leaving him and Maya standing in the fading light. Eric could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him, the pressure of making the right call.

"We should go," Maya said quietly. "See what they want."

Eric hesitated for a moment, torn between his instinct to protect and the need to confront the threat head-on. But Maya was right. They couldn't afford to wait for the rogues to make the first move.

"Let's go," Eric agreed, shifting into his wolf form.

Maya followed suit, her sleek black wolf padding alongside him, as they made their way to the northern border. The pack was already mobilizing, wolves moving into position as they approached the line of trees that marked the edge of our territory.

As they neared the border, Eric caught sight of the rogues. They stood in a loose formation, their eyes glowing in the dim light. There was something off about them, something that set his nerves on edge. They weren't acting like rogues—they were too organized, too deliberate in their movements.

At the center of the group stood a tall, imposing wolf, his fur a dark gray that blended into the shadows. His eyes locked onto theirs as we approached, and he felt a jolt of recognition. This wasn't just any rogue—he was a former member of their pack.

"Lucas," the gray wolf growled, his voice carrying across the distance between them. "Long time, no see."

Eric shifted back into his human form, narrowing his eyes at him. "Bryce."

Bryce had been banished from the pack years ago for breaking the code. He'd been reckless, violent, and uncontrollable. I'd been the one to send him away, and I'd assumed he'd either found a new pack or died as a rogue. Clearly, I'd been wrong. Eric yelled.

"What are you doing here?" Eric demanded, his voice hard.

Bryce grinned, baring his teeth. "Isn't it obvious? I'm here to take back what's mine." He said.

Eric felt a growl building in his chest, but he forced it down. "You were banished. You have no claim here."

"That's where you're wrong," Bryce said, his tone cold. "I've been building my own pack since you kicked me out. And now, we're ready to take what you've been hoarding all these years."

He clenched his fists, anger bubbling just beneath the surface. "You'll never be alpha here, Bryce. Not while I'm alive."

Bryce's grin widened, and there was something predatory in his gaze. "We'll see about that." He said laughing.

Before Eric could respond, Bryce let out a sharp howl, and the rogues sprang into action. They moved as one, rushing toward the border with deadly precision. Eric shifted back into his wolf form, charging forward to meet them head-on.

The battle was chaotic, wolves clashing in a blur of fur and teeth. Eric fought his way through the fray, his focus locked on Bryce. He was his target—if he could take him down, the rogues would lose their leader, and the fight would turn in their favor.

But Bryce was faster than he remembered, his movements swift and calculated. He dodged his attacks with ease, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of the fight.

"You've gotten soft, Lucas," he taunted, circling around Eric. "You're not the alpha you used to be."

Eric growled, lunging at him with renewed fury. His teeth grazed his side, drawing blood, but Bryce barely flinched. He was stronger than Eric had anticipated—too strong.

Around then, the sounds of battle echoed through the forest, but his focus was entirely on Bryce. Eric couldn't let him win. Not here, not now.

With a snarl, Bryce lunged at him, his jaws snapping dangerously close to his throat. He barely dodged in time, retaliating with a powerful swipe of his claws. Bryce staggered back, blood dripping from the gash across his chest, but he didn't retreat.

"You'll never beat me, Lucas," he growled, his voice dripping with venom. "This pack is mine."

Eric met his gaze, my eyes blazing with defiance. "Not while I'm still breathing."

With a final roar, Eric charged at Bryce, putting everything he had into the attack. There bodies collided with a force that shook the ground, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

There was only the fight. Only survival.