Alpha Eric's Promise, Protecting those he loves

Shadows of the Night

Eric

The rogue wolves came like a storm unleashed from hell, tearing through the forest with a ferocity that rattled even the oldest trees. Their howls split the air, and the ground trembled beneath the pounding of paws.

 I stood at the front of my warriors, my body tensed and ready, every instinct screaming to protect what mattered most—my family, my pack, my blood.

Beside me, Ella stood tall, her silver-blonde hair glinting like moonlight. She was fierce, her eyes blazing with determination. As Luna, she was not only my equal but the heart of our pack. Her presence brought strength to the warriors, and her courage reminded them of what we were fighting for.

 Our twins—Alex and Aria—were everything. No harm would come to them, not while we still stood.

"They're coming from the west," Daniel reported, sprinting to my side. His face was streaked with dirt, but his eyes were sharp with purpose. "At least twenty-five. Armed."

Ella's voice was calm but steely. "We've prepared for this. The traps are set. Eric, I'll hold the north line. You take the front."

"No." I gripped her arm firmly. "We fight together. I can't have you out of my sight."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. She understood the stakes. This wasn't just about defending our territory. It was about survival—for us, for our children, for the future of our pack.

The rogues broke through the treeline like a tidal wave of chaos. Their snarls were guttural, their eyes wild with hunger and rage.

 My wolves surged forward, meeting them with unrelenting fury. Claws clashed, teeth tore, and the air was filled with the sounds of battle.

I shifted into my wolf form mid-stride, my muscles rippling with the transformation. My dark coat bristled as I collided with the nearest rogue, knocking him to the ground. My jaws found his throat, and with a quick twist, I ended his fight. Around me, the clearing was a frenzy of movement—wolves battling for dominance, for survival.

Ella's wolf darted into the fray, a sleek blur of silver and white. She was a force to be reckoned with, her movements precise and deadly. I caught glimpses of her taking down rogues with calculated strikes, her fangs gleaming in the dim light.

We fought as one, a seamless unit of power and instinct. But no matter how many rogues we felled, more seemed to take their place. It was as if they had been waiting, watching, biding their time until our defenses were stretched thin.

A scream tore through the chaos, and my heart froze. Aria.

I shifted back into human form, my breath heaving. "Ella!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the cacophony. "The twins!"

Ella's wolf turned, her eyes locking with mine. We moved as one, breaking away from the battle and sprinting toward the packhouse. My mind raced with fear, the image of my children's faces flashing before me. 

Alex, with his quiet strength and thoughtful gaze. Aria, a whirlwind of energy and mischief. They were everything. If the rogues touched them...

We reached the packhouse to find the door ajar, the scent of intruders thick in the air. My wolf growled deep in my chest, and Ella shifted beside me, her breaths ragged.

"They're inside," she whispered, her voice trembling with fury.

We burst through the door, our eyes scanning the dim interior. The living room was overturned, furniture scattered, but there was no sign of Alex or Aria. 

My stomach churned with dread as we moved deeper into the house, every step measured, every sound magnified.

A low snarl came from the hallway, and I caught sight of a rogue—a massive brute with scarred fur. He stood at the base of the staircase, blocking our path. Behind him, I could hear the faint sound of a child's cry. Aria.

I didn't hesitate. Launching myself at the rogue, I brought him down with the full force of my weight. His claws raked across my side, but I ignored the pain, my focus singular.

 Ella was at my side in an instant, her wolf tearing into the rogue's flank. Together, we overpowered him, leaving his body lifeless on the floor.

"Aria!" Ella called, her voice breaking as she raced up the stairs.

I followed close behind, my heart pounding. We found the twins in their room, huddled together under the bed. Alex was shielding Aria, his small body trembling but resolute. 

Relief crashed over me like a wave, and I dropped to my knees, pulling them both into my arms.

"Daddy!" Aria sobbed, clutching me tightly. "They came... they broke the door!"

"It's okay, baby," I whispered, pressing a kiss to her hair. "We've got you. You're safe now."

Ella knelt beside us, wrapping her arms around Alex. Her tears mingled with his as she whispered soothing words, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and guilt.

 We had left them vulnerable, and the thought of what could have happened was almost too much to bear.

But we didn't have time to dwell. The sounds of the battle outside were growing louder, more desperate. The rogues were pushing harder, their attacks more coordinated.

 This wasn't a random assault; it was a calculated move, meant to destabilize us.

"We need to get them to the safe room," I said, my voice firm. "Ella, stay with them. I'll—"

"No," she interrupted, her eyes blazing. "We do this together, Eric. Always."

I nodded, knowing there was no point in arguing. Together, we moved the twins to the reinforced safe room hidden beneath the packhouse. It was a small space, designed for emergencies, but it would keep them secure.

"Stay here," I told Alex and Aria, my tone leaving no room for argument. "Do not open this door for anyone but us."

Alex nodded, his jaw set with determination. "We'll be brave, Dad."

My heart swelled with pride and sorrow as I closed the door, locking them inside. Turning to Ella, I saw the same mix of emotions mirrored in her eyes. We didn't speak as we made our way back to the battlefield, our resolve stronger than ever.

The fight raged on, the clearing a blur of bodies and blood. The rogues were relentless, their numbers seemingly endless. But we fought with everything we had, driven by the knowledge that our children's lives depended on us.

As the night wore on, the tide began to turn. One by one, the rogues fell, their strength no match for the unity of our pack. Daniel led a group of warriors in a flanking maneuver, cutting off the rogues' retreat. 

Maya, our lead strategist, directed the archers from a vantage point, her precision ensuring no rogue escaped.

Ella and I fought side by side, our movements perfectly synchronized. We were a force of nature, unstoppable in our determination to protect what was ours. By the time the first rays of dawn broke through the trees, the clearing was silent. The rogues had been defeated.

The aftermath was a mix of exhaustion and relief. We regrouped, tending to the wounded and securing the borders. Daniel approached us, his face streaked with dirt and sweat, but his eyes bright with triumph.

"We did it," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "They're gone."

I nodded, my gaze sweeping over the pack. "We did this together."

As the sun rose higher, casting its golden light over the clearing, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. The battle had been brutal, but we had prevailed. Our family, our pack, was safe—for now.

Ella took my hand, her fingers lacing with mine. "They'll come again," she said quietly, her eyes on the horizon.

"They will," I agreed. "But we'll be ready."

We stood together, side by side, as the pack began to rebuild. Alex and Aria would grow up in a world where they could be strong, where they could carry on the legacy we had fought so hard to protect. 

And as long as we stood together, nothing could tear us apart.