Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 27

Ezra's POV

 

Twenty-four hours ago, I'd left Silver Moon Group with Nathaniel to handle what should have been a routine matter—recovering stolen contraband from a smuggling ring that had been foolish enough to target our shipping routes. The stolen goods included high-grade pharmaceuticals and specialized weaponse.

 

Now, standing in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of our territory, I was beginning to understand that this situation was anything but routine.

 

"You sure about this approach, Alpha?" Nathaniel murmured beside me as we surveyed the building ahead. "Their scent signatures suggest at least fifteen wolves inside."

 

"Fifteen wolves led by an idiot who thinks he can steal from me and negotiate for better terms," I replied, adjusting the cuffs of my shirt. "This ends one way, Nathaniel."

 

*With blood,* Prime added with satisfaction.

 

The stolen shipment had been intercepted three days ago while I'd been distracted—something that never should have happened under normal circumstances. But my attention had been elsewhere lately.

 

We approached the warehouse through the main entrance, making no attempt at stealth. The scent of wolf musk grew stronger as we drew closer, mixed with the sharp tang of fear and aggression that always preceded a confrontation.

 

Viktor Kozlov was waiting for us in the center of the warehouse, flanked by his pack members. Even in human form, I could sense the Alpha power radiating from him—not as strong as mine, but significant enough to have built a successful criminal operation.

 

"Ezra Silverwood," Kozlov said with a grin that showed too many teeth. "The infamous Silver Moon Alpha. Smaller than I expected."

 

"Viktor Kozlov," I replied calmly, stopping about ten feet away from him. "Stupider than I expected, which is saying something."

 

His smile faltered slightly, but he maintained his confident posture. "Let's discuss business like civilized men. You want your goods back, I want compensation for the trouble of acquiring them."

 

"The only compensation you're getting is a quick death if you return everything now," I said, my voice remaining conversational despite Prime's growing bloodlust.

 

"I think you misunderstand the situation," Kozlov said, gesturing to his pack members who began to spread out around us. "You're outnumbered here. Maybe it's time Silver Moon learned to share territory."

 

*We simply don't need too much manpower.*

 

The moment his wolves started to move into attack positions, I felt the familiar surge of power that came with releasing my Alpha dominance. The warehouse filled with the pressure of my authority, making several of his weaker pack members whimper involuntarily.

 

"Last chance," I said, my eyes beginning to glow with the golden light that marked an Alpha preparing to shift. "Return what you stole and walk away."

 

Kozlov's response was to shift into his wolf form—a massive gray beast with yellow eyes full of rage and territorial aggression. His pack followed suit immediately, the warehouse filling with the sounds of bones cracking and muscles expanding as fifteen wolves prepared for battle.

 

*Finally,* Prime snarled as I let him surge forward.

 

The shift was always exhilarating—the moment when human limitations fell away and pure predatory power took their place. My bones elongated and reshaped themselves, muscles expanding to accommodate my wolf's larger frame. Within seconds, I'd transformed from a man in an expensive suit to a black wolf the size of a small horse, my Alpha heritage making me significantly larger than any of Kozlov's pack.

 

Nathaniel shifted beside me, his brown wolf taking position at my flank as we faced down fifteen enemies who'd foolishly thought numbers would give them an advantage.

 

Kozlov lunged first, his jaws aimed for my throat in a classic dominance challenge. I sidestepped with fluid grace, my enhanced reflexes making his attack seem sluggish and predictable. As he flew past me, I raked my claws across his ribs, drawing deep furrows that sent blood spraying across the concrete floor.

 

He landed hard and spun to face me, surprise evident in his yellow eyes. He'd expected a more even fight—after all, he was an Alpha too, and his pack had numerical superiority.

 

*But he's never faced a Silverwood.*

 

Two of his pack members tried to flank me while he recovered, but Nathaniel intercepted them with vicious efficiency. My Beta was a formidable fighter in his own right, and watching him tear into wolves twice his size with calculated precision reminded me why he'd earned his position.

 

Kozlov attacked again, this time more cautiously, trying to use his bulk to overwhelm me. But size meant nothing when it came with diminished speed and intelligence. I ducked under his charge and clamped my jaws around his hind leg, the bones crunching between my teeth like dry branches.

 

His howl of pain echoed through the warehouse as I released him and circled back, blood dripping from my muzzle. He was limping now, his right leg barely supporting his weight, but the rage in his eyes suggested he wasn't ready to submit.

 

*Good. I'm not in the mood for mercy tonight.*

 

The remaining pack members hesitated, clearly recognizing that their Alpha was losing badly. That moment of uncertainty was all I needed.

 

I launched myself at Kozlov's throat, my jaws locking around his windpipe before he could react. His claws raked desperately at my sides, but the wounds were superficial compared to the damage I was inflicting. I could feel his life leaving him as I crushed his throat, his struggles growing weaker with each passing second.

 

The moment their Alpha died, his pack scattered. Some shifted back to human form and ran for the exits, while others maintained their wolf forms and disappeared into the night. None of them stayed to avenge their fallen leader—a smart choice that might keep them alive.

 

Nathaniel and I shifted back to human form. The warehouse was quiet now except for our breathing and the distant sound of sirens approaching.

 

"Cleanup crew?" Nathaniel asked, already reaching for his phone.

 

"Standard protocol," I confirmed. "Make it look like a gang dispute. No connections to Silver Moon."

 

As we walked back to our vehicle, I felt the familiar satisfaction that came after successful violence. Prime was content, his bloodlust temporarily sated by the kill. But underneath that satisfaction, another feeling was growing stronger—an urgency to return home that had nothing to do with business.

 

*Isolde.*

 

Her name echoed through my mind as we drove away from the warehouse district, the weight of her absence hitting me like a physical force. Two days. I'd been away from Silver Moon for two days, and every hour had felt like an eternity.

 

"ETA to Silver Moon?" I asked Nathaniel.

 

"Four hours, Alpha."