Into the Alpha’s Keep Chapter 111: 111

POV Fenrir Dăneşti

I felt dizzy, needing to brace my hand against the rough trunk of the tree to support my weight. I blinked, seeing stars through my closed eyelids.

"Fenrir?" Andrei called. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to give you the news this way."

My knees gave out, and I was cushioned by the snow as I hit the ground. I tugged at my hair forcefully.

"The news that I might be a father and my female is in the arms of a crazy bastard who could kill her at any second?" I hissed.

My eyes flickered golden before returning to their natural blue. The color wavered for several moments as my beast and I fought for control.

"It’s a suspicion..." He swallowed hard. "A strong suspicion. That's why I said Anton knew what he was fighting for. He believed in you, just like we do. And, if the suspicions are true, we’ll be here to bring your female and your pup home."

I couldn’t speak, my throat tight with emotion. Of all the mistakes I had made in my life, all my failures, this was the worst of them.

I would never forgive myself if something happened to Savannah. Never.

I had been too deluded, caught in a web of lies, unable to open my eyes and see the truth that had been right before me all along.

My destined mate. My other half, my other soul.

"I can’t," I refused, gasping for air. "I can’t let this happen."

Andrei placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

The winter breeze blew through my hair again, kissing the skin of my face. It was a cold contrast to the warmth growing within me.

"Now it’s all or nothing. She’s your mate, your honor, and your life are intertwined with hers. Anton died for what he believed in: you. It wasn’t a death in vain, not if we end this, here." He sighed. "I know you fear for our lives and the safety of the pack, but this is bigger than any of us."

I dug my fingers into the snow, letting the cold numb my warm skin. The weight of the discovery crushed my chest.

How could I not have noticed earlier? How could I have been so foolish?

A wave of remorse washed over me, denser than the darkness that enveloped me.

"I’ll never forgive myself for this. Never."

Andrei took a deep breath.

"Bring your female and your pup home, Fenrir. And let her decide this for you."

I narrowed my eyes.

I had failed to protect her, to recognize her true nature, her importance to me and to our pack. As a male and a mate, it was my responsibility to watch over her, and I had failed.

Pregnant.

She couldn’t be pregnant and in the hands of our enemies. This was a scenario that had never crossed my mind, something I never even considered.

Even if it was just a suspicion, that maybe she wasn’t. She was my mate, damn it! And I had failed her.

I failed by not recognizing her; I failed by not protecting her; I failed by not respecting her.

A mix of determination and desperation burned in my chest.

I couldn’t change the actions of my past, but I still had control over our future.

I needed to find Savannah, protect her, and make amends for my failures.

Now, more than ever, I understood the true meaning of having a destined mate. It was a bond that went beyond the physical, beyond the rational. It was a connection so deep that no obstacle, no matter how challenging, could break it.

Just the thought of her absence, of something happening to her, was like an open wound in my soul, a constant reminder that without her, I would be nothing.

I didn’t care anymore what the risks of this war were, or how many more people I could lose in the conflict. I was the alpha of the Dăneşti, and I would not let anything or anyone stop me from fulfilling my duty to my mate.

***

The night cloaked the forest in a dark mantle, hiding our movements as we stealthily approached the Eclipse wolves.

Andrei was by my side, while the others followed in a discreet formation behind us.

Each step was calculated, each movement had to be silent and precise.

The shadows of the trees provided us with a cloak of concealment, keeping us hidden from the wolves patrolling the edges of the territory.

The careful steps echoed in the thick layer of snow covering the ground. The cold of the night froze the moisture beneath our boots, creating a soft crackle with each step.

The wind tousled my hair, sending a few curls across my forehead, and blowing our scent in the opposite direction of the Eclipse wolves, helping with our camouflage.

I could feel Savannah. She was lost somewhere in that village. My chest eased, after such a long time.

I couldn’t help but smile, eager to reunite with her.

I stopped near a wide trunk and narrowed my gaze, watching them.

Hunter didn’t seem too worried; his patrol was simple, not like someone at war with another pack.

"Do you think it could be an ambush?" whispered Andrei, taking advantage of the low whistle of the wind to speak without being heard by them.

I shook my head.

"I don’t know. Marilyn tried to convince me that Savannah came with this idiot on her own and told me about the ritual he wants to perform with her. Maybe he really believes I don’t care enough about the she-wolf to come after her, since he has answers to my, up until now, problems."

The wolves on guard were laughing and chatting while sharing a cigar that sent smoke into the air. There was a bow with silver arrows in one of their hands, leaning against one of their legs and the ground. They weren’t in an attacking or defensive position, but were rather distracted and relaxed.

I could feel the warmth of their blood in my fingers and the immense satisfaction I would feel if I reaped all those lives.

"If Hunter really believes that, he’s more of an idiot than I expected," commented Andrei, crossing his arms over his chest.

"He’s completely idiotic," I hissed.

I shot a glance through the tall oak trunk. The crown was meters above the ground, casting our shadow.

I elongated my nails, turning them into claws, and sank them into the wood. I launched myself upward, climbing the trunk with silent movements.

The wolves were still distracted, too concerned with finishing the cigar that was flooding their lungs with thick, dark smoke.

I climbed a few meters above the ground, staying hidden from their view.

The Eclipse village stretched before me. The wooden houses were grouped in a tight pattern. There was little sign of movement, lights glimmered through the closed windows.

The winding streets intertwined between the houses, leading to a central square, where the festivities should unfold. It was a simple and modest place.

I scanned the scene with a sharp eye, looking for any sign of surveillance. Every shadow, every movement could be the sign of potential danger, and I was determined to stay a step ahead of them.

Andrei was right, Hunter was even more idiotic than we thought. There was no sign of an ambush or any preparation for an imminent attack.

I had no idea what Marilyn had told him about me, but whatever it was, he seemed to have bought the omega's story.

The plan had to be succinct. I had to save Savannah and protect her if she was really pregnant. I would kill any wolf that crossed my path, male, female, or pup.

My beast was becoming increasingly uncontrollable, protective instincts spiking to high levels.

With calculated movements, I descended the trunk, muscles tensed from the effort I made to make no sound.

I landed on the snow and turned to Andrei.

"There’s nothing."

"Nothing?" he whispered, confused.

I shook my head with a nod.

"They don’t seem to be expecting an attack. There are no guards patrolling the streets or empty houses. Besides the idiots there" — I pointed with my chin to the two wolves — "I haven’t seen any other guards."

"Convenient for our plan," he observed.

I turned on my heels and stepped away, walking where the moonlight couldn’t reach, blocked by the high branches of the treetops. I moved far enough, with Andrei at my heels.

"The moment is approaching," I murmured, addressing them all in a firm whisper. "As soon as the first ray of sun touches this land, we’ll advance."

"For Dăneşti!" one of them responded in a murmur.

I nodded and then turned.

"Watch." I pointed at the sleeping village. "They are unprotected. They don’t expect us. They are not prepared for what’s about to happen." They exchanged meaningful glances, understanding the gravity of the situation. The fact that they were unprepared for us was a crucial surprise factor. "Don’t hesitate," I continued, gritting my teeth. "Don’t look back. Remember what we’re fighting for."

"Kill everyone, including females and pups who are contaminated by the Eclipse venom."

"Doesn’t matter their ages?" one of them asked.

"You know how the members of this pack act and think, so no. Sparing lives might cause us a headache later. If they hate the place and its members, just like Savannah, take them to the elders and let them decide what to do with them. If they disrespect any of you for killing the Eclipse, kill them too."

"Yes, my Alpha, we’ll do as you wish," one of them agreed.

"There will be no mercy," I declared, my voice firm echoing through the trees. "All those who oppose us will pay with their lives. Don’t let any of them escape. This is the weight of justice. Our enemies will feel the impact of our wrath."

We weren't there to play war; we were there to seek justice for Anton, for Ruda, for Savannah; to protect our own and restore our honor.

I threw one last glance at the pack, our battlefield.

"As soon as the first ray of sunlight touches the land, advance with determination," I concluded, the tone of my voice laced with the promise of imminent vengeance. "May our claws be sharp and our hearts unshakable."

"By Dăneşti, until our last breath," one of them whispered.

"By Dăneşti," declared another.

"By Dăneşti," agreed another.

With a wave of my hand, I gave the final order. They understood the weight of the moment, the seriousness of the mission awaiting us.

The battle was about to begin, and we, the Dăneşti wolves, were ready to face it.

As the shadows of the night gave way to the first rays of the sun, I felt the pulsating energy of chaos around us.

I'm coming, my little wolf.