The Alpha’s Surgeon

11

The four of them—Rae, Del, Remi, Trey, and Elijah—stood silently on the street, senses straining, eyes darting to every shadow, every movement. Aspen prowled ahead of Rae, growling low at nothing visible, his hackles raised.

Minutes passed. The wind shifted, leaves skittered across the pavement, but no actual threat emerged. Rae’s shoulders relaxed slightly, though her hand stayed on Aspen’s leash, alert.

Elijah exhaled slowly, eyes scanning the empty streets one last time before nodding. “Alright,” he said, voice low but firm. “Nothing seems to be coming. For now.” He glanced at Del, then at Remi, giving a subtle nod of reassurance.

Trey mirrored the motion with Rae, his gaze steady and protective. “We can’t just ignore it,” he said. “If something—or someone—is out there, Will needs to know what we sensed.”

Rae tilted her head, considering. “Yeah… better safe than sorry,” she agreed, eyes still sweeping the horizon. Aspen huffed in agreement.

Remi stepped closer, speaking up. “Then we let the boys know. Will should be aware of any shifts we notice. If anything happens while we’re out here…” Her voice trailed off, but the meaning was clear: preparedness was key.

Del smirked faintly, though her eyes remained serious. “Yeah, and we’ll look like the calm, collected pack leaders who just sensed a storm coming. Totally intimidating, right?”

Elijah chuckled quietly, shaking his head. “Intimidating enough,” he said. “Come on. Let’s go let Will know.”

The group started walking back toward the packhouse, senses still alert but moving with purpose. Whatever was out there—or whatever might come—would be handled. Together.

The packhouse war room buzzed with tension as Rae, Del, Remi, Trey, and Elijah stepped inside. Will rose immediately, his eyes narrowing at the intensity radiating from the group.

“Something’s wrong?” he asked, voice low, scanning the room.

Rae stepped forward, Aspen close by, ears pricked. “We sensed a storm… not just weather, but something moving out there. It’s not normal. Could be dangerous.” Her tone was calm but urgent, leaving no room for doubt.

Trey and Elijah flanked their companions, muscles tense, eyes sharp, while Will gestured for the warriors to pay attention. “Explain,” he said, voice clipped.

Elijah outlined what he and Del had sensed, careful with his words, while Trey added Rae’s input, emphasizing how accurate and immediate their observations had been. A few of the older warriors murmured skeptically, exchanging glances.

One of them finally spoke up, voice laced with doubt. “You’re asking us to take this seriously… based on what? You humans felt it? That doesn’t sound very reliable.”

Rae’s gaze snapped to him, sharp and unwavering. “Humans? Really?” she shot back, stepping closer, voice low but cutting. “We’ve been watching this territory, tracking movement and danger, while you’ve been patting yourselves on the back. Don’t underestimate what we can sense. And don’t insult us—especially not me, Del, or Remi—when you don’t even know what we’re capable of.”

Del and Remi had to grab Rae by the arms, holding her back as her posture stiffened, ready to advance. “Rae!” Remi hissed, firm, while Del gave the warrior a sharp glare. “Back off.”

Will’s voice cut through the tension like steel. “Enough! If you can’t show respect, step aside. Listen, or let us handle this.”

The room went quiet, the weight of Will’s authority undeniable. Even the skeptical warriors fell silent, realizing this was serious.

Trey and Elijah immediately began discussing defensive measures with the group, pointing out strategic positions and patrols, reviewing maps, communications, and alarms. Will coordinated the pack’s response, trusting the observations of Rae, Del, and Remi despite the skepticism in the room.

Rae exhaled slowly, finally relaxing as Del and Remi released her arms. She muttered under her breath in Cajun, something sharp and colorful, before pulling Aspen closer.

Though no one yet understood the deeper bond forming between them, it was clear that these humans—and these young men—couldn’t be ignored. They were part of this pack now, and their input carried weight.

Will dismissed the warriors to their assigned tasks, voice firm. “Get out there, check your posts, follow the plans. And keep your heads clear—no unnecessary risks.” The older wolves grumbled but filed out, leaving the room quieter, more controlled.

Rae’s eyes narrowed at the screens lining the war room wall. “Ugh… these cameras and sensors? They’re trash,” she muttered, tapping a finger against the nearest monitor. “I hacked into all of them yesterday on the way here. Honestly, it’s a joke. A dummy could do it with a Google search.”

Remi’s head snapped toward her, eyes wide. “Rae! What did I tell you about doing that? You could have compromised the whole network!”

Rae shrugged, the corners of her mouth quirking up with mischief. “Relax. I didn’t touch anything permanent. Just checked for weaknesses. And trust me—it was easier than breathing. You’d have done it too if you knew how bad these systems are.”

Del leaned against the table, smirking. “I mean… she’s not wrong. Some of these sensors are basically decorative.”

Trey raised a brow, arms crossed. “So, basically, you’ve been one step ahead of us since yesterday.” His tone was teasing, but the edge of admiration was there.

Elijah glanced at Rae, expression calm but measured. “And that’s why we can’t afford to underestimate you, even if we don’t know everything you’re capable of yet.”

Will ran a hand down his face, exhaling. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… good work, Rae. Just… next time, give us a heads-up before hacking into the system.” He gave her a pointed look, and Rae grinned unapologetically.

Remi crossed her arms, shaking her head. “You really are impossible.”

Rae just chuckled, leaning back slightly. “Maybe. But it keeps things interesting.”

Del nudged her, whispering, “Interesting is one way to put it. Crazy is another.”

Trey and Elijah exchanged a glance, both silently acknowledging the chaos and brilliance bundled into Rae. Will just rubbed the back of his neck, muttering under his breath about needing a stronger coffee before the day really began.

Even in the midst of tension and preparation, it was clear—the humans and wolves were going to push each other’s limits in ways no one could predict.