CHAPTER 12:The Alpha's Warning
1064 Words
The wind howled against the stone walls of the fortress, rattling the windows like an omen of the storm brewing inside. The scent of burning wood filled the air, mixing with the underlying tension that clung to every corner of the war room.
Selene stood by the fireplace, staring into the flames as if they held the answer to the impossible choice before her. Her mind raced, her heart a wild drumbeat against her ribs. She knew Killian wouldn’t let her go so easily—but she hadn’t expected him to move this fast.
Xander sat at the long wooden table, the letter from Killian open before him, his silver eyes dark with fury. His fingers drummed against the wood, slow, deliberate, as if he was holding back the urge to crush the parchment in his hands.
She didn’t need to read it to know what it said.
“He’s giving you an ultimatum,” Xander finally spoke, his voice low and sharp as a blade. “Return to him, or he burns my pack to the ground.”
A shiver crawled down Selene’s spine, but she forced herself to stand tall. “You knew this was coming.”
Xander’s gaze snapped to her, something dangerous flickering behind his eyes.
“I knew he wouldn’t take your escape lightly."
"I didn’t expect him to be this reckless.”
He exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders. “Threatening my pack is a mistake he won’t live to regret.”
Selene’s breath caught. “You can’t fight him head-on. He has an entire army, Xander. If you go to war with Killian, your people will suffer.”
A slow smirk tugged at Xander’s lips, but it held no warmth. “Then we make sure he suffers more.”
She stepped closer, frustration boiling beneath her skin. “This isn’t about pride. This is about survival.”
His smirk faded, replaced by something unreadable. He rose from his chair, closing the distance between them in slow, predatory strides. The heat of his presence wrapped around her like a second skin.
“You think I don’t know that?” His voice was quieter now, but somehow more intense.
“I will not hand you over to him, Selene. Not now. Not ever.”
The words sent a strange heat rushing through her, one she refused to acknowledge. She lifted her chin. “And what if it’s the only way to stop this?”
His jaw tightened. “It isn’t.”
Before she could argue, the heavy doors to the war room burst open. Tobias, Xander’s second-in-command, strode in, his face grim.
“Scouts just returned,” he announced.
"Killian’s forces are testing the borders. They aren’t attacking—yet. But they’re making their presence known.”
Selene’s stomach twisted. This was just the beginning.
Xander turned to Tobias. “Double the patrols. If even one of Killian’s wolves steps onto my land, they don’t leave alive.”
Tobias nodded and disappeared as quickly as he came.
Selene took a slow breath, her fingers trembling at her sides. This was spiraling out of control.
She turned back to Xander. “What if this ends with you and Killian tearing each other apart?”
Xander’s gaze held hers, unwavering. “Then so be it.”
Her throat tightened. Because deep down, she knew Killian wouldn’t stop until he had her back.
And Xander wouldn’t stop until Killian was dead.
Selene turned away, wrapping her arms around herself as she stared into the fire. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, suffocating. Was there no way out of this?
“I need air,” she muttered, moving toward the door before Xander could stop her.
She stepped out into the open corridor, the cold night breeze greeting her as she made her way toward the balcony. Her thoughts raced as she leaned against the railing, looking out over the darkened treetops.
Killian was out there, waiting. Planning. And Xander—
She sighed, rubbing her temples. This war was about more than just her. If she left, maybe she could end it before it truly began. But the thought of returning to Killian made her stomach churn.
The door creaked behind her, and she didn’t need to turn to know it was Xander. His scent wrapped around her before his presence did—earthy, warm, and undeniably strong.
“You think running will fix this?” His voice was quieter now, but no less intense.
She didn’t answer right away. “I think it might be the only way to stop a war.”
Xander stepped closer, so close she could feel the heat radiating off him. “And what about you, Selene? What happens to you if you go back?”
She swallowed hard. “I don’t know.”
Silence stretched between them, heavy and charged. Then, unexpectedly, Xander reached for her hand. His fingers brushed against hers, hesitant at first, before wrapping around them fully. His grip was warm, grounding.
“You don’t have to do this alone,” he murmured.
She turned to face him, her breath catching as she met his gaze. His silver eyes burned with something raw, something she wasn’t sure she could name. It sent a shiver through her, not of fear, but of something far more dangerous.
“You don’t understand,” she whispered.
“This isn’t just about war. It’s about fate. About a bond that—”
“I don’t give a damn about fate.” His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
“Killian lost his chance once. I won’t let him take you back the second time.”
Emotion swelled in her chest, overwhelming and suffocating. She was caught between two worlds, two men, and no matter which way she turned, she couldn’t see a way out.
Her voice trembled. “Then what do we do, Xander?”
He lifted a hand, his fingers brushing against her cheek softly. The touch was so gentle, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside him. “We fight.”
Her breath hitched, but before she could even say a word, a distant howl echoed through the night air.
A warning.
Her stomach knotted. The battle hadn’t started yet, but she knew, deep down, it was only a matter of time. And when it eventually does—
Everything would burn.
- Writer
