THE ALPHA'S UNWANTED MATE

Chapter 16: The Pack

The pack house was massive. Bigger than any house Aria had ever seen.

Torches lined the walls. Wolves stood guard everywhere.

Aria held Leo's hand tightly as they were led inside.

"Where is everyone?" she asked the silver-haired woman.

"Preparing for war," the woman replied. "I'm Selena. Beta of the pack."

Leo yawned. "Is Daddy here?"

Selena's face softened. "Not yet, little one."

Aria's heart sank.

That night, Aria couldn't sleep. She stood by the window, staring at the dark woods.

Waiting. Hoping.

Then, at 3 AM, a howl broke the silence.

Not a howl of pain.

A howl of victory.

Aria ran to the window.

At the gates, standing tall and covered in blood, was him.

Damien.

He was injured. Cuts all over his arms and chest. But he was standing. Alive.

Aria didn't think. She ran.

Barefoot, down the stairs, through the pack house.

"Open the gates!" she screamed.

The guards hesitated, then pulled the huge gates open.

The moment they opened, Aria was in his arms.

Damien was solid. Real. Breathing.

"You came back," she whispered into his bloody shirt. "You actually came back."

Damien pulled back just enough to look at her. His gold eyes were tired but soft.

"I told you I'd come back to you. To both of you."

Behind them, Leo came running. "Daddy!"

Damien scooped him up with one arm, never letting go of Aria with the other.

"I'm okay, bud. I'm okay."

Selena cleared her throat. "Alpha. The others... are they dead?"

Damien's face hardened. "Yes. It's over."

Aria closed her eyes in relief. But her relief didn't last.

Because Damien swayed.

And collapsed.

"Damien!" Aria screamed. She dropped to her knees beside him.

Blood was soaking through his shirt. Too much blood.

"Get the healer!" Selena shouted. "Now!"

Leo started crying. "Daddy! Daddy wake up!"

Damien's eyes fluttered open. He reached up and touched Aria's face with bloody fingers.

"I'm... fine," he whispered. "Just tired."

"Liar," Aria said, tears falling. "Don't you dare leave us. Not now."

The pack healer, an old woman, rushed over. She ripped Damien's shirt open and hissed.

"Silver bullets. Three of them. One near his heart."

Aria's blood went cold. "Can you save him?"

The healer looked at her. "I can try. But he needs to stay awake." Aria grabbed Damien's hand and squeezed. "You hear that? You have to stay awake for me. For Leo."

Damien smiled weakly. "Always... for you."

Then his eyes closed.

The healer immediately started working. Her hands glowing with pack magic.

Aria held Leo close and prayed.

Please. Not him. Anyone but him.

**THE END OF CHAPTER 16**

**TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 17: WOUNDED**