The Alpha's Heir

CHAPTER.14

Elena stood at the cabin window, staring out into the dark forest. Sarah's words seemed to ring in her mind: Help us catch Lucas, and you'll be safe. It was an offer gnawing at her. She did not want to betray Lucas, yet the running, the fear of being caught-it was all wearing her down. Marcus had been silent, pacing the cabin, his face tight with frustration.

She was anxious as the silence after Lucas's departure felt heavy with each second weighing more than the last. Whatever decision she would make, it was going to change everything.

Marcus turned to her, having stopped pacing. "We should take Sarah's deal, Elena."

Her head whipped toward him in surprise at Marcus' bluntness. "What?

"Come on, Elena!" Marcus threw his hands up. "Look at where we are! We're hiding away in a cabin surrounded by armed men wanting to kill us, and we protect some guy who isn't even telling us the whole truth. This is insane."

Elena bit her lip while her heart was wrenched. "Lucas is trying to help us, Marcus."

"Help us?!" Marcus exploded into a mirthless laugh. "He's dragging us deeper into his mess! And now you're telling me Sarah offers you a way out and you're still here debating it?"

Elena couldn't lie, Marcus had one. But her gut was telling her something else about Lucas - that he wasn't just a problem, he was the only one who grasped the larger scheme. "It's not that simple, Marcus."

"It's precisely that simple," he snapped, his patience snapping. "Sarah is right. If we help them catch Lucas, we are safe. They will leave us alone. I do not know about you, but I'm not dying for a werewolf I hardly know."

Before Elena had time to answer, the door burst open and Lucas strode in, his face set hard, his eyes flashing with anger. His clothes were torn in several places, and he was breathing hard, though for now he had obviously controlled his transformation. His gaze flashed keenly between them.

"They didn't have Leah," Lucas said coolly-the tone hardly disguising the rage that lay beneath. "It was a bluff."

Elena's heart fell. Lucas had lost everything for his sister, and now it turned out that she had lied to him. She saw the pain in his eyes, though he tried to mask it with his usual severe look.

"I'm so sorry, Lucas," Elena whispered.

He didn't immediately answer but moved to the fireplace, leaning on the mantle as he stared into the fire's gentle flames. "This organization," he went on, his voice gruff, "they will stop at nothing. They will play tricks on one's mind, manipulate, instill fear in people. They tried to use my sister because they know that's how to reach me."

Elena squirmed under the weight of Sarah's offer. She hadn't told him as yet. What would he say if he knew? she wondered.

Lucas turned to her; his piercing gaze was fixed on hers. "It's not just because I am a werewolf that they are after me but they want control over anything they fear, anything they don't understand. You will never be set free once they have taken you, if you know what I mean."

Marcus crossed his arms, unimpressed, from where he stood by the door. "So what? We keep running? What's your game plan, Lucas? Live in the woods forever?"

Lucas's jaw clenched. "I'm trying to keep you alive."

"Maybe I don't want to be a part of this anymore," Marcus shot back. "I didn't sign up for this life. I'm not a werewolf, I'm not part of your pack, and I sure as hell don't want to die protecting you."

Elena watched them notch up the tension between themselves, like a rope being pulled too tightly. She moved forward, trying to ease the situation. "Marcus, calm down.

"Nein, Elena!" Marcus exclaimed frustratedly, his wide eyes blazing. "I'm done. I'm not sticking around to get killed for Lucas' war. If you want to stay, that is on you. But I'm out."

Elena felt a pang of suddenness in her chest. Marcus was one of her closest friends-he had been there for her when no one else was. But now it felt like everything was falling apart. "Marcus…don't do this."

Marcus drew a long deep breath, and his features relaxed at the edges. "Elena, I'm so sorry, but I cannot stay. I do not belong here." His voice heaved low in his chest as he continued, "Either you go with me, or I am leaving alone."

The room fell silent. Elena felt she would burst. She turned to Lucas, standing stock-still, his face shut. Then back to Marcus, who looked desperately at her.

"I… I won't go, Marcus," Elena whispered through a tight throat. "I'm staying."

Marcus's eyes closed, as if disappointment washed over him. "I hope you know what you're doing."

He spun and reached for his bag, slinging it over his shoulder. Without another word, Marcus moved toward the door, yanking it open. But before he might have taken a step outside, a deafening growl exploded from the woods.

Lucas's head whipped toward the sound as his nostrils flared. "No…

Elena felt a cold chill run down her spine. "What is it?

Luka didn't say anything right away; his body went tight, his eyes shining with an amber glow. "It's not them. It's something else. Something worse."

The huge shape sprang from the darkness and plunged into Marcus, sending him flying backward into the cabin. Elena screamed as the door was ripped from its hinges and showed a hulking figure in the doorway—another werewolf, this one wild, savage. Its fur was matted; its eyes were bloodshot, full of rage.

"Rogue!" Lucas growled out, his own transformation surging as his claws extended and his muscles bulged.

It snarled again, fangs flashing in the dim light as it crouched low, ready to strike. This one wasn't here to talk. This one was here to kill.

Elena retreated back against the wall, her heart racing in terror. Marcus groaned, trying to rise from the floor. The rogue's gaze flickered to them but continued to rest on Lucas.

Lucas's voice was thick with anger. "Stay behind me."

The rogue lunged once more, and Lucas met him head-on. They clashed in an flurry of claws and teeth, snarls filling the air as they vied for dominance. Powerful though Lucas was, the rogue was relentless- his madness driving him to attack heedless of danger.

Elena's breath caught as she watched Lucas fight in defense of them, his body a whirlwind of precision and strength. He wasn't just a protector-he was a predator, born to defend his pack whatever the price.

But the rogue wasn't going down easy. It raked its claws across Lucas's side, drawing blood, and Lucas let out a sharp growl of pain.

"Lucas!" Elena cried out.

But Lucas never wavered. With a loud roar, he slammed the rogue down to the ground. His teeth were bared as he prepared to deliver the killing blow. With one swift, lethal motion, Lucas plunged his fangs into the rogue's throat, stopping the battle in one gory blur.

One last, pathetic whine escaped the rogue's lips as he went limp.

Lucas stood over the felled beast, hard-panting, his chest heaving while he struggled to catch his breathing once again under control. His eyes flickered once again back to their natural co

lor as he turned slowly to Elena and Marcus.

"It's not safe here," he said, sounding rough. "We need to move. Now."