Alpha Underdog

Chapter Four

"Awakening Bonds."

As I lay on my bed, gazing at the ceiling, my wolf incessantly urged me to go for a run. He had been persistent all night, craving the freedom of the wilderness. Ever since the encounter with Luna, he had been restless, a sensation that lingered just hours ago. But why? Was it because she was an underdog?

With a resigned sigh, I rose from bed, conceding to my wolf's wishes. After preparing myself, I ventured to my mother's room, gently knocking before entering. "Mom, are you awake?" I whispered, mindful not to disturb her if she was sleeping.

Pushing the door open slightly, I peered inside to find her awake. Stepping closer, I ensured she was properly covered before placing a tender kiss on her forehead. With a sense of foreboding, I left her room, closing the door behind me. Today felt different, strangely so, as if I should be somewhere else right now.

Making my way to the pack house, I encountered Kai along the way. "Hey, man," he greeted, wearing that irritating grin of his.

"Do you have any updates for me?" I inquired as we halted to converse.

"The rogues who attacked were from the Moonrise Pack," he informed me.

"And where can I find this Moonrise pack?" I questioned, already contemplating the possibility of launching an invasion and asserting dominance.

"It's just beyond the forest, across the river bank," he replied, seemingly aware of my intentions.

"Understood. Make it known to every warrior that we are preparing for an imminent attack on the Moonrise pack. Instruct them to report to the gym immediately; I will be selecting those who will accompany us," I announced, getting straight to the point. Kai nodded in acknowledgment before swiftly departing for the gym.

I fervently hoped that the Moonrise pack was small; I couldn't afford to lose any more of my warriors. I would need to devise a plan, as I always did before an attack. But for now, my wolf demanded release, so I made my way toward the forest.

In a heartbeat, I shifted, feeling my wolf's pent-up energy as he surged forward with a speed I had never experienced before. He seemed almost furious, as if he needed to release some built-up tension.

After a while, when he appeared to calm down, I shifted back and retrieved some clothes from my house before heading to the pack gym. As I entered, all eyes turned toward me, some bowing while others straightened their posture. I noticed that my beta, Kai, was conspicuously absent.

"As you are aware, we were attacked by rogues from the Moonrise pack yesterday. We will infiltrate their territory and assert dominance," I declared loudly and clearly, ensuring everyone heard me. "Until I formulate a plan, you will begin training immediately. Are there any questions?"

Seeing no hands raised, I sensed my wolf growing restless once more, urging me to relinquish control. With great effort, I suppressed his desires.

"Commence," I commanded firmly, before turning and striding out of the gym.

I found myself wandering aimlessly, my wolf pushing through and taking control. Before long, the pack house came into view, and as I entered, the intoxicating scent hit me like a wave—strawberries and roses, so unbelievably addicting. But mingling with that scent was the unmistakable aroma of Luna, the underdog, which unsettled me.

As I stepped into the living room, I witnessed a scene that made my blood boil—Kai had his hands wrapped around Luna's throat. I couldn't comprehend what was happening, but one thing was clear: he was violating one of my most sacred rules, instilled in me by my mother—never disrespect a girl.

"Mine, stop him now," my wolf growled urgently.

Was he out of his mind? Was this underdog truly my mate? Despite my inner turmoil, I couldn't deny the heavenly scent emanating from her. Then it dawned on me—my wolf wasn't agitated by Luna because she was an underdog; it was because she was our mate.

"NOW!" he roared louder than I had ever heard him before.

Seeing her struggle and feeling my wolf's insistence, I acted swiftly. Grabbing Kai by the back of his neck, I forcefully slammed his head into a nearby glass table. Blood oozed from his wound, and though he wasn't dead, he was certainly faring much worse at that moment.

"Checkmate," my wolf declared, his tone laced with concern, a rarity that spurred me into action. Rushing to Luna's side, I found her lying motionless, her breathing shallow. My heart raced with fear, but everything seemed to halt when she opened her eyes and gazed up at me. In that instant, I knew without a doubt—she was mine.

"I couldn't help but say, 'Mate,'" I murmured softly, overwhelmed by the realization.

As Luna closed her eyes once more, my senses were on high alert. Scooping her limp body into my arms, I felt undeniable sparks coursing through me. With urgency driving me forward, I hurried to the pack doctor's quarters. Bursting into the room, I laid her gently on the bed, my alpha instincts raging.

"Help her NOW!" I commanded in my most authoritative tone, my wolf frantic at the sight of his mate struggling to breathe. The pack doctor's eyes widened at the urgency in my voice as he moved swiftly to her side.

"Alpha, please, I need to check her pulse," he spoke, meeting my gaze with a reassuring calmness. "I'm not going to hurt her; I'm here to help."

Though hesitant, I nodded, my eyes locked on Luna's still form. I observed his every movement intently as he assessed her condition. His widened eyes only fueled my wolf's agitation further. He swiftly retrieved a defibrillator, explaining its necessity due to Luna's oxygen deprivation.

"What is that? Can you save her?" I demanded, my temper simmering dangerously close to boiling over.

"It's a defibrillator; she's suffered too much oxygen deprivation for anything else," he explained, his movements swift and purposeful. Ignoring my protests, he applied the paddles to Luna's chest, and I recoiled at the shocking sound that followed, her body jerking in response. A feral growl escaped my lips as I watched the heart monitor, desperate for any sign of improvement. Yet, there was only a single green line, indicating that she still wasn't breathing.

If she dies, I will kill you," my wolf snarled, his voice permeating with raw fury.

Once again, the doctor attempted to revive Luna, but the heart monitor stubbornly displayed a single, unyielding line. Another attempt yielded the same result, and another followed suit. A wave of anguish washed over me, a searing pain in my chest unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Was this the agony of losing one's mate?

"HELP HER!" I roared, my voice echoing through the room as I grabbed a chair and hurled it against the wall, shattering it in my frustration.

This time, a small beep emanated from the machine, and with each subsequent attempt, the beeping grew stronger. Luna was alive—my Luna was alive. Never before had I felt such overwhelming relief. But now that she was safe, there would be repercussions for anyone who dared to harm her, regardless of their status.

They would rue the day they crossed paths with her.