Under the enemy attack
1367 Words
Max’s POV
The silence in the garden is misleading almost peaceful, I can feel something is wrong. I should’ve known better. My wolf was restless all morning, pacing in the back of my mind like he knew something was coming. But I didn’t listen. I was too focused on Seraphina, watching her talk about the stars like she belonged to them. I like her and I hope she likes me too as much as I do
Then came the howls.
Not ours.
Not familiar.
Rogues.
My wolf Xel snapped to attention, claws pushing beneath my skin. I could feel my Alpha Aura surge, a growl crawling up my throat.
"STAY BEHIND ME", I yell to her
Seraphina was also charged up and ready for whatever blood shed that was about to happen . The Mate Pull hit again stronger this time. I could smell her fear. Feel it. Taste it.
“Run,” I growled, already halfway shifted, voice distorted through the sharpness of my fangs. “Get to the trees. Don’t stop.”
She didn't, damn her, but the second howl was closer. She took off, hoodie flapping behind her like wings. I shifted fully, my bones cracking, fur ripping through skin as I let my wolf take over.
Three rogues lunged from the treeline.
They were half shifted. I twisted their neck until I felt them go limp. I welcomed it.
I slammed into the another, sending him flying. The the fourth clawed my side. I didn’t feel it adrenaline and rage numbing everything. I tore into his neck and felt the crunch of bone. Warm blood gushed down my fur.
Another tackled me from behind.
I turn to see Sera slitting one's throat.
Then all hell broke loose.
More rogues poured in, like they’d been waiting. Trapping. Hunting. Us.
Where the hell was the pack?
I couldn’t fight them all. Not alone. Not with Seraphina out here.
I shifted back mid fight, panting, bloody, trying to find her scent. “Sera!” I shouted.
A sharp scream answered.
Not hers.
Another rogue dropped in front of me, teeth bared. Before I could react, a massive blur of motion took him down. Clean. Precise. Controlled.
Another wolf huge, silver grey, with glowing golden eyes stood above the twitching rogue. He lifted his snout and howled. It wasn’t just a call.
It was a Howl call.
Within seconds, more wolves appeared. Uniformed. Disciplined. Delta class, maybe even a Gamma in the mix. They wiped the rogues like they were nothing.
Seraphina stumbled into view, eyes wide, hoodie torn, arms scraped. One of the new wolves stood protectively in front of her.
I shifted back instantly, not caring about the pain. I rushed to her, heart hammering.
“Sera”
“I’m fine,” she said, but her voice trembled. “They came out of nowhere.”
The silver grey wolf shifted and damn, he was tall. Muscled. Clean cut. Hair slicked back like he just walked off a runway. His shirt was open, showing off a long Bond Mark scar on his chest old, faded, rejected maybe.
“Easy,” he said, stepping between me and Seraphina like I was the threat. “We were on patrol when we picked up the rogues. Lucky we got here in time.”
I clenched my fists. “Who are you?”
“Erik. Future Alpha of bloodmoon Pack.”
Future Alpha. Great.
He turned to Seraphina, offering a smile that was too smooth. “You okay, sweetheart? Did they hurt you?”
“No... I’m okay,” she said, looking at him like she wasn’t sure if she should trust him. But still, her voice softened.
And I felt it. That twist in my gut.
Deep down I was f***king jealous.
I have never felt that emotion, not now.
My wolf snarled inside me. Possessive. Irritated. Watching him smile at her like he had a right.
“She’s with me,” I snapped before I could stop myself.
Erik just raised a brow. “Didn’t realize she was mated. Doesn’t smell like it.”
Bastard.
We hadn’t Bond Marked yet. The Mate Pull was strong, yeah, but we hadn’t sealed it. Not officially. And now this guy was looking at her like she was available.
“You’ll both need protection if the rogues are gathering like this,”Erik continued, eyes flicking to me like he already decided he didn’t like me. “Come to our territory. My father would want to meet you and also my twin brother Derrick.”
Seraphina looked up at me, uncertain.
I hated this. Hated him. Hated how easily she looked to me for an answer when everything in me was screaming to just take her and run.
“Fine,” I muttered, jaw tight. “We’ll come. For now.”
But I knew this wasn’t over.
Not the rogue threat.
Not Erik.
And definitely not the war between my wolf and whatever the hell this future alpha thought he was starting.
Sera was mine and mine alone.
I hope.
My jaw tightened as I watched him speak to Seraphina as we were on our way like she already belonged in his pack. Like she could be claimed.
“She’s not one of yours,” I said, stepping closer. My voice was low, gravelly. More wolf than man.
Erik turned, clearly amused. “That right?
Seraphina glanced between us, her hoodie sleeves pulled tightly over her hands. She didn’t say anything, and that silence stung like silver.
“She’s not just some girl,” I growled. “She’s”
“I can speak for myself,” she interrupted, softly but firmly.
That silenced us both.
She looked up at Erik. “Thanks for helping back there. Really. But I’m not joining your pack, and I’m not anyone’s to claim like a damn trophy.”
Respect flashed across Erik's face but the glint in his eyes stayed sharp. “Didn’t mean to offend. I just thought a lone wolf like you deserved better protection.”
Seraphina crossed her arms. “Then stop talking like I’m some lost cub.”
He chuckled, backing off a step. “Fiery. I like that.”
I nearly shifted again.
My wolf clawed at my insides. Xel have never felt this Possessive. He didn’t like the way Erik looked at her. Didn’t like the way Seraphina was caught in the middle, confused, overwhelmed, and yet somehow still... calm.
I leaned in and whispered so only she could hear. “We shouldn’t go with them.”
She glanced at me, eyes soft but tired. “We don’t have a choice, Max. They saved us. And we need answers... about the rogues, about why they were after us. And...” she hesitated, “...about what’s happening to me.”
I swallowed hard. She still didn’t understand the Mate Pull, not fully. She still didn’t know what being connected to me meant. And maybe I didn’t either.
But I knew one thing.
“Then I’m not leaving your side,” I said. “Not even for a second.”
Erik, overhearing, smirked. “Great. Should be fun having a stray Alpha with us. You’ll fit right in.”
I turned to him, eyes narrowed. “Keep pushing, and I’ll show you how strays bite.”
He bared his teeth. “Anytime.”
Before we could lunge at each other, one of his Betas stepped in. “Alpha Erik,” he said urgently, " That wasn’t a random rogue attack. Their scent trails were marked. Tracked.”
“Marked?” I echoed, my voice dropping. “You mean someone sent them.”
The Beta nodded. “They were targeting you. Both of you.”
Seraphina paled beside me.
My blood went cold.
This wasn’t over.
This wasn’t even close to over.
“Lead us then,” I said, slipping my arm around Seraphina. “But know this...”
I paused, staring straight at Erik.
“If anything happens to her on your turf I don’t care how many warriors you have I will burn your pack to the ground.”
Erik smiled like he didn’t believe me.
But he would.
Soon.
- Writer
