THE ALPHA'S REJECTED DAUGHTER

Chapter 14: The First Strike

The howl reverberated through the night, sending shockwaves through the entire pack. Liana’s pulse spiked, and her breath hitched in her throat. She barely had time to process the situation before Rylen was at her side, fully alert and ready for battle.

“They’re here,” he growled, his eyes glowing in the darkness. The intensity of his energy, the raw determination radiating from him, was like nothing Liana had ever felt before.

“I know,” she whispered, grabbing the dagger she kept by her bedside. “We need to rally the pack.”

Without another word, they rushed out into the clearing. Wolves were emerging from their homes; some had already shifted into their wolf forms, and others were gripping weapons, eyes wild with fear and determination. The Ironclaws had arrived, and the battle they had been preparing for was now at their doorstep.

Rylen shifted into his wolf form in an instant—a massive, dark beast with glowing green eyes—and howled, commanding the pack to gather and prepare for the oncoming assault. Liana followed closely, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and adrenaline.

She could feel it in the air—the energy of the impending fight, the tension before the clash. The Ironclaws wouldn’t hold back, and neither could they.

Liana scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of Jaxon. He had to be leading this attack, she thought, her grip tightening on her dagger. He was too much of a control freak to sit back and watch from a distance. This was personal for him.

“They’re moving in from the north!” Calen shouted, racing up to them with two other wolves by his side. “We spotted their scouts near the border.”

Rylen growled lowly, pacing. His wolf was already on edge, barely contained. Liana could feel the tension rolling off him in waves.

“We’ll split into groups,” Rylen ordered, his voice low and powerful. “Calen, take half the warriors to the northern border and set up an ambush. Liana, I need you with me. We’ll cover the center.”

Liana nodded, her heart racing, but she felt no hesitation. This was what they had been preparing for, and despite the fear gnawing at her, she knew what she had to do.

As the pack mobilized, Liana took a deep breath, centering herself. She couldn’t afford to be distracted by fear or the past. The pack needed her now more than ever.

The moonlight bathed the forest in a cold silver glow as they moved quickly through the trees. Rylen led the charge, his wolf forming a shadow in the darkness. Liana stayed close behind, her senses alert, her body tense with anticipation.

Then she saw them—the Ironclaws. A group of five wolves emerged from the treeline, their massive forms barely visible in the dim light. They were larger than the average wolves, their fur darker, their eyes glowing with menace.

The Ironclaw wolves didn’t hesitate. They charged forward with terrifying speed, growling and snapping as they closed the distance. Liana’s heart pounded in her chest, and the world seemed to slow as the first of the wolves lunged at her.

With a swift movement, she dodged the attack and slashed at the wolf’s side with her dagger. Blood sprayed, and the wolf yelped in pain but didn’t stop. It turned on her again, its teeth bared, but before it could strike, Rylen’s massive form barreled into it, knocking it to the ground with a vicious snarl.

“Focus, Liana!” Rylen barked, already turning to face another opponent.

Liana steadied herself, gripping her dagger tighter. She couldn’t let her fear take control. She had trained for this. She was stronger now.

Another Ironclaw lunged at her, and this time, she was ready. She dodged to the side, then plunged her dagger into the wolf’s shoulder. It howled in pain and staggered, giving her just enough time to pull the dagger free and prepare for the next attack.

But the Ironclaws were relentless. They kept coming, wave after wave, their growls filling the night. Liana’s body ached from the constant movement, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t.

Through the chaos, she caught a glimpse of Jaxon. He stood at the edge of the clearing, watching the battle with cold, calculating eyes. He hadn’t shifted yet, and that unsettled Liana. He was waiting for something.

Liana’s breath caught in her throat as their eyes met. His lips curled into a cruel smile, and he took a step forward.

“Liana,” Rylen called, his voice tense. “Stay with me.”

But it was too late. Jaxon moved toward her, weaving through the chaos with ease, as if the battle unfolding around him meant nothing.

Liana raised her dagger, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn’t the same girl Jaxon had once controlled. She had grown stronger, and she wouldn’t let him take her again.

“You’re making this harder than it needs to be,” Jaxon said as he stopped a few feet away from her. His voice was calm, almost bored, but there was a sharp edge to it. “Come back with me, and I might spare your pack.”

Liana’s hand tightened around the hilt of her dagger, her eyes locked on his. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Jaxon’s smile faded, and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. “You always were stubborn. But this time, you don’t have a choice.”

Before she could react, he lunged at her, moving faster than she had anticipated. His claws slashed through the air, and Liana barely managed to block the attack with her dagger. The force of the impact sent her stumbling back, and she struggled to regain her footing.

“Liana!” Rylen roared, his wolf charging toward them, but Jaxon was faster.

Jaxon swiped at Rylen, his claws cutting deep into his side. Rylen yelped in pain and staggered, his wolf form struggling to stay upright.

“No!” Liana cried, fear gripping her heart. She couldn’t lose him—not now.

Jaxon laughed, the sound cold and heartless. “He’s not your savior, Liana. He’s weak, just like the rest of them.”

Rage surged through Liana, her fear melting away. She had spent too long running, too long living in the shadow of Jaxon’s cruelty. She wouldn’t let him take Rylen or the pack from her.

With a fierce growl, Liana charged at Jaxon, her dagger raised high. He blocked her attack, but she didn’t stop. She slashed at him again and again, each strike fueled by the anger and pain she had carried for so long.

Jaxon snarled, his eyes blazing with fury. “You’re going to regret this.”

But Liana didn’t stop. She wouldn’t back down. Not this time.

Jaxon grabbed her wrist, twisting it painfully, and she cried out as her dagger clattered to the ground. He shoved her to the ground, pinning her with his weight, his claws pressing against her throat.

“You’re mine,” he hissed, his breath hot against her skin.

Liana’s vision blurred, her lungs screaming for air. But she wouldn’t give in. Not to him.

Just as the darkness began to creep in, a powerful howl cut through the night. It was loud, fierce, and filled with a power that sent a shiver down Liana’s spine.

Jaxon froze, his grip on her loosening. Liana gasped for breath, her heart racing as she struggled to understand what had happened.

From the tree line, a massive wolf emerged its fur silver and glowing under the moonlight. It was unlike anything Liana had ever seen—its presence commanding and overwhelming.

Jaxon snarled, his eyes narrowing. “Who the hell are you?”

The wolf didn’t answer. It charged at Jaxon with a speed and ferocity that left Liana stunned.

Jaxon barely had time to react before the wolf was on him, tearing him away from Liana and sending him crashing into the trees. Jaxon roared in pain, but the silver wolf didn’t stop. It attacked again, driving Jaxon farther and farther away from the clearing.

Liana lay on the ground, her body trembling as she gasped for air. She had no idea where the wolf had come from, but it had saved her life.

As the sounds of the battle faded into the distance, Liana slowly pushed herself to her feet, her eyes searching the clearing for Rylen.

He lay on the ground, his wolf form covered in blood, but he was still breathing. Liana rushed to his side, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Rylen,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “Please, hold on.”

His eyes fluttered open, and he shifted back into his human form, wincing in pain. “I’m okay,” he said, though his voice was weak. “What… what happened?”

“I don’t know,” Liana admitted, her voice barely a whisper. “But I think we just got help from someone—or something—we didn’t expect.”

The silver wolf was gone, leaving behind only silence and the promise of more battles to come.

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