The alpha I hated

Chapter 22: The Alpha's choice

NOAH'S POV

I stood up from the chair next to Daisy's bed and walked to the window. What I saw made my stomach drop.

The red glow in the forest was getting brighter. And the shapes moving through the trees were getting closer. There had to be hundreds of them. Maybe thousands.

"How long do we have?" I asked Alex.

"That's the thing," Alex said, looking relieved. "They can't actually get into your territory right now."

"What do you mean they can't get in?" Elder Sarah asked.

Maya smiled and pulled a small crystal out of her pocket. It was glowing with the same silver light as the smoke Alex had used earlier.

"When we came here, we set up a barrier," she said. "A magical signal that redirects creatures like this. Makes them think they want to go somewhere else."

"You mean they're not actually coming for us?" I asked.

"Oh, they're definitely coming for Daisy," Alex said. "But the barrier is confusing them. Making them think she's in a different direction. So they're heading away from your territory instead of toward it."

I felt a huge wave of relief wash over me.

"So we're safe?" Elias asked.

"For now," Maya said. "But the barrier won't last forever. Maybe a few hours at most."

"And then what?" Elder Sarah asked.

"Then they'll figure out where Daisy really is," Alex said. "And they'll come back. Angrier than before."

I looked back out the window at the glowing forest. The shapes were moving away from us now, heading deeper into the woods. But I knew Alex was right. This was just buying us time.

"What do we need to do?" I asked.

Alex and Maya looked at each other again, having another one of those silent conversations.

"There's a way to get rid of them permanently," Maya said slowly. "But it's dangerous."

"More dangerous than letting them attack my pack?" I asked.

"More dangerous for Daisy," Alex said.

I felt my protective instincts flare up immediately.

"Then we find another way," I said.

"Noah," Maya said gently, "there might not be another way."

"Explain," Elder Sarah demanded.

Alex sat down on the edge of the bed again and ran his hands through his hair.

"These creatures, the shadow demons and whatever else is coming, they're all connected to Daisy," he said. "They're drawn to her power like moths to a flame. As long as she has that power, they'll keep coming."

"So we help her control her power," I said. "We teach her how to hide it."

"It's not that simple," Maya said. "Daisy's power isn't just something she has. It's something she is. It's woven into every part of her being."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that the only way to make the creatures stop coming is to trap them somewhere they can never escape from," Alex said. "Somewhere that exists outside of normal space and time."

"A cave," Maya added. "But not just any cave. A special cave that exists between worlds."

"And how do we get them into this cave?" Elias asked.

Alex looked at me with sympathy in his eyes.

"We use Daisy as bait," he said quietly.

"No," I said immediately. "Absolutely not."

"Noah, listen to me," Maya said, standing up. "The cave I'm talking about is called the Void Cavern. It's a place where creatures can be imprisoned forever. Once something goes in, it can never come out."

"I don't care," I said. "I'm not using Daisy as bait."

"But here's the thing," Alex said. "If we can get all of these creatures into the cave at once, and then seal it shut, they'll be gone forever. Not just from your territory. From everywhere. They'll never be able to hurt anyone again."

"And what happens to Daisy during this brilliant plan?" I asked sarcastically.

"She would have to go into the cave too," Maya said softly. "To make sure all the creatures follow her."

"Then she'd be trapped forever too," Elder Sarah said.

"Not necessarily," Alex said quickly. "There are ways to get out of the Void Cavern. But they're complicated. And dangerous."

I turned away from them and looked down at Daisy. She was still sleeping peacefully, unaware of the conversation happening around her. Her face looked so young and innocent. The idea of putting her in danger made me sick.

"There has to be another way," I said.

"Noah," Elias said quietly, "what if there isn't?"

I spun around to look at him.

"You're supposed to be on my side," I said.

"I am on your side," Elias said. "But I'm also thinking about the pack. About all the people who could die if these creatures keep coming."

"So you want me to sacrifice Daisy to save everyone else?"

"I want you to consider all the options," Elias said. "That's what an Alpha does."

I felt anger building in my chest. Everyone was talking about Daisy like she was a thing instead of a person. Like her life didn't matter as much as everyone else's.

"She's my mate," I said. "I won't let anything happen to her."

"And she's a hybrid with enough power to destroy the world," Maya said. "Or save it. The choice is hers to make."

"What do you mean, the choice is hers?"

Alex stood up and walked over to me.

"We can't make this decision for Daisy," he said. "She's the one with the power. She's the one the creatures are hunting. She gets to decide what happens next."

"She's unconscious," I pointed out.

"She'll wake up soon," Maya said. "The effects of hosting Pyritha are wearing off. And when she does wake up, we need to tell her everything. About the creatures, about the cave, about what's at stake."

"And then what?"

"Then we let her choose," Alex said. "Whether to risk her own life to save everyone else. Or whether to find another way to deal with the problem."

I looked around the room at all the faces staring at me. Elder Sarah looked worried but determined. Elias looked conflicted but supportive. Alex and Maya looked sad but resolute.

"What if she chooses to go into the cave?" I asked quietly.

"Then we do everything we can to make sure she gets out safely," Maya said.

"And what if she doesn't get out?"

No one answered that question.

I walked back over to Daisy's bed and sat down in the chair again. I took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"How long before the barrier fails?" I asked.

"Three hours," Alex said. "Maybe four if we're lucky."

"And how long to reach this Void Cavern?"

"Two hours," Maya said. "It's not far from here. But we'd have to move carefully. Make sure all the creatures follow us."

I closed my eyes and tried to think. There had to be another option. Some way to protect Daisy and save everyone else.

That's when I felt Daisy's hand squeeze mine back.