THE PROTECTED ALPHA

Chapter 9- LOGAN'S P.O.V

I walked into the council room, my expression calm but my wolf Max was already pacing inside me, furious.

"So I heard you've found me a Luna," I said, my voice sharp as I took my seat at the head of the table.

"Yes, Alpha," one of the elders said, his tone a little too proud for my liking.

"And who would that be?" I asked, already knowing I wouldn't like the answer.

"Alpha Jason's daughter," another elder chimed in. "She would make a wonderful Luna."

Max growled inside me, barely restrained. I clenched my jaw.

"So let me get this straight," I said slowly. "You held a meeting without me, made a decision on my mate, and now you expect me to thank you?"

"We did it for the good of the pack, Alpha," Elder Gerald said, not sensing the danger in my voice.

Max snapped. He surged forward, taking control. My eyes flashed with my wolf's fury.

"How dare you undermine your Alpha?" Max growled, our voice heavy with Alpha command. The room stiffened in fear.

"Zack!" I barked.

The door opened, and Zack stepped in. "Yes, Alpha?"

"Take Elder Dickson and Elder Gerald to the dungeon. I'll decide their fate later."

Zack nodded, calling in guards who dragged the two protesting elders away.

"Alpha, this is no way to treat council members!" Elder Davis said, rising in outrage.

I turned my gaze on him slowly, letting an amused smirk spread across my face. "Zack, add Elder Davis to the list."

Davis paled as guards seized him too.

"Anyone else with an opinion?" I asked coldly.

"No, Alpha," the remaining elders said in unison, staring at the floor.

"Good." I stood. "Meeting's over."

I left without another word, the sound of my boots echoing off the floor. When I reached my room on the top floor of the pack house, I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, exhaling deeply.

Max was still restless.

They dare plan a Luna when we already have our mate, he growled.

I know, Max. They'll never pull this stunt again.

RAYMOND'S P.O.V.

After Emily went to bed, I sat alone in my room. The house was quiet, but my mind wasn't. My eyes drifted to the old photo of Claire on the wall. Her smile always brought me comfort-and pain.

"I wish you were here, Claire," I murmured.

My thoughts slipped back to a memory that haunted me still.

Eleven years ago...

We were walking through the forest-me, Claire, and six-year-old Emily-when Emily suddenly screamed.

"Daddy, look!" she cried, pointing.

Vampires. Emerging from the trees.

Claire knelt in front of Emily. "Sweetheart, when I count to three, run, okay? Run for Mommy."

Emily nodded, her eyes wide.

"One... two... three! Run!"

Emily took off. Then chaos erupted.

Vampires. Hunters. Rogue wolves. All attacking at once. We fought, side by side, but there were too many.

Then I heard Emily scream.

I turned in time to see a vampire sink its fangs into her neck.

"Emily!" Claire cried, using her telekinesis to tear Emily from its grasp. She caught her mid-air-but a hunter attacked Claire from behind, distracting her.

I sprinted and caught Emily just in time. I could barely breathe.

Then I saw Claire, vulnerable, a hunter raising a blade behind her.

"Claire!" I screamed, my heart stopping.

And then-arrows flew, fast and sharp.

A voice rang out, powerful and familiar.

"Nobody-and I mean nobody-touches my friend."

"Claire!" I screamed, terrified of losing her.

Just then, a flurry of glowing arrows sliced through the night sky, striking down enemies around us. A voice rang out-firm and fearless-one I was desperately glad to hear.

"Nobody-and I repeat-nobody touches my friend."

Serlin stepped into view, her presence radiating calm power and danger. She moved like a storm, and relief rushed through me like a crashing wave. I hadn't realized I'd been holding my breath until it escaped in a shaky exhale.

Without wasting a moment, Serlin darted toward Claire and quickly took both Emily and Sandra, enclosing them inside a shimmering magical barrier. The shield rippled with bluish light and a soft hum, sealing them away from the chaos outside.

Even with Serlin here, the enemy forces-rogue vampires, hunters, feral wolves-only grew in number. It was a full-on ambush.

"What are you even doing here?" I yelled to Serlin between strikes.

She didn't even flinch. "Have you forgotten?" she asked, dodging a silver blade.

"Forgotten what?" I asked, confused.

"You texted me to come."

"No, I didn't," I said.

We both froze mid-motion. The realization hit all three of us like a gut punch.

This was a setup.

They had planned to take all of us out tonight: me, Claire, and Serlin-the three most powerful supernatural rulers. I, the Vampire King. Claire, Alpha of the strongest pack. Serlin, High Enchantress and Queen of Witches.

Then Claire turned to me. Her eyes were steady. "Richard."

My heart sank. I knew that tone.

"No. Claire, no. It's not happening," I said quickly, already panicking.

"You have to," she urged. "It's the only way to save them."

Serlin, hearing her, stepped closer. "She's right."

I snapped. "I'm not listening to this crap from either of you!"

"Richard." Claire's voice cracked.

"I can't-I won't abandon my wife and my best friend!" I shouted, cutting down a vampire in one swift movement. "There has to be another way!"

"You're not abandoning us," Claire said, stepping in front of me. Her palms cupped my cheeks, grounding me in the middle of the chaos. "I will always be with you."

Tears welled up in my eyes and slipped down my cheeks like hot rivers. Her touch was soft. Her gaze, unwavering.

"You're the only one who can protect them," she whispered. "And if I had to watch my daughter die in front of me... I wouldn't survive it."

The words stabbed straight through my chest.

Suddenly, my father's words echoed in my mind:

"You can't have everything, Richard. You must lose some to protect the rest. That's the nature of things."

Claire turned to Serlin. "Please... wipe Emily's memory. I don't want her to remember any of this."

Serlin nodded silently.

Then she knelt beside Emily. Her hand hovered over the little girl's forehead.

"Sweet dreams, little moon," she whispered.

There was a soft hum, and a gentle ripple of magic washed over Emily's face. Her tiny brow relaxed. Her breathing deepened.

"She'll remember love," Serlin murmured. "Nothing else."

Claire nodded. "That's all I want."

Then she looked back at me.

"Now you can give our daughter the simple life we always wanted," she said softly, before turning away from me-just like that. Like she hadn't just torn my entire soul in half.

I stood frozen for a second, torn between staying to fight or honoring her last request. Serlin glanced over her shoulder, eyes hard with urgency.

"Richard-take the girls. Now!" she shouted. "I'll hold the barrier-Claire and I will buy you time."

Claire gave me one final look-a brave, heart-shattering smile.

"Run."

I didn't think. I moved.

I ran toward the barrier and stepped inside. The world around us fell silent, as if time itself paused. Emily was curled in the corner, unconscious, her tiny body glowing faintly from Serlin's magic. Sandra lay beside her, weak but breathing.

I scooped them both into my arms, my heartbeat thundering louder than the battle outside.

Before leaving, I turned back.

Through the shimmer of the barrier, I saw Claire and Serlin standing side by side-glorious, terrifying, unstoppable. Magic and moonlight wrapped around them like armor. Arrows whirled around Serlin's hands. Claire's eyes glowed with her wolf's strength.

She looked like a goddess. My goddess. My moon.

"I love you," I whispered.

And then I ran.

Faster than I ever had before-faster than the fire, faster than the pain. I leapt over fallen trees and dodged burning wreckage. I didn't stop. Not when the sky exploded with silver light. Not when the earth trembled behind me.

I didn't stop until I was far, far away.

When I finally collapsed to my knees, miles from the battlefield, both girls still in my arms, I looked down at Emily. Her tiny hand curled around my shirt.

"You're safe," I whispered, voice cracked. "I kept you safe."

But inside, everything shattered.

Claire and Serlin were gone.

I buried my face into Emily's hair and let the tears fall freely.

That night changed everything.

And from that moment on, I made one promise to myself:

No matter what... I will protect Emily.

Even if it kills me.