Page 35 of Alpha's Heir

I watched them spring into action, rallying the pack members who were still able to help. It was heart-wrenching, seeing my pack like this – broken, battered, but not defeated. Not yet.

I turned to the rest of the pack, raising my voice to be heard over the commotion. "If you're not injured, I need you to help! We need to get these fires under control and tend to the wounded. Move!"

My pack responded immediately, their resilience in the face of adversity making me proud. They worked tirelessly, fighting the flames and tending to the injured with a determination that spoke volumes of their spirit.

As I helped coordinate the efforts, my mind kept racing. The Unseen Pack had shown us no mercy, and there was no doubt in my mind that they'd be back. We couldn't afford to be sitting ducks any longer.

I looked around at the compound – my home, our sanctuary – now reduced to a battlefield. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. We had to leave. Today. If we stayed any longer, we might not get another chance to escape.

With a heavy heart, I knew what I had to do. I had to lead my pack away from the only home many of them had ever known, into the unknown. It was a daunting task, but it was the only way to ensure their survival.

Chapter seventeen

Cora

Iwokeupwitha start, my heart pounding in my chest. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, and the sounds of chaos echoed through the night. My mind was still reeling from the dream about the Guardian, but reality quickly set in as I heard the screams, snarls, and howls outside.

I rushed to the window, my hands trembling. The sight that met my eyes was one of utter devastation. The compound was a battlefield, engulfed in flames and chaos. Among the fighters, I saw Weston, locked in combat with Preston. My heart sank as I realized Weston was losing.

"No, no, no," I muttered under my breath, my mind racing. I knew Weston would want me to stay inside, safe because of our unborn child, but I couldn't just stand by and watch him fall.

I quickly got dressed, pulling on whatever clothes were within reach. My mind was a whirlwind of fear and determination. I had to do something, anything to help.

As I raced down the stairs, the sound of a building collapsing thundered through the air. My heart skipped a beat. This was worse than I thought.

I flung the door open, ready to join the fray, but stopped dead in my tracks. There, standing before me with a sneer on his face, was Preston.

"Hello... Alpha," he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt.

Without thinking, I swung a punch at him, fueled by anger and desperation. But he caught my hand effortlessly, his grip iron-tight. I struggled against him, but it was no use. He was stronger than ever before, his power seemingly magnified.

"What the hell, Preston?" I spat, trying to pull my hand free. "What do you want?"

He leaned in closer, his eyes gleaming with malice. "What do I want?" he echoed, his grip tightening. "I want everything, Cora. And I'm going to take it, starting with this compound."

I felt a surge of fear, but I refused to let it show. "You won't win," I retorted, trying to sound confident despite the fear gripping my heart.

"Oh, but I already am," he said, a twisted smile on his lips. "Look around, Cora. Your pack is falling apart. And you... you're powerless to stop me."

I glared at him, my mind racing for a way out of his grasp. "You think this makes you powerful? Attacking us like this?"

He chuckled darkly. "Power is everything, Cora. And soon, I'll have more than you can imagine."

My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled against his grip, my mind filled with worry for Weston, for our pack, for our future. "Let me go, Preston. You don't have to do this."

His smile widened. "But I want to, Cora. And there's nothing you can do to stop me."

I struggled against Preston's grip, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anger. "Where the hell are you taking me?" I demanded, but he remained silent, dragging me through the house and out the back door, away from the chaos and the sounds of battle.

I glanced back towards the compound, hoping for a glimpse of Weston, but all I saw were flames and the silhouettes of fighting wolves. A sinking feeling took hold in my stomach as Preston led me toward the woods—the very place the Guardian in my dream had warned me about.

"Stop! We can't go into the woods!" I protested, my voice filled with panic. The memory of the Guardian's words echoed in my mind: "The forest... for you... means death."

Preston ignored my protests, his grip on my wrist unyielding. I tried to pull away, but it was like trying to move a mountain. "Why are you doing this, Preston?" I asked, desperation seeping into my voice.

He remained silent for a moment, and then, with a creepy smile, he looked at me. "Congratulations on your pregnancy," he said, his tone chillingly nonchalant.

I felt a cold wave of realization wash over me. How did he know? Before I could process this further, he swiftly tied my hands and, in one smooth motion, threw me over his shoulder.

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