Alpha Eric's Promise, Protecting those he loves

Shadows in the Forest

The pack worked tirelessly to rebuild. After the rogue attack, every member had a role to play, whether reinforcing defenses, patrolling borders, or caring for the injured. The pack's spirit remained strong, but a quiet unease lingered—an awareness that the threat hadn't truly passed.

Alpha Eric and Luna Ella were determined to ensure their pack's survival. Yet, despite their efforts to reassure everyone, they couldn't shake the sense that this was only the beginning.

Aria's Nightmare

Aria sat bolt upright in bed, gasping for air. Her heart raced as the remnants of her dream faded—visions of wolves with glowing red eyes surrounding her, their snarls echoing in the darkness.

Across the room, Alex stirred, rubbing his eyes groggily.

 "Aria?"

"It's nothing," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"It's not nothing." He sat up, his concern cutting through his usual bravado. 

"You had a nightmare again."

Aria nodded, her small hands clutching the blanket tightly. "They were back, Alex. The bad wolves... but this time, they got inside."

Alex slid off his bed and climbed onto hers, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. "They're not getting inside. Mom and Dad won't let that happen. And neither will I."

"But what if they come back for us?" Aria asked, her voice breaking.

Alex clenched his fists. "Then we'll fight them. Together."

Eric's Decision

The following morning, Eric stood in his office, staring at a map of their territory. Red marks indicated where the rogues had breached their borders during the last attack. Each one felt like a personal failure.

Ella entered quietly, setting a mug of coffee on his desk. "You've been staring at that map all morning," she said gently.

"I need answers," Eric replied, his voice edged with frustration. "The patrols haven't found anything. It's like the rogues disappeared into thin air."

Ella stepped closer, resting a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find them. But you need to take care of yourself, too."

Eric sighed, leaning into her touch. "What if they come back? What if next time, we're not fast enough?"

"That's why we're preparing," Ella said firmly. "We've strengthened the borders. The warriors are training harder than ever. And we're working together. 

We'll protect the pack, Eric."

Eric nodded, though his jaw remained tight. "I want to send scouts beyond our borders. If there's a rogue leader out there, we need to know who they are and what they want."

Ella hesitated. Sending wolves into unfamiliar territory was a risk, but she knew Eric was right. "We'll send our best," she agreed.

The Scouts' Mission

By noon, a team of four skilled scouts—led by a seasoned warrior named Marcus—was ready to depart. They gathered at the edge of the forest, their expressions a mix of determination and caution.

"Stay in pairs," Eric instructed. "Move quickly and quietly. We need information, not confrontation. And if you see anything unusual, report back immediately."

Marcus nodded. "We won't let you down, Alpha."

As the scouts disappeared into the trees, Eric watched them go, his heart heavy with worry. He turned to Ella, who stood beside him. "I hate sending them into danger."

"So do I," she admitted. "But it's the only way to keep the rest of us safe."

The Training Grounds

Meanwhile, the pack's warriors were hard at work, honing their skills under Daniel's watchful eye. The sound of clashing swords and grunts of effort filled the air as they practiced drills and sparred.

Alex watched from the sidelines, his young face set with determination. He admired the warriors' strength and precision, longing to be part of their world.

"I want to train," he announced, stepping forward.

Daniel looked down at him, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You're a little young for the training grounds, pup."

"I'm not a pup!" Alex protested, puffing out his chest. "I'm the Alpha's son. I need to be ready to protect the pack."

Daniel crouched to meet Alex's gaze, his expression softening. "I admire your spirit, Alex. But training isn't just about swinging a sword. It takes discipline, patience, and a lot of hard work."

"I can do it," Alex insisted.

Daniel chuckled. "How about this—if you can run around the training grounds ten times without stopping, I'll teach you some basic moves."

Alex's eyes lit up. "Deal!"

As Alex took off running, Daniel shook his head with a smile. "He's got the heart of a warrior, that one."

Aria's Discovery

While Alex was busy proving himself, Aria wandered through the pack's library. The quiet room was a refuge for her, a place where she could escape the memories of the attack.

As she browsed the shelves, a book caught her eye. It was old, its leather cover worn and faded, but something about it drew her in. She pulled it down and flipped through the pages, her brow furrowing as she read.

The book was filled with stories of prophecies and ancient wolves—tales of power and destiny. One passage in particular made her pause:

"In the time of shadows, when the pack is threatened from within and without, two will rise to lead them. Born of the same blood, they will possess strength and wisdom beyond their years. Together, they will unite the pack and vanquish the darkness."

Aria's heart raced. The description sounded eerily familiar. Could it be about her and Alex?

"Aria?"

She jumped, slamming the book shut as Ella entered the room.

"What are you reading?" Ella asked, her tone light but curious.

"Just a story," Aria said quickly, hiding the book behind her back.

Ella gave her a knowing look but didn't press further. "Dinner's ready. Come on."

As they left the library, Aria couldn't shake the feeling that the book's words were more than just a story.

A Grim Report

Two days later, Marcus and his team returned, their faces grim. The pack gathered in the great hall as Eric and Ella questioned them.

"What did you find?" Eric asked.

Marcus hesitated, his expression troubled. "We found traces of the rogues' camp about twenty miles east. It's abandoned now, but it was large—big enough to house at least fifty wolves."

Gasps rippled through the room.

"Fifty?" Ella repeated, her stomach sinking.

Marcus nodded. "And that's not all. We found signs of organization—supply caches, training areas. Whoever's leading these rogues, they're building an army."

The room fell silent as the weight of his words sank in.

Eric's eyes blazed with determination. "Then we need to be ready. We'll double the patrols and strengthen our defenses even further. 

And we'll find this rogue leader before they can strike again."

Aria's Revelation

That night, as the pack prepared for another sleepless watch, Aria couldn't keep her discovery to herself any longer. She found Alex in their room, pacing back and forth with restless energy.

"Alex," she said, holding out the book. "You need to see this."

He took it from her, his brow furrowing as he read the passage she'd marked.

"Do you think it's about us?" Aria asked, her voice trembling.

Alex looked up at her, his expression serious. "I don't know. But if it is, we have to be ready."

"How?"

Alex's jaw tightened. "We'll start training. We'll learn everything we can. If we're supposed to protect the pack, we need to be strong enough to do it."

Aria hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. Together."

"Together," Alex agreed.

The First Step

The twins began their secret training the next morning, sneaking into the forest before dawn. Alex practiced the moves he'd seen the warriors use, while Aria worked on improving her agility and focus.

It wasn't easy—they stumbled, fell, and got plenty of bruises—but they didn't give up. They were determined to be ready for whatever was coming.

As the sun rose higher, casting golden light through the trees, Alex paused to catch his breath. 

"Do you think Mom and Dad will be mad if they find out?"

Aria smiled faintly. "Probably. But they'll understand why we're doing it."

Alex nodded, his eyes shining with resolve. "We're going to protect the pack, Aria. No matter what."

And as they continued their training, neither of them noticed the shadowy figure watching them from the treeline, a rogue scout, silently retreating to report back to their leader.

The battle wasn't over. It was only beginning.