When you have two ruthless alphas right next to each other, things are bound to get heated. And when those alphas have the same fire in their veins-an unrelenting thirst for dominance and revenge-it's only a matter of time before sparks fly. Alpha Ace Winter had never known peace. At just sixteen, she was forced to take the reins of The Luna Pack after a brutal rogue attack that left her parents and her best friends' parents slaughtered. The night was stained with blood, and the scars ran deep. But she was no stranger to the darkness. She, Zylen, and Colby had rebuilt The Luna Pack from the ashes of their fallen families, clawing their way to the top to become one of the most feared packs in the United States. Ace's resolve had been forged in blood and fire, and she would never back down. Alpha Deacon knew that same pain all too well. His pack had been attacked by the same ruthless rogues, and like Ace, he had to rebuild-though his path had been much more ruthless. Where Ace relied on her sharp mind and unwavering determination, Deacon was fueled by an insatiable hunger for power. His pack had grown stronger, but his ambitions were limitless. The land next to him, The Luna Pack's territory, had always been tempting. And now, it was time to claim it. Deacon's plan was simple: Take it by force. The attack came swiftly, under the cover of darkness, but he quickly realized that the Luna Pack was not the weakling pack he had hoped for. No, Ace had not only grown her pack's strength-she had forged a deadly edge in herself. The battle was brutal. Each strike carried the weight of years of grief and a desire for vengeance that could not be quenched. But Deacon wasn't prepared for the ferocity of Ace's leadership. He didn't realize that messing with The Luna Pack meant he'd be stepping into a battle he wasn't prepared for. And by the time the first blood was spilled, he understood-he had just crossed a line that would cost him more than he could ever have imagined.
Chapter 1 01
01
Ace
« Punch harder! » I growled out, my voice cutting through the rhythmic sound of fists against punching bags. Sweat glistened on the fighters' skin, their muscles straining with each punch, each kick. My eyes roamed over the pack's fighters, each one pushing themselves to the limit. It was the only way we could stay prepared for anything that might come our way. The rogues, the packs out for our land, or whatever else could threaten the stability we'd worked so hard to build.
« Make sure you guys focus on the bags! » Zylen, my beta, shouted from across the training ground. Her sharp eyes never missed a mistake, and the way she barked commands had the fighters following her every word without hesitation.
I stood by, hands clasped behind my back, watching the chaos unfold with a feeling of quiet pride. These fighters had come a long way from the group of inexperienced wolves we'd once had. They were stronger, faster, and more efficient than I could have ever imagined. The younger generation of fighters was shaping up to be an incredible asset to the pack.
« Nice. » I nodded to myself as I observed their technique. « Keep it up, everyone! You're doing great. »
« They are getting better, » Colby, my Third, commented, his voice carrying the kind of pride I shared. He was right. The fighters had improved significantly, and I was seeing the results of our hard work.
« I agree. This generation of fighters will be great alongside the fighters we have now. We're building something strong. » I said, crossing my arms over my chest. « Water break, everyone. Make sure you stay hydrated. It's really hot today. »
The fighters quickly stopped, their grunts subsiding as they shuffled toward their water bottles. I watched as they downed the cool liquid, their bodies catching their breath before the next round of training began. The heat was intense today, but it wasn't anything they couldn't handle. The training wasn't just about physical strength; it was about endurance, mental toughness.
Zylen stepped closer to me, her expression serious. « Hey, Ace, I think we should call it a day. It's really hot, and I don't want them to overheat. It won't be good for them. »
I looked up at the sky, my eyes squinting against the harsh yellow sun hanging in the sky. The humidity clung to the air, making it feel even hotter. Zylen was right. It was dangerous to push them any harder in this weather. Overheating could lead to injury, and I wasn't about to risk any of my fighters for the sake of pushing them beyond their limits.
« You're right, » I said after a moment of thought. « I don't want anyone fainting and having to rush them to the pack clinic. That'd be a nightmare. »
Zylen's eyes softened, but she gave a firm nod. « I'll go tell them. »
Colby, who had been silently observing, stepped forward. « I'll help. We'll get them settled and make sure they get plenty of water. »
« Thank you, both of you, » I said, giving them both a respectful nod.
As they walked off to break the news to the pack, I remained standing on the edge of the training area, my gaze still lingering on the fighters. The sweat dripping down their faces, the steady rhythm of their breath-it reminded me of what we stood to protect. Every ounce of their effort was for the pack. For our future.
Zylen returned quickly, her eyes flashing with a mixture of concern and anger. She was clearly irritated by something.
« Guess who took out another pack? » she growled, her tone laced with frustration.
I turned to her sharply, my gut tightening at her words. « Who? »
« Those rogues. » Zylen clenched her fists, the anger in her voice palpable. « The damn rogues took out another pack. »
A low growl rumbled in my chest at the mention of the rogues. The threat they posed was growing, and every time I heard about another pack falling, it made my blood boil. « They're going to die. They're pushing us too far. » My words were fierce, the anger evident in my tone.
Colby, now back by my side, looked between Zylen and me. « Did I hear you right, Zy? Another pack? »
Zylen nodded grimly. « Yeah, I got word from the alpha over at the Moon Dust Pack. His neighboring pack got wiped out. They were going to hit him next, but his defenses held strong. »
I exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over my face. « That's a first. No one's ever managed to stop those rogues before. »
Zylen's lips pressed into a thin line. « Well, the training techniques have gotten better over the years. And that's a pretty strong pack. The fact that they held off the rogues says something. »
I nodded, agreeing with her. « I'm glad we have a treaty with him. I don't think we'd stand a chance without it. The Moon Dust Pack is strong, and their leader's not someone to take lightly. »
Colby's face softened, and he let out a heavy sigh. « I'm just glad they made it through. I know how much this could've cost them. That kind of attack... it's hard to survive. »
« Yeah, » I said, my voice quieter now. « The rogues are relentless. But that alpha, he's a good man. He helped us when we were rebuilding the Luna Pack. I owe him big time for that. »
Zylen's eyes softened, but her expression quickly shifted back to focus. « He's lucky to have you as an ally, Ace. If those rogues had hit the Moon Dust Pack, there's no telling what could have happened. We might have lost a strong ally. »
« Your parents would be proud of you, Ace, » Zylen added with a gentle smile, her eyes full of warmth.
I glanced at her, a small smile tugging at my lips. « Yours too, Zy. And yours as well, Colby. We're doing this together. They'd be proud of all of us. »
Colby didn't share the same easy smile. Instead, he let out a sad sigh, his gaze distant. « I hope so. I'm trying my best at being Third. But no one could ever replace my dad. He was... the best. »
I placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. « I hear ya, Colby. You're doing great. Your dad would be proud of you. I'm proud of you. We all are. »
Zylen nudged him with her shoulder. « Don't be so hard on yourself. You're doing exactly what your dad would have done. You're leading the pack the best you can. We all see it. »
Before Colby could respond, a sharp voice cut through the air. « Alpha! »
I turned quickly, my senses going on alert. April, one of my trackers, was rushing toward us, her eyes wide with alarm.
« What's wrong? » I asked, already bracing myself for bad news.
« Rogues, Alpha! » April growled. Her tone was full of urgency. « They've been spotted near the border. They're gathering forces. »
My blood ran cold at the news. It was happening again. The rogues were on the move, and this time, they were getting closer.
« Damn it, » I muttered under my breath. « Get everyone ready. We won't let them get past our borders. »
Zylen and Colby were already in motion, moving toward the pack's fighters. I turned to April. « How many? »
« At least fifty, » she replied, her voice steady despite the fear that was evident in her eyes. « They're moving fast. »
I exhaled slowly, my fists clenching at my sides. « Then we move fast too. Get the word out to everyone. No one is to be caught off guard. »
As April nodded and ran off to spread the word, I looked out over the pack's grounds. This was it. The fight we'd all been preparing for was finally here.
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