Alpha’s Hidden Gem

8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Fierce Protector

Axel

As I drive back to Millfield, my mind is still reeling from the tense meeting with my pack and the disturbing photo on my phone. The road stretches before me, a ribbon of asphalt cutting through the darkness. I'm only a few miles outside of town when a sudden, gut-wrenching sensation tears through me like a bolt of lightning.

Mate, real danger, my wolf growls as he pushes to be released.

Lila. She's in danger.

The realization hits me with such force that I nearly lose control of the wheel. My heart pounds against my ribcage, a frantic, erratic rhythm that echoes the rising panic in my veins. A cold sweat breaks out on my skin, and my hands tremble as I grip the steering wheel tighter.

"No, no, no," I mutter under my breath, my voice raw with fear. "Not Lila. Please, not her."

My wolf stirs within me, a restless, agitated presence that demands action. It claws at my insides, urging me to drive faster, to reach her before it's too late. I can feel its desperation, its primal need to protect our mate at all costs. The feelings of my wolf are so intense, as if a wild creature is imprisoned in my chest, desperately battling to escape.

I press down on the accelerator, the engine roaring as I push the limits of the vehicle. The landscape blurs around me, a haze of greens and browns that barely register in my peripheral vision. All that matters is getting to Lila, to ensure her safety. Everything else fades away except for that one goal.

"Hang on, Lila," I whisper, my voice cracking with emotion. "I'm coming for you. Just hold on."

My mind races with terrible possibilities, each one more horrifying than the last. Images of Lila hurt, scared, or worse flash through my mind, fueling the urgency that consumes me. I can't lose her, not now, not when I've just found her. I feel like my worst nightmares are coming true, with no ability to intervene.

As I speed towards Millfield, my senses are on high alert, attuned to any sign of danger. The scent of the forest fills my nostrils, but I push past it, searching for anything out of place, anything that might lead me to Lila.

"Please be okay," I plead, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't do this without you, Lila. I need you."

The miles fly by in a blur of asphalt and adrenaline, my entire being focused on reaching her. I can feel the bond between us, the invisible unbonded thread that wants to tie our souls together, and I cling to it like a lifeline.

"I'm coming, Lila," I promise, my voice fierce with determination. "I won't let anything happen to you. I swear it."

I'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. She is my mate, my destiny, and I will fight for her with every breath in my body. It's not just about protection anymore – it's about preserving a part of myself, the other half of my soul.

As I screech into Millfield, my heart pounds against my chest, a frantic rhythm that threatens to burst through my ribcage. I park the car, step out, and begin sprinting towards the coffee shop. The city assaults me with a cacophony of scents—exhaust fumes, greasy food, and the sweat of countless humans.

I try to filter through the noise, seeking out the one scent that matters most to me. Where are you, Lila? I think, my mind racing with terrible possibilities.

Should have bitten her, my wolf hisses.

Great, now even my inner wolf is giving me attitude. Just what I need right now.

And then I catch it—the faintest whisper of her scent, a delicate thread amidst the chaos. I whip my head towards the source, my eyes scanning the streets with laser-like focus. That's when I see it—a shadowy figure forcibly dragging Lila towards a waiting car.

A visceral roar tears from my throat, a sound that is more animal than human. My wolf surges to the surface, clawing at my insides, demanding to be released. I can feel my muscles straining, my body coiled tight like a spring ready to snap. Every instinct screams at me to charge forward, to rip apart the threat to my mate with my bare hands.

I start running, pushing my body to its limits, but the car is too fast. It turns a corner and disappears from view, leaving me standing in the middle of the street, my chest heaving with exertion and despair.

I failed her. The realization hitting me like a physical blow. I failed to protect my mate.

But even as the crushing weight of guilt and fear threatens to suffocate me, a fierce determination takes root in my soul. I will find her. I will save her. And I will tear apart anyone who dares to stand in my way. My veins feel like they're on fire, consumed by an intense purpose that leaves no room for anything else.

My wolf howls within me, demanding action, but I force myself to think rationally. I need to find her. It feels like I was trying to solve a puzzle while the pieces keep changing shape – frustrating, but I can't give up.

I scan the streets, my senses on high alert, searching for any clue, any trace of Lila or her captors. The city is a maze of sights and smells, and I can feel precious time slipping away with each passing second. I won't give up, even if it's like searching for a single grain of sand on a beach.

As I break into a run, my wolf claws at my insides, demanding to be released. It takes every ounce of my self-control to keep the shift at bay until we make it to the forest– the pressure is immense.

I'm coming, Lila . My mind focused on a single goal. I'll find you, no matter what it takes.

We're coming, my wolf corrects. Even in this dire situation, he manages to be pedantic. Typical.

The streets of Millfield blur around me as I run, my senses stretched to their limits. I search for any sign of the black sedan, any trace of Lila's scent. But the city is a maze of sights and smells, and I can feel precious time slipping away with each passing second. I won't give up, even if it's like searching for a single grain of sand on a beach.

Think, Axel, I tell myself, forcing my mind to focus. Who would want to take Lila? What do they want with her?

A sudden thought stops me in my tracks. The rogues. Could they be behind this? My mind flashes back to the unsettling scent I detected in Lila's food truck, the same scent that lingered on the rogues I fought and the cryptic messages I received. Could they have taken her as some kind of twisted revenge against me?

The thought sends a chill down my spine, and I feel my wolf growling in anger. If the rogues have Lila, there's no telling what they might do to her. The image of her scared and alone, at the mercy of those monsters, is enough to make my blood boil.

I'll find you, Lila, I vow, my resolve hardening into an unbreakable steel. I'll bring you back safe, and I'll make sure no one ever threatens you again.

With renewed determination, I push myself harder, my legs pumping as I race through the streets. I won't rest until Lila is back in my arms, where she belongs. And heaven help anyone who tries to stand in my way. Love, fear, and fury propel me with unstoppable force.

As I run, my mind races with possibilities. Where would they take her? What's their endgame? I try to think like a rogue, to anticipate their moves, but it's like trying to predict the path of a tornado – chaotic and unpredictable.

The city gives way to suburbs, and then to the outskirts of town. I can feel the pull of the forest, calling to my wolf. It's where I'm strongest, where I can fully unleash my abilities without fear of human eyes. But leaving the city means potentially losing Lila's trail. It's a risk I'm not sure I can take.

I pause at the edge of the treeline, my chest heaving with exertion. Sweat drips down my face, but I barely notice it. All I can focus on is Lila – her scent, her smile, the way her eyes light up when she talks about cooking. I can't lose her. I won't.

My wolf paces restlessly within me, eager to take control. He wants to howl, to call the pack, to hunt down those who dared to take our mate. And a part of me wants to let him. It would be so easy to give in to the primal urge, to let instinct take over where reason has failed.

But I know I can't. Not yet. I need to think this through, to use every tool at my disposal. It's like being caught between two worlds – the human world of logic and planning, and the wolf world of instinct and raw power. I need to find a balance between the two if I'm going to save Lila.

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. "Hold on, Lila," I whisper into the night. "I'm coming for you. No matter what it takes, I will find you."

With one last look at the city behind me, I plunge into the forest. The familiar scents of earth and pine envelop me, and I feel a surge of strength. This is my territory, my domain. And somewhere out there, Lila is waiting for me to find her.

As I run deeper into the woods, I let my wolf rise closer to the surface. My senses sharpen, my muscles coil with untapped power. I'm not just Axel anymore – I'm the Alpha, the protector, the avenger. And nothing will stop me from bringing Lila home.

May the Moon have mercy on anyone who stands in my way. Because I sure as hell won't.