Chapter 5

Alpha Doyle

I spent the rest of the day doing exactly what I’d been missing while I was away.

Being a father.

I played with the boys until they were exhausted, listened to Lilly and Julie tell me every tiny detail I’d apparently missed during the few days I’d been gone, and soaked up every precious moment with my family.

I hadn’t realised just how much I needed it until I was surrounded by them again.

Home.

My family.

My life.

But after dinner, once the children had been put to bed, I knew it was time to tell everyone what had happened in Germany.

We gathered in the living room, the atmosphere noticeably different from the warmth and laughter we’d shared earlier.

Storm sat beside me, her hand resting against mine.

Sean and Siobhan were nearby, while the girls and Mike settled into the remaining seats.

I took a slow breath.

“The rogue attacks are worse than we thought.”

The room immediately fell silent.

I told them everything.

The attacks happening across different countries.

The similarities between them.

The increasing numbers.

The timing.

The coordination.

And, most importantly, what had been bothering me since the meeting.

“I don’t believe these rogues are acting independently.”

Storm’s fingers tightened around mine.

“I think someone is coordinating them.”

Mike frowned.

“You do realise how difficult that would be, right?”

I looked at him.

“Why?”

“We’re talking about attacks happening across huge distances. Coordinating something like that would be incredibly complicated. Hell, even the military couldn’t organise attacks across that kind of distance with that level of consistency.”

Storm didn’t hesitate.

“Actually, I think it makes sense.”

Mike looked at her.

Storm leaned forward slightly.

“If the rogues have some kind of hierarchy, the groups carrying out the attacks wouldn’t necessarily need to know who was giving the orders. They could simply receive instructions, carry them out and report back.”

I nodded.

“Exactly.”

Mike sighed.

“Of course you’d agree with him.”

Storm’s eyebrows shot up.

Before she could respond, Sean’s voice cut through the room.

“That’s enough.”

Mike looked at him.

Sean’s expression had hardened.

“Show some respect to the Luna.”

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Mike finally looked away.

I didn’t need to say anything.

Sean had already handled it.

Leah shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“So what does this mean for us?”

That was the question I’d been dreading.

“It means we need to be careful.”

I looked around the room.

“Until we know who’s behind this, nobody goes near the perimeter alone.”

Everyone listened.

“Border patrols will work in pairs. Anyone leaving the main compound needs someone with them. We don’t know how organised these rogues are, and we aren’t going to give them an opportunity to exploit a weakness.”

Siobhan nodded.

“And we’re going to try to take some of them alive.”

Lilly’s eyes widened.

“Alive?”

Siobhan nodded.

“We need information. Killing them won’t tell us who’s behind this.”

“But isn’t that dangerous?”

“It is,” Siobhan admitted with a small smile. “But we need answers.”

Storm leaned forward.

“Then promise me something.”

Siobhan looked at her.

“Be careful.”

Storm’s voice softened.

“No heroics. No unnecessary risks. You are part of this family, and we don’t want you hurt.”

Siobhan smiled.

“I promise.”

I looked around the room.

“And that applies to everyone.”

There was no mistaking the seriousness in my voice.

“We don’t know what we’re dealing with.”

Silence settled over the room.

Because that was the truth.

We didn’t.

For the first time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were dealing with something far bigger than a group of angry rogues.

Something organised.

Something deliberate.

Something that had been building for far longer than any of us realised.

Eventually, the conversation moved away from the rogues.

We talked.

We laughed.

We enjoyed being together.

But the warning I’d given them remained at the back of my mind.

Be careful.

It wasn’t simply advice.

It was a necessity.

A few hours later, we finally retired for the night.

I climbed into bed beside Storm and pulled her against me.

Her familiar scent surrounded me, and her warmth slowly eased the tension that had been sitting in my muscles all evening.

I kissed the top of her head.

Home.

My mate.

My family.

Safe.

I closed my eyes.

For the first time since leaving Ireland to attend the meeting in Germany, I allowed myself to truly relax.

Within minutes, sleep claimed me.

I had no idea that while I slept…

someone was watching us.

And they had been watching for much longer than I realised.

⸻

Siobhan

I awoke feeling completely refreshed.

I’d slept surprisingly well.

I turned my head towards Sean.

Still asleep.

I smiled.

That man could probably sleep through an earthquake.

Carefully, I slipped out of bed, showered and dressed, then quietly made my way downstairs.

The house was silent.

Too silent.

I walked past the family room before stopping.

Liam was standing beside the fireplace, adding another log to the flames.

He glanced over.

His eyebrows immediately rose.

“You’re awake?”

I shrugged.

“Couldn’t sleep anymore.”

“It’s ridiculously early.”

“I know.”

He studied me.

“And Dad?”

I laughed quietly.

“Sleeping like the dead.”

Liam chuckled.

Then his expression changed.

“What are you planning to do?”

“I feel like going for a run.”

His eyebrows rose again.

“Now?”

“I’ve got too much energy.”

Liam shook his head.

“Mother…”

I knew that tone.

I’d used that exact tone on him when he was a child.

“Don’t.”

“Last night Alpha Doyle specifically said nobody was to go out alone.”

“I know.”

“So you’re not going.”

“I didn’t say I was going alone.”

Liam stared at me.

I smiled sweetly.

“You can come with me.”

His face fell.

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Nope.”

He sighed heavily.

“Fine.”

I grinned.

“Come on.”

He shook his head as he followed me towards the door.

“Let’s go for your damn run, crazy old woman.”

I stopped and turned.

“Watch your mouth, boy.”

I lightly smacked the back of his head.

He laughed.

“Yes, Mother.”

We slipped outside.

The cold morning air hit my face immediately.

The world was still dark.

Most of the pack was still asleep, and those who were awake were still inside keeping out of the cold.

For a moment, I simply stood there on the lawn, enjoying the silence.

There was something peaceful about the forest at this hour.

Something almost magical.

Then Liam and I shifted.

Bones cracked.

Bodies changed.

Seconds later, two wolves disappeared into the darkness, racing away from the house and towards the trees.

Neither of us noticed the movement in the shadows.

Neither of us saw the pair of eyes watching us.

Neither of us realised that leaving the safety of the pack was exactly what someone had been waiting for.

⸻

Unknown

We had been watching the pack for days.

Long enough to learn their routines.

Long enough to know who came and went.

Long enough to identify the important members of the pack.

Their habits.

Their weaknesses.

Their strengths.

Our Alpha had a particular interest in this place.

There was something here he wanted.

Something important.

Something he had refused to explain to us.

But that didn’t matter.

We didn’t need to know why he was so interested in this pack.

We only needed to follow orders.

I was watching one of the houses when the door suddenly opened.

I frowned.

Far too early.

The sun wouldn’t rise for several hours.

Two people stepped outside.

I watched carefully as they looked around before moving away from the house.

Then they shifted.

Wolves.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

I crouched lower in the darkness.

I waited until they were far enough away before shifting myself.

Then I followed.

They were fast.

But not fast enough.

I kept my distance, moving silently through the trees.

The wolves ahead had no idea they were being followed.

One of them suddenly slowed.

I froze.

Had they sensed me?

For several seconds, I didn’t move.

One of the wolves looked around.

My heart pounded as I watched them.

Then a moment later they continued running.

I smiled.

They hadn’t seen me.

Good.

I followed them deeper into the forest.

Further away from the safety of their pack.

Further away from the houses.

Further away from anyone who could come to their aid.

This opportunity was becoming exactly what we’d been waiting for.

Then I saw the two wolves disappear between the trees.

I picked up my pace.

They had no idea what was coming.

No idea they had just walked straight into our trap.

And as I followed them deeper into the darkness, one thought consumed me.

We had been waiting for an opportunity.

Now we had one.

I bared my teeth in delight.

The hunt had begun.