15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Disaster Strikes

Axel

The pungent stench of smoke assaults my nostrils, but it's not the typical city smog I'm used to. No, there's something more to it, a sharp, bitter undertone that sends a jolt of recognition through my body. My pulse quickens as the realization hits me like a freight train. That scent, the one intertwined with the harsh odor of the smoke...it's unmistakable. It's the aroma that's permanently ingrained in my memory, the one that never fails to make my mouth water and my spirits lift. Lila's food truck. Even amidst the overwhelming reek of the smoke, I'd know that enticing fragrance anywhere.

Without hesitation, I change direction, following this new, alarming scent. As I race through the streets, my mind floods with worst-case scenarios. The smell of smoke grows stronger with each block, and I can hear sirens in the distance.

I round a corner, and my worst fears are confirmed. Thick, black smoke billows into the sky, and at its source, I see the charred remains of Lila's food truck engulfed in flames. Firefighters are already on the scene, battling the blaze, but it's clear they're too late to save the truck.

Suddenly, a familiar scent catches my attention, cutting through the urban miasma. It's Ethan, my beta, his wolf form emerging from the shadows to join me.

Axel, he greets me, his mental voice tense with urgency.

I tracked the rogues to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. It looks like they're using it as a base of operations.

I nod, absorbing the information. Good work, Ethan. But look over there.

Ethan's eyes widen, understanding dawning on his face.

Amidst the confusion, a familiar figure catches my eye. Gio, his face twisted into a mask of smug satisfaction, slips away from the scene, melting into the gathering crowd.

White-hot rage surges through me, my wolf snarling for vengeance. But Ethan's steady presence at my side holds me back.

Not here, he warns, his mental voice a calming anchor. Too many witnesses. We need to wait for the area to clear before we investigate further.

I force myself to take a deep breath, the acrid smoke burning my lungs. Ethan is right. We can't risk exposing ourselves, not with so much at stake.

As the firefighters work to extinguish the blaze, Ethan and I blend into the shadows, our wolf forms hidden from prying eyes. We watch and wait, our hearts heavy, until there is no one left working on the fire. We shift into our human forms and walk over.

"Fuck," I growl under my breath as Ethan and I approach the charred remains of Lila's food truck. The acrid stench of smoke and melted plastic burns my nose, but it's the anger churning in my gut that threatens to consume me.

As we cautiously circle the scene, Ethan suddenly freezes, his nose twitching. "Axel, over here," he says in a low voice, moving towards a cluster of bushes a few yards from the truck.

We push aside the singed branches to reveal a partially burned messenger bag, hastily discarded. The faint scent of Gio still clings to it, nearly masked by the smoke but unmistakable to our keen senses.

Ethan pulls out a handful of documents, his brow furrowing as he scans the contents.

"Axel, look at this," he says, handing me a singed paper. It's information on werewolf packs, their territories, and their alphas.

My eyes widen as I take in the damning evidence. "Why the hell would Gio have this?" I mutter, my mind racing with the implications.

As I continue to search through the bag, my fingers brush against something solid. I pull out a small, fireproof box, my claws making quick work of the lock.

Inside, I find a burner phone and a ledger filled with coded entries. Ethan and I exchange a grave look, knowing this is the key to unraveling Gio's true motives.

We carefully examine the ledger, deciphering the cryptic notes and piecing together the twisted puzzle of Gio's past and his plans for the future. The entries reveal a tragic history, a family torn apart by hunters, leaving a young Gio orphaned and alone.

But instead of seeking solace in his own kind, Gio's trauma has festered into a dark ideology, a belief in werewolf superiority and a desire to see humans subjugated. The ledger details his insidious plans to strengthen the rogues, to weaken and divide the established packs, all in the name of his twisted vision.

"That's why he targeted Lila," I realize, my heart clenching with a mixture of fury and fear. "She represents the unity between humans and werewolves that he despises. He's trying to tear us apart, to make an example of her."

Ethan's voice is grim as he summarizes our discovery. "Gio's not just a jealous rival. He's orchestrating a full-scale assault on our way of life."

I nod, carefully gathering the documents and the box. "We need to take these and go. We can't risk anyone coming back for this evidence."

As we prepare to leave, I take one last look at the destroyed food truck, my heart heavy with the knowledge of how this will affect Lila. The weight of the situation settles on my shoulders – not only do I have to break the news about her business, but now I must also prepare the pack for a threat far greater than we ever imagined.

Ethan nods, his expression grim. "And the rogues are his puppets, his way of sowing chaos and discord among the packs."

I clench my fists, the weight of responsibility settling heavily on my shoulders.

"We need to act fast," I decide, my voice hard with determination. "Gio's not going to stop until he's torn everything we hold dear apart. We have to protect the pack, and we have to help Lila pick up the pieces of her life."

Ethan places a steadying hand on my shoulder, his presence a comforting anchor in the storm of my emotions. "We're with you, Axel. The pack will stand together against this threat."

I take a deep breath. I know that we'll weather this storm. We have to, for the sake of everything we hold dear.

We shift to our wolf forms to run back to the packhouse.

The scent of smoke clings to my fur as Ethan and I race through the forest, our paws pounding against the earth in a desperate rhythm. My mind reels with the implications of what we've discovered, the pieces of Gio's twisted puzzle falling into place with sickening clarity.

If Gio's been working with the rogues and hunters, there's no telling what else he has planned, Ethan says through our pack link, his mental voice taut with urgency.

I growl my agreement, my wolf bristling with barely contained rage. He's trying to tear us apart, I snarl, leaping over a fallen log. Targeting Lila, burning her food truck... it's all part of his fucked up scheme to divide us.

We burst into the clearing surrounding the pack house, our chests heaving with exertion. I shift back to my human form, Ethan following suit, as we approach the gathering of worried faces.

Lila rushes to my side, her hazel eyes wide with fear and confusion. "Axel, you're back, what did you find out? I told them about Gio's meeting but..."

I pull her into a tight embrace, breathing in her comforting scent. The weight of what I have to tell her presses heavily on my heart.

"Lila," I murmur, my voice rough with emotion, "there's something that I need to tell you. There is so much more to what we saw. So much more."

I look up to see the rest of the pack gathering around us, their faces etched with concern. Elena steps forward, her brow furrowed. "Axel, what happened? Lila said you split up to follow the rogues and hunters."

Taking a deep breath, I square my shoulders, the mantle of Alpha settling firmly upon them. My wolf growls within me, his protective instincts surging to the surface.

Our mate is hurting. We must protect her, comfort her, he rumbles, his presence a palpable force in my mind.

"Everyone, gather close," I call out, my voice ringing with authority. "What we've discovered changes everything. We have an emergency on our hands."

As the pack draws near, their eyes fixed on me with rapt attention, I glance at Ethan. He nods grimly, understanding the gravity of what we're about to reveal.

I turn back to Lila, taking her trembling hand in mine as I gaze into her eyes, my heart heavy with the devastating news I must share. My wolf whines, yearning for me to wrap her in our embrace and shield her from the pain.

"Lila, I'm so sorry, but I have some bad news to tell you," I begin, my voice straining with emotion.

I pause, taking a shaky breath as I steel myself for the pain I'm about to inflict upon the woman I care for deeply.

"Your food truck... it's gone. There was a fire. It's been completely destroyed."

Lila's eyes widen in shock, her hand gripping mine with a desperate intensity as the color drains from her face.

Comfort her! Protect her! my wolf demands, his urgency bleeding into my own emotions.

"What? My truck? It's... it's gone?" she whispers, her voice cracking with disbelief and anguish.

Tears begin to well up in her beautiful hazel eyes, spilling down her cheeks as the reality of the situation sinks in. My wolf howls within me, desperate to chase away her pain and destroy those who have caused it.

Suddenly, a look of panic crosses her face. "Oh my god, Sophie! She could have been in..." she trails off, her voice catching on a sob.

I quickly shake my head, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "I didn't see Sophie when I arrived at the scene, and the firefighters didn't find any bodies in the wreckage."

Lila nods frantically, her hand already reaching for her phone. "I need to call her, I need to hear her voice," she says, her fingers trembling as she tries to unlock the screen.

The friend, danger, a threat, my wolf growls, his distrust palpable. We must be cautious.

I nod, understanding her need for reassurance, but also feeling the weight of my wolf's concerns. "Of course, love. Let's give her a call together."

As Lila dials Sophie's number, I keep my arm around her, offering silent support. When Sophie answers, her voice is filled with a mix of relief and concern. "Lila! Thank god, I've been so worried. Are you okay? What happened after those men took you?"

Lila takes a shaky breath, glancing at me uncertainly. I give her a reassuring nod, but also a subtle warning look.

We can't reveal too much, not yet, I send through our bond.

"Sophie, I'm... I'm okay. Axel and his friends, they helped me. I'm safe now," Lila says, her voice trembling. "But Sophie, the truck... there was a fire. It's gone."

I hear Sophie's sharp intake of breath, followed by a stream of questions. "A fire? What do you mean gone? Lila, what's going on?"

Lila closes her eyes, leaning heavily against me as she tries to find the words. My wolf surges forward, wanting to take control and protect her from the world, but I hold him back, knowing Lila needs to handle this her way.

"I don't know, Sophie. Everything's happening so fast. But I need you to trust me, okay? I'm safe, and we're going to figure this out."

There's a moment of hesitation on the other end of the line, and I can almost hear the gears turning in Sophie's head. "Lila, those men... their hands, they weren't right. There's something else going on here, isn't there?"

I tense, my grip tightening on Lila's shoulder. She looks up at me, her eyes wide with uncertainty. I shake my head slightly, silently communicating that we can't reveal the truth, not yet. My wolf growls in frustration.

The friend curious, uncover our secret, the pack at risk, my wolf snarls, his unease growing with each passing moment. Must protect what's ours.

"Sophie, I... I don't have the answers right now," Lila says softly, her voice heavy with emotion. "But I promise, as soon as I know, I'll tell you everything. At the moment, all I needed was to confirm your safety and assure you that I'm fine, surrounded by people who will protect me."

There's another pause, and then a sigh of resignation. "Okay, Lila. I trust you. But please, be careful. And know that I'm here for you, no matter what."

Lila nods, tears streaming down her face. "I know, Sophie. Thank you. I'll call you again soon, I promise."

As she hangs up, I pull her close, letting her cry into my chest as the weight of the day's events crashes down upon her. My wolf wraps around her, his presence a comforting warmth in my mind, but I can still feel his unease, his distrust of the outsider who knows too much.

"I'm here for you, Lila," I murmur softly, stroking her hair. "We'll figure this out together. I promise."

She looks up at me, her hazel eyes swimming with tears and a flicker of determination. "How did this happen, Axel? Who could have done this?"

I take a deep breath, knowing the answer will only bring her more pain. "Gio's involved."

The traitor! Rip him apart, hurting our mate! my wolf snarls, his fury a white-hot blaze within me.

My words seem to hit Lila like a physical blow. The color drains from her face as a tumult of emotions storms across her countenance - shock, fury, and utter desolation. Her eyes flash with an almost feral rage and I can sense her wolf clawing to the surface, howling for vengeance against those who stole her beloved truck.

A low, menacing growl rumbles from deep in Lila's throat as her body begins to tremble and shift. In a blink, she's lunging forward, halfway transformed, her features a blend of human and wolf. Her eyes blaze with a feral intensity, the hazel consumed by glowing amber as her wolf surges to the surface.

I quickly wrap my arms around her, pulling her tight against my chest as she thrashes and snarls, her claws raking against my skin. My own wolf rises in response, wanting to protect, to soothe, but I push him back.

"Lila, shhh, breathe," I murmur urgently in her ear, stroking her hair as she snaps her jaws, her wolf lashing out in a maelstrom of grief and rage. "I know, baby. I know it hurts. But you have to stay in control. Come back to me..."

She lets out a howl of anguish, the sound tearing at my heart as she struggles against my hold, her wolf desperate to hunt, to exact vengeance upon those who have hurt her. I can feel the fury radiating off her in waves, a palpable force that threatens to consume everything in its path.

Our mate needs us, my wolf insists, his own instincts screaming to join her in the hunt, to tear apart those who have dared to harm what's ours.

But I know that's not what Lila needs right now. She needs me to be the calm in the chaos, the steady presence that guides her back from the brink of losing herself entirely to the beast within.

I keep whispering soothing words, pouring every ounce of my love and strength into our bond, coaxing her back from the edge. I let my own wolf wrap around hers, not to restrain, but to comfort, to remind her that she's not alone in this pain.

Gradually, her struggles subside, the feral light in her eyes dimming as she begins to regain control. She collapses against me, her wolf receding as sobs wrack her body, the human side of her re-emerging to process the overwhelming emotions.

I just hold her close, letting her tears soak my shirt, my own heart fracturing at her anguished cries. I rock her gently, murmuring words of comfort and love, even as a cold rage simmers in my veins at the thought of those responsible for her pain.

"We'll make this right, Lila," I vow fiercely, my wolf's growl echoing in my mind, a promise of retribution. "Gio will pay for what he's done. I swear it."

She looks up at me, her face streaked with tears, but a flicker of determination sparking in her eyes. "I want to rip him apart," she whispers, her voice raw with emotion. "I want to make him suffer for what he's taken from me."

I cup her face in my hands, my thumb brushing away a stray tear. "I know, love. And we will. But we have to be smart about this. We can't let our wolves' desire for vengeance cloud our judgment. We need to find out what Gio's planning, and stop him before he can hurt anyone else."

Lila takes a shuddering breath, nodding slowly as she leans into my touch. "You're right. We have to be careful. But Axel, I... I don't know if I can control my wolf. She's so angry, so hurt. I've never felt anything like this before."

I press a gentle kiss to her forehead, my wolf rumbling softly in reassurance. "You're not alone, Lila. I'm here, and so is the pack. We'll help you through this, every step of the way. Your wolf is a part of you, and together, you'll learn to navigate this new bond. I promise."

She buries her face in my chest, her arms tightening around me as if I'm the only thing keeping her tethered to her humanity. "Don't let me go," she whispers, her voice muffled against my shirt. "Don't let me lose myself."

"Never," I vow, my own arms a protective shield around her. "I'll always be here to bring you back, no matter how far you go. You're my mate, Lila, and with more practice you will be able to control your wolf even when you are angry and wounded."

I inhale deeply and shift my focus to the entire pack assembled before me.

"But for now I need to tell everyone," I continue, my voice grave, "what we've uncovered about Gio and his plans... it threatens everything we hold dear. Our pack, our way of life, the peace we've worked so hard to maintain."

I look out over the sea of worried faces. "We have a lot to discuss, and decisions to make."

As I prepare to delve into the details of our discoveries, I pull Lila closer, offering what comfort I can. The pack draws in tighter, their solidarity a tangible force in the face of this new threat.