20. ETHAN

As I stepped into the dimly lit room, my pulse pounded with fear and fury. The sight that greeted me was enough to send a surge of primal rage through my veins.

Even in the darkness, I could see Aria clearly, her form slumped and frail, and her eyes glazed over with exhaustion and pain. The air around her vibrated with her suffering, and I felt an instant desire to take her place.

In a split second, I was at her side, my hands reaching out to gently cradle her limp form. Just as she felt my touch, her body went limp in my arms as if finding solace in my presence.

Tenderly, I brushed a lock of hair from her face, my fingers trembling. Despite the darkness that threatened to engulf us, I held a belief that together, we would come out through this tough time stronger.

As I held her close, feeling the steady beat of her heart against mine, I made a silent vow that no matter what lay ahead, I would never allow her to slip away from me again. She was not just my packmate or my friend, she was the beating heart of my world and the one person I couldn"t bear to lose. Together, we would face whatever trials awaited us.

I gathered Aria in my arms and prepared to make our escape as the door flew open with a force that startled me. Elinor entered, her expression worried and ready for confrontation. I had just left her with the rest of our pack, but I could tell from the tension in her muscles that she had come looking for me when I didn"t return as expected.

Her eyes widened in alarm as she took in the sight of Aria in my arms, her battle-ready demeanor giving way to concern. "How is she?" Her voice was tight with apprehension. "Will she make it?"

Fear and worry etched into every line of her face, and my heart ached at the sight of it. "Calm down, Elinor," I said. "She"s not looking good, but with immediate care, she"ll be fine."

Elinor nodded, her features relaxing as she exhaled a shaky breath. Still, I knew her worry wouldn"t dissipate until she saw Aria safe and sound.

"We need to get her out of here," I continued. "We can"t afford to waste any more time."

With Elinor"s help, we made our way out of the dark confines of the compound, the weight of Aria"s unconscious form a reminder of the perilous journey that lay ahead.

The moment we emerged from the compound, Aria shifted in my arms, and I felt the urgency of the situation. The rest of my pack was still locked in battle with the enemy, their calls for help echoing like a distant siren"s song.

Part of me longed to join them, to continue the fight alongside my packmates and ensure our victory against our adversaries. But as I glanced down at Aria"s pale face, I knew my priorities lay elsewhere.

I reached out to my packmates telepathically, urging them to retreat from the battlefield. There were more important matters at hand, I told them, and Aria"s safety was paramount.

The battle faded into the distance, replaced by the quiet hum of the night air, and I focused my attention on Aria. I would stop at nothing to ensure that she received the care and attention she deserved.

When we reached the designated meeting point, the tension in the air was palpable. My father was nowhere to be found, and worry etched into the faces of my packmates and mirrored on my own.

Every instinct screamed at me to stay by Aria"s side and ensure that she made it safely to the hospital where she could receive the care she desperately needed. But as much as I longed to remain with her, I knew that my duty as the Alpha"s son compelled me to find my father and ensure he was all right.

With a heavy heart, I decided to entrust Aria"s care to Elinor, knowing she would watch over her with the same fierce devotion that I felt. I promised Aria that I would return as soon as possible.

But as I watched the car pull away with Aria and Elinor inside, a knot of worry tightened in the pit of my stomach. Where could my father be? What could have possibly kept him from our meeting?

I made a series of frantic calls, reaching out to every ally and contact I could think of to track down his whereabouts. As the minutes stretched into hours, my anxiety heightened.

I couldn"t bear the thought of losing my father, not when Aria"s life also hung in the balance. The responsibility pressed down upon me like a leaden cloak, driving me forward even as uncertainty ate at my insides.

I knew I couldn"t give up—not on my father, not on Aria, and not on any member of my pack. As long as there was breath in my body, I would fight tooth and claw to ensure their safety and survival. With that determination burning bright within me, I set forth into the night, ready to face whatever awaited me in the quest to find my father and bring him home.

As I returned to my pack, the atmosphere was heavy with tension and worry. My packmates gathered around me. Without a preamble, one of them spoke up.

"Boss, we have news," he said, his words coming out in a rush. "I saw your father fighting with the Alpha of the rival pack, but we had been called to retreat. I was badly injured, and I couldn"t offer much help. I am sorry."

My heart sank, and a terrifying fear gripped my heart at the thought of my father in danger. Despite the fear, I was more ready than ever to find him and bring him to safety. I knew I would not forgive myself if anything happened to him.

I rallied the men who were still fit to fight, their eyes blazing with urgency as they pledged their loyalty to me and our pack. Together, we set out for the spot my father had last been seen, our footsteps echoing in the night.

As we neared our destination, the air was still filled with the remnants of battle, the scent of blood and sweat hanging heavy in the air. The knot of fear in my stomach tightened and drove me forward even as doubt gnawed at my resolve.

As we reached the clearing where the confrontation had taken place, a scene of devastation greeted us. The ground was littered with fallen bodies, the aftermath of a brutal battle. And there, I spotted him—my father, wounded and bloodied but alive.

With a surge of relief, I rushed to his side and helped him to his feet. His eyes met mine, gratitude and pride shining in their depths.

"We need to get you out of here," I proclaimed, my voice hoarse with emotion.

But my father shook his head, his gaze steely. "Not yet," he replied. "There"s still work to be done."

Not now, I thought. All I wanted was to put him in a car to the hospital. But if there was one thing my father was known for, it was bravery. He never ran from a fight. Those were the traits that had endeared him to his pack.

So, I stood by his side with my heart pounding in my chest. It had been a long time since I prayed, but I found myself mouthing supplications to God to spare my father and Aria. I could see the toll the battle had taken on my father. His once proud stature was now slumped with exhaustion, and his face was pale and drawn with pain. Despite his injuries, he was hell-bent on protecting his pack and his son.

"Dad," I choked out, my voice thick with emotion as I knelt beside him, my hands trembling as I reached out to touch his battered form.

His eyes met mine with a look of pride and love. "Ethan," he rasped, his voice barely a whisper. "Be a man, son. It"s time for you to take your place as Alpha."

"Damn it!" I muttered under my breath. God, this couldn't be happening. I knew I had wished for the day when the Alpha mantle would be passed to me, but I had never imagined it like this. My daydreams and fantasies had never featured my father relinquishing his title because he was dying from battle wounds. How would I face my mother?

Tears streamed down my face as I clutched his hand tightly, my heart breaking at the thought of losing him. "I don"t know if I can do this without you, Dad," I whispered, my voice choked with grief.

But my father"s grip on my hand tightened, his gaze unwavering. "You can, Ethan," he said, his voice strong despite the blood oozing out of a deep gash on his arm. "You have the strength to lead our pack to greatness. I believe in you, son."

My father directed me to an obscure corner of the clearing, away from the prying eyes of our packmates. There, in the quiet solitude of the forest, he passed the title of Alpha to me, his chosen successor.

As he placed his hand on my shoulder, I could feel his legacy settling upon me. "Remember, Ethan," he said. "Lead with compassion, but also with strength. Protect our pack, honor our traditions, and never forget where you came from."

Hot tears stung my eyes as I nodded. "I won"t forget, Dad," I promised, my voice strangled with emotion. "I"ll make you proud."

And as my father"s grip on my shoulder slackened, and his final breath left him with a whisper, I vowed to carry on his legacy—to lead our pack with honor and integrity, protect them with my life, and never falter in the face of adversity. He had passed the torch to me, and I would carry it with pride.

Somehow, with the title of Alpha now passed to me, pride swelled within my chest. The responsibility that used to be on my father, of our pack, now rested upon me, and I felt a drive to honor his memory and lead with the same strength and wisdom he had shown throughout his life.

Beneath the pride, a torrent of sorrow threatened to overwhelm me. The debilitating sadness of losing my father, my mentor, and my guiding light, washed over me. Tears stung my eyes as I knelt beside him, his life slipping away before me.

I wanted to scream, to rail against the unfairness of it all, but I knew my father wouldn"t want that. He had raised me to be strong, and I knew that now, more than ever, I needed to embody that.

The world seemed to blur around me as I cradled my father"s lifeless form in my arms.

Even in the depths of my grief, I felt courage. My father might be gone, but his spirit lives on within me, guiding me, strengthening me, and urging me forward on the path he had laid out for me.

Then, I rose to my feet, my father"s legacy burning bright within me. His absence would be with me always, but his love, wisdom, and unwavering belief in my ability to lead our pack to greatness would also be part of me.

As I turned to face what lay ahead, I vowed to honor my father"s memory in everything I did, be the Alpha that he knew I could be, and carry on his legacy with pride and dignity.