22. ETHAN

Since my father"s passing, a heavy darkness has settled over me, clouding my thoughts and actions. The joy of Aria"s return, which had once brought light in the darkness, now seemed dimmed by grief and loss.

I couldn"t shake the feeling of regret. I wished desperately that I had spent more time with my father before he was taken from me. The Alpha title, once a coveted prize, now felt like a burden, crushing me beneath its weight.

With my father gone, the responsibility of leading our pack fell squarely on my shoulders. Suddenly, everyone was looking to me for guidance, strength, and reassurance. I had to be strong for my mother, my sister, and my packmates who were looking to me for leadership.

And then there was Aria"s business to restore, a promise I had made to her and my father. It was a constant reminder of the responsibilities that rested upon me.

Perhaps the hardest part was the loss of so many good men in the battle, brave warriors who had fought alongside me and now lay fallen on the battlefield. The pain of their loss was a raw, searing ache that threatened to consume me, leaving me adrift in a sea of rage and sadness.

But even in the depths of my grief, I knew I could not allow myself to be consumed by it. My father had raised me to be strong, and I would honor his memory by carrying on his legacy with pride and wisdom.

The Black Moon pack and their Alpha might think they could get away with disrespecting the Grayson name, but they were sorely mistaken. Hell would freeze over before I let this slide.

If I turned a blind eye to their actions for the sake of peace, it would only set a dangerous precedent. Other rival packs would see it as an invitation to disrespect us, and that was something I simply could not allow.

Under my watch, the Grayson name would be respected, feared, and revered. I would make sure of it. They might have taken my father from me, but they wouldn"t take his legacy without a fight.

After thinking it through, I approached one of the members of my pack, a seasoned warrior whose loyalty and strength were unquestionable.

"Jackson," I began, my voice low. "I need to talk to you about the Black Moon pack."

He nodded, his expression serious. "What about them, Alpha?"

"They're more dangerous than we thought," I replied, my jaw set. "They"re willing to do anything to get what they want, even if it means resorting to brutal tactics."

Jackson"s eyes darkened with understanding. "So, what do we do, Alpha?"

Then I took a moment to gather my thoughts. "We need to seek help," I said finally, my voice grim. "Even if it means making alliances with those we"d rather avoid."

Jackson"s brow furrowed in concern. "You mean..."

"Yes," I confirmed. "Even if it means dining with the devil himself."

I knew I couldn"t let my father"s and packmates" deaths go unpunished. I would stop at nothing to avenge them, even if it meant making deals with the darkest of forces.

As I sat in my office, the responsibility suffocating me, I found myself battling conflicting emotions. The fire of vengeance burned red-hot within me, driving me to seek retribution for the injustices inflicted upon my pack and family.

As much as I wanted to take action, I couldn"t shake the nagging doubt that making deals with offensive characters was a dangerous game that often led to more harm than good. I had heard too many horror stories of those who had been burned by striking bargains with the wrong people, and I was hesitant to put my pack in jeopardy by doing the same.

I reached for the bottle of whiskey that sat on the desk before me, seeking solace in its numbing embrace. Whiskey and other strong drinks had become my constant companions in recent days, offering temporary relief from my grief and the burden of my responsibilities.

Just as I was about to drown my sorrows in a swig of alcohol, Jackson"s voice cut through the haze and pulled me back to reality.

"Boss," he said, his tone confident. "I might know someone who can help us."

My ears perked up at his words. "Out with it," I replied sharply.

As Jackson revealed the name of the mercenary, a chill ran down my spine. "Kaelar," I muttered, the name heavy on my tongue. I had heard whispers of his exploits, tales of a man who wielded dark magic with deadly precision, but always at a steep cost.

Despite the warnings, I knew we had no choice but to seek his aid. The situation demanded desperate measures, and Kaelar was our best chance at gaining the upper hand against the Black Moon pack.

The next day, Jackson and I set out to meet Kaelar. As we approached his hideout, I couldn"t shake a feeling of unease.

When we finally came face-to-face with him, I was struck by his presence. Kaelar was a formidable figure, his dark eyes gleaming with a dangerous intensity as he regarded us with a calculating gaze.

"So, you"re the ones who seek my assistance," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "What brings you to me, Alpha Grayson?"

I took a moment to gather my thoughts, steeling myself for the conversation. "We need your help," I replied. "The Black Moon pack has crossed a line, and we need to send them a message."

Kaelar"s lips curled into a predatory smile, his eyes glittering with malice. "And what do you propose?" he asked.

"We need you to help us devastate the odds," I said, my voice firm. "We need your dark magic to tip the scales in our favor."

Kaelar"s smile widened, revealing a glint of sharpened teeth. "I see," he said with amusement. "What will I get in return for my services?"

I knew that striking a deal with Kaelar would come at a steep cost, but I was willing to pay anything to avenge my father"s death and protect my pack. "Name your price," I replied, my voice unwavering. "Whatever it takes."

The more I dug into the murky world of dark magic and dangerous alliances, the more I became consumed by my quest for revenge. With Kaelar"s aid, I launched a series of attacks against the Black Moon pack, striking fear into their hearts and reclaiming my pack"s honor.

This quest for revenge had its downside, one I might live to regret for the rest of my life.

The day started well, and my pack had the advantage when everything suddenly turned sour. A package had arrived from someone named BM. I didn't remember ordering anything, and if it had to do with work, it would certainly be sent to the office where the appropriate department would deal with it.

But the initials got my attention, and I decided to open it. Lying inside the box was my sister"s dress. I picked it up, and my throat went dry at the sight of blood smeared across the front. In the lower-left corner, I saw a scribbled note. It was simple: "Enjoy your victory while it lasts."

The weather was cold, but I became hot from within. I didn"t even process that I had yanked off my jacket until it was on the floor. Rob entered and noticed how disturbed I was. When I told him I feared Elinor had been kidnapped or even killed, his face darkened with anger.

He asked if I knew who had done it. I was going to say I didn"t know when a realization dawned on me. It was the Black Moon pack, and the BM initials belonged to them. I brought Rob up to speed on how we had an upper hand because I had sought special help.

Rob was surprised that I had resorted to something so dangerous. Maybe I had crossed a line yet again to avenge my family, but who I was to know those bastards would be so dishonorable as to touch my sister.

I wanted to be certain, so I dialed Elinor"s number, but her phone was off. I called my mother, too, being careful not to spook her. By the time I made three calls, I was certain the Black Moon was indeed holding my sister.

Faced with the looming threat to my sister"s life, I realized that my thirst for revenge had blinded me to the cost of my actions, putting not only myself but also those I loved in grave danger.