The One

Sudden Attack

 The moment they crossed the threshold, the room swallowed them whole as they took their appointed seats, anticipation crackling in the air.

"I take it you've heard about the... unfortunate incident at my office here at Conry?"

"Of course! What on earth happened?"

"That's precisely why I'm here — I need your help."

"We'll assist in any way we can."

Karol scanned the room, her curiosity piqued. "Did something happen here 12 years ago?"

"Nothing I can recall," replied Peter, gaze darting.

"Neither can I," chimed in Lovel.

"What about you, Leo?"

"I... No, wait! Ah! That! Ermm, do you mean the infamous 'Karol's killing spree incident'?" Leo exclaimed, as though he'd just unearthed a treasure map.

"Oh hell! That incident!" Karol gasped, memory flooding back. "Didn't you lot take down every one of those scoundrels and free the innocent?"

"Indeed, we did! The good ones were given a choice: join our pack, live quietly, or reunite with their old packs," Peter explained.

Lovel jumped in, "Exactly! I followed my parents back to our old pack before joining the Aspen Pack."

"You were with the Rogues? How could I not remember you?" Karol was struck by this revelation.

"That's because you were hell-bent on annihilating the Rogue Alpha and his minions. You set us free, and we owe you a debt of gratitude. You were our valiant knight, bravely battling foes much larger than yourself!"

"Haha, thank you for the flattering compliment," she chuckled shyly, scratching her head, the warmth of their praise filling her.

"But who dares to mess with you now, considering the survivors are more grateful than a puppy with a tennis ball?"

"I honestly have no clue. There are two possibilities: someone might be trying to unsettle me, or the rogue we thought was defunct might still be lurking," she mused.

"That's absurd! We burned all their wretched bodies!"

"We ne—"

Before Karol could finish, a spine-chilling howl pierced the air, sending everyone leaping from their chairs in a flurry of adrenaline. Peter and Leo sprang into action, barking orders at the other pack members, while Pepper and Lovel shepherded the elderly and children towards safety.

"Follow us to the safe room! We're under attack!" Lovel shouted as she spotted Karol heading for the front door.

"No, you lot go ahead. My subordinate is still at the house!" Karol insisted, her determination unyielding as she dashed outside. The moment she entered, she bellowed, "Guys! Come on out! We need to get to the safe house!"

Taking long strides up, she halted as she met her comrades halfway.

"The guns are in the basement! Gear up — we're going to fight! Brian, cover me; Jess, I need you on the rooftop. Snipe anyone who poses a threat, got it?" she commanded, and Jess nodded, rushing to her position.

"Brian, you're on the ground with me. Protect me while I get stationed in that tree. Remember, don't be a hero!" Karol instructed firmly through the earpiece.

"Yes, ma'am!"

One after another, the werewolves fell under the expert precision of the two snipers providing cover for their brethren, but fate dealt a cruel hand. A brown werewolf suddenly lunged out from the shadows, catching Brian unaware, clawing deeply into his back.

Brian crumpled, consciousness slipping away, blood pooling beneath him as Karol's heart raced with shock and fury. Abandoning her post, she tore towards the brown wolf, who smirked at her with an audacity that sparked an icy dread within her.

'What the hell! I thought I killed him! So, he's back for revenge?!'

"Jess, cover me!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Before she could unleash her fury upon the beast, it turned in a flash, sprinting deeper into the woods while howling ominously, a call that summoned the other werewolves to retreat.

"Fuck you!" Karol screamed, squeezing the trigger and firing, her shot hitting the wolf's right hand with the precision of a grudge unquenched. The wolf howled in pain, turning back to snarl at her before limping away, protected by comrades.

"Damn it! Brian, stay with me, mate!"

She ripped off her shirt, pressing it tightly against his bleeding back.

"Ma'am, that hurts!" he gasped.

"Sorry, but you have to hang on! Don't close your eyes!"

Her voice was firm though her heart raced, earning a low moan of agony from Brian just as the others rushed in with a stretcher.

"You'll be alright, buddy; you're in good hands," she muttered, her resolve solid as they whisked him away to the mini-hospital.

Hours ticked by, each second stretching into eternity, Brian's operation dragging on relentlessly. Karol paced, anxiety knotting her stomach while Jess assisted in clearing the chaos. Finally, Jess approached her, concern etched on her face, "Is everyone okay?"

"Thanks to the deity, there are no casualties—just minor injuries," Karol declared, relief washing over her.

"Okay, thank you, and Jess," she said, her gaze pausing on her friend.

"Yes, ma'am," Jess replied, her tone sharp yet uncertain.

"Your boyfriend is going to be just fine," Karol added with a playful smirk.

"Wh-what?" Jess stammered, taken aback.

"I know, Jess. I'm not blind, and I'm certainly not deaf. Gossip travels fast. I must admit, I was a bit miffed you hadn't officially told me about it."

"We were planning to share the news after your vacation, but alas, luck wasn't on our side," Jess admitted, her guard slipping for the first time.

"Don't fret, Jess. He'll pull through. He's a fighter, and he knows he's soon to be a father."

"Sometimes I wonder how you know things that no one else does," Jess mused, her eyes wide with intrigue.

Karol enveloped her best friend and boss in a warm hug, caressing her back. "I have my ways, my dear. I have my ways," she whispered enigmatically.

Just then, the doctor stepped out of the room, interrupting their embrace to reveal Brian's condition.