The Alpha and The Enforcer [TATE]

Chapter 47

Ellie's P.O.V

"So, what should we do?" Lisa asked

Miranda stood, looking more serious than I'd ever seen her. "Virexus is on his way, and I can tell he's close. He'll have access to the laylines that give him free rein to travel between planes. We need to sever that tie."

"How do we do that?" I asked.

Her eyes land on Lisa. "That's where you come in. Your power doesn't just freeze water. It freezes motion. If you lock the leyline, stop it long enough, Ellie can burn through it, and I can bind the remainder. That's how we sever Virexus from the other side."

Lisa swallows, staring at the map like she's seeing it for the first time. "I... I freeze the leyline itself?"

Miranda nods. "Exactly. Like ice holding a river midflow. Hold it still. We do the rest."

I watch Lisa's hands tighten instinctively. "I can do that."

"Just one thing...what are you gonna tell Jacob?" Lisa asked me

"Nothing," I responded after thinking about it for a while.

Lisa tilts her head. "Ellie..."

I shook my head, "If I tell him the truth, he'll follow me straight into it. No hesitation. He'll walk through fire with me, or for me."

My voice cracks slightly, but I don't look at her yet. I can't.

"And I can't let that happen. Before anything else, he is the Alpha of this pack. He can't be burned because of me."

I finally turn toward her, my eyes sharper now, but not cold.

"This is my fight. Let me end it."

Lisa's quiet for a long moment. Then she nods.

"Okay."

"Without telling them about me facing Virexus alone, we need to inform the council about what we know," I said, and they all agreed.

Third Person P.O.V.

"I want to thank you all for being here today," Alpha Jacob's voice carried across the clearing, calm but commanding. "Thank you for your bravery, your courage, and your devotion to this pack. I won't lie, this will be the toughest battle we've faced. And the truth is... not all of us will make it back."

His warriors stood tall, eyes locked on their Alpha, silent and listening.

"But if we stand together, if we fight as one, if we move as a pack, we will win. Watch each other's backs. Trust the wolf beside you. Stay sharp. Stay united."

A beat. A pulse of something primal.

"Let's put an end to this threat, once and for all!"

The warriors roared in approval, chanting "Hurrah! Hurrah!" with their weapons raised, their claws flexed, their fangs bared.

Behind the front lines, Lisa moved swiftly to the makeshift medical station tucked behind the trees, flanked by guards to her mate's side. His team was already at work laying out salves, herbs, and wraps. There was no sterile hospital here, just nature and old ways. 

Jacob, after conferring briefly with his commanders, made his way to Ellie. They stood in silence. She didn't speak. She just stepped into his arms, resting her head against his chest. He kissed her forehead and held her like he wasn't sure he'd get the chance again.

Lisa approached moments later. No words were exchanged. They didn't need to be. The time for talking had passed.

Not far off, standing like a shadow at the edge of the trees, was Miranda, the pack's witch. She rarely joined the battlefield, but today demanded more than steel and teeth. Today needed magic.