Always And Forever | ENG ✓

Chapter Twenty: The White Alpha

The battle ended as suddenly as it had begun. The forest, once filled with the deafening sounds of growls, snarls, and the clash of claws against fur, had gone eerily silent. The creatures that had once seemed unstoppable now lay scattered across the clearing, their monstrous forms still and lifeless. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the lingering tension of a fight hard-won.

I stood in the center of the carnage, my breath heavy, my white fur stained with streaks of red. The wolf inside me was still alert, its instincts sharp, scanning the clearing for any remaining threats. But as the moments passed and the adrenaline began to fade, I could feel the pull of my human self returning, the wolf's ferocity retreating like the tide.

When I shifted back, the cold air hit my bare skin, and exhaustion set in immediately. My legs wobbled beneath me, but before I could stumble, Dean was there, steadying me with his strong grip. His face was a mixture of awe and something else-something like pride.

"You did it," he said quietly, his voice steady despite the chaos around us. "You really did it."

I looked up at him, my breathing still ragged, and nodded. "We all did."

Behind us, the pack began to regroup. Those who had shifted returned to their human forms, their bodies bruised and bloodied but their spirits unbroken. There was a quiet strength in the way they moved, in the way they looked at each other and at me. For the first time, I could feel the shift in their energy-not just as individuals, but as a united force. They weren't looking at me with doubt anymore. They were looking at me with trust.

And it was the first time I truly felt like their Alpha.

The walk back to the pack house was somber but filled with purpose. We carried the wounded with us, supporting one another, every step a reminder of the bond we shared. Ace walked at the front of the group, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of danger. Dean stayed by my side, his presence steadying me even as my body ached with every movement.

When we finally reached the pack house, the energy shifted. The pack, battered and bruised but victorious, began to tend to the wounded. The medics moved quickly, their hands steady as they stitched wounds and applied salves. The younger wolves, who had stayed behind to guard the house, rushed forward to help, their faces a mixture of relief and awe.

I watched it all unfold, standing in the center of the main room, my legs barely holding me upright. The pack moved around me with purpose, but I could feel their glances-quick, reverent, and filled with something I hadn't seen before.

Respect.

Dean stood beside me, his arms crossed as he surveyed the room. "They're looking at you differently now," he said, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

I glanced at him, my brow furrowing. "Differently how?"

He smirked, shaking his head slightly. "Like you're the Alpha they've been waiting for."

The words hit me harder than I expected. For so long, I had doubted myself-doubted my ability to lead, to protect, to be what the pack needed. But tonight, in the chaos of battle, I had proven something not just to them, but to myself.

The night passed slowly. I spent hours moving between the wounded, checking on them, offering quiet words of encouragement where I could. Each wolf I spoke to met my gaze with the same unwavering respect, their trust in me now solidified. It was a strange feeling, this newfound sense of belonging, of leadership. I had fought for it, bled for it, and now it was mine.

But even as the pack began to heal, the weight of what lay ahead pressed down on me. The battle we had fought tonight was just the beginning. The figure controlling the creatures-the one who had sent them after us-was still out there, lurking in the shadows. And I knew they wouldn't stop until we were destroyed.

Ace found me just before dawn, his face grim but calm. He leaned against the doorframe of the study where I had been poring over maps and reports, his arms crossed over his chest. "You should be resting," he said, his tone gentle but firm.

"I can't," I replied, not looking up. "There's too much to do."

"You've done enough for tonight," he said, stepping closer. "The pack needs you strong for what's coming next."

I sighed, leaning back in my chair and rubbing my temples. "What's coming next is something we don't even understand, Ace. The creatures were just pawns. The figure controlling them-that's the real threat. And we still don't know who or what they are."

"We'll figure it out," Ace said, his voice steady. "You're not in this alone, Finley. We're with you. All of us."

I looked up at him, his words sinking in. He wasn't just speaking for himself. He was speaking for the entire pack. And for the first time, I felt the full weight of their trust in me-not as a burden, but as a strength.

"Thank you," I said quietly, the words carrying more weight than I could express.

As the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, I stood on the front steps of the pack house, watching as the forest came alive with the sounds of morning. The events of the night before played over and over in my mind-the battle, the transformation, the way the pack had rallied around me. We had won, but it was a hollow victory. The real battle was still ahead of us.

Dean joined me after a while, his steps slow and deliberate. He didn't say anything at first, just stood beside me, his arms resting on the railing as he looked out at the forest.

"You were incredible last night," he said finally, his voice quiet but filled with something like pride.

I glanced at him, surprised by the sincerity in his tone. "We all were. It wasn't just me."

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "No, Finley. It was you. The way you fought, the way you led them-you proved something last night. Not just to them, but to me."

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. For so long, I had been trying to prove myself to Dean, to earn his respect, his trust. And now, in this quiet moment, I realized that I finally had.

"Thank you," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. "We have a long way to go. But if we're going to win this, it's going to be because of you."

The words were both a challenge and a promise. And as I stood there, the weight of the pack's trust on my shoulders, I knew that I wouldn't let them down. Whatever was coming, whatever the figure in the shadows was planning, we would face it together.

We were stronger now. United. And ready for the fight ahead.