16. Wolves in confrontation.

 Ethan Greenwood

My Lamborghini was parked in front of the mansion, lined up with the other million-dollar homes in the neighborhood. Though close together, each house felt isolated, as if the residents avoided any contact. I chose this neighborhood for its discretion and the low foot traffic. It was the kind of place where no one asked questions.

"Sir, everything is ready," one of the wolves informed me while adjusting the vehicle.

We rarely used weapons—only when absolutely necessary. I preferred to feel my enemies' blood on my hands, or better yet, on my fangs.

I hated the feeling of being cornered, of not having control over every detail. This plan couldn’t fail; there was no room for error. An innocent life was at stake.

The life of the son I hadn’t even known existed until now.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the exhaustion. Last night had been awful. Nightmares tormented me, and my control over my transformations was growing weaker.

Nick entered the room with a deep sigh.

"We have the location where they might be keeping the boy, my Alpha."

"Okay," I agreed, keeping my composure. "Don’t tell anyone, Nick. Not even our wolves. We can’t trust anyone. These guys are dangerous."

The kidnappers had a filthy history. They had been con artists for a long time, abducting both wolves and humans, trading lives for whatever they deemed valuable. Deserters. Damn any wolf who betrays his own kind.

But I needed to understand. Why Lorenzo? What did they stand to gain from this?

I was going to find out, even if I had to tear every single one of them apart until they told me who ordered the kidnapping of my son.

I stood up, opening the glass door that led into the hallway. The early hours of the morning had already fallen, the dark sky mirroring my nerves and anger.

That’s when she appeared in front of me. Her eyes were filled with anguish, her wavy hair falling gently over her face, and her expression was one of someone desperate for answers.

"What do you want, Mia?" I asked, stopping in front of her.

"I’m coming with you," she replied, determination lacing her words.

My laughter echoed through the room, dripping with irony, which only irritated her further.

"You’re not going anywhere."

I could hear Mia’s heavy sigh, and even the beat of her heart seemed to thunder in my ears.

"Please, Ethan," she pleaded. "He’s my son."

"If I said no, then it's no. I promised I’d bring him back safely. You’re weak, Mia. You’ll only get in the way."

"I hate you!" she spat, her voice full of rage.

A sarcastic smile curled my lips.

"That’s great. Get in line, baby."

Her scent was everywhere in that house, and I couldn’t ignore it. But I had to.

I left the human speaking to herself, ignoring her pleas as I stepped out of the mansion into the darkness of the night. The cold air mirrored the tense atmosphere within me and among my wolves. The plan was set, but the risk was enormous, and I knew it.

Finding the kidnappers’ hideout had been a grueling task. Blood had been shed, and loyalties had been tested to the limit to get the information I needed. Now, everything depended on flawless execution. There was no room for mistakes.

The plan was simple but had to be carried out with precision. Nick, a select group of wolves, and I moved toward the hideout in silence, using the darkness and the rugged terrain to our advantage. The goal was to surround the place, blocking all escape routes. We couldn’t leave any survivors—except for Lorenzo.

Nick would lead a small team to disable any traps or alarm systems they might have set up. Meanwhile, I, along with my most trusted wolves, would storm the heart of the hideout where Lorenzo was likely being held.

"This way," I whispered.

I knew these wolves would rather die than reveal who had hired them. That’s why our only chance to uncover the truth was to capture them before they had the chance to eliminate themselves.

I knew Mia would never forgive me if anything happened to Lorenzo. And as much as I tried to ignore it, the truth was that I couldn’t bear to lose the boy before I had even met him. I felt there was something bigger at play, something beyond the duty of protecting my son. A dark premonition told me that the truth behind this kidnapping was more disturbing than I could imagine.

We reached the rendezvous point in silence, the shadows of the wolves moving almost imperceptibly, like specters in the night. I gave the signal, and everyone took their positions around the hideout. Now, everything depended on flawless execution. A single mistake could cost us Lorenzo’s life—and our future.

I took a deep breath, focusing on the mission. The moment of truth had arrived. It was time to attack.

My heart pounded, but as always, my mind was cold and calculating, analyzing every move, every possibility. Everything had to go according to plan.

My senses were razor-sharp. I could hear every leaf crunching under my wolves’ feet, the faint rustling of the wind in the trees around us. But there was something else… a presence. Someone was watching us—I could feel it.

I moved forward, signaling Nick to continue while I investigated. I followed my instincts until I found what I was looking for. One of the kidnappers’ henchmen, hidden, waiting to ambush us—his eyes glowing with a hatred I recognized instantly.

"You messed with the wrong wolf, you son of a bitch!" I growled, lunging at him.

He reacted fast—faster than I expected—blocking my attack and striking back with surprising strength. Our hands clashed, and I felt the raw energy he possessed. He was a trained wolf, a warrior, and he wouldn’t surrender easily. But I was the Alpha.

The fight escalated, our bodies colliding in a battle of strength and endurance. Every blow I landed was returned with equal intensity.

In a moment of desperation, he stepped back and, before my eyes, began to transform. Bones cracking, muscles contorting and expanding. In seconds, he was no longer a man but a beast—an imposing wolf with razor-sharp fangs and blazing eyes.

I managed to overpower him, sinking my claws into his arm, and he let out a scream of pain.

"You’re going to take me to where your little kidnapper friends are—now—or I’ll tear your skin apart.