Damien’s POV
Sitting in the dense forest as dawn broke over the treetops, I felt the familiar hollow ache in my chest. No matter how many loyal warriors surrounded , the emptiness without Elena remained unbearable. Every breath felt incomplete without her presence.
The rescue couldn’t wait any longer.
Asher’s ssage had confird Briar’s safety. She was with the vampires now, away from imdiate danger. That knowledge freed to focus entirely on extracting Elena from her prison cell.
"Explain to again why mom decided throwing herself into enemy hands was brilliant strategy," Caleb demanded, frustration bleeding through his voice.
"She had to deliver the ssage to Briar personally. There was no other way to ensure Briar would break free from those Hunters. Julian has her now, which ans the plan worked." My explanation ca out clipped, businesslike.
"Perfect. Most of their forces are deployed elsewhere. We should strike imdiately." Caleb’s impatience mirrored my own desperate need for action.
"Patience. Our pack is already engaging the Hunters at their secondary location. They’ll call for reinforcents any mont now." I kept my voice steady despite the fire burning in my veins.
Caleb stared at as if I’d lost my mind, but I had calculated every variable in this operation.
The mont those transport helicopters lifted off with their backup forces, we would have a clear path into the base. The timing had to be perfect.
"I assud everyone evacuated to Peak Pack territory," Caleb said, confusion creasing his features.
"Everyone except our most elite warriors from both packs. They’re positioned and ready." My words carried the weight of absolute certainty.
"They’re waiting to ambush the Hunters?" Understanding finally dawned in his eyes, and I allowed myself a grim smile.
"Dangerous as hell," Caleb muttered.
"Your mother’s strategy. Take your complaints to her." The ntion of Elena’s tactical brilliance sent another spike of longing through . She always saw angles others missed, even when it ant putting herself at risk.
Caleb’s exasperated exhale told he understood. When Elena set her mind to sothing, resistance was futile. Supporting her plans was always the wisest choice.
"Alpha." A warrior’s urgent tone made turn toward the base.
The distant rumble of helicopter engines coming online reached us through the morning air. Finally.
Shouts echoed across the compound as the aircraft prepared for departure. We pressed ourselves deeper into the forest shadows as two helicopters rose into the sky, their rotors beating overhead.
"How many?" I asked once they passed.
"Sixty additional Hunters divided between both aircraft. The base is significantly weakened." Caleb’s tactical assessnt matched my own calculations.
We pivoted toward the compound and began our approach through the treeline.
Breaking from forest cover into the open ground, we imdiately drew fire from the watchtowers. Several warriors shifted mid-sprint, launching themselves at the fence with supernatural speed and strength. They scaled the barriers and tore the guards from their positions, bodies crashing to the ground below.
I shifted while running, my wolf form massive and intimidating. Caleb’s wolf joined as we combined our weight and montum to obliterate the main gate, tal screaming as it buckled under our assault.
Regular soldiers scattered throughout the compound stared at us with naked terror. Wolves of our size defied their understanding of nature, impossible creatures from their worst nightmares.
These weren’t all Hunters. Many were standard military personnel assigned to base security, following orders and protecting their installation as trained.
My warriors moved with precision, neutralizing threats while avoiding unnecessary casualties. These soldiers weren’t our true enemies, just obstacles in our path to Elena.
I located the prison facility quickly but discovered the reinforced door wouldn’t yield to brute force. The steel was too thick, designed to contain supernatural prisoners.
The barred windows presented the sa problem. I needed another approach.
Scanning the area, I spotted an officer wearing the appropriate security clearance badge. Perfect.
I herded him across the compound with calculated intimidation, my massive wolf form backing him toward the prison entrance. He stumbled backward, terror making his movents clumsy and desperate.
At the door, he fumbled with his keycard, hands shaking violently. The electronic lock beeped its acceptance, and the heavy barrier swung open.
The officer squeezed his eyes shut, probably expecting death. Instead, I needed him alive in case there were additional security asures inside.
My heart pounded as I prepared to enter the building where Elena was being held. Every instinct scread at to rush forward, to tear through whatever obstacles remained between us.
But I forced myself to maintain tactical awareness. This rescue had to succeed. Too much depended on bringing her ho safely.
The compound battle raged around us, but my focus narrowed to this single objective. Everything else beca background noise compared to the prospect of seeing Elena again, of ending this nightmare separation.
The prison building lood before , holding the most important person in my world. Whatever horrors waited inside, whatever defenses the Hunters had prepared, nothing would stop from reaching her.
The officer remained frozen by the entrance, clearly hoping his cooperation might spare his life. Smart man.
I padded past him into the darkened corridor beyond, every sense alert for signs of Elena’s presence. The rescue was far from over, but we had breached their defenses.
Soon, she would be free. Soon, this emptiness would end, and we could face whatever ca next together, as we were ant to.
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