Chapter 120: Find The Alpha

THE WOLF Miriam did not tolerate weakness. She had a strict, no-nonsense attitude and expected the same level of discipline and loyalty from the pack. Her voice carried authority, often laced with a hint of impatience or irritation, especially when she felt someone was not living up to her high standards. She was fiercely protective of the pack and its traditions, believing that strength and unity were the keys to their survival. Miriam's eyes were a piercing yellow, always watchful and alert. She saw everything and missed nothing, a trait that had earned her both fear and admiration among the wolves. She was wise and experienced, having lived through many battles and difficult times, which had made her tough and unyielding. She was skeptical of outsiders and quick to judge anyone she saw as a threat to the pack. Her instincts were strong, and she trusted them completely. Miriam's distrust of the unknown and her deep loyalty to the pack made her a formidable elder, not easily swayed or convinced. Among the elders, she held a high rank, her voice carrying significant weight in all decisions. To the younger wolves, she had been a symbol of strength and tradition, and to the other elders, she was a valuable voice of reason and caution, always putting the pack, and the safety of Lunaville first. "Ah, there he is," Elder Miriam said, her voice dripping with disdain as she spotted the wolf. "The one who found our missing alpha but failed to sense the threat right beside him." The wolf bristled at her words but held his ground. "I came as soon as I could. Aaron is with Luna, but there is another…a stranger. Her scent is... different." Elder Miriam snorted. "Different, you say? Is that all you could tell? She is not from our pack, nor any pack known to us. Her scent is unfamiliar, but it is not human. We cannot risk Aaron's safety on your vague descriptions. We need to know more." The wolf nodded. "Her scent is masked somehow, but she does not smell like us, nor like any other werewolf I've known. It is faint, but there is something there... something I can't quite place." Elder Rufus, an older wolf with gray fur and wise eyes, stepped forward. "We cannot take any chances. Aaron has been gone too long, and this stranger—whoever or whatever she is—cannot be allowed to remain at his side if she poses a danger. You will lead a troop to retrieve Aaron and bring him back here, along with Luna and this... outsider. We will decide her fate once she is here. It seems he has let go of the human he was once attached to." The wolf nodded again, his heart pounding in his chest. "Yes, Elder Rufus. I will bring them back." Elder Miriam's eyes narrowed further. "Be careful, wolf. This is not just a simple retrieval. We need to know exactly what we are dealing with. The safety of the pack depends on it. You will be held responsible if anything happens to Aaron." The wolf stood straighter, hardening his resolve. "I understand, Elder Miriam. I will not fail." Miriam stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "Do not think lightly of this mission. The pack is already uneasy. Aaron's absence has left a void. If there is a threat, we must know. And if this outsider is the cause, she will be dealt with swiftly. Bring them back, and do not return without them." The wolf bowed his head in respect. "I will do as you say. I will bring them back." Elder Miriam turned to the rest of the elders. "This is not a time for hesitation. The pack must remain strong, united. We cannot afford any weakness now. Alpha Aaron must return, and we must know who or what has dared to step foot into our territory." The wolf looked around at the gathered elders, seeing the tension etched into their faces. He knew they were right to be concerned. Aaron's disappearance had caused unease, and the presence of a stranger, one who did not belong, only added to the uncertainty. "Prepare the troops," Elder Rufus ordered, his voice calm but firm. "We leave at dawn. Be ready for anything." The wolf nodded and turned to leave, but Elder Miriam's voice stopped him. "One more thing," she said, her tone softer but still commanding. "Remember that you are not just bringing back Aaron. You are bringing back answers. We need to know what has happened, and why. Do not let us down." The wolf met her gaze and nodded. "I won't, Elder Miriam. I will bring back Aaron and the answers we need." Elder Miriam narrowed her eyes at him. "I find it impressive that he has finally let go of that human. I would not have hesitated to tear her apart myself. But this stranger, if she resists? If Aaron or Luna defends her?" The wolf hesitated. "Then we will do what we must to ensure the safety of our alpha and our pack." Miriam's lip curled into a sneer. "See that you do. We cannot afford to be soft-hearted, not now. Not when our very existence may be at stake." The wolf dipped his head in acknowledgment, then turned to the gathered wolves behind him. "Prepare yourselves," he barked. "We leave immediately." The wolves moved swiftly, their training and instincts taking over. They armed themselves with what they needed for the journey—some with simple leather armor, others with sharpened claws and fangs bared. The tension in the air was palpable; every wolf knew that this was more than just a retrieval mission. This was about protecting their alpha, their pack, and their way of life. And if a fight was what it would take, then they were ready for it. The wolf stood before his troop, eyes steady as he scanned their faces. The moonlight cast long shadows over the gathered wolves, their bodies tense with anticipation. 'Tonight, we go to bring back our alpha," he began, his voice low but firm. 'Aaron has been gone too long, and the pack grows uneasy. Our duty is to ensure his safe return, and to find out who this stranger is with him." He paused, letting his words sink in. 'We don't know what awaits us, but we know this—our strength lies in our unity. We move as one, we fight as one. If this stranger is a threat, we will deal with it swiftly. But remember, Aaron's safety comes first. We are his shield and his sword."