Chapter 502: Son of a bitch!

Noah.

"Speak!" I roared, dropping to one knee beside the gasping soldier and grabbing him firmly by the shoulder. "What happened out there?"

The guard swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he clutched his bleeding side. "Alpha... it is a sneak attack! We spotted a massive strike force of Vincent’s men—less than three miles from our northern perimeter! They bypassed the river pass entirely and moved through the high mountain trails!"

My eyes widened in sheer shock.

A sneak attack?

The bastard hadn’t waited for the quadruplets to march on his ridge. While we were preparing our forces in the courtyard, Vincent had sent a surprise army straight through the back roads, aiming to catch us completely off guard and hit my pack house directly.

Heavy, thunderous footsteps crunched across the gravel as Aidan, Davian, and Damien rushed over from their war horses, their broadswords already drawn, their eyes burning with lethal intent.

But how the hell did Vincent find out so quickly that we were all in my pack?

That son of a bitch wouldn’t just stay put!

"What did he say?" Aidan demanded, his raspy voice cutting through the noise of the courtyard like a blade.

"Vincent’s men are three miles out," I said, rising slowly to my feet, my mind racing as the lingering headache was instantly replaced by cold, hard adrenaline. "They slipped past our river scouts and moved through the northern pass, and they are coming straight for the compound."

"That slippery, cowardly son of a bitch," Davian spat, a ruthless, terrifying grin spreading across his blood-dusted face. He adjusted his grip on his broadsword, his golden eyes flashing with raw excitement. "He thinks he can surprise us on our own turf."

"He is trying to hit us before we can organize our main line," Damien growled, stepping up beside Aidan, his heavy chest plate rising and falling with deep, controlled breaths. "If they get within a mile of these gates, they’ll surround the entire perimeter."

"Not on my watch," Aidan stated, his tone flat, calm, and utterly absolute. He turned sharply toward Davian and Damien. "We don’t wait for them to reach the gates. We take our heavy cavalry and intercept them right now in the northern woods before they can establish a front."

Adrein stepped forward from the stone pillar, his hands coming out of his pockets, his eyes wide as he looked at his brothers. "Are you taking the whole vanguard out?"

"Every single blade we have ready," Aidan replied, looking past Adrein and locking his sharp, authoritative gaze straight onto me. "Noah, you’re staying behind."

I stiffened, opening my mouth to protest, but Aidan cut me off before I could say a word.

"You’re still recovering from the wolfsbane, Noah," Aidan said firmly, pointing a gauntleted finger at my chest. "You’re pale, you’re bleeding energy, and you’re the Alpha of this territory. If Vincent sent a distraction force to draw us into the woods, someone with real authority needs to command the inner defenses."

I locked my jaw, staring at Aidan for a long, heavy second. My pride burned at the thought of staying behind while they charged into the fray, but I knew he was right. My head was still throbbing from the poison, my pack house was the target, and Maria was lying helpless in the lower wing.

"He’s right, Noah," Davian added, clapping a heavy steel hand onto my shoulder and giving it a brief, firm squeeze. "Take care of the inner pack. Lock down the walls, mobilize your archers, and protect Maria. If any of those bastards slip past our front line, you make sure they don’t take another breath."

"I’ll have my archers post up on every high tower," I promised, forcing my raspy voice to stay steady as I nodded at the three Alphas. "I’ll personally stand guard at the medical wing. No one touches Maria while I’m breathing."

"Good," Aidan said, turning his head toward Adrein. "Adrein, stay with Noah. Keep your eyes open and keep your bond thread steady. If Maria stirs, you make sure she stays calm."

Adrein gave a single, crisp nod, his jaw set in fierce agreement. "Consider it done. Slice those bastards to pieces out there."

"With pleasure," Damien growled, swinging himself up into his heavy leather saddle in one fluid, powerful motion.

Davian mounted his war horse right beside him, pulling his reins tight as the beast snorted violently in the cold night air. "Let’s go hunt some Lycans!"

Aidan drew his massive broadsword in one swift motion, the metal flashing beneath the torchlight as he lifted it high above his head. His grip tightened around the hilt, his entire posture radiating command as he turned toward the crowded courtyard.

"Cavalry! On me! We hit them in the northern pass!"

His voice rang across the courtyard, sharp and commanding, leaving no room for hesitation.

A deafening roar erupted from the armored soldiers in response. Their voices thundered through the courtyard as weapons were raised and boots pounded against the stone ground. The heavy timber gates of the pack house were thrown wide open, revealing the dark, freezing woods beyond.

The ground shook beneath our feet as Aidan, Davian, and Damien thundered out of the courtyard at full speed. Their horses surged forward beneath them, carrying the three men ahead as they led a massive wave of armored cavalry straight into the darkness. The clatter of armor and pounding hooves merged into one deafening sound as the soldiers disappeared into the freezing woods.

Then, the heavy gates slammed shut behind them with a deep, echoing boom.

The courtyard fell into a sudden, heavy silence.

Only the crackle of the burning torches and the harsh breathing of the remaining guards disturbed the stillness. I slowly turned my head toward Adrein, the pounding headache behind my eyes finally beginning to fade.

What remained was pure, cold focus.

"Get your weapons, Adrein," I commanded, stepping toward the main entrance. "We are locking this entire compound down right now."