RAMON’S POV

The bastard had set me up. Jack knew I would charge straight to him the moment I found out Sonia was missing. He had planned every second of this.

He could rip me apart right now, and no one would blame him. I stood on his land, deep in his territory, surrounded by his pack. He held every right to end me here.

I glanced over my shoulder. His wolves filled the space behind me, a wall of snarling bodies and sharp eyes. I had not thought this through. My only plan had been simple. Walk in, take his head, and add it to my collection.

Now I had only Lewis at my side. The rest of my pack waited somewhere beyond the border. Jack hated me as much as I hated him, and that hatred burned in every wolf around us.

I locked eyes with him across the clearing. "I am warning you, Jack. Things will get bloody. Bring me Sonia, and I might let you live."

My words were meant to shake him, to plant doubt. I stood badly outnumbered. More wolves slipped from the trees and shadows, their paws silent on the dirt. They closed in tighter.

Jack threw his head back and laughed. The sound scraped against my ears like broken glass. "Look around, Ramon. You are surrounded. No matter how strong you are, you cannot beat an entire pack. No single alpha can. You will die today because you let your emotions rule you."

He laughed again, louder this time.

I clenched my jaw. If I had killed him years ago when I had the chance, I would not be standing here now.

"Your funeral," I said.

"We will see about that." Jack rubbed his palms together and licked his lips. Any second now he would give the order.

I turned to Lewis. "Ready?"

"As the pledge goes, I would die for you, Alpha."

"And I for you."

I closed my eyes for one breath and pulled Sonia’s face into my mind. Her scent, her voice, the way she looked at me when she thought I was not watching. I did not know if Jack truly held her, but I would find her. First, I had to survive this.

My fingers stretched and thickened. Claws pushed through my skin. I opened my eyes, ripped my shirt off in one motion, and let it fall to the ground. My canines lengthened. I held back my full alpha shift. Not yet. I would need that power later when the fight turned harder.

The wolves around me hesitated. Good. Let them see what a real alpha looked like.

"Attack!" Jack screamed.

The first wolf lunged. I dropped low, slammed into his chest, and drove my claws straight through his ribs. He hit the ground hard before he could even snap at me. I grabbed his limp body and hurled it at the next wave. The impact knocked two wolves off their feet and slowed the others.

Two more came at me from the sides. I caught them both by the throat, one in each hand, and flung them backward. They crashed into a third wolf that had tried to circle behind me. Bones cracked on impact.

Beside me, Lewis fought like a demon. He tore through a wolf that jumped at his back, then spun and drove his fist into another’s jaw. Blood sprayed across the dirt.

Adrenaline flooded my veins. My heart pounded hard and fast. It had been too long since I tasted real battle. The last time had been at the border with those Silverpaw fools. Now the hunger for it rushed back.

I kept my gaze fixed on Jack. His wolves formed a living wall around him, but I would reach him. I would make him watch me come. And when I did, I would take his head.

A claw raked across my arm. Pain burned hot. I turned and growled at the wolf who had dared. Before I could strike, another wolf punched me square in the nose. My head snapped back. Blood filled my mouth.

Fury exploded inside me. I grabbed the attacker’s head with both hands and squeezed. His eyes bulged. I twisted hard. The snap of his neck cut through the noise of the fight. I tossed the body aside like trash.

"Moon goddess," Jack gasped somewhere ahead.

More wolves poured in. The numbers kept growing. I had cleared five in front of me and pushed closer to Jack. He had opened his protective wall just enough to watch. Fool.

A heavy claw slammed into my back. Pain tore through me, deep and vicious. The claws dug in, scraping bone. One inch deeper and they might reach my heart.

"Yes!" Jack shouted in triumph.

Rage replaced the pain. I spun fast, grabbed the wolf’s arm, and yanked his claw out of my flesh. Before he could pull away, I shoved his own claws into my mouth and bit them clean off. He screamed and dropped to his knees. That kind of pain broke even strong wolves.

Three bigger wolves charged me now. These ones moved with purpose. Their eyes showed training. I braced, ready to meet them, when movement in the corner of my eye pulled my attention.

Lewis was in trouble. Two wolves had him pinned. One had its teeth sunk into his shoulder. Lewis fought hard, but he was losing ground.

I could not leave him. Yet I could not turn my back on the three coming at me.

A shadow leaped high through the air. The newcomer crashed into the wolf on Lewis’s back and slammed it to the ground. A deep growl rolled out. The new fighter tossed the wolf aside like it weighed nothing.

He lifted his head. Our eyes met across the chaos.

Liam.

My own wolves had arrived. Dozens of them poured from the trees, fur bristling, eyes glowing with the same rage that burned in me. They hit Jack’s pack like a storm.

The fight changed in an instant.

I roared and met the three stronger wolves head on. The first one tried to slash at my throat. I ducked, drove my shoulder into his gut, and lifted him off the ground. My claws ripped through his belly as I threw him. He landed hard and did not get up.

The second wolf was faster. He landed a heavy blow to my ribs. I felt something crack, but I did not stop. I grabbed his arm, twisted it until it broke, then drove my claws into his chest. Blood poured hot over my hand.

The third wolf circled, looking for an opening. I stepped forward, daring him. He lunged. I caught him mid-air, slammed him down, and stomped on his throat. The crunch echoed.

Around me the battle grew louder. Snarls, howls, the wet sound of claws in flesh, bodies hitting the ground. Dust and blood filled the air. My wolves fought with everything they had. Jack’s numbers still held the advantage, but the surprise of our arrival had thrown them off balance.

I pushed forward again, eyes locked on Jack. He had stepped back behind his remaining guards. His face had lost its smirk. Good. Let him feel fear.

Another wolf jumped at me from the side. I caught it by the jaw, pried it open, and snapped its neck with one sharp motion. I tossed the body toward Jack’s feet. It landed with a heavy thud.

Lewis fought his way to my side. Blood ran down his shoulder, but he stood tall. "They keep coming, Alpha."

"Then we keep killing them," I answered.

I could feel the wound on my back leaking. Each breath pulled at the torn muscle. Pain tried to slow me, but I used it. It fed the fire. Sonia’s face flashed in my mind again. I did not know where she was, but I would tear through every wolf here to find out.

Jack shouted orders, his voice cracking with panic. His wall of wolves tightened, but gaps had opened. My pack pressed them hard. Liam fought like a machine beside two of my strongest betas. They carved a path straight toward Jack’s position.

I took a deep breath and pushed deeper into the fray. A wolf clamped onto my leg. I reached down, grabbed its head, and ripped it free. Blood sprayed across the dirt. I stomped on its chest and moved on.

The sun beat down on us. Sweat mixed with blood on my skin. My muscles burned, but the alpha strength inside me stayed steady. I had not even reached for my full shift yet. When I did, this fight would end.

Jack watched me come. His eyes darted left and right, searching for escape. There was none.

I bared my teeth in a savage grin. "You should have brought me Sonia, Jack."

He snarled back, but I saw the doubt. The fear.