That Night – The Attack

Laura woke to silence.

Not the normal, peaceful quiet of night—but the kind that felt... wrong.

Her eyes snapped open.

Her wolf stirred instantly beneath her skin, restless, alert.

Then she smelled it.

Wolves.

More than one.

She sat up slowly, every muscle tightening as her senses sharpened. The faint creak of a floorboard echoed from the living room.

They were already inside.

"Damn it," she whispered, sliding silently out of bed.

She reached for her knife, gripping it tightly as she moved toward the door. Her breathing slowed, controlled, just like she'd been trained.

Every wolf has to train to stay in control.

A shadow moved past the hallway.

Laura struck first.

She lunged out of her room, blade flashing as she drove it toward the nearest figure. He blocked, but the force sent him stumbling back into the wall.

"Grab her!" another voice shouted.

Three of them.

Maybe more.

They rushed her at once.

Laura ducked, spun, and drove her elbow into one wolf's throat before slashing across another's arm. She moved fast—fast enough to keep them off balance—but they were coordinated.

Trained.

One grabbed her from behind.

She snarled, slamming her head back into his face. His grip loosened just enough for her to twist free, but another wolf tackled her to the ground.

Her knife skidded across the floor.

"Hold her!" one of them barked. "The Alpha wants her alive!"

Laura struggled, fury burning through her veins. "Not happening," she growled, shoving one off—but a sharp blow to her ribs knocked the air from her lungs.

They were overwhelming her.

Too many.

Too strong.

And then—

A roar.

Deep. Violent. Dominant.

The entire apartment seemed to shake as the scent hit them all at once.

Alpha.

Victor.

The wolves froze for half a second.

That was all it took.

Victor moved like a force of nature, crashing through the room and slamming into the nearest scout. The impact sent him through the wall with a sickening crack.

"Get. Away. From. Her."

His voice wasn't human anymore.

It was pure command.

Laura pushed herself up just in time to see Victor take down another wolf, claws flashing as he drove him into the floor. The third tried to run—

He didn't make it far.

Victor caught him by the throat and threw him across the room like he weighed nothing.

Silence fell, broken only by heavy breathing and the low, dangerous growl rumbling in Victor's chest.

Laura stared at him.

He looked... different.

Eyes glowing. Body tense. Completely controlled by his wolf.

Terrifying.

And protective.

Victor turned to her slowly, scanning her for injuries. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head, still catching her breath. "I had it handled."

One of the fallen wolves groaned.

Victor's expression darkened instantly.

He stalked forward, grabbing the scout by the collar and hauling him up. "Who sent you?" he demanded, voice lethal.

"You already know," the scout spat.

Victor's grip tightened. "You crossed into my territory. You attacked my mate."

The word hung heavy in the air.

"Go back," Victor continued coldly, shoving him toward the door. "Tell your Alpha this—if he sends anyone else after her, it will be considered a declaration of war."

The remaining scouts didn't argue. They scrambled out, disappearing into the night.

The apartment fell silent again.

Laura leaned against the wall, adrenaline slowly fading.

Victor turned back to her, his expression softening just slightly. "You're staying with me tonight."

It wasn't a question.

Laura opened her mouth to argue—

Then closed it.

Because this time... she didn't say no.