Chapter 238: A Daring Rescue
Chapter 238: A Daring Rescue
(Alexander’s POV)
Northern Ridge territory stretched before me like a jagged wound against the night sky. The moonlight cast shadows across the landscape that sheltered rogues and outcasts for
generations.
I crouched behind boulders, studying the mountain den. The scent of meat and beer drifted on
the wind with raucous laughter. The rogues were celebrating.
Northern Ridge was always troublesome for the Alpha King’s domain. Its terrain made
patrolling impossible. Natural caves provided perfect hideouts for those outside pack law.
“The Alpha of Silver Creek sold them information,” Eric had told me before dying. “That’s how
they knew we were coming.”
Corrupt officials. Silver bribes. The same old story.
Below, the rogues‘ celebration grew louder.
“Three of Steele’s best warriors!” a gruff voice boasted. “Walked right into our trap.”
“The silver–haired one didn’t last long,” another laughed. “But we still have the other one alive.”
My hands clenched, claws extending. Jacob and Eric had been with me for years. Now Eric
was dead.
“Think Steele will pay the ransom?” someone asked.
“He’ll pay. Twenty thousand in moon–blessed silver for his precious warrior. Alpha says we’ll
give him three days, then send the body back in pieces.”
I’d heard enough. Sliding down the slope, I rejoined my elite unit waiting in shadows.
“Six guards at the main entrance,” I whispered. “Unknown number inside. They’re celebrating,
which means they’ll be drunk and careless.”
Thomas, my lead scout, nodded. “We found a secondary entrance on the eastern ridge. Lightly
guarded.”
“Good. We move in one hour,” I ordered. “No howls, no warnings. I want silence until the attack
begins.”
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The unit dispersed to prepare. I would go in first, alone.
+8 Points>
As the hour approached, I smeared mud over my skin to mask my scent. My white wolf was too close to the surface, burning with anticipation.
I approached the eastern entrance silently. A lone guard sat half–asleep. He never saw me coming.
I knocked him unconscious, took his clothes and put them over my own. The rogue’s scent would help mask mine.
Inside, the tunnel opened into a larger cavern. At least fifteen rogues were drinking around a large fire.
Not seeing Matthew, I kept to the edges, moving with purpose.
A smaller tunnel led deeper into the mountain. The stench of blood and silver hit my nostrils immediately. Prisoners.
Two guards stood outside a crude door. I approached them directly.
“Alpha wants the prisoner prepared,” I said gruffly. “Says the ransom message goes out tonight.”
The guards exchanged glances.
“Wasn’t told about this,” one mumbled suspiciously.
I shrugged. “Take it up with him, then. I’m just following orders.”
Neither wanted to question their Alpha. One unlocked the door, and I stepped inside.
The small chamber stank of blood and urine. Silver bars formed a cage in the center. Inside, Matthew lay motionless.
His body was covered in wounds. His clothing hung in tatters, revealing lacerations from silver–tipped whips. His face was barely recognizable beneath bruises and dried blood.
But his chest still rose and fell with shallow breaths.
I approached the cage, using the key I’d taken from the first guard. The lock clicked open.
“Still alive?” I asked, slipping a silver dagger through the bars.
Matthew’s eyes opened slowly, recognition dawning. A weak smile touched his bloody lips,
“I won’t die,” he whispered hoarsely. “Not until I see Celeste again.”
“Good,” I replied. “Because I’ve come a long way to get you out of here, and I’d be annoyed if
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< Chapter 238: A Daring Rescue
you died on me now.”
I helped him sit up, wincing at his injuries. Silver poisoning had clearly set in.
“Jacob?” he asked, his voice barely audible.
I shook my head slightly. “No sign of him yet.’
“Can you walk?” I asked, supporting his weight as he struggled to his feet.
“If it means getting out of here,” he grimaced, “I could fly.”
With Matthew in this condition, stealth was no longer an option.
+8 Points >
I blew into a moon–blessed silver whistle, its frequency clear as a battle cry to wolf hearing.
The response was immediate. Howls erupted as my elite unit swarmed the mountain den.
The guards outside spun around, confused. I kicked the door open, knocking one unconscious.
Matthew lunged forward and drove my silver dagger into the other’s thigh.
“Nice move,” I commented, supporting Matthew as he swayed.
“Not bad for a dead man,” he replied, breathing labored.
We stumbled into the main cavern, now a battlefield. My wolves had the rogues outnumbered,
but they fought with desperation.
“Alexander Steele. Finally, we meet.”
I turned to face a tall, muscular wolf with a jagged scar across his face. The Rogue Alpha. His
amber eyes glowed with malice.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” he continued, circling us slowly. “The Alpha King’s favorite
warrior. The white wolf who never loses a battle.”
I eased Matthew against the wall, positioning myself between him and the Rogue Alpha.
“You killed my warriors,” I stated flatly.
The Alpha shrugged. “That’s war. But I kept this one alive.” He nodded toward Matthew. “Twenty thousand in moon–blessed silver seemed a fair price.”
“I don’t pay ransoms,” I replied coldly. “I take what’s mine.”
The Alpha’s smile revealed yellowed fangs. “Then try to take him.”
He attacked with surprising speed. I dodged, pushing Matthew aside.
My white wolf surged beneath my skin. I blocked the Alpha’s first strikes, studying his style.
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He favored his right side.
I caught his arm and twisted. He snarled in pain but recovered quickly.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Matthew struggling against another rogue. Despite his injuries, Matthew was holding his own, but barely.
+8 Points >
The Rogue Alpha rushed me with a silver dagger. I deflected his strike but felt the blade slice through my sleeve, drawing blood.
Matthew’s opponent had pinned him against the wall. I broke away from my fight to help him, driving my elbow into the rogue’s temple.
“Get out of here,” I ordered Matthew. “Now!”
“I won’t leave you,” he protested weakly.
“That’s an order,” I snapped. “You’re in no condition to fight.”
The Rogue Alpha attacked again, now joined by three fighters. They surrounded me.
“Not so confident now, Steele?” the Alpha taunted. “The great white wolf, finally cornered.”
“I served in the Alpha King’s elite guard once,” he continued. “I was passed over for promotion in favor of lesser wolves with better connections.”
“Is that why you became a rogue?” I asked. “Because you couldn’t hack it as a real warrior?”
His eyes flashed with rage. “I became a rogue because I refused to bow to corrupt Alphas!”
He lunged at me. I ducked under his swing, driving my fist into his solar plexus.
The other three rogues attacked simultaneously. I blocked the first, used him as a shield against the second, but the third landed a blow to my ribs. I felt something c***k.
I dispatched the first rogue with a strike to the throat. The second backed away.
The Rogue Alpha had recovered, watching me with new respect.
“You fight well,” he acknowledged. “It’s almost a shame to kill you.”
His fighters tried to flank me. I backed up against the cavern wall.
The Alpha saw his opportunity. He launched himself at me, silver claws extended for my throat. I twisted at the last moment, pulling the nearest rogue into the path of his Alpha’s
attack.
The silver claws ripped through the unfortunate wolf’s chest. His scream echoed off the walls as he collapsed.
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+8 Points >
In that moment of confusion, I struck. My claws slashed across the Alpha’s neck with lethal precision. Blood sprayed as he staggered backward, clutching futilely at the fatal wound.
The remaining rogues, seeing their Alpha fall, lost all will to fight. They turned and fled.
The battle around us was winding down, my elite unit clearly victorious.
I turned to give chase to those escaping.
“Alex, watch out!”
Matthew’s warning cry came just as I sensed movement behind me. I spun around, but too late.
Matthew had somehow summoned the strength to throw himself between me and danger. A rogue I hadn’t noticed had launched a desperate attack.
I watched in horror as a silver dagger pierced through Matthew’s body. Blood dripped from the blade as he collapsed, his silver–gray wolf whining in agony.
