<b>Chapter </b><b>82 </b>


    <b>Foster’s </b><b>POV </b>


    <b>Power </b><b>coursed </b>through me as I strode toward our territory border<b>, </b>Beta Sean nking my right side <b>and </b><b>six of </b><b>my </b>strongest warriors following behind.


    <b>“</b><b>Are </b>the scouts in position?<b>” </b>I asked Sean without breaking stride.


    <b>“</b>Yes, Alpha. We have eyes on all points of our perimeter.”


    I nodded, my mind calcting possibilities. Summer and Felix were my most valuable assets now–the only things standing between me and Alexander’s wrath. As long as I controlled them, I controlled <b>this </b>


    situation.


    When we reached the border clearing, I saw them–Alpha Alexander at the forefront, nked by his Beta Ethan and that insufferable gamma Jackson. Behind them stood at least thirty wolves, allbat–ready<b>, </b>their eyes tracking our every movement.


    Alpha Alexander’s reputation was well–deserved. Even from this distance, his power radiated like heat from a furnace. He stood taller than most, his broad shoulders and watchful eyes marking him as an apex predator. But I was an Alpha too, and this was my territory.


    “Keep your wolves in check,” I called out as we approached the neutral zone. “You’re trespassing, Alexander.”


    Alpha Alexander’s expression remained impassive as we met in the center. Up close, his eyes were colder than I remembered–cial blue harboring a storm.


    “Where are they, Alpha Foster?” he demanded, his voice deceptively calm.


    I smiled. No pleasantries, no diplomatic preamble. Just raw demand. “Summer and Felix are under <b>my </b>protection, in my territory<b>, </b>where they belong. Summer is my Luna, and Felix is my son. This isn’t your


    concern.”


    “Summer and Felix areing with me today,” Alexander replied. “How that happens is entirely up to you<b>.</b>”


    <b>I </bughed, the sound echoing through the clearing. “Youe to my territory, threatening me, and expect me to hand over my mate and child? Perhaps ckwood standards of diplomacy have fallen since Ist checked.<b>” </b>


    Alexander’s jaw tightened. “Your mate<b>?</b><b>” </b>His voice dropped dangerously. “Summer ceased being your mate the moment <b>you </b>carved out Felix’s eye and gave it to another child.”


    The words <b>hit </b>me like <b>a </b>bullet to the chest.My blood ran cold.


    <b>1/4 </b>


    Goddamn him.


    He’d really said it–here, in front of everyone.


    I could feel the shift in the crowd. Every eye was on me now. Watching. Judging. Waiting to see how I’d


    respond.


    I couldn’t let them doubt me. Not even for a second.


    I straightened my shoulders, forced my voice into something controlled, dismissive.


    “He’s lying,” I said sharply. “Desperate to make himself look like the noble Alpha while ndering me with stories no one can prove.”


    I forced a smirk, as if his words didn’t rattle me–though they absolutely did.


    Then I stepped forward,trying to turn the tables. “If you attack us,” I said, voice steady despite my inner turmoil, “Summer and Felix will be the first casualties. Is that what you want? Their blood on your hands


    because you couldn’t control yourself?”


    Alexander took a step closer, and my wolves tensed behind me.


    Behind my back, I gestured subtly to one of the silent sentries near the trees–a low–ranked scout who


    only took orders directly from me.


    “Find Suzanna,” I murmured under my breath, not breaking eye contact with Alexander. “Tell her to take Summer to the basement. Keep her quiet. No one is to know.”


    The scout nodded once and vanished into the trees. Just in case this didn’t end in words, I needed to


    make sure my leverage stayed locked away.


    <b>“</b><b>You </b>have exactly ten minutes,” he said, each word precisely measured, “to bring Summer and Felix to this border. Unharmed. After that, I’ming for them myself.”


    “And if I refuse?” <b>I </b>challenged.


    Alexander’s eyes shed wolf–gold, power rolling off him in waves that made even my strongest warriors


    step back.


    “Then I will tear through every wolf, every building, every inch of your territory until I find them. And then, Alpha Foster,” his voice dropped to a whisper only <b>I </b>could hear, “I’ll show you exactly what I learned during those years you thought I was just a reckless young Alpha.”


    <b>I </b>maintained myposure even as ice formed in my veins. “Ten minutes won’t change anything. They’re mine, Alexander. They’ve always been mine.”


    “Nine minutes and forty seconds,” he replied, checking his watch.


    I turned away, gesturing for my wolves to follow. “Prepare the defenses,” I muttered to Sean. “And make sure Summer and Felix are secure. If Alexander wants war, we’ll give him one he won’t survive.”


    As we walked back toward the pack house, I felt Alexander’s eyes boring into my back. The fool actually thought he could intimidate me into submission. But I was Alpha Foster of Silver Creek. And as long as Summer and Felix remained in my grasp, victory would be mine.


    What Alexander didn’t understand was that I would rather destroy everything I built than surrender what belonged to me. Some things were worth burning the world for.


    Summer’s POV


    “Move faster, bitch,” Suzanna hissed, shoving me toward the basement stairs with enough force that I stumbled, barely catching myself on the wall.


    Her perfectly manicured nails dug into my shoulder as she propelled me forward. The afternoon light filtering through the high windows cast long shadows across the hallway, marking how many hours had passed since my disastrous attempt to reason with Foster this morning.


    “Your precious Alexander is at our gates,” Suzanna sneered, her voice dripping with venom. “Did <b>you </b>really think he could just march in here and take what belongs to Alpha Foster?”


    My heartbeat quickened at the mention of Alexander. He was here already? I hadn’t expected him to arrive so quickly–hope surged through me like an electric current.


    “When Alpha Foster crushes your Alpha,” Suzanna continued, clearly relishing every word, “I’ll personally make sure you live long enough to watch him die. Then we’ll see how smug you are.” She yanked open the heavy steel door that led to the basement.


    Despite her threats, I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. Alexander was here. He hade for us, just as he promised.


    “Is Felix safe?” I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral. If Alexander had already managed to extract my son from wherever Alpha Foster was keeping him, our chances would be significantly better.


    Suzanna’s answeringugh was cruel. “Don’t worry about that little one–eyed freak. Alpha Foster has special ns for him once he’s dealt with your would–be savior.”


    The words sent ice through my veins, but I forced myself to remain calm.


    “Alpha Foster is making a terrible mistake,” I said quietly as she shoved me down the concrete steps. Alexander isn’t like other Alphas.”


    ”


    “Shut up!” Suzanna pped me hard across the face, the sound echoing in the empty stairwell. “Your mate bond with Foster may have protected you before, but don’t think for a second that will stop me now.”


    At the bottom of the stairs, she pushed me into a small storage room that had been hastily converted into


    a makeshift cell. The space was cold, damp, and smelled of mildew. A single bulb hung from the ceiling, casting sickly yellow light over the concrete walls.


    “Enjoy your amodations, Luna,” she spat the title like a curse. “When I return, you’ll be kneeling before me, begging for mercy.”


    The door mmed shut behind her, followed by the heavy click of a lock engaging.


    Alone in the darkness, I let out the breath I’d been holding.I reached into my pocket and pulled out what I’d slipped from hers upstairs–a slim burner phone.It wasn’t her main one. But I’d seen her check it


    earlier. And she hadn’t noticed it was gone.


    I had to reach Alexander. Now.