Stepping off the plane, they quickly scanned the area and spotted their destination in the distance. Surrounded by the rugged beauty of the forest, it is accessible only by a dirt road.
Sakura narrowed her eyes at the guards stationed by the main gate and the barbed wire coiled tightly along the fence surrounding the property. "This isn't going to be easy," she muttered.
Athen nodded, his gaze scanning the perimeter. "There's got to be another way. We need to get closer."
Without another word, the boys shifted into their powerful four-legged forms. Sakura climbed onto Athen's back, and together, they moved swiftly toward the fort, the relentless southern heat bearing down on them with every step.
Their approach to the fort was calculated and cautious. They could see the entrance gate from a distance but were still far enough away to remain undetected.
"I can see the guards," Michael whispered. "What's our next move, Sakura?"
"You actin' like I know war tactics?"
"Right, my bad."
"Hey," Alex whispered excitedly to Alec, "what if we distract the guards to create an opening for the others?"
Alec grinned in agreement. "I like where your head's at. Let's do it."
Before anyone could object, the twins bolted towards the entrance, leaving their pack mates behind. But their audacious move did not go unnoticed. A pack of Mexican wolves emerged from the shadows, their keen senses detecting the intruders.
Running, Alec inspected his three o'clock, glimpsing the team of wolves catching up to them. "Hey, brother."
"What?" Alex exclaimed, whipping his head toward his brother. His heart sank as he spotted the wild pack of Mexican wolves closing in fast. Their bodies were twisted with old scars, and their once-vibrant fur was streaked with gray hairs. Alex's eyes widened in horror—he hadn't realized how quickly these wolves were, far faster than them.
Before Athen or the others could react, the wild wolves surged forward like a wave of fury. One sank its teeth into Alec's nape, dragging him down with brutal force. Alec let out a piercing squeal of pain that cut through the air.
The Mexican wolves closed in, and Alex halted in his tracks, eyes widening in sheer horror. His tail instinctively tucked between his legs. "Alec!" he called out.
A powerful Mexican wolf pinned Alec to the ground. The young wolf found himself locked in a dangerous stare with his brother, their eyes reflecting the shared fear.
Within the frenzy, a colossal beast of a wolf, larger and more menacing than the rest, approached with a terrifying snarl, saliva dripping from its jaws.
Sakura and the others watched in alarm as the situation unfolded, realizing their recklessness had triggered a potentially dangerous encounter. They didn't waste a moment and sprinted toward their Omegas.
Sakura hyperventilated, desperate to resolve this unfortunate misunderstanding. "Oi... Let the lads go."
Alex responded, "We're okay."
"Help," Alec said, unable to form a sentence.
"Let them go," Sakura demanded.
The swift and cunning Mexican wolves surrounded the intruders, forming a threatening circle. Feral growls emanated from their throats, their eyes locked onto the newcomers with curiosity and hostility.
Realizing they were outnumbered and outmatched, Sakura said, "We don't want trouble. We're just here for our Omega's."
One of the more giant Mexican wolves, the pack's Alpha, stepped forward. His eyes locked into Sakura and said, "You trespassed on our territory, Pinche's. And now you are at our mercy. If you wish to see your friends unharmed, you have to do what we say."
"What? We didn't even do anything!" Alex cried out.
Before he could say more, another wolf lunged at him, grabbing him by the nape and pulling him across the dusty, sunbaked terrain. The pack stood frozen, stunned by the attack. None realized a wild group of wolves were living so dangerously close to the fort.
"We didn't know this was your territory!" Sakura shouted. "We're here to find a traitor from our pack."
The Alpha wolf stepped forward, his scarred body radiating an intimidating presence. His deep voice rumbled like distant thunder. "No traitors here, princesa. We've lived in this land for generations, long before the humans came. They took our territory, picked off our pack one by one for their experiments, claiming they were looking for werewolves. Tell me—does that sound like you?"
Sakura's pulse quickened, and sweat dripped down her temple as she carefully chose her following words. "And what difference would it make if it did?"
The Alpha bared his teeth in a cold smile. "All the more perfect for the mission ahead."
Athen, Michael, and Jack immediately stepped into defensive positions, their bodies tense and ready for a fight. Losing Alex and Alec was the least of their concern, but Sakura didn't share their concern for her safety. She took a cautious step forward, her gaze locked on the Alpha. "What kind of mission?"
The Alpha tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "We'll release your Omegas unharmed, but the humans have crept on our land again and kidnapped my son. We need your help to gather intelligence and, neutralize the threat, and bring my son home."
Sakura glanced at her packmates. Their options were slim, and the twins' safety weighed heavily on her. After a tense silence, she nodded. "Fine. We'll help you. But once your son is safe, you must hold up your end of the deal."
The Alpha wolf's icy gaze softened just enough. "You have my word. Once the mission is done, they'll be returned unharmed. I'll assign a few of my Betas to accompany you—we need to know we can trust each other. How about it, princesa?"
Sakura squared her shoulders. "Agreed. You can count on us," Sakura said. Without hesitation, she sprang toward the fort. The Mexican Beta wolves followed closely, but Athen let out a low growl, ensuring they stayed ahead of him and in front of Michael—just in case.
Sakura brought a second pack of wolves to the gate's entrance without much choice. Everyone kept their distance behind boulders so the humans would not spot them.
A Mexican Beta wolf began to whisper. "Our Alpha's pup," he began, "was a spirited and promising young wolf, full of life and energy. The humans captured him from the fort, who saw him as a weapon to use against us. They believed they could manipulate him into serving their dark intentions. We've been searching for him ever since he was taken."
Sakura and her pack mates listened in somber empathy. They understood the depth of the Alpha wolf's desperation and the urgency of their mission.
Michael questioned, "Why didn't you ask to begin with?"
Sakura said, "We would have helped, regardless."
The Mexican wolves nodded appreciatively.
"gracias," the Beta wolf said. "We cannot express how much this means to us."
Athen stood tall and announced, "We have our own reasons to be here, but we will prioritize the Alpha's pup for now."
As they neared the imposing gate of the human fort, the Beta wolf turned to them. His eyes sparkled. "Mierda, how will we enter unseen by the guards?"
Michael observed the gate and the surrounding area, and after careful consideration, he devised a plan. "I think I can get us through," Michael said. "I can use my abilities to create a diversion. While the guards are distracted, the rest of you can slip through the gate."
"Wow," Athen said, rolling his eyes. "Are you serious?"
"He would be an improvement to the twins," Jack said. "If anyone can distract the guards, it's Michael."
"Fine," Athen sighed.
The Mexican wolves and Sakura's pack agreed with Michael's bizarre plan. However, no one had a clue about what he was planning. That made Athen feel a little uneasy, but he wanted to trust him because Lily picked him for a reason to become an Alpha Protector. He watched as he transformed into his human form and began walking in their direction.
Two men in deep green suits that blended with the surrounding foliage stood on either side of the entrance. Their presence at the gate's security and watchful gazes scanned the area carefully. Michael moved like a shadow with incredible speed and stealth, drawing the guards' attention away from the entrance. His swift movements and sudden appearances at different locations left them baffled and bewildered. The guards scrambled to respond.
"What the hell was that?" A guard asked.
"It was probably an animal," The second guard replied.
"It might be one of those Mexican wolves again causing us trouble. Let's go check it out," The first guard said. The two casually walked away from the gate, expecting to find a pack of wolves darting around the wall.
The two packs slipped through the gate unnoticed and infiltrated the facility where they believed Alpha's son was held. The door to the area had been heavily guarded, making their entry challenging.
"Shit," Athen whispered, "What do we do now?"
The Beta wolf sniffed the scent of beef stew. "Wait for it."
The guards glanced at their wrists to check the time on their cheap watches. Both facility men in uniforms left for their lunch break so the packs could hasten inside.
They found themselves in a sterile and eerie lab corridor, desperate to locate Alpha's pup; they hurried down the corridor, their senses on high alert.
Athen sniffed about, unable to scent any wolves in the area. He let out a noisy whiff and said, "Where is he?"
The Beta replied, "The scents are all the same."
"That makes sense," Jack said. "The workers disinfect everything with the same product, including themselves, so it will be impossible to extract them."
"Hush," Athen whispered. He abruptly halted as they heard approaching footsteps. "Humans are coming."
Panic surged through their ranks as they realized they had nowhere to hide in the featureless passageway. They darted into the nearest room with seconds to spare, hoping it would provide cover. Quietly, the packs waited, listening to the sounds fading away slowly.
Sakura's voice trembled as she attempted to speak, her words forming she hadn't hoped for. She clung tightly to Athen's fur, her body shivering, her gaze fixed behind them. Sakura whimpered in a small, wavering voice, "Oh, no."