"My security had been compromised," Cove announced, his voice deep and edged with fury. "Thieves had entered into my territory, past my guards, past our defenses, and yet, not a single guard had noticed the intrusion.
His words were like a blade, cutting through the tense air. Some of the warriors flinched. Others tightened their jaws, their muscles tightening as they felt a never before experienced force of their Alpha's anger. Their instincts screamed submission, but even that might not be enough to quell the storm brewing in his eyes.
Cove took a slow step forward, his boots pressing into the dirt with a quiet, deliberate force. The movement sent a ripple of tension through the group. "How!" he demanded, his voice a dangerous growl. "How did two girls, two filthy street thieves slip past all of you?"
Silence; heavy and unforgiving.
The warriors stood frozen, their glowing eyes darting toward one another, searching for an answer; praying someone else would be the first to speak.
Cove let the silence drag out, feeding off their discomfort. When he finally spoke, his voice was ice.
"I caught one," he said coldly. "And the other? Not one of you could catch her!!" His lip curled in disgust, his expression filled clearly with disappointment.
"Pathetic!" he muttered, his tone like ice. "
Finally, Lucas, his Beta, stepped forward. His face was calm, but there was a flicker of tension in his jaw. Unlike the others, he met Cove's stare head on.
"It wasn't luck, Alpha Cove," he said, voice steady but cautious. "The other one, the one who escaped, she knew exactly where to go and what to take. This wasn't just a thief Alpha; it was a plan, a well thought out plan."
Cove's eyes flashed giving Lucas a sharp and intense look, like Lucas was simply confirming what he already suspected. His fingers twitched, his claws itching to unsheathe.
"Planned by who?" Cove requested.
Lucas hesitated. The air grew thick with unease. Around them, the other warriors barely breathed, waiting, knowing that one wrong word could turn this night into something much, much worse. Lucas hesitated, exchanging a glance with one of the senior patrol guards. The tension in the air was tough, the warriors sensing a fireball of anger in their Alpha's growing fury.
A ripple of unease passed through the warriors. Some shifted on their feet; others exchanged wary glances, the light from the torches making their countenance more conspicuous.
Cove stepped forward, advancing towards his soldiers
"Tell me, how did a single girl, a street rat, manage to slip past my guards? Past the defenses you all swore were unbreakable?" His gaze bore into them, his disappointment thick in the air.
Silence.
Cove continued, his tone now laced with disbelief.
"Someone must have guided her, showed her the way, and helped her navigate our defenses."
The air grew heavier. Cove took a step forward, his gaze icy. "And that someone is amongst you. One of you has betrayed me. I don't know who yet, but I will find out. And when I do..."
He paused, letting the words sink in. The warriors stood frozen, their eyes darting nervously to one another. All filled with uncertainty vividly showing through their glowing eyes as they exchanged quick, uneasy glances.
Some shifted uncomfortably, while others looked down, avoiding direct eye contact. The tension was very palpable, thick with fear and suspicion, as each werewolf warrior silently wondered if they themselves were the one who had failed Cove.
Cove's gaze scanned them all, sharp and calculating. "And I promise, I will find who it is. And they will surely regret this betrayal."
He let the threat hang a bit, the gravity of it felt by every single warrior in the group.
They remained still, panic gushing through their bodies like a waterfall, as Cove's cold fury settled over them like a storm waiting to break.
Cove was in fact the strongest Lycan among them, a beast whose power was unmatched. His advanced Lycan abilities made him a force of nature, different from others, capable of tearing apart anyone who dared cross him. The warriors could feel the weight of his anger pressing down on them, each of them very aware of just how close he was to the breaking point.
A moment of heavy silence passed before Cove exhaled sharply, a decision forming in his mind. His voice, though filled with disappointment and fury, now had an edge of cold resolution.
"This... this should not happen again. We need to fortify our defenses, and we need to do it now. Nothing can slip through the cracks, not one thing. I want every entry point reinforced, every patrol route doubled, and a new system of surveillance in place; nothing leaves or enters this territory unaccounted for."
The warriors straightened, the weight of his words sinking in. They had never seen Cove this resolute, this cold. It was clear: there would be no margin for error from this point on.
"Double the patrols, tighten the security, and ensure the perimeter is reinforced," Cove continued, his voice unwavering. "This is my territory. And I will not be caught off guard again."