This time they were dangerously close, sounding from all around us. 

I growled under my breath on hearing them. " Why had I been so stupid? " I yelled at myself internally. If only I hadn't brought him back. If only I made him leave earlier, if only- the questions flooded into my brain. 

And what, let a wolf die alone in the wilderness? Another question growled inside me, nulling the others to silence. 

My mind suddenly dug up the conversation I had with Daen and Pedro yesterday. " The quicker he leaves the better. " Daen had muttered, just loud enough for us to hear as she glanced at Felix. I nodded as I agreed with her, even though I bit my lower lip with a frown. 

Whatever the case was, it was most likely that these wolves were still hunting Felix. So the sooner he left meant the lesser chances that the wolves would track down my pack. 

" Still, it's better if we're mentally prepared for any situation. " Pedro spoke up. I silently looked at them and nodded again. " Spread the word. " I whispered as I turned and walked back to Felix. 

" Alpha. " Daen called out as she ran to my side. I turned towards her, silently thanking her for snapping me out of my thoughts. 

Later, I thought. I can scold myself later. 

Right now I needed to lead, I told myself with a scowl as the irritation with myself turned into anger at the wolves that were fast approaching us. 

" Defense Formation. " I growled, low enough for the entire pack to hear it. " Come on. " I called Felix as we sprinted to the other side of the house, the side with the pen. 

A small smile crept up on my face seeing that everyone was already in position like they had just been waiting for my command. This is how you truly lead, I thought, my glance flickering to Felix as he stood next to me. 

The formation revealed the ranks of my pack. 

At the lead was my position, as their alpha. 

Daen and Pedro, the betas were positioned a step behind me on either side and right behind them were Meria with Hyun and Carnel with Keyu, each pair standing in a file. 

The teens each had the responsibility to look after a pup even though they were worthy enough to be raised in their ranks to become the next deltas.

Behind them were Genir and Reynar, the immediate deltas who also acted as the sentinel pair, the pair that would take over if something happened to the alpha and the betas. 

And they were more than happy to be stationed behind since they could keep an eye on their pups that were in front of them. 

Since the Laneri pack was so small, everyone had multiple roles, such as Reynar being a delta, a part of the Sentinel pair and also the packs lead scout. 

Every wolf of my pack that was facing us suddenly tensed as they looked past us, towards the woods. 

Felix and I turned to face the woods too and we finally saw them.

Out of the darkness of the woods slowly emerged the dark-coated wolves and for the first time since my phasing, I felt fear. 

Fear of another wolf. And this wasn't because of their size or their snarls that were now curling in the air all around us. 

It was because of their eyes.

They were bloodshot red. 

The same as the ones that haunted me in my dreams.

How-? I stuttered in my mind as I frowned, the fear evident on my face when Felix glanced at me. But I didn't mind it at this point. He had seen me when I was at my worst, even though I would have preferred if he hadn't.

But the thing I did care about was my pack. Nobody was going to see me like this. Not even Daen or Pedro. 

Seeing your pack's Alpha in fear would invariably instil fear in every member of the pack. Chanting this repeatedly in my head, I calmed down and regained composure. 

" -five, six... seven and eight. " I counted under my breath, scanning the borders for any more of these red-eyed wolves. 

Eight. There were eight of them and we were ten. But excluding the pups, we had eight. My hope of fighting them went bleak as I heard Felix answer my question. 

" Is there any chance we can take them? " I had asked. " No way... " He grunted as he shook his head, eyes never leaving the wolves that had started closing in. " There could be more reinforcements. We don't know for sure. " He replied again. 

I frowned as I wondered how important must this guy be, or how much trouble was he in to get hunted like this. I vowed to ask him if we got out of this alive. 

" Daen and Pedro, as soon as I issue a warning to them, on my mark, lead. " I growled in my alpha voice. I said as I turned to them. 

Since Felix and I were standing behind the pack, I instructed Genir and Reynar to protect the sides while we took over the back. The fact that was obvious to everyone that the back would be attacked first at this rate. 

Felix frowned as he took the order from me but luckily didn't argue. Even though he was an Alpha, he was not my pack's Alpha, so it remained that my say here was still absolute. 

Turning back at the invaders, I bared my canines snarling at them with blazing anger in my eyes. Nobody threatens my pack. Nobody.

Channelling all my entire alpha being into it, I growled so fiercely that I could feel even my pack mates tremble. 

Felix joined me in my growl, adding to the alpha energy. But even then, the wolves only slowed for a second before continuing towards us. 

" NOW! " I yelled. And Daen and Pedro bolted, leading the pack into motion.