The Assault on the Fortress

**Dimitri**

The biting mountain wind carried a chilling cold that cut to the bone, but inside me, the fire of determination burned even hotter. I knew that every step we took brought us closer to Lucian and, consequently, closer to Angel. She was in danger, and I would do whatever it took to get her out of there.

Our group moved silently, like shadows in the night, every wolf alert to the slightest movement. We were near Lucian's fortress, a place that, according to reports, was nearly impenetrable. But "nearly" was what gave us hope. We had a plan, and with the help of Angel's brother and his wolves, we believed we could surprise Lucian and rescue Angel before he even knew what was happening.

Leonardo, always by my side, kept his eyes fixed on the path ahead. He was my right hand, and I trusted him like few others. I knew he would give his life to protect the pack, and now, to protect Angel.

"We're close," Angel's brother whispered, his eyes fixed on the imposing structure that began to emerge on the horizon. "The guards should be patrolling the main entrances, but if we follow the eastern side, there's a lightly guarded passage."

I nodded, signaling everyone to get ready. The tension in the air was palpable, every wolf knew they were about to risk everything. But we also knew that there was no other choice.

We divided into two groups as planned. The group led by Leonardo would create a distraction, attacking head-on to draw the guards' attention. My group, led by me, would infiltrate through the eastern side, aiming to enter the fortress undetected.

"We're ready, Dimitri," Leonardo said, the determination gleaming in his eyes. "We'll meet on the other side."

I gripped his shoulder, knowing he was prepared for whatever came. "Be careful, Leonardo. I don't want to lose anyone else today."

He nodded before moving away, leading his group in the opposite direction. I waited until they disappeared into the darkness before turning to my own group.

"Let's go," I whispered, and we began to move along the narrow trail that would take us to the secret passage.

The silence was broken only by the soft sound of our footsteps in the snow and the wind whistling through the rocks. Every wolf was on high alert, knowing that a single mistake could compromise the entire mission.

Finally, we reached the passage. It was a narrow opening in the rock, almost invisible at first glance. I felt relieved to see that there were no visible guards nearby, but I knew that didn’t mean we were safe.

"One at a time," I murmured, guiding the first wolf through the narrow tunnel.

The path was dark and winding, and the cold, damp air made it hard to breathe. But we all pressed on with determination, knowing that at the end of this tunnel was the chance to save Angel.

When we emerged on the other side, we found ourselves in an inner area of the fortress. We were inside the walls, but we still had to find Angel and get her out of there without alerting the guards.

We moved quickly, staying in the shadows, avoiding any unnecessary contact. I knew Lucian had many men at his disposal, and a direct confrontation before we found Angel could be disastrous.

We climbed a spiral staircase that seemed to lead to the heart of the fortress. Each step was accompanied by the sound of the wind echoing through the empty corridors, creating an unsettling atmosphere.

Finally, we reached a large reinforced wooden door. I could feel deep in my gut that Angel was there, beyond that door. I signaled the others to get ready. This would be the riskiest part.

"We're with you, Dimitri," said one of the wolves beside me, his voice full of loyalty.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of responsibility on my shoulders. "We're bringing her back."

With a swift motion, we opened the door, ready for whatever we might find on the other side. What we saw made my heart stop for a moment.

Angel was there, chained to a stone wall, her face pale and bruised. But despite everything, her eyes still shone with fierce determination. She hadn’t given up.

"Angel!" I ran to her, my heart pounding wildly.

"Dimitri," she murmured, her eyes widening as she saw me. "He's coming... Lucian knows you're here."

Before I could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor. The battle was about to begin.

"Get ready," I shouted to the others. "We're getting out of here with Angel."

The sight of Angel, chained and battered, ignited a fury within me that I had never felt before. Her once vibrant spirit, though dimmed by the ordeal, still flickered in her eyes, and that small flame was enough to stoke the fire within me. There was no room for hesitation; we had come too far and risked too much. The time for careful planning was over—now was the time for action.

As I reached her, I quickly assessed the situation. The chains that bound her were thick, made of a material designed to hold even the strongest of wolves. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I grabbed the chains, feeling the cold metal bite into my hands, and began pulling with all my strength.

"Hang on, Angel," I said, my voice rough with determination. "We’re getting you out of here."

The others formed a protective circle around us, their eyes and ears tuned to the approaching threat. The sound of Lucian’s men drawing closer reverberated off the stone walls, each footstep a reminder that time was running out.

Leonardo and the rest of the wolves moved to secure the corridor, ready to intercept the first wave of attackers. Their faces were set with grim resolve; they knew what was at stake.

The chains resisted, groaning under the strain, but they began to give way. With a final, desperate pull, the links snapped, and Angel fell forward into my arms. Relief flooded through me as I held her close, but there was no time to savor the moment.

"We need to move, now!" Leonardo barked, his voice sharp with urgency.

I nodded, lifting Angel gently. She was weak, her body trembling from the ordeal, but she managed to stand with my support. The others closed ranks around us, creating a living shield as we began our retreat.

The sound of fighting erupted behind us as Lucian’s men arrived, clashing with our own. The narrow corridor filled with the growls and snarls of wolves locked in battle, the scent of blood beginning to taint the cold air. Every second felt like an eternity as we fought to escape the fortress.

"Stay with me, Angel," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the chaos. "We’re almost out of here."

Her fingers tightened around my arm, a silent acknowledgment of my words. Despite everything, she was still fighting, still holding on. And as long as she did, I would fight for her.

We reached the base of the spiral staircase, where the rest of our group waited, fending off the relentless assault from Lucian’s forces. The battle was fierce, but the determination in our wolves' eyes matched my own. They knew what was at stake, and they weren’t about to let Lucian win.

"Keep moving!" I urged, leading Angel up the stairs, one step at a time. The fortress seemed to close in around us, the walls echoing with the sounds of our desperate escape.

Finally, we reached the top of the staircase, emerging into the open air. The cold mountain wind hit us like a wave, but it was a welcome sensation, a reminder that we were one step closer to freedom. But Lucian wasn’t about to let us go that easily.

"There!" one of the wolves shouted, pointing to a figure emerging from the shadows at the far end of the courtyard.

Lucian.

His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. This was the man who had taken Angel, who had tried to break her and use her against me. The man who had crossed every line, and now stood between us and our escape.

But this time, Lucian wasn’t going to win.

"Get Angel out of here," I ordered, my voice cold and resolute. "I’ll deal with him."

Leonardo hesitated for only a second before nodding. He took Angel’s other arm, guiding her toward the exit, while I turned to face the enemy who had haunted us for so long. This was the moment that would decide everything—Angel’s safety, the future of our pack, and the end of Lucian’s reign of terror.

The air crackled with tension as Lucian and I faced each other, two alphas ready to clash. The final confrontation was here, and only one of us would walk away victorious.