District Six was where Mitchell had consolidated his power—the stronghold of the previous heir to the alpha title.

As a result, it was quite a headache to get to the bottom of things, especially since it had only been two weeks since the power shift, and Mitchell's supporters still believed they could turn the tables.

It was a precarious time, where anything could happen, and Cris had to tread carefully.

"All the people have gathered inside the house. What do you want us to do, Alpha?" Will asked Cris after reporting what had transpired.

Inside a building disguised as a restaurant, about a dozen people had gathered—none other than Mitchell's supporters, plotting a counterattack. Their goal was to break the alpha's son out of prison.

According to the information Cris had gathered, their plan was to first get Mitchell out of the pack's territory and then rally support from other packs that had been allied with Alpha Gerald for years.

There was a high likelihood these packs would assist, as long as Mitchell could escape. After all, they didn't want Cris seeking revenge on them.

The moment Cris succeeded in merging the two packs, the balance of power would be disrupted, and they couldn't allow a former slave like Cris to rise to the top of the power structure.

"Shift and wait for my command to attack." Cris's cold eyes fixed on the closed restaurant. He was leading this operation personally because it was crucial to capture every last one of them.

"Yes, Alpha," Will responded, relaying the order to the others.

"We've come so far," Joan said, standing on Cris's right. "Let's end this misery." They had endured hell to reach this point, and the scars of ten years of slavery would never fade.

Cris remained silent as he shifted into his black wolf, followed by the other shifters. There were about thirty of them, all ready to unleash chaos tonight.

The alpha took the lead, charging toward the closed building. Soon after, the thick scent of blood filled the air, and the quiet night was pierced by screams of agony. Death loomed heavily over this building tonight...

========================

Aurora waited for Cris in the bedroom, sitting on the couch near a window as she gazed out at the back garden.

She had often played there as a child, and the sight brought back a flood of bitter memories.

She was eight at the time. She had a friend—a little boy from the stables—who had shown her a foal she instantly fell in love with. They even named the foal, and Aurora would sneak out of her bedroom to meet him, where they played together with the other horses.

However, her father discovered that she had left her quarters and was wandering in places he didn't approve of.

He didn't want her to be seen by others, as her very existence was a source of disgrace and humiliation to him.

The only reason Aurora was allowed to live was the possibility that the alpha could sell her to form alliances with other packs. Despite how embarrassing she was to him, she still held value as the alpha's only daughter.

So, when Gerald learned that Aurora had formed a friendship with the boy from the stables, he ordered his men to beat the boy to death and slaughter the foal. It all happened right before Aurora's eyes; her father forced her to watch so she would understand the consequences of defying him.

The threat worked. Aurora locked herself in her bedroom, allowing only Annie to enter, and for years, Annie was the only person she spoke to.

She was terrified that her actions might cause someone else's death.

Aurora closed her eyes, shuddering as she drew the curtains shut to block the view. She didn't want to revisit those memories, especially when something dreadful loomed ahead.

For hours, Aurora waited for Cris, her heart racing. She knew there was no avoiding what was to come.

But as the night deepened and the silence grew almost soothing, Aurora couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. She was exhausted, especially after just recovering from a fever.

Overcome by sleepiness, she curled up on the couch, hugging herself as she used to when locked in the attic. She was so small, and the cloak covering her acted as a makeshift blanket.

=======================

Cris returned from the fierce battle, dried blood staining his shirt and skin. His expression grew colder as he realized that three of them had managed to escape.

Those rats were hard to catch.

"Double the protection around the pack house and dispatch a search team. Also, tell Evan to keep a close eye on Mitchell—I'll be paying him a personal visit," Cris ordered Joan as he strode down the corridor toward his bedroom, with Will close behind. Joan quickly departed to relay the commands.

Every guard and servant bowed their heads as the alpha passed by.

The night was gloomy, and the alpha's mood was far from good.

"Will, go to the border and seal the entry. No one leaves or enters the pack." Cris needed to rid himself of the stench of blood; it repulsed him.

Will nodded and departed as they reached the alpha's chamber. Two guards greeted him respectfully and opened the door.

"Your slave is waiting inside, Alpha," one of the guards informed him.

Cris frowned. He had completely forgotten about Aurora.