Alpha's Daughter: The Hidden Heir

The Journey Begins

The morning of their departure arrived far too quickly.

Amelia stood outside her cabin long before sunrise.

The mountains were still wrapped in darkness, their peaks barely visible beneath the fading stars.

Around her neck rested her mother's necklace.

The silver crescent moon felt warm against her skin.

Almost alive.

She touched it absentmindedly.

Questions still filled her mind.

Questions with no answers.

Who were her parents really?

Why had the Moon Goddess marked her?

Why did powerful Alphas fear her existence?

And perhaps most importantly...

What would happen when she finally stood face to face with the family she'd never known?

Nyx stirred.

Nervous?

Amelia snorted.

"Terrified."

The wolf surprisingly laughed.

Good. Means you're thinking.

"That's comforting."

You'd complain if I wasn't honest.

"Also true."

A knock sounded against her cabin door.

Without turning, Amelia smiled.

"Owen."

"How do you always know?"

She glanced over her shoulder.

"Because nobody else knocks like they're trying to break into a fortress."

Owen looked offended.

"I knock with confidence."

"You knock like a battering ram."

"Same thing."

Amelia laughed.

For a moment, everything felt normal again.

Then reality returned.

They were leaving.

Everything was about to change.

By sunrise, the entire pack had gathered near the front gates.

Warriors stood shoulder to shoulder.

Families crowded together.

Children sat on fences and rooftops.

The whole pack had come to see them off.

Amelia stared at the crowd.

"You'd think we were marching off to war."

Owen looked around.

"With your luck?"

She groaned.

"Don't."

"Just saying."

"Stop saying."

"Fine."

A beat passed.

Then Owen grinned.

"We're definitely marching toward trouble."

Amelia punched his arm.

Hard.

"Ow!"

"You deserved that."

"Abuse."

Garrett walked toward them before Amelia could respond.

The Alpha wore formal traveling clothes.

Beside him stood Clara.

Unlike the others, neither looked excited.

They looked worried.

Very worried.

Amelia noticed immediately.

She walked toward them.

"You're both doing that thing again."

Garrett sighed.

"What thing?"

"The thing where you act like the world is ending."

Clara exchanged a glance with Garrett.

Neither answered.

That was answer enough.

A loud horn echoed across the valley.

Departure.

The crowd immediately quieted.

Garrett stepped forward.

His voice carried across the gathering.

"Tinder Paw."

The pack straightened.

Pride filled every face.

"We have been overlooked for generations."

Several warriors nodded.

"We have been underestimated."

More nods.

"We have been dismissed."

Garrett smiled.

"Let them continue."

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

The Alpha turned toward Amelia.

His expression softened.

"Because they have never seen what I have."

The crowd followed his gaze.

Every eye landed on Amelia.

She immediately wanted to disappear.

"Garrett."

The Alpha ignored her.

"I have watched this young woman build warriors."

Amelia groaned.

"I have watched her strengthen this pack."

Several wolves cheered.

"I have watched her become the heart of Tinder Paw."

The cheering grew louder.

Amelia felt heat creep into her cheeks.

"Oh no."

Owen laughed.

"Oh yes."

Garrett continued.

"No matter what happens beyond these mountains..."

His voice grew serious.

"...remember who you are."

The words were clearly meant for Amelia.

She knew it.

Everyone knew it.

The Alpha stepped forward.

Then something completely unexpected happened.

He bowed.

Not deeply.

Not formally.

But enough.

Enough that the entire crowd gasped.

Amelia froze.

"Garrett..."

The Alpha smiled.

"Proud of you, kid."

Emotion caught in her throat.

Before she could respond, warriors began cheering.

Then more joined.

Soon the entire pack erupted.

The sound echoed through the mountains.

Amelia stood speechless.

For the first time in her life...

She realized just how many lives she'd touched.

Hours later, the group traveled through mountain trails.

Garrett led.

Six warriors followed.

Owen walked beside Amelia.

The journey would take nearly two days.

Which meant two days trapped with her thoughts.

Wonderful.

Exactly what she needed.

More thinking.

The sun climbed higher.

Birds sang overhead.

The forest remained peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Nyx noticed it too.

Something feels wrong.

Amelia scanned the trees.

"I know."

The woods felt empty.

No rabbits.

No deer.

No squirrels.

Nothing.

As though every animal had fled.

A bad sign.

A very bad sign.

Suddenly Garrett raised his hand.

Everyone stopped.

Instantly.

Years of training took over.

Silence settled around them.

The Alpha sniffed the air.

His expression darkened.

"Hide."

The command came sharp.

Immediate.

Dangerous.

Every warrior moved.

Amelia crouched behind a fallen log.

Moments later riders appeared.

Five horses emerged from the trees.

Each rider wore black.

Each carried weapons.

And none belonged to Tinder Paw.

Amelia carefully watched them.

One of the riders paused.

His gaze swept the forest.

Searching.

Hunting.

The man smiled.

A cold smile.

The kind predators wore.

"She's close."

Amelia's stomach dropped.

The rider continued.

"We know she's traveling."

Another nodded.

"Bloodfang wants confirmation."

Silence.

Then the first rider spoke again.

"The moment we find her..."

His smile widened.

"...the hunt begins."

Amelia felt Nyx growl.

Deep.

Dangerous.

Ancient.

The riders eventually moved on.

Disappearing into the forest.

Nobody spoke for several seconds.

Finally Owen broke the silence.

"Well."

Garrett looked grim.

"They know."

Amelia stepped from hiding.

"They've known."

The Alpha nodded.

"Apparently."

Clara looked pale.

"This is happening faster than we expected."

Amelia folded her arms.

"Then maybe someone should explain exactly what they're hunting."

Garrett sighed.

"Not here."

"There never seems to be a good place."

"Because there isn't."

Frustration flared.

But before Amelia could argue further...

A strange sensation washed over her.

Warm.

Electric.

Powerful.

She froze.

"What was that?"

Everyone turned.

Amelia looked toward the horizon.

Toward the distant lands beyond the mountains.

Toward Nightfall territory.

Her heartbeat quickened.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then a powerful pulse echoed through her chest.

Nyx suddenly sat upright.

Alert.

Focused.

Interested.

What is it?

Amelia whispered.

Her wolf's answer came immediately.

And for the first time...

Nyx sounded stunned.

He's there.

Amelia frowned.

"Who's there?"

The wolf's voice softened.

Almost reverent.

Our mate.

Far away, inside Nightfall Pack territory, Kieran Nightfall stopped walking.

Completely.

A strange warmth exploded through his chest.

His golden eyes widened.

Onyx surged forward.

For the first time in weeks, his wolf wasn't restless.

It was certain.

Absolutely certain.

One word echoed through his mind.

Mine.

Kieran looked toward the mountains.

Toward the road leading to Nightfall.

Toward a woman he'd never met.

Yet somehow already knew.

A slow smile appeared.

"The ball just got interesting."

And somewhere between two powerful destinies, fate smiled.

Because after nineteen years of hiding...

The Hidden Heir was finally coming home.