Chapter3
1276 Words
THE ALPHA RETURNS
Kiera's POV
I crushed the note in my fist, my wolf clawing at my insides, demanding blood. They knew. They knew about Kai. I had to get to him. Had to get him somewhere safe, somewhere they'd never find him. My phone was in my hand before I could think. Three rings. Four.
"Rosie, answer. Please answer."
"Hello?"
"Is Kai with you?" My voice came out sharp, desperate.
"Yes, honey. He's right here eating his third slice of.."
"Don't let him out of your sight. Lock the doors. Don't open them to anyone. I'm coming to get him."
"Kiera, what's wrong?"
The rumble of engines cut through the night. Deep. Powerful. Too many of them. My blood turned to ice.
"It's too late," I whispered.
I dropped the phone and ran outside, my heart hammering against my ribs. Headlights swept across my yard, one after another. Five bikes. Ten. Fifteen. They rolled in like a storm, engines growling, leather cuts gleaming under the streetlights. But these weren't ordinary bikers. The scent hit me first. Wild. Primal. Pack. Wolves in MC colors.
My legs locked. My breath caught. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to shift, to fight. But I couldn't move. Because at the front of the pack, sitting on a matte black Harley that probably cost more than my house, was him.
Rylan. Five years. Five years since I'd seen his face. Five years since he'd ripped my heart out and ordered me dragged away like trash.
He looked different. Harder. His dark hair was longer, tied back. His jaw was covered in stubble. Black leather cut stretched across his broad shoulders, the patch on his back reading "Black Howl MC" with a wolf's head howling at the moon. Below it, the rocker that made my stomach drop.
President.
He'd built his own club. Combined his pack with an MC. Created something new, something dangerous.
And he'd brought them here. His engine cut off. Silence fell like a blade. Rylan dismounted slowly, his movements predator smooth. His amber eyes, those damn eyes that used to look at me with love, locked onto mine.
The mate bond I'd thought was dead flared to life, searing through my chest like lightning.
No. No, I'd buried this. Killed it. Burned it to ash. But my wolf whimpered, reaching for him, crying his name.
Traitor.
"Kiera." His voice was deeper than I remembered. Rougher. It rolled over my skin like thunder. I couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe.
He took a step forward. His scent hit me full force. Pine and leather and Alpha power so strong it made my knees weak. His wolf howled inside him. I heard it, felt it, the way it called to mine.
Kiera. Kiera. Kiera.
"Stay back." The words finally tore from my throat. My hand moved to the knife at my belt. "You're not welcome here."
Something flickered across his face. Shock. Maybe hurt. Good. His gaze swept over me, taking in every change. My scarred knuckles. My leather cut. My eyes no longer held softness or submission.
"You're different," he said quietly.
"You made me different." I bared my teeth. "Now get off my property."
A massive wolf stepped forward from behind Rylan. Dressed in MC colors, tattoos covering his arms, his eyes glowing with pack magic.
Garrett. Rylan's second in command. The one who'd grabbed my arms that night and dragged me away.
"She stole the Alpha's bike," Garrett growled. "That alone is grounds for.."
"For what?" I cut him off, my voice deadly calm. "Execution? Go ahead and try."
Three warriors moved forward, flanking Garrett. Their wolves pushed at their skin, ready to shift. My own wolf surged forward. I'd held her back for so long, suffocated her, caged her. Not anymore. I moved. Fast. Faster than they expected.
My fist connected with the first warrior's throat. He went down choking. I spun, my boot catching the second in the ribs. The bone cracked. The third lunged, but I was already moving, my knife flashing in the light.
Blood sprayed.
"Enough!"
The roar shook the ground beneath my feet. Windows rattled. Birds scattered from trees.
Alpha command. Pure. Absolute. Undeniable.
Everyone froze. Even me. My body locked up, my wolf whimpering at the sheer power in that single word. Rylan stood with his chest heaving, his eyes blazing gold. The surrounding air shimmered with dominance.
"Stand down," he ordered his warriors. "All of you. Now."
They obeyed instantly, backing away from me like I was on fire.
Rylan's gaze returned to mine. "We need to talk."
"No."
"Kiera.."
"That's not my name anymore," I straightened, forcing my wolf back down. "It's Ghostwolf. And you don't get to show up here after five years and demand anything from me."
"I'm not demanding." His jaw clenched. "I'm asking."
"Then my answer is no, President." I spat the title like poison. "Take your pack and leave."
Something dark flickered in his eyes. "You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to spend five years searching for you?"
"Searching?" I laughed, the sound bitter and broken. "You threw me out. You replaced me. You put your hands on another woman's pregnant belly and told your warriors to remove me like garbage."
"You don't understand.."
"I understand perfectly." My voice cracked. "I wasn't enough. My womb wasn't enough. So you found someone who was."
"That's not what happened!"
"Then what did happen, Rylan?" I screamed. All the pain, all the rage, five years of suffering poured out of me. "Tell me! Explain how you destroyed me and then come here acting like you have the right to.."
He stopped moving. His entire body went rigid. His nostrils flared, his head tilting slightly. He was scenting the air. No. Oh god, no.
"Kiera." His voice dropped to a whisper. "What is that smell?"
"Nothing. There's nothing.."
"That's a child." His eyes widened. "There's a child here."
"Leave. Now." My hand tightened on my knife.
"A child with Alpha energy." His gaze snapped to mine, wild and desperate. "Strong Alpha energy. Stronger than it should be."
"I said leave!"
But he wasn't listening anymore. His wolf had taken over, driving him forward, hunting for the source of that scent. The front door creaked open behind me. No. Please, no.
"Mommy?"
The small voice shattered the night. I spun around. Kai stood in the doorway, rubbing his eyes with one small fist. His dark hair was messy from sleep. His pajamas had little motorcycles on them. And his eyes, drowsy and confused, glowed faint gold in the darkness.
"Mommy, there are loud noises. Are we going somewhere?"
I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't do anything but stand there as my worst nightmare unfolded. Behind me, I heard Rylan's sharp intake of breath. Felt the moment his wolf recognized the scent. Felt the mate bond explode with shock and realization.
"That's..." His voice broke. Shattered. "That's my son."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Kai looked past me, his young face curious. "Mommy, who are all these people?"
I wanted to scream. Wanted to grab Kai and run. Wanted to tear the world apart with my bare hands. But all I could do was stand there as Rylan stared at the son he never knew existed. The son I'd hidden for four years.
The son who was now standing in the open, glowing with unmistakable alpha power. Rylan took a step forward, his hand outstretched, his eyes locked on Kai.
"Don't you dare," I snarled, moving between them.
But the damage was done. They'd found us. And Rylan knew the truth.
- Writer
