THE ALPHA'S REVENGE MATE

episode 2

THE ALPHA'S DECISION

The howl faded into the darkness.

I stood frozen beside the guest house, staring toward the forest.

Something had answered the first wolf.

Something close.

Something that sounded angry.

“What was that?” I whispered.

Hillary didn't answer immediately.

His entire body had gone rigid.

“Inside.”

The command came so quietly that it frightened me more than a shout would have.

“What?”

“Get inside, Natalia.”

I looked toward the trees again.

“I heard something.”

“So did I.”

His golden eyes scanned the darkness.

For the first time since I had met him, Alpha Hillary looked genuinely concerned.

He reached for my hand.

“Now.”

I followed him inside.

The moment the door closed, Hillary locked it.

Then he checked every window.

I watched him.

“Are we in danger?”

“Not yet.”

“That's not reassuring.”

He turned toward me.

“You need to understand something.”

“What?”

“The Clinton territory has enemies.”

“So does every powerful pack.”

“Not like this.”

His voice was different.

Serious.

“There are wolves who have been waiting for an opportunity to weaken my family.”

I folded my arms.

“And tonight gave them one?”

“Yes.”

I looked down.

“Because Tony rejected me.”

“Because Tony humiliated you publicly.”

I frowned.

“What difference does that make?”

Hillary stepped closer.

“Everything.”

He stared at me for a long moment.

“Tonight wasn't just a mating ceremony. It was supposed to be the beginning of Tony's rise as Alpha.”

I swallowed.

“And now?”

“Now the pack is divided.”

“Because of me?”

“No.”

His answer was immediate.

“Because of him.”

Something inside me loosened.

I sank onto the sofa.

My body suddenly felt exhausted.

My fingers pressed against my chest.

The pain from the broken bond was still there.

Not as violent as before.

But deep.

Constant.

Like an open wound.

“Selene?”

Silence.

I closed my eyes.

“She's still not speaking to me.”

Hillary sat opposite me.

“She will.”

“How do you know?”

“Because wolves don't die simply because a mate bond breaks.”

“I feel like I died.”

His expression softened.

“You didn't.”

I opened my eyes.

“You don't understand.”

“I understand more than you think.”

There was something behind his words.

Something he wasn't telling me.

I studied him.

“Did someone break your heart too?”

His jaw tightened.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he looked away.

“Something like that.”

I wanted to ask more.

But his expression warned me not to.

A silence settled between us.

Then my stomach growled.

I covered it in embarrassment.

Hillary raised an eyebrow.

“When was the last time you ate?”

“I don't remember.”

“You've been crying since the ceremony.”

“I wasn't exactly thinking about dinner.”

He stood.

“I'll get you something.”

“You don't have to.”

“I know.”

He walked toward the kitchen.

I watched him disappear.

It was strange.

This man was the most powerful Alpha in the territory.

Yet here he was, preparing food for the woman his son had just betrayed.

I didn't understand him.

And that frightened me.

A few minutes later, he returned with a tray.

“Eat.”

I stared at it.

“Are you always this bossy?”

“Yes.”

A small smile escaped me.

It was the first time I had smiled since the bond broke.

Hillary noticed.

His expression softened.

“Good.”

“What?”

“You smiled.”

I looked away.

“Don't get used to it.”

“I wasn't planning to.”

But there was amusement in his voice.

I picked up the food.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

Then my phone started ringing.

I looked at the screen.

Mother.

My heart tightened.

I answered.

“Natalia?”

Her voice broke immediately.

“Mom.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m safe.”

“Are you with Alpha Hillary?”

I hesitated.

“Yes.”

She inhaled sharply.

“You need to come home.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“People are talking.”

“Let them talk.”

“You don't understand. Angelica is telling everyone that Tony never truly wanted you.”

My hand tightened around the phone.

“What?”

“She says you embarrassed him. She says you ran away because you couldn't accept his decision.”

I closed my eyes.

Of course.

Angelica was already rewriting the story.

My mother continued.

“Some of the elders are angry.”

“Because Tony cheated?”

“Because they believe you caused a scene.”

A bitter laugh escaped me.

“I didn't cause anything.”

“I know.”

My mother's voice cracked.

“I know, sweetheart.”

“Then why should I go back?”

Silence.

Finally she whispered, “Because I'm afraid for you.”

I looked across the room at Hillary.

He had heard everything.

His expression was unreadable.

“Mom, I can't come back tonight.”

“Please be careful.”

“I will.”

The call ended.

I lowered the phone.

“They're already blaming me.”

Hillary's voice was cold.

“They won't for long.”

“What does that mean?”

He stood.

“It means tomorrow morning, I will address the pack.”

I stared at him.

“You're going to defend me?”

“No.”

He walked toward the window.

“I’m going to tell them the truth.”

Before I could answer, his phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

His expression immediately hardened.

“Speak.”

He listened.

“Where?”

Another pause.

“When?”

His eyes narrowed.

“Do not touch anything. I'm coming.”

He ended the call.

“What happened?”

“Someone broke into the eastern border.”

My blood went cold.

“Was it Tony?”

“No.”

He grabbed his jacket.

“Then who?”

“We don't know.”

I stood.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

“You said I shouldn't be alone.”

“You won't be.”

He looked toward the door.

“I've already called two guards.”

I swallowed.

“Hillary.”

He stopped.

“Be careful.”

For a moment, something passed through his eyes.

Surprise.

Then something warmer.

“I will.”

He left.

The moment the door closed, the guest house felt enormous.

And empty.

I sat back down.

I tried to convince myself that I wasn't afraid.

But every sound outside made me jump.

Minutes passed.

Then an hour.

I finally stood and walked toward the window.

That's when I saw it.

A shadow.

Moving between the trees.

My heart stopped.

I stepped closer.

The shadow disappeared.

I frowned.

Then I heard a sound behind me.

A soft scrape.

I spun around.

Nothing.

My breathing became shallow.

“Who's there?”

Silence.

I reached for the nearest object I could use as a weapon.

Then something slammed against the window.

I screamed.

A black wolf stood outside.

Its eyes glowed red.

It stared directly at me.

I stumbled backward.

The wolf bared its teeth.

Then it vanished into the darkness.

I stood frozen.

A few seconds later, the front door burst open.

Hillary rushed inside with two guards behind him.

“Natalia!”

I ran toward him.

“There was a wolf.”

“What did it look like?”

“Black.”

His expression changed.

“Eyes?”

“Red.”

Hillary went completely still.

One of the guards whispered, “Impossible.”

I looked between them.

“What?”

Hillary dismissed the guards with a gesture.

“Leave us.”

They obeyed.

I turned toward him.

“Tell me what's happening.”

He rubbed his jaw.

“There is a rogue pack in the northern forest.”

“And?”

“They don't answer to any Alpha.”

My stomach tightened.

“Why were they watching me?”

He didn't answer.

“Hillary.”

He looked at me.

“Because they may know what you are.”

“What I am?”

“Yes.”

I shook my head.

“I’m Natalia Rose. That's all.”

“No.”

He stepped closer.

“You're more than that.”

His eyes searched mine.

“Your wolf survived a bond break that should have weakened her severely.”

“So?”

“So I felt something when I touched you.”

My heart began racing.

“What?”

“A connection.”

I stared at him.

“Like a mate bond?”

He shook his head.

“Not exactly.”

“Then what?”

“I don't know.”

The silence between us became heavy.

Then he reached toward my face.

His fingers brushed my cheek.

A strange warmth rushed through me.

My breath caught.

Hillary's eyes widened.

For one brief second, I saw something flash through his golden eyes.

Recognition.

Fear.

Desire.

Then he pulled away.

“We need answers.”

I swallowed.

“About what?”

“About you.”

My heart hammered.

Before I could ask another question, the front door opened.

A guard rushed inside.

“Alpha!”

Hillary turned.

“What?”

“The eastern patrol found something.”

“What?”

The guard swallowed.

“They found a body.”

My blood ran cold.

“Whose?”

The guard looked at me.

Then at Hillary.

“It's Tony Clinton's.”

The room went silent.

“What?” I whispered.

Hillary's face became unreadable.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I shook my head.

“That isn't possible.”

The guard continued.

“There's more.”

Hillary's eyes narrowed.

“What?”

“The body isn't dead.”

My heart stopped.

The guard's voice dropped.

“He's alive.”

I felt the blood drain from my face.

Tony.

Alive.

But if Tony had been attacked...

Who had done it?

And why?

Then Hillary looked at me.

His expression told me something was terribly wrong.

“Get every guard on alert.”

“Why?”

His eyes moved toward the forest.

“Because whoever attacked my son may not have been trying to kill him.”

I stared at him.

“What were they trying to do?”

Hillary's jaw tightened.

“Send me a message.”

Outside, another howl echoed through the trees.

This time, there were several voices answering.

Hillary moved in front of me.

And I realized something.

Whatever had started tonight was much bigger than Tony's betrayal.

The mating ceremony had not ended my story.

It had opened the door to something far more dangerous.

And somewhere in the darkness, someone already knew my name.