CHAPTER 15 : THE ALPHAS SECRET
1186 Words
The pack feared her now.
Liana noticed it everywhere. Conversations cut off when she walked in. Warriors exchanged nervous looks around her. Whispers followed her through the hallways of the pack house.
Alpha killer.
That name had spread through Silver Crest like poison. By sunset, everyone knew what the rogues called her during the attack. Somehow, it scared them more than the attack itself.
She stood out on her balcony, staring at the dark forest that rimmed the territory. Rain hammered everything—rooftops, stone paths, windows. But even the storm couldn’t drown out her thoughts.
The Alpha Blood Heir. The Alpha killer. The prophecy.
Everything was spiraling. Worst of all, no one would just tell her the truth.
Her wrist ached beneath her sleeve. The glowing mark pulsed under her skin like it could feel her turmoil. She clenched her fists.
Enough.
She was done being treated like some fragile secret. Done with being “protected”—whatever that meant—without a single real explanation. Done with lies.
There was only one person with answers.
Alpha Kael.
Just thinking of him made her chest hurt. Even now, after he rejected her, after humiliating her, after all of it—the bond still lingered. Broken, damaged, but alive enough to torment her.
She hated it. Hated how part of her still reacted when he was near, hated that despite everything, some reckless corner of her heart still wanted to understand him.
Thunder rattled overhead. Liana turned from the balcony and headed straight for the Alpha’s wing.
—
Silver Crest’s pack house was quieter at night. Dim lanterns glowed along stone halls. Guards stood by every important door.
As soon as she entered the Alpha’s corridor, tension rolled through the air. Guards braced up instantly.
One stepped forward. “The Alpha is busy.”
“I don’t care.”
He hesitated. “Liana—”
“I said, I don’t care.”
Authority slipped into her tone naturally—sharp, commanding. The guard stood aside, almost against his will, eyes wide. Hers widened too.
Her wolf stirred inside. Huh. Interesting.
She ignored it and headed to Kael’s office. Two more guards stood by the doors. They didn't block her. Just exchanged uneasy looks as she pushed the doors open herself.
Inside, darkness. Only firelight splashed across the walls. Kael stood by the window, watching the storm.
Tall. Still. Dangerous.
His back was to her, but she could tell he’d sensed her as soon as she entered. The mate bond twisted painfully in her chest.
Neither spoke. Rain battered the glass. Lightning flashed. Finally, Kael broke the silence.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Liana closed the doors behind her. “And you shouldn’t keep lying to me.”
He didn’t turn around. “That wasn’t a lie.”
“Really?” Her voice snapped. She moved closer. “Then explain the rogues.”
Nothing.
“Explain why they called me the Alpha killer.”
Still nothing.
Her frustration blew up. “Explain why everyone looks terrified every time they see me!”
Kael’s shoulders tensed, but he stayed quiet.
“You know exactly what’s happening to me.” Still nothing.
She laughed bitterly. “Of course.”
Her chest twisted. “You reject me in front of everyone… then secretly protect me… you assign guards… and now people are trying to kill me because of some prophecy no one will explain.”
Kael finally turned. When their eyes met, the tension slammed into her.
His silver gaze locked onto hers—intense, too intense. Liana’s breath caught. The mate bond flared between them.
Kael looked exhausted. Like he hadn’t slept, shadowed eyes, harsh lines in his face. But the power surrounding him never softened.
“Leave this alone, Liana.”
Her anger sharpened. “No.”
Kael’s jaw tightened. “You don’t understand what you’re involved in.”
“Then tell me!”
His voice darkened. “I can’t.”
“Or you won’t?”
He said nothing. That was answer enough.
She shook her head slowly. “You know what hurts most?”
Kael’s expression wouldn’t budge.
“You keep acting like protecting me gives you control over me.”
Lightning flickered outside. His eyes darkened.
“I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“There it is.” Her voice went bitter. “That again.”
She stepped closer. Close enough to feel the warmth spilling off him, the storm and pine scent clinging to his skin.
Kael stiffened. It was instant, violent. His breath deepened.
Liana noticed. “So it’s true,” she whispered.
His eyes narrowed. “What is?”
“You feel this bond too.”
Silence.
He looked away first, and that gave her courage.
She moved closer—now only inches separated them. The mate bond exploded between them. Her wolf surged beneath her skin, wild.
Kael clenched his fists; his wolf was close to the surface, too.
The air shifted. Darker. More unstable.
Her pulse raced. "What are you hiding from me?"
His control cracked. "You need to stop."
"No."
"Liana—"
"You don’t get to reject me and then decide what I deserve to know."
His eyes flashed silver, dangerously bright. "Back away."
The command rolled out, pure Alpha authority. Every instinct screamed at her to obey.
But she didn’t. She stepped even closer.
Kael inhaled sharply. His control—breaking. And somehow, she knew that terrified him.
"Why?" she said softly. "Why are you afraid of me?"
"I'm not afraid of you," he shot back. Too quick. Too sharp. A lie.
"Then what is it?"
He stared at her like he was fighting himself. Something dark flickered under his silver eyes—his wolf, struggling, violent, possessive.
She felt it. The closer she got, the less stable he seemed. The tension in the room was electric.
Suddenly—
Kael grabbed her wrist.
The glowing mark flared under her skin. Heat exploded between them.
Liana gasped.
Kael swore under his breath, grip tightening. Then it happened—a low growl rumbled from his chest. Not human. Wolf. Pure instinct. Raw possession.
It sent chills through her. Kael froze, realizing what he'd done.
But it was too late.
His wolf spoke next—clear, territorial, dangerously possessive. “Mine.”
The room went silent.
Liana’s heartbeat stopped.
Kael released her wrist and stepped back like he’d been burned. Horror flooded his face. Real horror.
Her wolf went absolutely still.
Shock filled her chest.
That wasn’t just attraction. Or the mate bond reacting. It was deeper. Older. More dangerous.
Kael looked furious with himself.
“Leave.” Rough, almost desperate.
She could barely breathe. “Kael—”
“Leave now.”
His hands shook, voice vibrating with violence. Silver flickered in his eyes.
He was losing control.
And for the first time, Liana understood something terrifying. Kael wasn’t staying away because he didn’t want her.
He stayed away because every instinct in him wanted to claim her completely.
And whatever secret he held made that desire so dangerous, it could scare even the strongest Alpha alive.
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