Rejected By One Alpha, Claimed By Four

ch 4: The Scent in the Dark Forest

The Frostfang Pack

North side deep within the frozen dominion of the Frostfang Pack a rare meeting of power was taking place.

The palace stood like an unbreakable fortress carved into the heart of the northern mountains, surrounded by endless snow, frozen lakes, and towering pine forests that whispered under the weight of icy winds. Inside, the grand hall was vast and imposing, built from dark stone and ancient timber, its high ceilings supported by thick pillars carved with old wolf runes. Blue flames burned along the walls, casting a cold glow across the room.

It was not a place meant for comfort. It was a place built for rulers.

And today four Alpha Kings sat within it.

One of them was Alpha King Adrian Viktor Volkov, the 1st Alpha King of the North area the

Frostfang Pack.

He sat at the center on his elevated wooden throne, his presence alone enough to dominate the room. At 6 '4 with a broad, battle-hardened physique, pale cold-toned skin, and piercing ice-blue eyes, he looked less like a man and more like a weapon forged by winter itself.

His short military-cut hair and sharp stubble only added to his disciplined aura. A half-moon mark rested on the right side of his neck, silent now, but known to glow icy blue when his frost power awakened, freezing everything in its path.

Dressed in a long white winter coat over black combat attire, Adrian embodied control, strategy, and absolute authority. To enemies, he was not just feared, he was dead that came with silence and cold.

Across from him sat Darius Roman Knight. 2nd Alpha King of the Ironclaw Pack, larger, heavier, and radiating raw physical dominance. Standing at 6 '5 with a massive warrior build, tan skin, and golden-brown eyes that burned with intensity, Darius carried the presence of a battlefield itself.

His short black hair and trimmed beard gave him a grounded yet dangerous look. The half-moon symbol on his left shoulder pulsed with dark gold energy when provoked, enhancing his already monstrous strength.

Wearing a heavy leather jacket and combat boots, he leaned forward slightly, always ready, always alert. His power over the earth made him unstoppable in combat, with shockwaves, crushing force, and unbreakable endurance. His wolf Titan, a giant charcoal beast with golden eyes, mirrored that same aggressive, protective nature.

Beside him, in stark contrast, sat Lucian Gabriel Vale. 3rd Alpha King of the Moonshadow Pack calm, composed, and unreadable. At 6’3 with a lean but powerful frame, fair skin, and deep blue eyes, Lucian carried a quiet danger that was far more unsettling than brute force.

His shoulder-length black hair framed a face that rarely revealed emotion. A glowing moon symbol rested over his heart, activating his Vision Sight ability, which granted him glimpses of the future and an uncanny awareness of betrayal and threat.

Dressed in an elegant black suit, holding documents in one hand, Lucian appeared almost detached from the room, yet nothing escaped him. His wolf Nyx, a midnight-black predator with piercing blue eyes, was as silent and calculating as its master.

And then there was Ryder Alexander Blackthorn. 4th Alpha King of the Stormfang Pack, the most unpredictable among them. 6 '4, muscular, sun-tanned, with dark green eyes that held both mischief and danger, Ryder carried himself with a relaxed confidence that bordered on recklessness.

His short messy hair and partially open shirt gave him a careless, charismatic edge, but beneath that lay overwhelming power. His moon symbol, resting below his navel, radiated a strong mating energy unlike the others. His control over storms made him lethal, with lightning-fast strikes, an electric aura, and thunder attacks that could destroy entire battlefields. His wolf Tempest, a storm-grey beast with glowing green eyes, was wild, dominant, and dangerously alluring.

Four Alpha kings.

Four territories.

Four forces of nature.

And yet the meeting itself was calm.

They spoke of politics, territorial security, human-world business expansions, and future strategies. Their voices were controlled, their expressions composed.

This was routine, a necessary alignment of power between rulers who rarely gathered in one place.

But today something shifted.

It began with a faint change in the air. Almost unnoticeable.

Then the scent mixes in the air.

Adrian’s fingers stilled against the armrest of his throne.

Darius paused mid-sentence.

Lucian’s eyes lifted slowly from the papers in his hand.

Ryder straightened, his lazy posture tightening just slightly.

Silence spread across the room.

All four of them sensed it at the same time. A scent carried by the northern wind. Not just wolves. Not just blood.

Something else. Something deeper. Something ancient. Adrian inhaled slowly.

The scent entered his lungs and something inside him reacted instantly. His wolf Glacier stirred, then surged forward. Possessive, awake, and hungry.

‘Mate.’ The word echoed inside him like a command.

Adrian’s eyes darkened.

Across from him, Darius’s jaw clenched tightly, his fingers curling against his knee as his own instincts reacted violently.

Lucian’s calm expression sharpened ever so slightly, calculation flickering behind his gaze.

Ryder inhaled again, slower this time, his lips parting as something unfamiliar crossed his face, something darker than his usual playful nature.

“…This scent…” Lucian spoke quietly, “…it does not belong to any known pack.”

“It’s strong,” Darius added, his voice low and edged with tension.

Ryder leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing.

“Not just strong… Addictive too.” he murmured,

The scent grew stronger. It filled the room. Wrapped around them.

Pulled at something primal deep inside their wolves.

Adrian stood, slowly. His Beta Mikhail Orlov rearranged papers left by Adrian.

The temperature in the room dropped instantly, a thin layer of frost creeping along the edges of the wooden armrest beneath his hand.

“This meeting is over. We will discuss this later.” His voice was calm.

“Cool for me. I'm so tired." Ryder stood up, yawning.

“It's just half an hour you put your ass on that chair. You still feel tired.” Durian frowned.

“You know how I am.” Ryder grinned wildly.

“Don't you talk about the scents that we smell?” Lucian asked.

Darius but Ryder looks at Lucian.

“You smell it too. I thought it was only me.” Ryder asked.

“You can rest or talk guys. I have seen some important matters.” Adrian said in a calm tone.

No one argued because they all felt it. Whatever this was, it was not normal. And it was not something they could ignore.

Adrian turned without another word and walked toward the exit.

Behind him, the other kings remained still for a moment longer.

Each of them is processing the same instinct.

*****

The Forest

Adrian moved fast.

“My King?” Beta Mikhail asked in confusion.

Adrian stops and looks at the window open for the forest side.

“Did you smell the scents?” Adrian asked.

Beta Mikhail lifts his head and smells scents.

“It's rogue’s scents, My king. Should I send a warrior to check?” Beta Mikhail said in an alert tone.

“No. We are going. No one knows what is going on in the forest.” Adrian started to walk toward the back side.

“Rest assured." Beta Mikhail follows him like a shadow.

Adrian uses his speed run to follow the scents. The deeper he went, the stronger the scent became.

Blood filled the air now.

Heavy and fresh. Mixed with something powerful. Pulling him forward.

Then he reached the clearing.

And stopped. He saw many bodies, everywhere, torn apart and crushed.

“Rogues!! But who did this to them?” Beta voice comes from the back.

This was not a fight. This was dominance. But Adrian barely looked at them, because his gaze had already locked onto her.

Lying in the center of the destruction. Still and unmoving.

Black hair spreads across the ground like glowing threads of moonlight.

Her body was covered in blood, wounded, and exposed. Adrian stepped closer. And the moment he did the scent hit him fully.

Overwhelming and unavoidable.

His wolf exploded inside him.

‘Mate! She is our mate.’ Adrian froze by his wolf claim.

Shock flickered across his face.

His mate. After all these years waiting here, he found her, broken, and unprotected.

His eyes darkened instantly. Possessiveness surged through him like a storm. He moved toward her slowly. Each step is deliberate.

He crouched beside her. His gaze moved across every wound.

Every trace of blood.

Every fragile detail of her body. He didn't care about her naked body. And something inside him snapped.

‘Mine.’ His wolf growled

Adrian reached down.

Carefully. Remove his warm coat and wrap it around her naked body.

His Beta already stands far away from them. Because he already saw a woman lying there. He looked away with respect.

Adrian lifted her into his arms.

The moment their skin touched

A powerful spark shot through his body. His breath stilled for a fraction of a second. His grip tightened instinctively.

She was warm, alive, and His.

Adrian stood. Holding her securely against his chest.

“My King?” Beta Mikhail looks at the girl in his arms.

“Mine.” Adrian said protective and possessive tone.

His blue eyes are glowing in blue.

Beta Mikhail’s eyes widened in shock. Then he just nodded in understanding.

“Clean the area.” Adrian said in a cold tone and walked forward.

He didn’t look back. Didn’t hesitate because the moment he found her everything else became irrelevant.

And as he turned toward his palace.