ALPHA'S SILENT DESIRE

Untitled Episode2-The Alpha's Protection

The castle bells wouldn't stop ringing.

One.

Two.

Three.

The sound rolled across the Draven territory like a death sentence.

I stood frozen in the courtyard, staring at the place where the stranger had disappeared.

"Princess."

The word wouldn't leave my head.

No one had called me that in years.

No one was supposed to know.

"Luna."

Kael's voice pulled me back.

I looked at him.

His eyes were still fixed on my wrist.

The strange mark had stopped glowing, but I could still feel it burning beneath my skin.

"Come with me."

I shook my head.

"Where?"

"My office."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

His jaw tightened.

"You're standing in the middle of my territory with a mark that just caused an explosion powerful enough to shake my castle."

"I didn't cause it."

"I know."

That answer surprised me.

Kael stepped closer.

His voice dropped.

"That's exactly what concerns me."

Before I could respond, a guard rushed toward us.

"Alpha!"

Kael turned.

"What?"

"We found three dead rogues at the eastern border."

"Three?"

The guard nodded.

"And there's something else."

He hesitated.

Kael's expression darkened.

"Speak."

"They weren't attacking the pack."

"What were they doing?"

"They were waiting."

"For what?"

The guard looked at me.

My stomach dropped.

"For her."

Silence.

Kael's eyes became dangerously cold.

"Take the guards to the eastern border. Double the patrols. Nobody enters or leaves without my permission."

"Yes, Alpha."

The guard ran.

I turned toward the servants' quarters.

"I should leave."

Kael caught my arm.

"No."

I looked at his hand.

He released me immediately.

"You can't keep me here."

"I can."

His voice was calm.

"That isn't a request."

I stared at him.

"You don't even know me."

"No."

His gaze dropped briefly to my wrist.

"But someone else clearly does."

A chill passed through me.

He was right.

I had spent three years running from the people who killed my family.

And somehow...

They had found me.

Here.

Inside the Draven Pack.

Kael turned toward the castle.

"Come."

I followed reluctantly.

Every wolf we passed stared at me.

Whispers followed.

"That's her."

"What is she?"

"Did you see the mark?"

"She made the Alpha bleed."

I stopped.

"What?"

Kael stopped too.

"Who said I made you bleed?"

Nobody answered.

I looked at his hand.

There was a thin line of blood across his palm.

I hadn't noticed it before.

Kael noticed me staring.

"It's nothing."

But the blood wasn't red.

It was silver.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Silver blood.

Just like mine.

I quickly covered my wrist.

Kael noticed.

Of course he did.

His eyes narrowed.

"What are you hiding?"

"Nothing."

"Luna."

"I said nothing."

For the first time, something almost amused flickered in his eyes.

"You're a terrible liar."

I glared at him.

"And you're extremely annoying."

A few guards nearby looked horrified.

One actually lowered his head.

Kael stared at me.

Then, unexpectedly, the corner of his mouth lifted.

It disappeared so quickly I wondered if I'd imagined it.

"Interesting."

"What?"

"Everyone in this territory is afraid of me."

He continued walking.

"You aren't."

I followed.

"I am."

"No."

He glanced over his shoulder.

"You're afraid of something else."

My steps slowed.

He had no idea how right he was.

We reached the castle doors.

The moment they opened, a wave of cold air swept across my skin.

My mark burned.

Again.

I grabbed my wrist.

Kael immediately noticed.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Stop saying that."

His voice sharpened.

"Your mark reacts whenever we enter this castle."

I looked around.

The grand hallway was covered with ancient paintings.

Kings.

Queens.

Battles.

Blood.

Then I saw it.

A woman standing beside an old throne.

She had long black hair.

Silver eyes.

And a mark on her wrist.

The exact same mark as mine.

I stopped breathing.

"Who is she?"

Kael followed my gaze.

His expression changed.

"That's Queen Evelyne."

"Who was she?"

"The last Moon Queen."

My heart pounded.

"When did she live?"

"Four hundred years ago."

I stared at the painting.

The woman looked exactly like my mother.

Not similar.

Exactly.

My knees almost gave out.

Kael caught me before I fell.

His arm wrapped around my waist.

Heat rushed through me.

My wolf stirred.

Mate.

I pushed away from him.

"Don't."

His eyes darkened.

"Don't what?"

"Touch me."

Something flashed across his face.

He stepped back.

"Fine."

I turned toward the painting again.

There was a small inscription beneath it.

I moved closer.

"EVELYNE, THE LAST MOON QUEEN."

Then beneath her name were four words.

"Her blood shall return."

My breathing stopped.

Kael came beside me.

"What does that mean?"

I couldn't answer.

Because suddenly, the voice inside my head returned.

Run.

I froze.

They're here.

A crash shook the castle.

Then screaming erupted outside.

Kael's entire demeanor changed.

The softness vanished.

"Stay here."

He reached for his weapon.

I grabbed his sleeve.

"Kael."

He looked at me.

For one strange second, neither of us moved.

Then another explosion shook the castle.

Kael pulled free.

"Whatever happens, do not leave this room."

He ran toward the doors.

I stared after him.

Then I heard something behind me.

A whisper.

"Luna."

I slowly turned.

Nobody was there.

My heart pounded.

"Who are you?"

The whisper came again.

"Your mother lied to you."

My blood ran cold.

The painting behind me began to crack.

A black line spread across Queen Evelyne's face.

Then another.

And another.

Until the entire painting split apart.

Behind it was a hidden doorway.

And carved into the stone was a message.

THE LAST MOON QUEEN'S DAUGHTER IS ALIVE.

I stumbled backward.

"No..."

A second message appeared beneath it.

AND THE ALPHA WILL DIE TO PROTECT HER.

The castle shook violently.

Outside, Kael roared.

Then everything went silent.

I ran toward the door.

"Kael!"

No answer.

My hand reached for the handle.

Then a voice whispered directly behind my ear.

"If you want him alive, open the door."