"MATED TO THE FORBIDDEN ALPHA"

Episode005

SELENE DRAKOVICH'S POV

I realized something had changed as soon as I opened my eyes. Beneath the warmth, beneath the smell of old leather and firewood, there was something wilder.

His aroma.

Darian's cabin was dark and small, and it seemed to be hiding at the edge of the woods. Similar to him. His bare chest glowed in the moonlight as he stood close to the window, crossed arms.

He was facing away from me.

I remained silent.

He remained motionless.

However, I sensed it. There was a sharpness in the air between us. Not chilly. Sharp. As if something that had been nothing had suddenly become everything.

My wolf shifted.

Craving.

No.

I slowly sat up after pressing my hand against my stomach.

I said, "I won't thank you."

Without turning, he answered, "You never do."

"Because you failed to save me." You picked up what someone else had thrown out.

Finally, he turned to face me. Eyes that are dimly glowing.

"You believe that I rescued you from that storm out of sympathy for you?"

"Did you not?"

"Selene, I don't feel sorry for anyone."

I felt my skin tingle from the lower edge of his voice. Even though my chest tightened, I kept it to myself.

"You didn't need to bring me here."

"I didn't have to keep you either."

We gazed.

We were pushed apart by something.

Something warm. Crazy.

I turned my head away first.

He came over to me. Pad. As if he were hunting.

"Cease."

"I'm not taking any action."

"That is the issue."

His lips formed a shape that wasn't a smile.

"I sense you," I muttered. "And I ought not to."

He remarked, "I feel you too." "And neither should I."

My wolf rubbed against my flesh.

His aroma filled my nostrils.

I was having trouble breathing.

I whispered, "This isn't real." "It's not possible". Simply put, it's too soon.

"You're equating me with him."

I got up. "No. I am recalling what I have lost".

He took a single step forward.

"And you believe I'm attempting to take his place?"

"You are."

He took hold of my wrist. Not difficult. Not a soft one, either.

"Observe me."

I gave a head shake.

He drew me in. "Observe me."

I looked up.

He reached up and touched my cheek.

Do you believe that I am a shadow of him? Feel once more. This is true.

He kissed me.

I didn't kiss him back, though.

Not initially.

I detested the way my entire body leaned into his warm breath and rough lips. My stomach turned over. My chest hurt.

I was trembling when I eventually withdrew.

I muttered, "You're not Kaelan."

"Well done."

My heart was beating too quickly. It's too loud.

I replied, "I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because it hurts."

He took a step back. "Then it hurt."

My knees buckled. I held my head in my hands as I sat on the bed's edge.

Inside of me, my wolf howled.

Perplexed. Torn. I'm hungry.

Why him? Why now?

The bond was no longer alive. Cut.

It buzzed now, though. Real but faint.

No. No, no, no.

Once more, he turned away.

We didn't talk.

The fire broke out.

Through the cracks in the wood, the wind howled.

Hours went by, or minutes.

I was unable to tell.

Barefoot in the snow, I slipped outside.

The moon was low. Quiet. Observing.

And there it was.

One moon flower.

Emerging from the ice.

Alive.

Only when the Moon Goddess touched something did that flower open.

When a bond is obtained.

I dropped to my knees.

In my mind, the prophecy murmured.

"A betrayed Luna will give birth to a bond that is stronger than fate." One that was earned rather than selected.

I touched it, and my hand trembled.

Then there was a kick.

Gentle. Tiny.

Alive.

My darling.

It's still there. Still engaged in combat.

I exhaled sharply.

The door creaked behind me.

Darian spoke softly. Broken.

"The Goddess cursed me never to feel it again because you've awakened something."

Slowly, I turned.

He stood there staring at me as if I were the end of the world.

Or the beginning of a new one.

However, I remained motionless.

Since something wasn't quite right.

His shadow was longer than it ought to have been.

His eyes are now too bright. Too crazy.

His tone was too composed.

He muttered, "I wasn't meant to love anyone again." "She ensured that."

"Who?"

He didn't respond.

Through the woods came a sharp sound.

A shout.

Low. Intestinal.

Not human.

He moved quickly ahead of me. Too quickly.

"Remain inside," he snarled.

"What was that?"

He ignored me.

"I hoped something was dead."

Then his shirt ripped. His back ached.

He moved.

Not your typical wolf.

Larger. Darker. False.

It was unlike any shift I had ever witnessed.

Not even Kaelan's.

He growled at the trees.

The shadows growled back.

I gripped my stomach.

"What are you?" he whispered.

However, he had already left.

Sprinting in the direction of the wooded object.

Running in the direction of whatever it was that the Moon Goddess had cursed.

And whatever was headed my way.

Was it destiny?

Was the bond new?

Or was it worse?

Was it too late already?

I remained motionless. It's not cold.

But from the next sound.

There was more than one scream.

There were a lot.

Layered. Some nearer, some farther.

Even though Darian's growl could still be heard in the forest, it had now been addressed.

They were on their way.

With one hand pressed against my stomach and the other looking for something, anything, to grab, I retreated.

As if to warn me, the firelight behind me flickered. The wall's shadows twisted.

What if he never returned?

What if I didn't require his protection?

My throat became parched.

I slammed the door and latched it after turning and staggered into the cabin. I could hardly keep my hands on the bolts because they were shaking so much.

I had no idea what was out there. However, I sensed that it desired what was inside of me.

My darling.

Kaelan's kid.

Or perhaps... perhaps not exclusively his.

That connection. Why was it humming again, the one I felt snap with Kaelan?

Why did Darian's touch cause my skin to burn?

Why was he the first bite when my wolf woke up around him as if she had been starved?

This is not what I want.

I don't want to have any feelings for him.

However, I do.

I detest it. I despise him. I detest how he makes me forget everything I've tried to cling to and smells like ash and thunder.

I rocked while sitting on the floor with my arms wrapped around my belly.

You're secure. You're secure. You're secure.

The cabin made a creaking sound.

Then, there was another scream. This one is nearer.

Directly outside.

"Darian?" I muttered.

Not a word.

The wooden walls were scratched by something.

A claw?

I didn't breathe.

Then

Make a knock.

Not difficult. It's not urgent.

Courteous.

Three slow taps.

I remained motionless.

The knob on the door turned.

No.

No, no, no.

It was secured. It must have been.

The door remained closed. On the other hand, however, there was a breath.

It was lengthy. Deep. Sniffing.

Then there was a murmur.

Not in a language I understood.

However, my wolf was aware of it.

She whimpered as well.

Not out of fear.

From acknowledgment.

She felt as though an ancient force had just spoken to her.

There was a low laugh.

Then there was quiet.

I reached under the bed and took the dagger. Darian had weapons all over the place. Astute.

The floor moaned.

Steps.

Atop the roof.

No.

They weren't moving.

They were crawling.

The fireplace was filled with dirt. Something black fell in a clump. Hair that has been burned.

My stomach turned over.

Something was attempting to descend the chimney.

I dashed over to the corner and leaned against the wall.

Then

Boom.

Splinters flew as the door flew open.

Darian stood in the doorway, his claws dripping, eyes black, and body covered in blood.

Nothing behind him. Only snow.

He gave me a look.

However, he remained motionless.

His chest quickly rose and fell.

He was trembling.

Not in terror.

Furiously.

"You left the door unguarded," he snarled.

"I secured it!"

"Locks do not stop the dead."

"What was that?" I yelled.

He took a while to respond. Leaning against the door, he stepped in and kicked it shut.

"That aspect of me wasn't meant for you to see."

"It's too late."

"I warned you not to go outside."

"I didn't know there were things out there," you said.

He dabbed at his cheek. "You're not prepared to hear who I am."

"Give me a try."

"I was doomed never to experience love again". The last time I did... He walked away.

I waited.

"I lost everything." My pack. My friend. My name.

I was at a loss for words.

So I said the worst thing I could think of.

"Are you implying that I am your second chance?"

"No. The only thing the Moon Goddess hasn't yet taken away from me is you.

Not a word.

Then his husky, low voice fell.

"I sensed it when I kissed you."

I blinked.

"What?"

"No bond." He took a step forward. "An even worse thing."

He grabbed me. Slowly.

I didn't stop him.

The side of my neck was touched by his hand.

And I sensed it.

Something old.

Not pliable. Not very sweet.

But gloomy. Deep.

Something with a taste of winter, honey, and ash.

My veins burned from it.

I muttered, "I'm not your mate."

He inhaled, "I never said you were." "But something buried was awakened by you."

I could taste his breath because his lips were so close.

"I feel alive again because of you". And that poses the most significant risk of all.

He leaned closer.

Our mouths met.

Once.

Twice.

Then his lips found mine.

Needy and hungry.

His hands found my waist and moved down my back.

I ought to have stopped.

But I kissed him in return.

And I continued.

Because I wanted to forget Kaelan for a moment.

I wished to forget everything.

Like it knew I needed this, even the baby inside of me froze.

However, then

A shout.

More volume.

Directly outside the window.

We parted ways.

Darian's face hardened once more.

"No," he replied. "I wasn't being hunted."

I stared at him, panting. "What do you mean?"

He gazed at my abdomen.

"You were being hunted."

Then

The wind gusted through the shattered door.

Additionally, in it

A voice.

Selene...

Cold whispers.

Known.

"Have you heard that?" I muttered.

He gave a nod.

"Kaelan, was that?"

Darian's gaze flickered.

He also said something that made my blood freeze.

"He's still alive."

My entire world came to a halt.

"What? That isn't feasible.

He went through the veil. He extended his hand through the bond. Did you not sense it?

I gave a head shake.

But in my heart, I had.

Last night, I felt something reach for me.

And I withdrew.

The fire grew dimmer.

The temperature dropped.

Darian also didn't flinch.

He muttered, "If Kaelan is returning..."

Once more, he approached.

Then they bent over.

Speak like smoke.

"I'll murder him once more."

I took a step back.

Additionally, at that moment

I had no idea who the actual threat was.

That thing in the forest.

Kaelan.

Or the man who kissed me as if I were his own.

First, who would I flee from?

To whom would I flee?

And what if making a decision was already too late?

What if the Moon Goddess didn't want me to decide at all?

What if he wasn't the one with the curse?

What if I owned it?