CHAPTER 7_THE ALPHA'S SUSPICION
873 Words
The forest clearing had fallen into a tense silence.
Adrian stood still, his jaw clenched as the Alpha’s sharp golden eyes studied him carefully. The moonlight illuminated the entire clearing, casting long shadows across the ground where the pack had gathered moments before.
Every member of the pack was now in their human form.
And every single one of them was staring at Adrian.
The Alpha crossed his muscular arms slowly.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he said calmly, though the coldness in his voice made the air feel heavier.
Adrian forced himself to remain calm.
“She’s just a student from the university,” he replied. “She must have heard the howling and came to look.”
Victoria scoffed loudly from beside one of the trees.
“Oh please,” she said with obvious sarcasm. “Humans don’t just wander into the forest at night because they hear wolves.”
Her sharp eyes narrowed at Adrian.
“She knows something.”
Murmurs spread quietly among the pack members.
Adrian’s hands curled into fists.
“She knows nothing,” he said firmly.
The Alpha stepped closer.
He was taller than Adrian and carried a natural authority that made everyone else in the clearing remain silent. His presence alone was enough to make most wolves submit instantly.
But Adrian didn’t lower his gaze.
The Alpha studied him carefully.
“Then why,” he said slowly, “did you stand in my way when I approached her?”
No one spoke.
The question hung heavily in the air.
Adrian’s heart beat faster, but he kept his expression neutral.
“I was protecting the pack,” he answered.
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“Protecting the pack? From a human girl?”
“She could have seen too much,” Adrian replied quickly. “If she panicked and told people, it could bring attention to us.”
The Alpha tilted his head slightly, clearly thinking.
For a long moment, no one moved.
Then he nodded slowly.
“That is… possible.”
Adrian released a small breath of relief.
But the moment didn’t last long.
Victoria stepped forward again.
“Or,” she said coldly, “maybe Adrian is protecting her for another reason.”
The entire pack turned toward her.
Adrian’s eyes flashed with warning.
“Victoria—”
But she ignored him.
“I noticed something earlier today,” she continued.
“At the café.”
Her gaze shifted between Adrian and the other wolves.
“That human girl was staring at our table. And Adrian ran to talk to her immediately.”
The Alpha’s attention sharpened.
“Oh?”
Victoria smirked slightly.
“Yes. And when I asked who she was, Adrian called her nobody.”
She folded her arms.
“But if she’s truly nobody… why does Adrian keep appearing wherever she goes?”
Adrian felt the tension in the clearing grow stronger.
Some of the pack members exchanged curious looks.
The Alpha slowly turned his gaze back to Adrian.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Adrian forced himself to stay calm.
“No.”
But deep inside, his wolf stirred uneasily.
Because he knew something the pack didn’t.
Something that could change everything.
The Alpha stared at him for several seconds.
Then finally, he spoke.
“Very well.”
Adrian relaxed slightly.
But the Alpha’s next words made his stomach tighten again.
“Tomorrow night,” the Alpha continued, “bring the girl to me.”
Adrian’s head snapped up.
“What?”
“If she truly knows nothing,” the Alpha said, “then a simple conversation will confirm it.”
Victoria smiled with satisfaction.
“And if she does know something…” she added.
The Alpha’s golden eyes darkened.
“Then we will deal with it.”
Adrian’s heart pounded harder.
He knew exactly what that meant.
Humans who discovered the existence of werewolves were rarely allowed to walk away freely.
“Alpha,” Adrian said carefully, “that might not be necessary—”
The Alpha raised a hand, silencing him instantly.
“That was not a suggestion.”
His voice carried the weight of authority.
“It was an order.”
The clearing became silent again.
Adrian looked around at the faces of his pack.
Some looked curious.
Some looked suspicious.
Victoria looked pleased.
He had no choice.
Slowly, Adrian nodded.
“Yes, Alpha.”
The Alpha turned away, signaling that the meeting was over.
One by one, the pack members began leaving the clearing, disappearing into the dark forest.
Victoria walked past Adrian with a smug smile.
“You should have stayed away from humans,” she whispered. “They always bring trouble.”
When she disappeared into the trees, Adrian was left standing alone beneath the moonlight.
His thoughts raced.
Tomorrow night, Lina would have to face the Alpha.
And if the Alpha discovered the truth…
That Lina was his mate.
Everything would change.
The pack would see her as a weakness.
And weaknesses were not tolerated.
Adrian clenched his fists as the cold night wind moved through the trees.
He had sworn to protect his pack.
But now…
He might have to protect Lina from his own pack.
To be continued...
- Writer
