The Alpha's Forgotten Mate

Serena’s POV I should have stayed hidden. I should have known the danger would find me again. But even in the darkness of the forest, even with the weight of my regret and fear heavy in my chest, the attack still came. Rogue wolves, their eyes glowing in the moonlight, crept through the trees, circling like vultures, hungry for a fight. I ran. I had no choice. The pain in my chest, the betrayal from years ago, was nothing compared to the desperation I felt as the pack’s scent hit me. The Silverfang Pack. Kael’s pack. The man who had once been my mate, the one I’d trusted before he tore my heart apart. But this was no time for memories. No time for heartache. The rogues were closing in, and I had nowhere else to go. My feet pounded against the soft earth as I sprinted through the forest, pushing past branches that scraped at my skin, the sound of growling wolves growing louder behind me. I didn’t know how long I ran, but eventually, I found myself at the border of the Silverfang territory. I stumbled to a stop, panting for breath, my heart racing in my chest. There was no turning back now. I didn’t want to be here. But there was no other choice. The rogues would never stop hunting me unless I sought protection from the pack I once belonged to. I walked through the gates, not daring to look up at the packhouse that loomed in front of me. I wasn’t sure I was ready to face him, but I didn’t have a choice. “Serena?” A familiar voice called out, and my heart skipped a beat. I froze. Kael. Kael’s POV The scent of the rogue wolves hit me first, followed by something else, something I hadn’t smelled in years. Serena. My mate. The woman I had pushed away. The woman who had disappeared without a trace, leaving me to live with the guilt of my rejection. When I saw her standing there, bruised, tired, and every inch of her broken, I felt a pang in my chest. She had always been strong, but the years apart had hardened her. And yet, in her eyes, I saw the same fear—the same love that had once been there, buried beneath layers of pain and betrayal. "Serena," I said again, my voice softer this time, uncertain. She didn’t look at me. Her gaze was fixed on the ground, her silver hair tangled around her face. “You shouldn’t be here,” she whispered, as though I wasn’t standing right in front of her. The words stung. I had broken her, and now I had to fix it. But where to begin? “Come inside,” I said, my tone commanding, despite the ache in my chest. Her eyes finally met mine, and the anger in them was unmistakable. She had every right to hate me. I had chosen Lila over her, and now, I had to face the consequences of my mistakes. Serena stepped back, shaking her head. “I don’t belong here, Kael. Not anymore.” I could feel the weight of her rejection, the way her words cut deep. But this wasn’t over. I had to make her see that I was ready to do whatever it took to earn her trust again. “I know,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “But you’re still my mate. You’re still part of this pack, and I’m not going to let you face this alone.” Her eyes softened, but only for a moment, before the walls she had built around herself came crashing down again. She turned her back to me, the sadness in her shoulders unmistakable. “I don’t need your pity,” she said, her voice trembling with something I couldn’t quite place. “I’m not giving you pity. I’m offering you a chance to come home,” I replied, taking a step forward. She stopped in her tracks but didn’t turn around. “I left this place once. I’m not coming back.” I swallowed hard. This was it. The moment that would either break us or rebuild us. “Please,” I whispered. She didn’t speak again, and I wasn’t sure if that meant she was listening or if she was shutting me out. But I wouldn’t give up. Not on her. Not on us.