The Alpha Who Rejected His Mate

Chapter 4: The Hunt for the Heir

The forest erupted into chaos.

Dozens of armored wolves charged through the trees, their red eyes locked on Grace.

For a split second, fear rooted her to the spot.

She couldn't move.

Couldn't breathe.

Couldn't think.

The only thing she could hear was the thunder of paws against the ground.

"They found me..."

Orion stepped forward, placing himself between Grace and the approaching wolves.

His silver eyes blazed with power.

"Run!" he shouted.

Grace hesitated.

"What about you?"

"Run, Grace!"

The lead warrior laughed.

"You won't escape."

Then he shifted.

Bones cracked.

Muscles expanded.

Within seconds, a massive black wolf stood where the warrior had been.

He was enormous.

Larger than any wolf Grace had ever seen.

The rest of the Shadow Pack followed.

The forest filled with snarls and growls.

Orion's expression hardened.

"Go!"

This time Grace listened.

She turned and sprinted deeper into the forest.

Branches whipped against her arms as she ran.

Behind her, battle exploded.

A powerful shockwave shook the trees.

The ground trembled.

Grace glanced back.

What she saw nearly stopped her heart.

Silver light burst from Orion's body.

The mysterious guardian transformed into a gigantic silver wolf.

He was beautiful.

Majestic.

His fur shimmered like moonlight itself.

The Shadow Pack crashed into him.

The battle began.

Grace forced herself to keep running.

There was nothing she could do to help.

Not yet.

Miles away, Alpha Kael sat inside the pack house.

He hadn't slept.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Grace.

Her tears.

Her pain.

The disappointment in her eyes.

The memory haunted him.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his chest.

Kael jumped to his feet.

"What was that?"

The pain vanished.

Then returned stronger.

His wolf growled.

Grace is in danger.

Kael froze.

The mate bond.

Even weakened by rejection, traces of it still remained.

And right now, it was screaming at him.

Grace was in trouble.

Without hesitation, Kael rushed outside.

Several warriors looked surprised.

"Alpha?"

"Gather the patrol team."

The warriors immediately obeyed.

"What happened?"

Kael looked toward the forest.

His eyes narrowed.

"Something is wrong."

Grace continued running.

Her lungs burned.

Her legs ached.

Yet she refused to stop.

The silver mark on her wrist glowed brighter with every passing minute.

Suddenly—

A dark shape landed in front of her.

Grace skidded to a halt.

Another Shadow Pack wolf.

The warrior grinned.

"There you are."

Grace's heart pounded.

The wolf shifted into human form.

A tall man with a scar running across his face.

Unlike the others, he seemed calm.

Confident.

As though he knew she couldn't escape.

"Stay back."

The warrior laughed.

"Or what?"

Grace clenched her fists.

She had no answer.

The warrior began walking toward her.

Slowly.

Casually.

Like a predator playing with prey.

"You know," he said, "our king has searched for you for centuries."

Grace frowned.

"King?"

The man smiled.

"You're more important than you realize."

Before Grace could respond, he lunged.

Instinct took over.

She raised her arm to protect herself.

The silver mark exploded with light.

BOOM!

A shockwave erupted from her body.

The warrior was thrown backward.

He slammed into a tree.

The trunk shattered instantly.

Grace stared at her glowing wrist.

"What?"

The warrior looked equally shocked.

"Impossible."

Silver energy swirled around Grace.

For the first time, she felt something awaken deep inside her.

Power.

Raw.

Ancient.

Terrifying power.

The warrior slowly stood.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

His eyes widened.

"The legends were true."

Grace stepped backward.

She had no idea what she had done.

The power frightened her.

Yet somehow it also felt familiar.

As though it had always been part of her.

Waiting.

Sleeping.

Until now.

The warrior's expression darkened.

"Then you must die before it fully awakens."

He charged again.

This time faster.

Deadlier.

Grace barely had time to react.

Suddenly, another wolf crashed into the warrior from the side.

The attacker flew through the air.

Grace gasped.

A huge black wolf stood protectively in front of her.

Its blue eyes were unmistakable.

Alpha Kael.

The Shadow warrior quickly recovered.

He snarled.

Kael snarled back.

Neither wolf moved.

The tension was unbearable.

Then the warrior laughed.

"So this is the Alpha."

Kael shifted into human form.

His muscular frame radiated authority.

"Leave."

The warrior smiled coldly.

"You have no idea who you're protecting."

Kael stepped forward.

"I said leave."

The warrior's eyes moved toward Grace.

Then back to Kael.

"Interesting."

A cruel smile spread across his face.

"You rejected her, didn't you?"

Kael stiffened.

The warrior laughed louder.

"The great Alpha rejected the royal heir."

Grace's eyes widened.

Royal heir.

Again.

Everyone seemed to know more about her than she did.

Kael frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

The warrior ignored him.

Instead, he looked directly at Grace.

"When our king arrives, everything will change."

Then he vanished into the trees.

Just like that.

Gone.

The forest became silent.

Grace's heart still raced.

Kael turned toward her.

For a moment neither spoke.

Then his eyes landed on the glowing mark.

Shock crossed his face.

"What is that?"

Grace instinctively covered her wrist.

Kael noticed.

Pain flickered in his eyes.

He remembered.

She didn't trust him anymore.

And why should she?

He had given her no reason to.

"Grace..."

His voice was softer than usual.

"I came to help."

She laughed bitterly.

"Now?"

The word hit harder than any physical blow.

Kael looked away.

Guilt filled his expression.

"I know I don't deserve forgiveness."

Grace folded her arms.

"No, you don't."

The honesty stung.

Yet Kael accepted it.

Because it was true.

Before either could say more, another presence appeared.

Orion emerged from the forest.

His clothes were torn.

Several injuries covered his body.

Yet he remained standing.

Grace rushed forward.

"Orion!"

"I'm fine."

He wasn't.

But he was alive.

That was enough.

Orion looked at Kael.

Then at Grace.

His expression became thoughtful.

"Interesting."

Kael narrowed his eyes.

"Who are you?"

"A friend."

Orion's gaze lingered on the Alpha.

"And perhaps someone who can tell you how badly you messed up."

Kael didn't argue.

Because deep down, he already knew.

Orion turned serious.

"We don't have much time."

Grace's stomach tightened.

"What do you mean?"

"The Shadow King knows you're alive."

Silence followed.

Then Orion delivered the news that changed everything.

"He is coming personally."

Even Kael's expression darkened.

"Who is he?"

Orion looked toward the distant mountains.

Fear flashed across his face.

For the first time since meeting him, Grace saw genuine fear.

"The most dangerous wolf alive."

A cold wind swept through the forest.

Orion's voice dropped.

"And the man responsible for destroying your family centuries ago."

Grace's blood ran cold.

"The man who killed my family is still alive?"

Orion nodded slowly.

"Yes."

The answer felt impossible.

Yet the look in his eyes told her he wasn't lying.

Far away, beyond the mountains, a pair of crimson eyes opened in the darkness.

A powerful voice echoed through an ancient fortress.

"Prepare my army."

Thousands of wolves bowed.

"The Heir has been found."

The Shadow King smiled.

And for the first time in centuries, he left his throne.

He was coming for Grace.

End of Chapter 4 🔥