The Alpha’s shadow
949 Words
Chapter One: The Alpha’s Shadow
The next morning, the entire village buzzed with rumors.
Women gathered near the market stalls whispering behind their hands.
Warriors stood in groups discussing the Alpha King’s unexpected visit.
Even the children seemed unusually quiet.
Everyone wanted to know the same thing.
Why had Kael Draven come to their insignificant pack?
Elara kept her head down as she arranged herbs on a wooden table outside her small cottage.
She prayed nobody would mention what happened the previous night.
The way he had looked at her.
The way his eyes had followed her even after she disappeared into the crowd.
Unfortunately, fate wasn’t feeling merciful.
“Elara.”
She looked up.
Her best friend, Mara, hurried toward her.
Mara was beautiful in a fierce sort of way—strong, confident, and never afraid to speak her mind.
Unlike Elara.
“You look terrible,” Mara said.
“Thank you.”
“I’m serious.”
“I didn’t sleep.”
“No surprise there.”
Mara leaned closer.
“The Alpha King asked about you.”
Elara nearly dropped the basket she was holding.
“What?”
Mara nodded.
“This morning.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Elara, stop saying no.”
A knot formed in Elara’s stomach.
“What exactly did he ask?”
Mara glanced around before lowering her voice.
“He asked our Alpha who the herb girl was.”
Elara’s blood turned cold.
The herb girl.
That was her.
Everyone in the village knew it.
She spent most of her time collecting medicinal plants and helping heal injured wolves.
She wasn’t important.
She wasn’t noble.
She wasn’t Luna material.
Which made this even worse.
“Maybe he was just curious.”
Mara laughed.
“Kael Draven doesn’t get curious.”
The knot in Elara’s stomach tightened.
She hated how true that sounded.
⸻
Meanwhile, inside the packhouse, tension filled the air.
Alpha Gareth sat across from Alpha King Kael.
Neither man smiled.
Gareth respected Kael.
But he feared him too.
Everyone did.
Kael rested one arm on the chair.
His expression remained unreadable.
“I want information about the girl.”
Gareth swallowed.
“Elara?”
Kael nodded.
“She’s nobody important.”
The room grew colder.
Kael’s silver eyes narrowed.
“Nobody?”
Gareth quickly corrected himself.
“I mean no disrespect.”
“Then choose your words carefully.”
A long silence followed.
Gareth cleared his throat.
“Her father died years ago.”
Kael listened.
“Her mother works at the textile house.”
“Continue.”
“Elara spends most of her time gathering herbs.”
Kael nodded slowly.
“What rank?”
“Omega bloodline.”
That surprised him.
Not because he cared about rank.
But because he had never paid attention to rank before.
Yet somehow he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
Her scent.
Her eyes.
The fear he’d seen when she looked at him.
Every instinct inside him demanded that he keep her close.
Protect her.
Possess her.
The intensity disturbed even him.
“Has she been promised to anyone?”
Gareth hesitated.
“No.”
Something dangerous flickered behind Kael’s eyes.
Good.
⸻
By sunset, Elara wished she could disappear.
Everywhere she went, she felt eyes following her.
People whispered.
Some looked jealous.
Others looked terrified.
She understood both reactions.
After all, the Alpha King had noticed her.
That wasn’t a blessing.
It was a storm.
As she returned from the forest carrying fresh herbs, she sensed a powerful presence nearby.
Her wolf immediately became restless.
A warning.
Slowly, she turned.
Kael stood several feet away.
Alone.
No guards.
No warriors.
Just him.
Her heart slammed against her chest.
Every survival instinct screamed at her to run.
But nobody ran from an Alpha King.
Not if they wanted to live.
“You collect herbs every day?”
His voice was calm.
Deep.
Controlled.
“Yes.”
He looked at the basket in her hands.
“You heal people.”
“I try.”
Another silence.
It felt unbearable.
His gaze remained fixed on her.
Studying.
Analyzing.
As though trying to understand something.
“You fear me.”
It wasn’t a question.
Elara lowered her eyes.
“Most people do.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
The smile somehow made him more frightening.
“At least you’re honest.”
She said nothing.
Kael took a step closer.
Her pulse quickened.
Then another step.
And another.
Until only a few feet separated them.
The forest suddenly felt very small.
Very quiet.
Very dangerous.
“You should look at me when I speak.”
Slowly, Elara lifted her gaze.
The moment their eyes met, she regretted it.
There was something in his expression.
Something intense.
Something possessive.
It made her feel trapped.
Like prey caught in the sight of a predator.
Kael noticed her discomfort immediately.
Yet he didn’t move away.
Instead, his voice softened.
“Tell me something, Elara.”
She wished he didn’t know her name.
“What?”
“Why are you different?”
Her brow furrowed.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“No.”
His eyes remained fixed on hers.
“You don’t seek my favor.”
“Should I?”
A surprised laugh escaped him.
For the first time, genuine amusement crossed his face.
“No.”
The answer confused her.
Then his expression grew serious again.
“I’ll see you soon.”
Before she could respond, he turned and walked away.
Leaving her standing alone among the trees.
Shaking.
Because deep down, she knew exactly what those words meant.
And she feared that her life was no longer her own.
- Writer
