THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN VOWS

EVERYTHING CHANGED

THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN VOWS

CHAPTER 10 EVERYTHING CHANGED

By sunset, the entire pack had transformed.

Silver lanterns hung from the trees surrounding the courtyard, their soft light illuminating the stone pathways. Long tables had been arranged beneath white canopies, covered with food prepared throughout the day.

Music drifted through the air.

The Moonlight Gathering had begun.

Aria stood near the edge of the courtyard with Lila, watching pack members arrive.

She had chosen a simple dress for the evening, nothing extravagant. She wasn't interested in attracting attention.

Especially not his.

Unfortunately, the moment she stepped into the courtyard, she felt the Alpha's presence.

She didn't look toward him.

She didn't need to.

The sudden silence among several nearby conversations told her he had arrived.

Lila leaned toward her.

"Don't look."

"I'm not."

"You are thinking about looking."

"I said I'm not."

Lila smiled.

"Good."

Aria took a slow breath.

She could hear footsteps approaching from behind.

The pack members around her straightened.

"Alpha."

One voice.

Then another.

"Good evening, Alpha."

Aria finally turned.

Adrian walked into the courtyard wearing a dark formal suit.

He looked every bit the Alpha.

Calm.

Controlled.

Untouchable.

His eyes moved across the gathering.

For one brief moment, they found Aria.

He stopped.

It lasted only a second.

Then his expression became unreadable, and he looked away.

Aria felt something tighten in her chest.

She immediately turned back toward Lila.

She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing she had noticed.

At the center of the courtyard, the council elders gathered around the Alpha.

Marcus stood nearby.

The music gradually faded.

Everyone knew the formal part of the evening was about to begin.

Adrian stepped forward.

The conversations stopped.

He looked over the pack.

"I want to thank everyone for being here."

His voice carried easily across the courtyard.

"This gathering is more than tradition. It is a reminder that despite our differences, we remain one pack."

Aria listened quietly.

The Alpha continued speaking.

He talked about the responsibility of protecting the pack, the importance of loyalty, and the coming season.

Everything sounded normal.

Until one of the elders stepped forward.

"Alpha."

Adrian turned.

The elder bowed slightly.

"There is one matter the council believes should be addressed tonight."

A murmur moved through the crowd.

Adrian's expression hardened.

"I believe I made my position clear."

The elder didn't back down.

"The pack deserves certainty."

Aria's stomach tightened.

She didn't know what was happening, but suddenly everyone seemed to be watching the Alpha.

The elder continued.

"Your mate bond."

Silence.

Aria froze.

Adrian's eyes moved toward her.

This time, he didn't look away immediately.

Their eyes met across the courtyard.

For the first time that evening, Aria saw uncertainty in his expression.

Then it disappeared.

Adrian turned back toward the council.

"My personal affairs are not a matter for public discussion."

The elder frowned.

"You are the Alpha."

"Exactly."

His voice was firm.

"And I will decide when such matters are discussed."

The crowd fell silent.

The elder lowered his head.

"Of course, Alpha."

Adrian stepped back.

The music resumed.

But the atmosphere had changed.

Everyone was whispering.

Aria felt dozens of glances moving toward her.

She hated it.

Lila touched her arm.

"Come with me."

Aria nodded.

They moved away from the crowd.

"I didn't know the council was going to do that," Lila said.

"Neither did I."

Aria kept walking.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine."

Lila didn't argue.

They reached the garden.

Aria finally stopped.

She looked back at the courtyard.

The Alpha was surrounded by the council.

He didn't look toward her.

She wasn't surprised.

She had learned better than to expect it.

Then she heard a voice behind her.

"Aria."

She turned.

It was one of the younger warriors.

"Yes?"

"There's a problem near the eastern boundary."

Lila frowned.

"What kind of problem?"

"The patrol found something."

Aria looked toward the courtyard.

"Does the Alpha know?"

"Not yet."

"Then tell him."

The warrior shook his head.

"The Alpha has already gone."

Aria frowned.

"Where?"

"The eastern boundary."

Her heart dropped.

"What happened?"

"We don't know."

The warrior ran off.

Aria looked at Lila.

"I have to go."

Lila grabbed her arm.

"Aria, wait."

"The Alpha is out there."

"I know."

"If something happened—"

"You don't even know what happened."

Aria pulled free gently.

"I'm not going to sit here wondering."

Lila sighed.

"Then I'm coming with you."

They hurried toward the eastern grounds.

---

The forest was unusually quiet.

Too quiet.

Adrian moved through the trees with three warriors behind him.

"Show me where you found it."

One of the warriors pointed toward the ground.

A broken branch.

Fresh tracks.

Adrian crouched.

"How many?"

"At least four."

"Wolves?"

The warrior shook his head.

"We couldn't tell."

Adrian stood.

"Spread out."

The warriors moved.

Adrian remained still.

Something felt wrong.

The forest was familiar.

He had patrolled this area hundreds of times.

Tonight, however, the silence felt unnatural.

A sudden sound came from behind him.

Adrian turned.

Nothing.

Then—

A sharp movement came from the trees.

"Alpha!"

One of the warriors shouted.

Adrian moved instantly.

A figure lunged from the darkness.

Adrian blocked the attack, but another movement came from his left.

He was surrounded.

"Stay back!"

The warriors moved forward.

Adrian fought quickly, driving the attackers away from the others.

Then something struck his side.

He staggered.

A warm pain spread beneath his shirt.

He looked down briefly.

Blood.

His jaw tightened.

"I'm fine."

One of the warriors moved toward him.

"Alpha—"

"Stay in formation."

The attackers disappeared into the forest before the warriors could catch them.

Silence returned.

Adrian pressed a hand against his side.

"Search the area."

"Alpha, you're injured."

"That's an order."

The warriors hesitated.

Then obeyed.

Adrian stood alone for a moment.

He hated weakness.

Especially in front of his pack.

He straightened.

The pain didn't matter.

The wound didn't matter.

Nothing mattered except finding out who had crossed into his territory.

Then he heard footsteps.

"Alpha!"

He turned.

Aria emerged from between the trees.

His expression immediately hardened.

"What are you doing here?"

She stopped when she saw the blood on his shirt.

Her face changed.

"You're hurt."

"I'm fine."

She moved toward him.

He stepped back.

"Don't."

Aria stopped.

Her eyes lowered briefly to his hand.

"You're bleeding."

"I said I'm fine."

She looked at him.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then she quietly said,

"You don't have to pretend with me."

His jaw tightened.

"You shouldn't be here."

"I came because I heard there was trouble."

"You could have been hurt."

"So could you."

He looked away.

"I know what I'm doing."

Aria noticed his hand trembling slightly against his side.

He was in more pain than he wanted anyone to know.

She took another step.

"I can help."

"No."

The answer was immediate.

She stopped.

"Alpha—"

"I don't need your help."

The words were colder than he intended.

Aria's expression changed.

She lowered her hand.

"All right."

She stepped back.

Adrian watched her.

He wanted to tell her that he hadn't meant it that way.

He wanted to tell her to stay.

Instead, he said nothing.

Aria turned away.

Then a cry came from deeper in the forest.

Everyone froze.

One of the warriors shouted,

"Alpha!"

Adrian immediately turned toward the sound.

"Stay here."

Aria looked at him.

He disappeared between the trees.

She stood there for several seconds.

Then she heard another sound.

Closer this time.

Something moved behind her.

She turned.

Nothing.

"Hello?"

No answer.

The forest seemed to close around her.

Aria took a cautious step backward.

A branch snapped.

Her heart began pounding.

Then something rushed from the darkness.

She screamed.

A wolf's growl echoed through the trees.

Before Aria could move, Adrian appeared.

His expression was no longer calm.

"ARIA!"

He reached her just as the animal lunged.

Adrian shoved her behind him.

The creature collided with him.

He hit the ground hard.

"Alpha!"

The warriors rushed forward.

The animal fled into the darkness.

Adrian remained on the ground.

Aria stared at him.

"Alpha..."

He pushed himself upright.

"I'm fine."

She almost laughed from disbelief.

"You've got to stop saying that."

He looked at her.

For a moment, the anger in his eyes wasn't anger at all.

It was fear.

Fear for her.

Then his expression hardened again.

"Go back to the pack house."

"But—"

"Now."

Aria hesitated.

She wanted to argue.

But something in his voice stopped her.

She nodded.

"Yes, Alpha."

She turned away.

Adrian watched her go.

Only when she was safely out of sight did he allow himself to press his hand harder against his wound.

Marcus approached.

"Alpha."

Adrian looked toward him.

"Find out who was here."

Marcus nodded.

"And Aria?"

Adrian's eyes followed the path she had taken.

"What about her?"

Marcus gave him a knowing look.

"You looked terrified when that animal came near her."

Adrian's expression immediately hardened.

"I was protecting a member of my pack."

Marcus said nothing.

Adrian turned away.

"Nothing more."

But neither of them believed it.

Not even Adrian.

And for the first time since the Moonlight Gathering began, the Alpha's vow felt less like a promise...

and more like a battle he was slowly beginning to lose.