The alpha’s forbidden target

The first scream woke Elara. The second made her sit upright. The third was followed by the unmistakable sound of something exploding outside. She froze. For a moment, the small room was completely silent except for her own breathing. Then another scream tore through the village. Elara threw the blanket aside. “What’s happening?” She rushed to the window. Orange light flickered across the rooftops. Fire. Her stomach dropped. The village was burning. People were running through the streets below, some carrying children, others dragging whatever they could save. Shadows moved between the houses, too fast and too organized to be ordinary raiders. Then came the howl. Deep. Powerful. Not human. Every wolf in the village answered with frightened cries. Elara stepped away from the window. “No…” The kingdom’s army had found them. Everyone knew what that meant. The Black Moon Pack. And their Alpha. Cassian Veyr. The most feared Alpha in the northern kingdoms. Stories about him had reached even their tiny village. They said he had never lost a battle. That entire packs had surrendered at the sound of his name. And tonight, he had come here. Elara grabbed the cloak hanging beside her bed and pulled it around herself. She needed to find her family. She ran outside. The cold night air hit her face, carrying the smell of smoke. “Elara!” She turned. Mara, the village healer, was running toward her. “Where are my parents?” Mara’s face crumpled. “They went toward the eastern road.” “Why?” “They were helping people escape.” Elara’s heart hammered. “I have to find them.” “No!” Mara caught her wrist. “You can’t go that way.” “I have to!” “Elara, listen to me.” Something in the woman’s voice made her stop. Mara looked over her shoulder. “They’re looking for someone.” Elara frowned. “Who?” Mara hesitated. Then she whispered, “You.” Elara’s blood ran cold. “What?” Before Mara could answer, a horn sounded from the center of the village. Once. Twice. Then a third time. Every person in the street went silent. The soldiers had stopped. Elara could hear footsteps approaching. Slow. Measured. Hundreds of them. Mara released her wrist. “Run.” Elara stared at her. “Mara—” “RUN!” Elara turned. She sprinted. She didn’t know where she was going. She only knew she couldn’t stay. She pushed through the narrow streets, past burning homes and terrified villagers. Then she heard someone behind her. “Elara Vale!” She stopped. Her name. How did they know her name? She looked back. Three warriors stood at the end of the street. Their black armor reflected the flames. One of them raised his hand. “Don’t make this difficult.” Elara ran. She turned down an alley. Dead end. Her heart sank. She spun around. The warriors were already there. One stepped forward. “Come quietly.” “Why?” He didn’t answer. “Why do you want me?” The warrior looked at the others. Then he said the words that made no sense. “The Alpha ordered that you be brought to him alive.” Elara stared at him. The Alpha? Why would Cassian Veyr want her? She had never met him. She wasn’t important. She wasn’t even a wolf. At twenty years old, Elara had never shifted. The village called her defective. Weak. Wolf-less. She had spent years believing there was nothing special about her. So why would the most powerful Alpha in the kingdom care whether she lived or died? A sudden howl echoed across the village. The warriors stepped aside. Elara’s breath caught. A man emerged from the smoke. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dressed entirely in black. He didn’t need an introduction. Everyone knew him. Cassian Veyr. The Alpha. His silver eyes moved across the burning street. Then they found Elara. He stopped. Something changed in his expression. Not anger. Not surprise. Something far more unsettling. Recognition. Elara’s heart began pounding. Cassian walked toward her. One step. Then another. The warriors lowered their heads as he passed. Elara backed against the wall. He stopped directly in front of her. For several seconds, he said nothing. He simply stared at her. As if he were looking at a ghost. Then his eyes dropped to the small crescent-shaped birthmark beneath her collarbone. His face went completely pale. “No,” he whispered. Elara swallowed. “What?” Cassian reached toward her. She flinched away. His hand stopped in midair. For the first time, the terrifying Alpha looked shaken. “Where did you get that mark?” Elara stared at him. “I was born with it.” His jaw tightened. “Impossible.” “What is?” He didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped back. His warriors watched him carefully. Then something happened that Elara would remember for the rest of her life. Cassian Veyr—the Alpha who had conquered kingdoms, broken rival packs, and made entire armies kneel— slowly lowered himself to one knee. Every warrior around him immediately followed. Elara stared in disbelief. Cassian bowed his head. And when he spoke, his voice was barely more than a whisper. “My Queen.” The entire village fell silent. Elara couldn’t breathe. Queen? Her? That was impossible. She had spent her entire life believing she was nobody. Yet the most feared Alpha in the kingdom was kneeling before her. And somewhere deep inside her mind, a voice whispered: You know him. Elara’s eyes widened. Because she did. She didn’t know how. She didn’t know from where. But for one terrifying second, she remembered silver eyes staring at her through darkness. A man’s voice calling her name. And a promise she couldn’t quite hear. Then the memory vanished. Cassian looked up at her. His expression had changed. The fear was gone. Something colder had replaced it. “Take her to the palace.” Elara shook her head. “No.” Cassian’s eyes hardened. “You don’t understand.” “Then explain!” His silence frightened her more than his command. Finally, he stood. “You’re not my prisoner, Elara.” He looked toward the burning village. “You’re the reason this village was attacked.” Elara’s stomach dropped. “What?” Cassian turned back to her. “And if they discover who you really are…” His voice lowered. “They won’t stop until you’re dead.” Elara stared at him. “Who are they?” Cassian’s expression darkened. “The people who killed my mate.” Then he walked away. Elara remained frozen. Because as the warriors surrounded her, one thought kept repeating in her mind. His mate. Three years ago, everyone had heard the story. The Alpha’s beloved mate had died. Her portrait had been hidden inside the royal palace ever since. And somehow— Cassian had looked at Elara like he had just seen her again. As if she had never died at all.