CLAIMED BY THE ROGUE ALPHA

4

For the woman who had always despised me and had been oblivious to the mate bond for years, she would only hate me more.

The meeting eventually came to an end. The Alphas began to file out, discussing the day’s topics among themselves. I followed the usual routine…leaving without mentioning the mate bond. I had done it countless times, suppressing the urge to claim what was mine while my wolf continued to growl in my head.

Elowen, on her part, walked back to Draven and acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary. She seemed oblivious to my presence or the bond between us. It was a painful reminder of the distance between us.

Outside, I made my way to my car. As my driver opened the door for me, a maid nervously approached. She gave a quick bow and thanked me for coming.

“Alpha Kael,” she said, her voice low and respectful. “Thank you for attending today. I have a message for you.” Her eyes darted around nervously as she brought out a small note and handed it to me. My driver, always vigilant, stepped in to take the note from her instead.

I glanced at the maid. “Who sent this?” I asked, my voice firm but not unkind.

“It’s from Luna Elowen,” she whispered. “She asked me to deliver it to you discreetly.”

I didn’t say a word but nodded in acknowledgment. She bowed again and hurried away, leaving me with a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

Once inside, the driver asked, “Should I read it or dispose of it, Alpha?”

“Read it,” I said, curiosity piqued.

He unfolded the note and read aloud, “Meet me at Haven Shopping Mall tomorrow. Alone…Elowen.”

The words hit me like a punch. Elowen wanted to meet me for the first time and alone at that. It was unexpected. What could she possibly want to discuss?

“Keep this to yourself,” I told my driver. If news of a secret meeting leaked, it could cause a stir among the packs and trouble for Elowen.

“Understood, Alpha,” he replied, his face impassive.

As the car pulled away, my mind raced with questions. What did Elowen want to talk about? Had she finally realized the truth about our bond, or was this about something else entirely?

For the first time in years, I was looking forward to tomorrow.

~

The next day arrived with a sense of anticipation I hadn’t felt in years. The thought of seeing Elowen alone, away from Draven and pack politics, filled me with both hope and anxiety.

I made my way to Haven Shopping Mall without my bodyguards, taking extra precautions to ensure our meeting remained discreet. My driver dropped me off a block away, and I walked the rest of the distance, blending into the crowd.

As I reached the agreed meeting spot, I saw Elowen already waiting outside the mall.

Mate, Onyx growled in my head.

She was dressed casually, yet there was an air of quiet elegance about her that never failed to captivate me. Her eyes scanned the crowd until they locked onto mine. She didn’t say anything or acknowledge me. Instead, she turned and walked into the mall. I took it as a signal to follow her and kept my distance, careful not to draw attention to us.

Elowen moved through the mall with purpose, her steps quick and confident. I stayed a few paces behind, weaving through shoppers. She soon entered a small boutique, and I followed her inside, my curiosity piqued.

She approached a sales associate and discreetly offered her some cash. The woman nodded without a word and led her through a door marked Employees Only.

I hesitated for a moment, then followed them, hoping I didn’t raise any suspicion.

The sales associate guided us to a private room at the back of the store. It was a small space, tastefully decorated with a sofa and a few chairs. Once we were inside, she closed the door, leaving us alone.

Elowen sat on the sofa and extended her hand, inviting me to sit across from her. I took the seat opposite her, adjusting my suit before she finally broke the silence.

“Alpha Kael,” she began, her voice steady but soft, “thank you for coming and being discreet about our meeting.”

I nodded, my eyes fixed on hers. “Of course, Elowen. I believe this was our first private meeting. It was only fair that I agreed to see you, knowing how our packs have been at each other for years,” I said, unable to hide my surprise when the maid had handed me that note the day before.

“Well, our grandparents made it so that we both became thorns in each other’s flesh, passing it on even to our parents,” she acknowledged.

“And you as well. I am aware of your hatred for me and my pack. I believe we can both speak freely now that we are alone.”

Her eyes softened slightly. “Things have changed, Alpha Kael. I don’t have time for hatred anymore. There’s too much at stake now.”

Too much at stake?

I watched her intently the way her bottom lip trembled slightly as she spoke, her thighs rubbing together, her hands fidgeting at her sides. She was reacting differently to the mate bond. I could almost feel her wolf calling out to me.

Something had indeed changed, but I couldn’t yet be sure what.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

She took a deep breath, her expression serious. “My pack is in danger.”

I frowned, confused. “In danger? How?”

She looked away for a moment, hesitant, then back at me. “My hus… Draven is cheating on me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The words hit me like a punch. Draven…the man she had chosen over me, the man I had assumed she would find happiness with was cheating on her? It seemed unbelievable, yet the pain in her eyes told me it was true.

“Draven?” I asked, forcing my voice to remain steady.

She nodded, her eyes welling with tears she struggled to hold back. If she dared to cry for that bastard, I would finally lose it.

“He’s plotting with Liora to take over the pack. They’ve been having an affair behind my back.”

Anger surged through me, hotter and more intense than anything I had felt in a long time. My vision blurred slightly, and I felt onyx, my wolf, pushing to the surface. My eyes glowed red, the wolf inside me ready to take control and unleash his fury.