THE MISSING ALPHA

BELLA’S POV I struggled to break through the tight wall of security, desperation thick in my voice. "Mr. Edward! Please! It was my mother's dying wish to take back the property rights to Blood Moon Hotel. Don't take that away from me!" A broad-shouldered guard blocked my path with a firm arm. BELLA’S POV I struggled to break through the tight wall of security, desperation thick in my voice. "Mr. Edward! Please! It was my mother's dying wish to take back the property rights to Blood Moon Hotel. Don't take that away from me!" A broad-shouldered guard blocked my path with a firm arm. He handed Alex his black card. "Make it happen. Top designer. Top wedding." Alex bowed slightly, but his eyes lingered on the rings inside the glass box. The next day... I had finally gotten into the hotel's kitchen as a part-time worker. My plan was simple, work quietly and try to find a way to talk to Mr. Edward during the engagement party. As I gathered a tray of takeaway boxes for the staff lounge, a woman in high heels suddenly walked in and kicked the tray, sending everything crashing to the floor. "Oh no," the woman said with mock surprise. "What a mess." I looked up silently. The woman smirked. "You. Clean my shoes." My eyes narrowed. I didn't want to cause a scene. I bent down and started cleaning the woman's expensive heels, swallowing my anger. As I finished, the woman leaned close. "Are you crying? Oh no, don't be so emotional. Smile! You'll feel better." Then she strutted away with a cruel laugh. I stood up slowly, feeling dizzy. My vision blurred. I placed a hand on my forehead. "Is my blood sugar too low?" I mumbled to myself. Suddenly, my knees gave way, and I collapsed. Alpha Edward was passing by when he saw a staff member rush out in panic. "She just fainted!" He turned the corner and froze. I was lying unconscious on the floor. His wolf stirred instantly. "I can sense her." Edward's heart skipped. "No... it can't be her." He walked closer, and the moment his fingers touched my skin, a faint blue light flickered briefly around our hands, only for a second, but it was enough. His wolf growled louder inside him. "She's the one, Edward. She's our mate." Edward's expression turned to stone. "This girl... is the same one who yelled at me yesterday. His heart raced, but not from fear. That night, Edward sat alone in his study, staring at the photo Alex had found tucked inside my part-time application form. It was a picture of my mother. His hand trembled slightly. "I know this woman..." he whispered. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out an old, yellowed letter, one he had buried years ago. The letter was written by the same woman. "If anything happens to me, please protect my daughter, Bella. Her father, Tommy, kept secrets even from me. She's more than you know. More than either of us ever expected." Edward's eyes darkened. "This changes everything." Just then, Grace walked into the room. "We need to talk," she said with a sharp smile. "About the girl." Edward looked up slowly. "What girl?" Grace's smile widened. "The one who fainted. The one you touched." She leaned closer. "You didn't think I wouldn't notice the glow... did you?" Alpha Edward knelt beside me as I lay unconscious on the ground. My skin was pale, my breath shallow. "Wake up," he said gently, brushing my hair out of my face. "Wake up..." I didn't move. Edward looked around. No one was nearby. The area was quiet. Then he did something unexpected, even for himself. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, whispering an ancient chant, one passed down by Alpha bloodlines. A kiss carrying healing energy from his wolf, Kelvin. A faint golden light surrounded me for a moment. Suddenly, my eyes flew open. I gasped and saw a strange man hovering above me. Confused and frightened, I shoved him back with both hands and scrambled to my feet. "Stay away from me!" I said, then turned and ran. Edward didn't move. His heart pounded. The light. The way his wolf responded. There was no doubt. I was his true mate. Kelvin, his wolf, growled inside his head. "Edward! What are you doing? Go after her. Tell her you were saving her!" But Edward clenched his fists and stayed still. He whispered through gritted teeth, "Kelvin, why did you take over my body to save her?" "Didn't you feel it?" Kelvin roared. "She's our mate!" Edward's eyes darkened. "Nothing is more important than what Grace's family can do for me. That girl... she's a mere human." Edward went to get ready for his engagement. The hall was filled with music, laughter, and shimmering lights. Guests filled the massive ballroom, pack members, business partners, nobles from neighboring lands. The chandeliers sparkled as Grace walked around like a queen, soaking up the attention. Alpha Edward stood near the center, shaking hands. "Hey, thank you for coming," he said politely. Suddenly, smoke curled in from the entrance.