The night he found me
The night the Alpha found me, I was bleeding, not from a wound but from fear.
The forest of Blackridge was forbidden to omegas like me. It was the hunting ground for Alphas. I knew that. Everyone did.
Yet my feet kept moving, breath tearing out of my chest. Like I was running from death itself. Maybe I was. Fear had swallowed everything else. My wolf was quiet inside me, curled tight, shaking. That scared me more than the cold; she was never this silent.
Then the air changed. It felt heavier. Every instinct in me screamed to kneel. To submit. My wolf whimpered inside me, curling into herself like a frightened child.
Alpha, she whispered.
I turned just as a massive shadow stepped into the moonlight. He stood between the trees like he belonged there more than the forest itself. Tall. Broad. His presence pressed down on me until my knees buckled.
I didn’t need anyone to tell me who he was.
Alpha Kael Nightfang.
I had heard stories. He ruled the Northern Clans ruthlessly. He was a strong Alpha male that led packs of wolves with cold hands. Silver eyes locked onto me, sharp and unblinking.
‘’You’re trespassing’’ he said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was rough. My legs gave out. I fell to my knees in the snow, my fingers were numb, and my lips were trembling. ‘’I—I didn’t mean to,’’ I whispered. ‘’Please. I was just trying to get home.’’
His gaze dropped to my neck.
Everything inside me snapped.
The pull hit me so hard I gasped. My chest burned. My wolf cried out, awake now, terrified and aching all at once.
Mate.
The word crashed into me like a curse.
‘’No,’’ I breathed, shaking my head as tears burned my eyes. ‘’Please…not you.’’
Because I knew who he was.
The most ruthless Alpha in the Northern Clans. The wolf who had never spared mercy, never softened.
And now his eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as if he was fighting himself.
‘’Mine.’’ He growled. The single word wrapped around my spine like chains. I tried to crawl backward, panic taking over. ‘’I don’t belong to anyone,’’ I said, though my voice cracked. ‘’I’m just an omega. You don’t want me.’’
In the blink of an eye, he was in front of me.
His gloved hand wrapped around my wrist—not painful. His touch sent heat rushing through me, my wolf crying out in response despite my fear. ‘’You’re shaking,’’ he said coldly, though his thumb rubbed my hand gently.
‘’Please let me go. My pack mustn’t find out—‘’
His eyes softened for half a second, just enough to confuse me.
‘’I care about you.’’
That was worse.
Alphas didn’t say things like that. Not to omegas. Not to strangers they met in the forest.
‘’I won’t be owned,’’ I said, gathering the last scrap of courage I had left.
His lips curved into a dark, dangerous smile.
‘’You misunderstand, little mate,’’ he said, leaning down until his breath warmed my cheek. ‘’I don’t own you yet.’’
‘’I claim what is mine,’’ he continued softly. A howl rang through the forest. My blood ran cold.
‘’Your pack is coming,’’ I said, fear flooding me. ‘’They’ll kill me if they see—‘’
He pulled me against his chest, shielding me with his body as if the world itself was a threat.
‘’Let them try,’’ Alpha Kael said.
Then he lowered his head to my neck.
Not biting.
Not yet. I knew if I didn’t escape now, I never would.
And the moon turned brighter as if silently approving.
