Chapter Six — The Alpha’s Scent
739 Words
The wind was stronger that night, carrying something strange—something that made Liora’s skin prickle.
She sat by the open window, watching the trees sway. The forest usually brought her peace, but tonight, it felt different. Like something ancient was waking up. Like something was… searching.
The wolf lifted its head suddenly and growled low. Its ears stood up. Liora followed its gaze, but she saw nothing in the dark.
“Is someone out there?” she whispered.
The wolf didn’t answer. It just stood and moved to the door, alert and tense.
Maera came out from the back room, holding a candle. Her eyes were sharp. “Close the window, child.”
“Why? What is it?”
Maera didn’t answer right away. She walked to the door, opened it just a c***k, and sniffed the air. Then she closed it fast and turned to Liora.
“He’s close.”
“Who?” Liora asked.
“The Alpha.”
Liora blinked. “What do you mean?”
Maera gave her a long, unreadable look. “There are things I haven’t told you. Not everything in this forest is human. And not every danger is what it seems.”
Liora’s mouth went dry. “Is he like Ardyn?”
Maera shook her head. “No. Ardyn is a man with greed in his heart. The Alpha is something else entirely. He’s not here to hurt you.”
“Then why is he here?” Liora asked, confused.
Maera hesitated. “Because he’s looking for you.”
Liora’s heart skipped. “Me?”
Maera placed the candle on the table. “You felt the pull at the Moon Gate, didn’t you? That was only part of it. Something deeper was awakened—something tied to him.”
“But I don’t even know him!”
“You don’t have to,” Maera said softly. “You were chosen before you ever met. That’s how it works with the Alphas.”
Liora shook her head. “I’m not like him. I’m not… anything.”
“You’re human, yes,” Maera said. “But that doesn’t matter. A bond is a bond. And yours… is rare.”
Liora backed away from the table. “I didn’t ask for this.”
“I know,” Maera said gently. “But sometimes the moon doesn’t ask. It just chooses.”
A sudden gust of wind slammed against the cabin. The wolf let out another growl, more warning this time. Maera walked to the door again, her voice calm but firm.
“You need to decide. Will you meet him… or run?”
Liora looked toward the door, her heart pounding. Something in her chest pulled tight—like a thread being tugged.
“I don’t even know who he is,” she whispered.
Maera stepped aside. “Then maybe it’s time you found out.”
Before she could change her mind, Liora stepped outside.
The night was cold, but her skin burned.
The forest was quiet. Still. And then she felt it—like a heartbeat in the air. Strong. Steady. Close.
She turned toward the trees—and saw glowing eyes staring back at her.
Tall. Shadowed. Watching.
Her breath caught in her throat.
The figure stepped forward. Broad shoulders. Bare chest. A long scar running across his collarbone. He looked young but not soft—his face was sharp, wild, and impossibly beautiful.
And his eyes…
They locked onto hers with a force that nearly knocked her to her knees.
He stopped a few feet from her.
“I’ve been looking for you,” he said. His voice was deep, calm, but laced with something primal.
“Who are you?” she asked, barely able to speak.
He didn’t smile. He didn’t blink.
“I’m Kael. Alpha of the Northern Pack.”
Liora’s knees weakened. She gripped the doorframe.
Kael stepped closer. “You feel it, don’t you?”
She did. A pull so strong it scared her. Her heartbeat matched his. Her breath felt tangled with his.
“What is this?” she whispered.
“A bond,” he said, voice low. “You’re mine, Liora.”
The way he said her name—it was like a vow. Like a promise sealed in moonlight.
Liora stared at him, her world spinning.
This wasn’t what she expected.
And yet… it felt like something she’d been waiting for her whole life.
- Writer
