THE ROGUE ALPHA’S FORSAKEN MATE

Chapter 10

My father stared at Kael for a long moment.

"Who are you?"

Kael rose from the log, his posture calm but respectful. "My name is Kael. I'm the one who marked your daughter."

My father's expression flickered. Shock, anger, confusion. All of it passed across his face in seconds.

"You," he said. "You're the stranger."

"Yes."

"And you think you can just walk into my territory and stand beside my daughter as if you have the right?"

"I came because she asked for my help."

My father took a step closer. "She asked for your help because you marked her and left her. You gave her no choice. You left her to face the elders alone while you disappeared."

Kael didn't flinch. "I know what I did. I'm not here to make excuses."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I couldn't let her face Garrett Voss alone."

My father's jaw tightened. Before he could respond, a voice cut through the clearing.

"Garrett Voss is already here."

We all turned. One of the guards stood at the edge of the trees, his expression tense.

"What do you mean?" my father demanded.

"He arrived a few minutes ago. He's asking for Nova. He said he heard a stranger was seen near the border and he wants to meet him."

My blood ran cold.

My father looked at me, then at Kael. "Stay here. Both of you."

He walked away, leaving us alone in the clearing. I looked at Kael. His expression had changed, hardened into something colder, more dangerous.

"He's here," I whispered.

Kael nodded. "I heard."

"What do we do?"

"We wait."

We didn't have to wait long. Within minutes, my father returned, and behind him walked Garrett Voss.

I had seen Garrett before, at pack gatherings and territory meetings, but never this close. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with sharp features and cold eyes that seemed to take in everything at once. He was older than me by at least ten years, and there was a confidence in his posture that came from power and privilege.

His gaze found me first. Then it moved to Kael.

And then he smiled.

"Kael Thornwood," he said. "I heard rumors that you were still alive. I didn't believe them."

Kael didn't respond. He stood perfectly still, his eyes fixed on Garrett with an intensity that made the air feel heavier.

Garrett turned to my father. "You didn't tell me your daughter had a visitor. I would have come sooner."

My father's expression was strained. "He arrived this afternoon."

"I see." Garrett looked at me. "Nova. You've been busy."

I said nothing.

Garrett's smile widened. "It's not every day a half-human wolf catches the attention of a fallen Alpha. You should be flattered."

"Watch your mouth," Kael said quietly.

Garrett's eyes flicked to him. "Excuse me?"

Kael took a step forward. "You heard me."

The tension in the clearing spiked. My father stepped between them.

"That's enough," he said. "Garrett, you're a guest here. Remember that."

Garrett raised his hands in mock apology. "Of course. I meant no offense." He looked at Kael again. "I'm just surprised, that's all. The last I heard, Thornwood was nothing but ashes. I assumed its Alpha was dead with it."

Something dangerous flickered in Kael's eyes. "I'm very much alive."

"So I see." Garrett studied him. "Tell me, how does a fallen Alpha with no territory and no pack end up claiming a girl from Ashford? That seems like a rather desperate move."

Kael didn't answer.

Garrett turned to me. "Nova, I'm sure you've heard about the arrangement. My father has already spoken to your elders. We both know what's going to happen in two weeks." He paused. "But I'd like to hear it from you. Are you going to make this difficult?"

I met his eyes. "I'm not going to marry you."

Garrett's smile didn't waver. "We'll see."

He looked at Kael one last time. "It was interesting meeting you, Thornwood. I hope you enjoy your stay. I'm sure it won't last long."

He turned and walked away, disappearing into the trees with the same calm confidence he had arrived with. The silence he left behind was heavy.

My father let out a slow breath. "This is a problem."

Kael's eyes were still fixed on the spot where Garrett had disappeared. "He knew my name."

My father frowned. "What?"

Still fixed on that spot. "I've never met Garrett Voss before. But he knew my name. He knew about Thornwood. He knew I was an Alpha." He paused. "That's not something most wolves know. The fall of Thornwood was kept quiet."

My expression shifted. "What are you saying?"

Kael looked at me. "I'm saying Garrett Voss knows more about my past than he should. And I think that's not a coincidence."

The words hung in the air between us. I thought about Garrett's smile, the way he had looked at Kael, the satisfaction in his eyes. It wasn't the look of a wolf meeting a stranger. It was the look of someone who already knew everything.

Someone who had been waiting.