THE ROGUE ALPHA’S FORSAKEN MATE

Chapter 4

By the time I reached the pack, my legs were aching and my mind was spinning with everything that had happened since waking up alone in that clearing. I couldn't tell my father that I had run into the forest after seeing Declan with Wren, couldn't explain why I had stayed there all night, and I certainly couldn't announce that a stranger had marked me.

My fingers touched the side of my neck again, feeling the familiar warmth radiating from the mark. I had covered it with my hair, but I could still feel it against my skin, a constant reminder that this was real. Someone had claimed me, and I didn't even know his name.

I hurried toward my father's house, hoping I could reach Mara before anyone else saw me. But when I opened the door, my father was standing in the living room, and he looked furious. Behind him stood three elders, their expressions grim and unreadable.

"Nova," Mara said, taking a step forward.

One of the elders stopped her with a look.

My father's gaze swept over me. "Where have you been?"

"I went for a walk."

"All night?"

I didn't answer.

"The elders have been waiting for you since morning." He took my arm. "Come. They want to speak with you privately."

I followed them to the elders' hall. The moment I entered, I noticed Declan sitting near the far side of the room. He looked terrible, his hair disheveled, his eyes red. For one stupid second, my heart reacted to seeing him, and then I remembered Wren smiling at me and looked away.

"Nova, please," he said, rising.

"Don't."

He stopped, and I refused to look back.

One of the older elders studied me carefully. "You disappeared last night."

"I know."

"Your father received word that you were seen leaving the celebration grounds."

I said nothing.

"Did you spend the night in the forest?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I needed to be alone."

There was a long silence, and then the elder's gaze moved toward my neck. "Move your hair."

"No."

My father frowned. "Nova."

"I said no."

The elder's expression hardened. "Whatever you are hiding will not remain hidden for long."

Declan suddenly spoke. "Leave her alone." He looked at me with something that might have been guilt. "I know why she ran."

My eyes burned. "Then you should know better than to speak for me."

"I deserve that."

"Yes, you do."

"I didn't know what I was doing."

"You knew exactly what you were doing."

He lowered his head, and I looked away.

The elder's voice cut through the silence. "Enough." His attention returned to me. "Nova, show us your neck."

I knew there was no point hiding it anymore. Slowly, I pushed my hair aside, and the room went silent. I watched their faces change as they saw the mark. One of the elders stood so quickly that his chair scraped against the floor.

"Who marked you?" he demanded.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"I don't know his name."

The room erupted in whispers.

My father's face darkened. "You let a stranger claim you?"

"I didn't know he was going to mark me."

"Who is he?"

"I don't know."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"Which pack does he belong to?"

"I don't know!" My voice broke. I pressed my hands together to stop them from shaking. "I met him in the forest. He helped me. I didn't know who he was. I didn't even know he could mark me."

The elders exchanged uneasy looks.

The oldest among them spoke. "This is not a normal claim."

"What does that mean?"

"A proper claim is recognized by both wolves. The male is known, his territory is known. Yours is different because no one knows who he is."

My father stood abruptly. "What happens now?"

The elder didn't answer immediately. "The bond cannot be ignored, but neither can it be accepted without knowing the male who placed it."

"So what am I supposed to do?"

"You have two weeks to find him."

"Find him?"

"If he comes forward and formally claims the bond, the elders will recognize it. If you don't find him, the claim can be overridden by a new arrangement."

"No."

My father looked at me. "Nova."

"No."

"You cannot remain unclaimed indefinitely. Your mark is already visible."

"I don't care what they think."

"I want the man who marked me."

My father sighed. "There is already someone willing to take responsibility for you."

"Who?"

"Garrett Voss."

My blood turned cold. Everyone in the pack knew Garrett, the son of an Alpha from a neighboring territory, powerful, wealthy, and feared.

"I don't want him."

"This isn't about what you want."

"Then what is it about?"

"Your future."

"My future was supposed to be with Declan."

Silence filled the room.

My father continued. "Declan's bond has changed."

I laughed bitterly. "Yes. I noticed."

The oldest elder spoke. "Declan and Wren's connection is recognized by fate. We cannot force them apart simply because you were hurt."

"So everyone gets to follow fate except me?"

No one answered.

I touched the mark on my neck. "I have two weeks."

"Yes."

"Then give me two weeks."

My father looked at the elders. One of them nodded slowly. "Find the male who marked you. If he is worthy and willing to stand beside you, your bond will remain. If you fail, we will decide what comes next."

I understood what that meant. Garrett. My stomach turned at the thought, and I looked toward the door. For the first time since I had entered the hall, I realized something important. I wasn't only running from Declan anymore. I was running toward someone I didn't know, a stranger who had marked me in the darkness and disappeared before sunrise. Now I had two weeks to find him before the pack decided my future for me, and I didn't even know his name.