Her Alpha’s Secret

Chapter 2: Bound by Fate

ALEX

We arrive after midnight at the Arcane Pack, in the forest just outside Northumberland.

And I hate to admit it, but it’s f*****g impressive. I understand why Father chose this pack.

The grounds are surrounded by a large, seemingly impenetrable wall. Their Alpha’s Hall is a massive fortress. A building with old stone walls and towering windows looking over the pack from atop a hill.

The pack emblem looms before me, carved into the wooden double doors of the Alpha’s Hall. An intricate circular design is laced with twisting golden metalwork and symbols I don’t fully understand. At its heart, a swirling core of emerald green, as if the sigil itself is alive and watching.

The outer rings bear crescent moons and symbols, blending werewolf tradition with something older. Something arcane. The craftsmanship is masterful, every line and curve precise. This is so much more than just a symbol. It almost feels like a warning.

That the Arcane Pack doesn’t just rule with strength; they rule with knowledge, with secrets.

I’ve seen plenty of pack emblems before—bold, battle-worn crests declaring dominance. But this… this is different.

Even the warriors stationed outside hold themselves with a discipline I don’t often see outside our pack. The fifty warriors that their Alpha has already sent to our pack will make a massive difference. Their strength is undeniable.

But something is off.

The White Wolf, as they call him, is nowhere to be seen.

The Beta female, Talia, I think, greets us instead, explaining that their Alpha will introduce himself in the morning. And I don’t f*****g like it.

An Alpha should be here to greet his guests, especially guests of our status.

He should be standing at his door, ready to show his bride exactly why his pack is worth her time. Instead, he’s holed up in his room.

I narrow my eyes as the Beta finishes the formalities.

“Tell your Alpha we appreciate his hospitality,” I say, even though I don’t mean it.

Talia nods, a weird smirk crossing her lips. “Of course.”

Usually, that flirtatious smile and the way she was openly checking me out would have tempted me to invite her to my room. After all, I haven't had s*x in nearly a week. I need a f*****g release.

But not tonight. Not with her.

As I settle into my room, my thoughts keep circling back to that moment earlier. To that woman.

She was barely visible through the darkened glass, but I could see the glowing green eyes of her wolf. She felt the bond too… and it was strong.

I almost shifted right there in the driveway. My wolf roared inside my head to go to her, to claim her. But before I could even move, one of the Arcane warriors spoke to me, and when I turned back, she was gone. I wanted to strangle the warrior with my bare hands, but I was called into this ridiculously large, eerie mansion.

And I've been on edge ever since.

When I saw her, something in me shifted. Like an invisible thread pulling taut.

I need to find her, f**k I will find her. Hunt her down if I need to.

It's f*****g strange. Something about her seemed so familiar.

Images flicker through my mind. A wild girl who used to chase me and Nate through the woods. She was always daring us into trouble, laughing as she outran us. I can still remember her stubborn little pout, the way she used to glare at us when we teased her. The girl who turned into a beautiful, fiery teenager.

She had the looks to draw boys in, and an attitude that made sure they didn't get close.

But it can’t be her.

There’s no way she’d still be here. Not after everything that happened.

Not after she killed her father, and a new Alpha took his place.

The f*****g White Wolf. The Alpha my sister is supposed to marry.

A bitter taste rises in my mouth as I sit up abruptly. Shoving the thought aside I leave my room in search of my sister.

I find Lyra fussing over herself in the mirror, with some kind of blue skincare face mask on her skin. She looks like a f*****g smurf.

“Hey, kiddo.”

She doesn’t even look at me.

“Don’t you think I’m a bit too old to be called that? I am getting engaged tomorrow, after all.”

My chest tightens.

“I don’t give a s**t. You know you'll always be my baby sister.”

“And you'll always be the damn annoying older brother who insists on babying me.” She shoots back, "You know, if we shifted and sparred, I would hand you your ass.”

I laugh, and she puffs her cheeks out in annoyance, looking oddly cute for such a smartass.

“Sure thing, kiddo.” I chuckle at her expression. “Speaking of which, when do I get to see you in your big, bad wolf form? Father says it’s quite a sight.” I wink at her, putting my hands in my pockets and leaning against the doorframe.

She rolls her eyes before turning back to the mirror.

“Soon, now get out. I need to figure out what to do with my hair tomorrow.”

"Are you actually excited about meeting him?” I ask, disbelieving.

"Of course. I deserve a powerful mate.” She smile brightly. “Besides, this pack is amazing. Just imagine running it.” Her voice is confident, but when she turns to me, the light in her eyes dims. “Not to mention, Father needs the warriors. Those beasts are strong.”

She’s right, but it doesn’t make it any less messed up.

I want to tell her we’ll figure something else out. There are plenty of other Alphas with daughters. If we really have to, we can arrange for one of them to become my Luna.

But she overheard the conversation.

Father flat-out refused.

‘When the time is right,’ he said.

What the f**k does that even mean? I’m twenty-six, without a mate, and instead of using me to create an alliance, he would rather sell off my sister. She just turned twenty-one, for goddess’ sake.

And since my younger brother Nate isn’t the Alpha-Heir, another Alpha wouldn’t marry off his daughter to Nate. Not if there’s no chance of her becoming a Luna.

Meanwhile, Father is refusing to hand down the title of Alpha to me until I am married.

It’s one big f****d up mess.

But before I can reply to her, I hear it. A high-pitched, screeching howl pierces through the silent night air.

The hair on the back of my neck rises. The howl is distant, but it still sends a chill through my blood. I turn to Lyra, and her fingers are digging into the vanity. Her wide eyes fixed on me.

“I’ll handle it,” I tell her, already moving.

I tear out of the room, grabbing a lighter on my way out and putting it into my mouth before shifting. Hitting the ground as a golden brown wolf, I run through the pack gates toward the forest.

The cold night air whips past me as I surge forward, my claws biting into the earth.

If they followed us from the Oracle Pack, they're already too f*****g close.

And if there’s anyone out in the forest...

I push harder.

Because if those things find them first, there won’t be anything left to save.