The Alpha's Forgotten Mate

Chapter Six: The Night They Came

“Run.” My wolf's voice echoed through my head. For once, I didn't question her. I grabbed Mira's hand. “Come on.”

“What happened?”

“Just come.”

I pulled her away from the window and led her toward the back door. My hands were shaking so badly that I almost dropped the photograph.

Someone had been watching us. Someone had taken that picture. Someone knew exactly where I lived. And now they knew about Kael.

We had barely stepped outside when a howl tore through the night. Mira froze. “That wasn't a normal wolf.”

“I know.”

Another howl answered from somewhere farther away. Then another. My heart sank. There was more than one.

“Run,” I whispered.

We took off.

The village that had always felt familiar suddenly looked different. Every shadow seemed to move. Every sound made me look over my shoulder. My wolf was wide awake now.

I turned left without thinking.

“Where are we going?” Mira panted.

“I don't know.”

“Great!”

“I'm sorry!”

We ran past the old storage houses and toward the narrow path behind the village. It was darker there, but I didn't stop. Behind us, something crashed through the bushes. Mira screamed. I grabbed her hand tighter.

“Don't look back!”

We kept running. Then a deep growl sounded directly ahead of us. I stopped so suddenly Mira crashed into my back. A pair of glowing eyes appeared between the trees. My breath caught. A wolf stepped out of the darkness. It was huge. Black fur. Yellow eyes.

My wolf whimpered. “Danger.”

I stepped backward.

The wolf lowered its head. Then another one appeared behind us. We were trapped.

Mira grabbed my arm. “Elena…”

“I know.”

The first wolf took a step toward us. I couldn't move. My body refused to listen. Then something slammed into it from the side. The wolf went flying. A second wolf attacked. Everything happened so quickly that I barely understood what I was seeing.

Growls filled the forest. Claws struck the ground. Wolves collided between the trees. And then I saw him. Kael. He stood in the middle of the chaos, his eyes glowing as he fought the wolves that had been chasing us.

“Kael!”

His head snapped toward me. For one terrifying second, his expression changed completely. Fear. Not anger. Fear.

“Get behind me!”

I didn't argue. Mira and I moved behind him. Kael turned back toward the wolves. One of them lunged. He caught it before it reached us and forced it back. The wolf retreated. Then another one charged. Kael moved faster.

Within seconds, the forest went quiet. The wolves disappeared into the darkness. Kael stood still, breathing heavily. Rowan appeared moments later with two other wolves behind him. “Alpha!”

Kael didn't answer. He turned toward me. “Are you hurt?”

I shook my head. “No.”

His eyes moved over me anyway, as if he needed to make sure for himself. Then he looked at Mira. “You?”

She shook her head. “I'm fine.”

Kael exhaled. His shoulders dropped slightly. I stared at him. “How did you know?”

He looked at me. “I felt that something was wrong.”

“How?”

He hesitated.

I folded my arms. “You keep doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“Stopping before you answer me.”

His jaw tightened. “It's complicated.”

I almost laughed. “Of course it is.”

Kael looked away.

I pulled the photograph from my pocket. “This came with the envelope.” His eyes immediately went to it. I held it out. He took it. His expression changed as soon as he saw the words on the back. “HE CANNOT PROTECT YOU FOREVER.”

Mira moved closer. “What does that mean?”

Kael didn't answer.

I stared at him. “Who are they?”

His fingers tightened around the photograph. “I don't know.”

I shook my head. “You're lying again.”

“Elena, no.”

My voice cracked. “You keep telling me I'm in danger, but you won't tell me why. You know about my parents. You know about the pendant. You know about my wolf. And now people are coming after me.”

Kael said nothing.

“So tell me the truth.”

His eyes met mine. “I can't.”

“Why?”

“Because you're not ready.”

I stared at him. “How do you know what I'm ready for?”

He stepped closer. “Because I've seen what happens when people learn too much too quickly.” His voice was quieter now. “And I won't let that happen to you.”

I didn't know what to say.

For a moment, we simply looked at each other. Then my wolf stirred. “Mate.” I swallowed. Kael's eyes flickered. He had felt it too. Of course he had.

I stepped back. “Don't.”

His expression tightened. “I'm not doing anything.”

“You don't have to.”

I looked away.

“You make everything confusing.”

“I know.”

The softness in his voice caught me off guard. I looked back at him. He was staring at me like he wanted to say something. But he didn't. Instead, he handed the photograph back. “You're coming with me.”

I frowned. “No.”

“It's not a request.”

“I said no.”

His expression hardened. “Those wolves weren't random.”

“I know.”

“They were looking for you.”

“I know that too.”

“Then why are you still arguing?”

“Because I don't trust you.”

Silence.

Rowan looked between us. Mira suddenly became very interested in the ground. Kael took a slow breath. “Fine.”

I blinked. “Fine?”

“You don't have to trust me.” He looked toward the dark forest. “But you need somewhere safe.”

He turned to Rowan. “Take Mira home.”

Mira looked at me. “What about you?”

Kael answered before I could. “I'll take Elena.”

My heart skipped. “No.”

Kael looked at me. “You're not staying here.”

I opened my mouth to argue. Then my wolf spoke again. “Go with him.” I froze. For the first time, I didn't understand her. Why would she trust him when I didn't? Kael watched my expression. “What?”

I shook my head. “Nothing.”

He held out his hand. I stared at it. Then at him. I didn't take it. Instead, I walked past him. “I'll follow you.”

A faint smile touched his lips. “Stubborn.”

I looked over my shoulder. “You're one to talk.”

For the first time, I saw something almost warm in his eyes. Then he turned toward the road. I followed. I didn't know where he was taking me. I didn't know who was hunting me. And I still didn't know why the most dangerous man in Silvermoon see

med determined to keep me alive.

But as I walked beside him through the darkness, one thought wouldn't leave my mind. If Kael truly wanted to protect me… what was he protecting me from?