The Alpha's Forgotten Mate

Chapter Five — The Wolf in the Shadows

I couldn't stop shaking.

Kael stood a few feet away, staring into the forest where the stranger had disappeared. The night had gone strangely quiet. Too quiet. "Who was that?" I asked. Kael didn't answer. I stepped closer. "Kael."

His shoulders tensed. "Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Don't ask questions you aren't ready to hear the answers to."

I stared at him. "That's not your decision."

He turned around. For a moment, his expression softened. Then it disappeared. "You're right. I wasn't expecting them to find you this quickly.” He looked toward the forest again. "But you need to trust me tonight."

I almost laughed. "Trust you?"

"Yes."

"You rejected me yesterday."

His face tightened.

"You admitted you knew I was your mate before I even knew what was happening." I added

"I know."

"You've been hiding things from me."

"I know."

"And now you want me to trust you?"

He looked at me for a long moment. "No." His answer surprised me. "I want you to stay alive."

I swallowed. Before I could respond, footsteps sounded behind us. Rowan emerged from the trees. "Alpha."

Kael immediately turned. "Did you find him?"

"No." Rowan glanced at me. "But I found tracks."

"How many?"

“I found tracks belonging to two wolves.”

Kael's expression darkened. “Only two?”

Rowan nodded. "They weren't alone."

My stomach dropped. "How many were there?"

Rowan looked at me. "There are signals of at least four."

I stepped backward. Four? There had been four wolves watching us? Kael noticed my expression. "Elena."

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"I'm trying."

For some reason, that made Rowan look away. Kael sighed. "We're going back."

"To my house?"

"No."

I frowned. "Why?"

"Because they already know where you live."

"Then where am I supposed to go?"

"Blackthorn."

I stared at him. "Your pack?"

"Yes."

"No."

Kael's jaw tightened. "Elena."

"I'm not going to your pack."

"It's the safest place."

"I don't care."

"You should." His voice became firmer. "I've seen what these people are capable of."

"And I don't even know what you're capable of." Silence.

Kael looked at me. Something passed between us. Pain, or maybe guilt. I couldn't tell.

Finally, he nodded. "Fair."

He stepped back. "I won't force you."

I blinked. "You won't?"

"No."

He looked toward Rowan. "Take her to Mira's house."

Rowan nodded.

I frowned. "You know Mira?"

Kael looked at me. "I know everyone important in my territory." That answer bothered me. But I was too tired to argue.

We started walking. Halfway through the village, I noticed Kael wasn't beside us anymore. I turned. He was standing under a streetlamp, watching the road behind us.

"What's wrong?" He didn't answer. His head suddenly lifted. His eyes changed. Not completely. Just enough for me to see the wolf beneath them. My wolf reacted immediately. “Mate.” I pressed a hand against my chest. "Stop."

Kael's gaze snapped toward me. "What's happening?"

"My wolf."

His expression softened. "What is she saying?" I hesitated. Then whispered, "Your name." Kael went completely still. Rowan looked between us. Kael's eyes lowered. "She's never done that before?"

I shook my head. "No."

He looked almost pained. "She recognizes the bond."

“She keeps fighting the bond,” I whispered.

Kael's expression changed. “Why doesn't she trust it?”

“I don't know.”

Kael's gaze met mine. "Because something is interfering with it."

"What?"

"I don't know."

That was the first time he sounded genuinely uncertain. We continued walking. But something felt different. For the first time, Kael wasn't treating me like a stranger. He was watching me like I was something precious. And I didn't know whether that comforted me or frightened me.

---

Mira opened her door before we even knocked.

"What happened?" Her eyes moved from me to Kael. Then widened. "Why is the Alpha here?"

"Long story," Rowan said. Mira stepped aside. I entered. Kael remained outside. I turned toward him. "You're not coming in?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you don't want me there."

I opened my mouth. Nothing came out. He looked at me for another second. Then he said quietly, "Get some rest." He turned to leave. "Kael." He stopped.

I didn't know why I'd called him. Maybe I wanted an explanation. Maybe I wanted him to stay. Maybe I simply didn't want to be alone. "Thank you." He nodded once. Then disappeared into the darkness.

Mira closed the door. She immediately grabbed my shoulders. "You're going to tell me everything."

I sighed. "I don't even know everything."

"Start with the important part."

I looked at the closed door. "Kael knew I was his mate before I did."

Mira's mouth fell open. "What?"

"And he rejected me."

"Why?"

"He says it was to protect me."

Mira stared at me. "Protect you from what?"

I pulled the silver pendant from my pocket. Her expression changed. "What's that?"

"I found it outside my house." I showed her the symbol.

She touched it carefully. "I've seen this symbol before."

My heart jumped. "Where?"

Mira looked at me. "On the old pack records."

"What records?"

"The ones nobody is allowed to access."

I stared at her. "Why?"

She shook her head. "I don't know."

A sudden knock sounded at the door. We both froze. Three slow knocks. Mira looked at me. "Are you expecting someone?" I shook my head. Another knock. This time harder. My wolf growled. “Danger.” Mira slowly moved toward the door. I grabbed her wrist. "Don't."

We stood there silently. Then a voice came from outside. "Elena." My blood ran cold. I knew that voice. Kael.

Mira opened the door. But there was no one there. Only a small black envelope lying on the doorstep. Mira picked it up. "There's your name on it." My hands suddenly felt cold. I took the envelope. Inside was a single piece of paper. Three words were written across it. “WE FOUND YOU.” I stared at the message. Mira's face went pale.

Then something fell from the envelope. A photograph. I picked it up. It was a picture of me. Taken earlier that evening. I could see myself standing beside Kael in the forest. Someone had been watching us. The entire time.

On the back of the photograph, another message had been written. “HE CANNOT PRO

TECT YOU FOREVER.” I looked toward the window.

Across the street, hidden beneath the trees, something moved. Two glowing eyes stared back at me. Then they vanished.

My wolf whispered one word. “Run.”