The Alpha's Unwanted Mate

Chapter 4: River's Secret - Her Wolf Awakens

It was 2 AM.

Damien's car stopped in the middle of the forest. In front of them, a black river flowed. Moonlight danced on the water like silver, cold and beautiful.

"Get out." His voice was ice, cutting through the silence.

Aria stepped out, trembling. Wet grass under her feet. Cold wind tore through her hair, making her shiver. She wrapped her arms around herself.

"Why did you bring me here?" Her voice shook. Fear dripped from every word.

Damien turned to her. His eyes were burning red, like molten lava. Dangerous. "To wake your Wolf."

Aria laughed. A broken, sad laugh that held no humor. "I don't have a Wolf. Everyone knows I'm... Unwanted. The pack's trash."

"Wrong." Damien took one step closer. The air between them grew heavy. "Your Wolf is sleeping. Because you're afraid. Afraid of your own power."

He raised his hand to her neck. He didn't touch. Just let his warmth hover against her skin, teasing her. Goosebumps rose on her arms.

"Let go of the fear." He whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "Or you'll die. The rogues won't spare you if you stay weak."

Suddenly the river water started to ripple violently. The moonlight vanished behind dark clouds. Darkness swallowed everything around them.

Something inside Aria's chest tore apart. Pain. Sharp, brutal pain that stole her breath. She dropped to her knees with a scream, clutching her chest.

"Damien... I... inside me..." Words died in her throat.

Her eyes turned gold, glowing like the moon itself. Her nails lengthened into sharp claws. The bones in her back cracked and shifted, breaking and reforming.

Damien knelt in front of her. Not with anger. With fear in his eyes for the first time.

"It's here." He whispered, awe in his voice. "Your Wolf has awakened, Aria. Can you feel her?"

Aria threw her head back and screamed at the sky. It wasn't a human sound. It was raw, primal, ancient.

It was the first howl of a wolf. A powerful Alpha she-wolf. 🐺

The forest went silent. Even the wind stopped.

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To be continued...