Marked by the Alpha’s son

Stephanie wiped the sweat from her forehead and lifted the heavy axe again. The sun was high, but the air under the tall pines stayed cool. She swung the axe down hard, splitting another log for the fireplace. Her arms burned from the work, and her back ached, but she couldn’t stop. Uncle Harlan expected the wood pile to be full by evening, or there would be trouble. “Still at it, stray?” Lila’s voice rang out from the porch steps. Her cousin sat there with a cool drink, looking perfect as always. Marcus and Theo leaned nearby, grinning like they had nothing better to do. “You look even worse than usual. Sweaty and dirty. The mating ceremony is only a few days away. Who do you think will want someone like you?” Marcus laughed and threw a small stick at her feet. “Yeah. Plain face, no real wolf strength, always in the way. You’ll stand there alone again, just like every year. Pathetic.” Theo joined in. “Maybe the Moon Goddess forgot about you. Save yourself the embarrassment and stay home.” Stephanie gripped the axe tighter, her hazel eyes fixed on the next log. She didn’t answer. Words only made them meaner. Since her parents died in that terrible rogue attack, this had been her world. Uncle Harlan gave her a roof and food, but his children made sure she paid for it every single day. She cooked their meals, cleaned their messes, took the blame for everything, and slept in the cold attic. Bruises came easy when they were bored. Hope was the only thing that kept her going. The mating ceremony. That was her secret dream. Under the full moon, wolves found their fated mates. The pull, the scent, the bond that changed everything. Stephanie imagined feeling someone’s eyes on her with real warmth. Someone strong who would take her away from this pain. But dreams like that felt silly for a girl like her. Still, she held onto that small spark. What she didn’t know was that someone had been watching her closely for weeks. Deep between the thick trees just beyond the woodpile, a tall, powerful man stood hidden. He stayed perfectly still, his big frame blending into the shadows. He was huge — well over six feet tall with wide shoulders and strong muscles that showed even under his dark shirt. His jet-black hair fell messily to his shoulders. His face was incredibly handsome in a sharp, dangerous way: high cheekbones, a firm jaw with a bit of stubble, and striking silver eyes that didn’t miss a single thing she did. A few scars marked his arms, hints of the hard life he lived. He had first noticed her during one of his quiet walks through the outer pack lands. She was alone then too, carrying heavy baskets without complaining, even when she looked tired and sad. Something about her quiet strength and the way she kept going pulled him in. Since that day, he kept finding reasons to come back. He watched her handle the daily cruelty, steal small breaks to breathe, and look at the sky with quiet hope. Every time, his feelings grew a little stronger. He was starting to fall for this girl who had no idea anyone cared. He wasn’t supposed to be here. Watching an unmarked girl like this was risky for someone in his position. But he couldn’t stay away. Today, as Lila and the boys kept throwing insults and laughing, the hidden man’s hands curled into tight fists. Anger boiled inside him. He hated how they treated her. She was better than all of them. A soft growl started in his throat, but he pushed it down. He couldn’t step out. Not now. It would cause too many problems. Stephanie swung the axe again. A piece of wood flew off and landed near the tree line. She paused, breathing hard, and looked toward the woods. For a second, she thought she saw something — a flash of movement, or maybe just the wind in the leaves. The man held his breath. His silver eyes stayed locked on her. She was beautiful in a real, quiet way. Her hazel eyes held a spark that made his chest feel tight. He wanted to walk out there and tell her she wasn’t alone anymore. But he stayed hidden. Then his boot shifted on the dry ground. A twig snapped loudly. Stephanie’s head jerked up fast. She stared straight into the trees, her eyes wide and searching. The air felt different suddenly, heavier. Her heart beat quicker. Was someone there? Watching her? She took one small step forward, axe still in her hands. The man didn’t move. His pulse raced. Had she felt him? Did she sense the same strange pull he did? After a long moment, Stephanie shook her head and lowered the axe. “Just animals,” she whispered to herself. She went back to chopping wood, but her shoulders stayed tense. The hidden man slipped away quietly through the forest. His mind was full of her. This pull was getting harder to ignore. The mating ceremony was coming soon, and he knew things were about to change.