Marked by the Alpha’s son

Intruders at the gate

Stephanie’s heart slammed against her ribs as the loud crash echoed through the night. She gripped the balcony railing, eyes wide. Shouts rose from the outer walls of the mansion. Guards were yelling orders. The sound of fighting — growls, clashes, and heavy footsteps — grew louder.

She stepped back from the railing, fear twisting in her stomach. The new mark on her neck throbbed with the bond. Darien was far away dealing with the rogues at the southern border. He wasn’t here.

Another crash came, closer this time. Glass broke somewhere below. Stephanie’s hands shook, but she forced herself to move. She grabbed a thick robe and hurried out of the suite. The hallway was dimly lit. Servants were running, looking scared.

Luna Elara appeared at the end of the hall, her face calm but serious. “Stephanie, stay with me. Damien is already heading to the gates.”

“What’s happening?” Stephanie asked, walking quickly beside her.

“Rogues,” Luna Elara said. “A small group must have slipped past the outer patrols. They’re testing us. This has never happened so close to the mansion before.”

They reached a big window overlooking the front courtyard. Stephanie looked down and saw shadows moving near the high stone walls. Several dark wolves were fighting the mansion guards. One rogue broke through and ran toward the main doors.

Her breath caught. These weren’t just testing. They were bold.

Damien appeared from another hallway. He looked ready for a fight, his silver eyes sharp like his brother’s. “Mother, take Stephanie to the safe room. I’ll handle this.”

Stephanie shook her head. “I don’t want to hide. Darien has been teaching me small things. I can help somehow.”

Luna Elara hesitated, then nodded. “Stay close then. But don’t put yourself in danger.”

They moved downstairs carefully. The sounds of fighting grew louder. When they reached the main hall, two guards were pushing the big doors shut. A rogue wolf slammed against them from outside, making the wood shake.

Stephanie’s fear mixed with something new — anger. This was her new home. These people had welcomed her. She wouldn’t just stand there shaking.

She remembered what Darien showed her in the training clearing. How to stand strong. How to breathe. She picked up a heavy metal candle holder from a side table. It wasn’t much, but it felt better than nothing.

The doors burst open. Two rogue wolves pushed inside, snarling. Guards shifted and met them with growls. The fight was fast and messy. One rogue broke free and charged toward their group.

Damien shifted in a blur and met it head-on. His wolf was strong and fast. He fought hard, pushing the rogue back.

Stephanie stayed behind Luna Elara, but when another smaller rogue slipped past the main fight and ran toward them, she didn’t freeze. She swung the candle holder with all her strength. It hit the rogue’s side with a heavy thud. The wolf yelped and stumbled.

Luna Elara shifted quickly and finished it with a powerful bite to the neck. The rogue went still.

Stephanie’s hands were shaking, but she felt a small spark of pride. She had done something. She hadn’t just hidden.

The fighting outside the doors died down. The guards called out that they had pushed the rest back. Damien shifted back to human form, breathing hard. “They’re gone for now. But this is bad. Rogues have never reached the mansion gates before.”

Luna Elara checked Stephanie quickly. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” Stephanie said. “I’m okay.”

They cleaned up the hall together. Servants brought lights and fixed the broken doors as best they could. Stephanie helped where she could, carrying water for the injured guards. Her mind kept going to Darien. Did he know what happened here? Was the bond strong enough for him to feel her fear?

Hours passed. The sky started to turn gray with early morning light. Stephanie sat in the main hall with Luna Elara and Damien, drinking warm tea to calm her nerves. Her body felt tired but her mind was wide awake.

Then they heard it — heavy running footsteps outside. Guards shouted again, but this time the voices sounded relieved.

The main doors opened. Darien stepped inside, covered in dirt and sweat. His silver eyes scanned the room fast until they landed on Stephanie. He crossed the hall in long strides and pulled her into his arms without a word.

His big body wrapped around her. He smelled like the forest and battle, but his hold was gentle. “I felt something through the bond,” he said roughly. “Fear. I came as fast as I could.”

Stephanie hugged him back tightly. “There was an attack. Rogues got to the gates. We fought them off.”

Darien pulled back just enough to look at her. His handsome face showed worry and pride. He checked her for any injuries, his hands moving carefully over her arms and shoulders. “You fought?”

“She did well,” Luna Elara said with a small smile. “She helped stop one that got too close.”

Darien’s silver eyes softened. He kissed her forehead, then her lips, right there in front of everyone. “My brave mate. I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

Alpha Thorne arrived soon after. His face was serious as he listened to the reports. “This changes things. The rogues are getting smarter. We need to strengthen the defenses and send more help to Silverfang before they get bolder.”

Darien nodded, but he kept one arm around Stephanie. “I’ll lead a bigger group south today. But first, I need time with my mate.”

They went back to their suite. Darien closed the door and pulled her close again. He held her for a long time, breathing her in. “The thought of you in danger… it made me run faster than I ever have.”

Stephanie rested against his strong chest. “I was scared. But I remembered what you taught me. I didn’t feel completely helpless.”

He smiled and kissed her again, deeper this time. His hands moved slowly over her back, warm and comforting. The bond hummed strongly between them. For a while, the outside world felt far away.

But as they sat together on the bed, a guard knocked urgently. “Alpha heir, new message from Silverfang. The hostages are still alive, but the rogues gave a deadline. Sunset tomorrow. They want a meeting… and they mentioned knowing about your new mate.”

Darien’s body tensed. His silver eyes darkened with anger. “They’re targeting us now.”

Stephanie looked up at him. The threats were growing. Their fresh bond was already being tested by danger from all sides.