Alpha’s Angel

Chapter 4

The training grounds were alive with the sounds of grunts, thuds, and the clash of weapons as the pack warriors went through their morning drills. The air was thick with the scent of earth and sweat, the sun casting long shadows over the sparring fields.

A group of younger warriors had gathered near the edge of the grounds, their attention drifting from the drills to a more compelling topic of conversation.

“Did you see her this morning?” one of them, Rylan, asked, leaning casually against a tree. His dark hair was damp with sweat, but his grin was sly.

“Who?” another asked, though the smirk on his face suggested he already knew the answer.

“Sage,” Rylan said, his tone almost reverent. “She walked past the field on her way to the house. I swear, she doesn’t even try, but…” He trailed off, shaking his head as if words failed him.

“She’s stunning,” one of the others chimed in. “Those eyes… like they’re not even real. And that hair.”

“She’s more than that,” Rylan added. “There’s something about her. Like she doesn’t belong here; like she’s above all of this.”

The group nodded in agreement, their admiration tinged with longing.

“Have you ever thought about talking to her?” one of the warriors asked, glancing at Rylan.

Rylan snorted. “Are you insane? You’ve seen the way the Alpha looks at her. He’d rip my throat out before I even got close.”

“But he’s married,” another pointed out. “He has Astrid. What does it matter if one of us…”

“It matters,” Rylan interrupted, his tone darkening. “Kael might have a Luna, but we all know he’s obsessed with Sage. No one’s stupid enough to cross him over her.”

The others fell silent, their laughter fading as the unspoken truth hung in the air. They all knew the Alpha’s gaze lingered too long on Sage, that his pet name for her wasn’t just a casual endearment.

“I heard Astrid caught him staring at her again yesterday,” one of the warriors said in a hushed tone. “She’s furious. They were arguing about it last night, pretty loudly.”

“That’s not surprising,” Rylan muttered. “Astrid can’t stand her.”

As the group exchanged uneasy glances, a shadow fell over them.

“Is this what passes for training now?”

Kael’s voice was cold and sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. The warriors froze, their eyes widening as they turned to see the Alpha standing behind them. His arms were crossed, his dark eyes burning with barely contained fury.

“Alpha,” Rylan stammered, straightening up.

Kael stepped forward, his presence suffocating. His gaze swept over the group, his expression unreadable but undeniably dangerous.

“Since you have so much energy for gossip,” Kael said, his voice low and menacing, “you can use it running laps. Fifty. Each.”

“Fifty?” one of the warriors blurted out before quickly biting his tongue under Kael’s glare.

“Make it sixty,” Kael snapped, his tone final. “And after that, you’ll clean the weapons shed and restock the armory. Perhaps then you’ll remember that your loyalty should be to your Alpha, not your wandering thoughts.”

The warriors muttered their apologies, scrambling to their feet and heading toward the track without another word.

Kael watched them go, his jaw clenched tightly. His hands balled into fists at his sides as he turned toward the house, his thoughts churning.

Sage.

Even when he didn’t see her, she was there; in his mind, in his every thought. And now, knowing that others had taken notice of her, his anger simmered dangerously. She wasn’t just beautiful; she was his.

Whether she realized it or not. Forbidden was his favorite game above all.