Hidden Howl

Her Alpha Interfears

Her Alpha Interferes

Kayden took another step toward Lyra, his gaze locked on her like she was the only source of light in the room. His expression was a mix of awe and confusion, as if fate had just punched him in the chest.

Lyra’s breath came shallow and quick. Her wolf pressed against her skin, desperate to reach him, to touch him, to claim him. She fought it back, panic rising like a tide.

This couldn’t be happening.

Not here.

Not now.

Not with him.

“Who are you?” Kayden repeated, voice low, almost reverent.

Lyra opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her throat felt tight, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might c***k her ribs.

Before she could force a word free, a harsh voice cut through the hall.

“There you are.”

Alpha Varron of Crescent Ridge strode toward her, his expression thunderous. His presence was nothing like Kayden’s. Where Kayden radiated strength and calm authority, Varron radiated cruelty sharpened into power.

Lyra instinctively stepped back.

Kayden noticed.

His eyes narrowed, blue irises darkening like a storm rolling in.

Varron grabbed Lyra’s arm, fingers digging into her skin. “I told you to stay with the staff. You’re already causing problems.”

Lyra winced but didn’t pull away. She’d learned long ago that resistance only made things worse.

Kayden’s voice dropped to a dangerous rumble. “Let her go.”

Varron turned, surprised. “Alpha Kayden. My apologies if my servant distracted you.”

Servant.

The word sliced through Lyra like a blade.

Kayden’s jaw tightened. “She’s not a servant.”

Varron laughed. “She’s wolfless. Useless. Barely worth feeding.”

Kayden’s eyes flashed with fury. “Release her.”

Varron’s grip tightened. “She belongs to my pack. I’ll handle her.”

Lyra’s pulse spiked. She could feel Kayden’s anger like heat against her skin. Wolves around the hall shifted uneasily, sensing the tension.

Kayden stepped closer, his voice low and lethal. “I said. Let. Her. Go.”

Varron’s smirk faltered. “Why do you care? She’s nothing.”

Kayden’s gaze flicked to Lyra, softening for a heartbeat. “She’s not nothing.”

Lyra’s breath caught.

Varron scoffed. “Don’t tell me you’re interested in her. She doesn’t even have a wolf.”

Kayden’s eyes sharpened. “She does.”

Lyra froze.

Varron barked a laugh. “Impossible. She’s wolfless. She’s been tested.”

Kayden’s voice was quiet but absolute. “I can feel her wolf.”

Lyra’s heart lurched. Her wolf howled inside her, thrilled and terrified.

Varron’s expression twisted. “She’s masking? You little—”

Kayden moved so fast Lyra barely saw it. One moment Varron was gripping her arm, the next Kayden had him by the throat, slammed against a pillar with a c***k that echoed through the hall.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Kayden’s voice was a growl. “Touch her again, and I’ll tear your pack apart.”

Varron wheezed, clawing at Kayden’s hand. “You can’t—she’s mine—”

“She’s not yours,” Kayden snarled. “She’s my—”

He stopped himself, jaw clenching.

But Lyra heard the word he didn’t say.

Mate.

Her knees weakened.

Kayden released Varron, letting him drop to the floor. The Crescent Ridge Alpha scrambled back, face red, eyes furious.

“This isn’t over,” Varron spat. “She comes home with me.”

Kayden stepped between them, blocking Varron’s path. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”

Varron’s lip curled. “You think you can claim her? She’s wolfless. She’s worthless.”

Kayden’s voice was ice. “She’s mine.”

Lyra’s breath hitched.

Varron’s eyes widened. “You’re claiming a slave? You’re insane.”

Kayden didn’t look away from Lyra. “I’m claiming my mate.”

The hall erupted in whispers.

Lyra’s vision blurred. Her wolf surged forward, desperate to reach him, to accept him, to fall into him.

But fear slammed into her chest.

Her pack would kill her before they let her go.

They would destroy Kayden’s pack to get her back.

They would never allow her to be Luna.

Varron stood, straightening his jacket. “You’ll regret this, Kayden. Crescent Ridge doesn’t give up what belongs to it.”

Kayden’s voice was deadly calm. “She doesn’t belong to you.”

Varron sneered. “We’ll see.”

He turned and stormed out of the hall, his wolves scrambling after him.

Silence settled over the room.

Lyra stood trembling, her arm throbbing where Varron had grabbed her. Kayden turned to her slowly, his expression softening, concern replacing fury.

“Are you hurt?” he asked gently.

Lyra shook her head, unable to speak.

Kayden reached out, hesitating before his fingers brushed her arm. The touch was warm, grounding, electric. Her wolf pressed against her skin, desperate to lean into him.

Lyra whispered, voice barely audible, “You shouldn’t have done that.”

Kayden’s eyes softened. “I’ll do it again. Every time.”

Her heart cracked open.

Because for the first time in her life, someone had stood between her and pain.

And that someone was her mate.