Chapter Seven — The Alpha's Order
870 Words
The forest was silent after the hunters disappeared.
Daniel stood beside the broken cabin door, staring into the darkness.
Amara watched him.
“What is it?”
He didn't answer.
“Daniel?”
“My father knows about you.”
Her stomach tightened.
“How?”
“Marcus.”
“You think your brother told him?”
“I know he did.”
Daniel walked toward the window.
“My father won't stop until he gets what he wants.”
“And what does he want?”
Daniel turned.
“Me.”
Amara swallowed.
“And me?”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“You are the reason he will never forgive me.”
Before Amara could respond, Daniel suddenly grabbed her hand.
“We have to leave.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere my father cannot find us.”
They left the cabin before sunrise.
For hours, they traveled through the forest.
Daniel barely spoke.
Amara eventually stopped walking.
“Daniel.”
He turned.
“We can't keep running without a plan.”
“We need distance.”
“No. We need answers.”
Daniel sighed.
“What answers?”
“Why does your father hate humans so much? Why does he want you back? And what exactly is this bond Marcus talked about?”
Daniel looked at her for several seconds.
Then he sat beneath a tree.
“The bond is something rare.”
Amara sat beside him.
“When a werewolf finds his true mate, there is a connection between them.”
“Like love?”
“More powerful.”
“Can you feel what I feel?”
“Sometimes.”
Amara looked at him.
“Then you know I'm scared.”
“Yes.”
“And angry.”
“Yes.”
“And…”
She hesitated.
“Happy?”
Daniel smiled.
“Yes.”
Amara lowered her eyes.
“What happens if we separate?”
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“The bond becomes painful.”
“How painful?”
“Enough to drive some wolves mad.”
She stared at him.
“And if one of us dies?”
Daniel looked away.
“The other may not survive the grief.”
Amara's eyes filled with tears.
“Then we can't let that happen.”
Daniel reached for her hand.
“I won't let anyone hurt you.”
A howl suddenly echoed through the forest.
Daniel stood.
His eyes became golden.
“What's wrong?”
“Someone is coming.”
Branches moved.
Amara stepped behind him.
But instead of a wolf, an elderly woman walked from the trees.
She wore a long gray coat and carried a wooden staff.
Daniel stared.
“Lydia.”
The woman smiled.
“You took your time.”
“Who is she?” Amara asked.
“My father's former healer.”
Lydia looked at Amara.
“So this is the girl.”
Daniel frowned.
“How do you know about her?”
“Everyone knows.”
Lydia stepped closer.
“The bond announced itself the moment you touched her.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“What do you mean?”
“The moon knows.”
Amara looked confused.
Lydia continued.
“Your father is afraid because this girl may change everything.”
Daniel shook his head.
“She is human.”
“Exactly.”
Lydia looked at Amara.
“Your blood is different.”
Amara stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
Before Lydia could answer, a howl thundered across the forest.
Her expression changed.
“They found you.”
Daniel moved in front of Amara.
“Who?”
Lydia looked toward the trees.
“The Alpha's guards.”
Daniel clenched his fists.
“Take her.”
Lydia shook her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if you fight them here, they will follow you to the village.”
Daniel understood.
“There is another way.”
Lydia nodded.
“There is always another way.”
She pulled an old silver pendant from beneath her coat.
“This belonged to your mother.”
Daniel stared at it.
“My mother?”
“She wanted you to have it when the time came.”
He took it slowly.
“What does it do?”
Lydia looked at Amara.
“It protects the one your heart has chosen.”
Daniel closed his fingers around it.
Then the wolves appeared.
Five of them.
They stood at the edge of the trees.
Their leader stepped forward.
“Daniel Blackwood.”
Daniel's eyes glowed.
“Tell my father I'm not coming home.”
The wolf smiled.
“He expected you to say that.”
He looked at Amara.
“That's why he sent us with another message.”
Daniel growled.
“What message?”
The wolf's smile disappeared.
“Your father has taken someone you love.”
Daniel froze.
“Who?”
“Your old friend, Elena.”
Daniel's face went pale.
“No.”
The wolf turned away.
“Come home, Daniel.”
“Or she dies.”
The wolves disappeared.
Amara looked at him.
“Who is Elena?”
Daniel stared into the forest.
Someone from his past had been taken.
And now he had to choose between saving her—
or protecting Amara.
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