The Alpha Who Chose The Outcast

Chapter Two — The Secret in My Blood

They locked me inside the old guardhouse before sunrise.

I spent the entire night trying to understand what had happened.

Blood Moon.

The words kept repeating inside my head.

I had never heard of it.

At dawn, the door opened.

Kael entered.

Two guards stood behind him.

He looked different without the ceremony clothes.

More dangerous.

More serious.

"Leave us," he ordered.

The guards hesitated.

Kael's eyes flashed.

They immediately obeyed.

He closed the door.

"What did the elder mean?"

"I don't know."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I'm telling you the truth."

He studied me.

Then he walked closer.

"What is your mother's name?"

I stiffened.

"My mother died when I was young."

"Her name."

"Elena."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"Elena Vale?"

I nodded.

He stepped back.

"That's impossible."

"What?"

"My father told me she was killed eighteen years ago."

My heart raced.

"What does my mother have to do with this?"

Kael didn't answer.

Instead, he pulled a small silver pendant from beneath his shirt.

The symbol on it was identical to my birthmark.

I stared at it.

"Where did you get that?"

"My mother gave it to me before she died."

He turned it over.

There was an inscription.

When the Blood Moon rises, protect the daughter.

I could barely breathe.

"Your mother knew mine?"

"They were sisters."

The room seemed to spin.

My mother had a sister?

Why had nobody ever told me?

Kael sat down.

"Your mother wasn't killed by rogues."

"Then who killed her?"

"My father."

I stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because he believed your mother's bloodline could destroy the pack."

I felt anger rise inside me.

"And you believe him?"

"No."

His answer came immediately.

I looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because if your bloodline was truly dangerous, you wouldn't have survived eighteen years under his roof."

That made sense.

But another question remained.

"Why haven't I awakened?"

Kael's expression became strange.

"I think you have."

"What?"

"Your wolf isn't missing."

He reached toward my wrist.

I pulled away.

"Then where is it?"

"Sleeping."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

He stood.

"But I know someone who might."

Before I could ask who, the door burst open.

The elder entered.

"Alpha!"

Kael turned.

"What?"

"The northern boundary has fallen."

His face hardened.

"How many?"

"Too many."

The elder looked at me.

Then his voice dropped.

"They aren't attacking the pack."

I felt cold.

"Then what are they attacking?"

The elder looked directly at me.

"They came for her."

A horn sounded outside.

Once.

Twice.

Then the entire pack began screaming.

Kael grabbed my hand.

"We're leaving."

"Where?"

"Somewhere they can't find you."

A massive explosion shook the building.

The wall cracked.

Kael pulled me behind him.

Then a voice echoed through the smoke.

"Blood Moon daughter."

I froze.

"Come home."

Kael stared into the darkness.

His hand tightened around mine.

And for the first time, I realized something terrifying.

The rogues weren't afraid of me.

They were waiting for me.