THE ALPHA'S SECRET MATE

THE RIVAL GAZE

Rowan Vale’s words lingered in the air between us like smoke.

Your wolf doesn’t feel like a normal wolf at all.

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

The hallway suddenly felt too narrow, the lantern light too bright. My heart pounded so violently against my ribs I was sure he could hear it.

But Rowan didn’t look angry.

He looked… fascinated.

Which somehow felt worse.

“I think you should leave,” I said quietly.

He tilted his head, studying me more closely.

“Why?”

“Because it’s late.”

“And?”

“And I’m tired.”

Rowan’s lips curved into a crooked smile.

“That’s not the real reason.”

My fingers tightened around the edge of the door.

“You’re standing outside my room in the Alpha’s house,” I reminded him. “Is that normal warrior behavior?”

He shrugged.

“I’ve never been very normal.”

That much was obvious.

Up close, Rowan was even more intimidating than he had seemed in the clearing. His shoulders nearly filled the hallway, and there was a quiet strength in the way he carried himself—like a blade resting calmly in its sheath.

Ready to strike if necessary.

But his eyes remained fixed on me with unsettling curiosity.

“You’re nervous,” he said.

“I’m annoyed.”

“No,” he corrected softly. “You’re scared.”

“I’m not scared of you.”

“That’s good,” he replied. “You shouldn’t be.”

His gaze drifted briefly down the hallway, then back to me.

“But you are scared of something.”

My stomach twisted.

I forced myself to meet his eyes.

“You’re imagining things.”

Rowan hummed thoughtfully.

“Maybe.”

But the way he said it made it clear he didn’t believe that for a second.

The silence stretched between us again.

Finally, he pushed himself off the wall and stepped a little closer.

Not threateningly.

Just close enough to make my pulse jump.

“You know,” he said casually, “I’ve met a lot of wolves.”

“Congratulations.”

His grin returned.

“But yours feels different.”

Ice slid down my spine.

“Rowan—”

“Relax.” He lifted a hand lightly. “I’m not accusing you of anything.”

“That’s reassuring.”

“It should be.”

His expression softened slightly.

“If the Alpha chose you, then you must matter.”

My chest tightened.

“You don’t seem convinced.”

He shrugged again.

“Kael trusts his instincts.”

“And you don’t?”

“Oh, I do.”

His eyes darkened slightly.

“I just like understanding things.”

My instincts screamed at me to end this conversation.

Now.

“I really should get some sleep,” I said, starting to close the door.

Rowan’s hand shot out, catching the edge of it.

Not forcefully.

But firmly enough to stop it.

“Just one question,” he said.

I froze.

“What?”

His gaze locked onto mine.

“When Kael touched you tonight…”

My heartbeat accelerated instantly.

“…did your wolf wake up?”

The question hit me like a physical blow.

Because the answer was yes.

Violently.

Powerfully.

Terrifyingly.

But Rowan couldn’t know that.

“No,” I said.

The lie came out too quickly.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Then he smiled again.

“Goodnight, Lena.”

He stepped back.

Just like that.

Allowing the door to close.

I stood there for several seconds, staring at the wood panel in front of me.

My breathing was shallow.

Uneven.

That had been too close.

Far too close.

Rowan wasn’t stupid.

He had noticed something strange already.

And if he kept asking questions…

My secret wouldn’t stay hidden much longer.

I locked the door.

Then leaned back against it, closing my eyes.

The room was quiet again.

But my mind refused to calm down.

Kael suspected something.

Rowan sensed something.

And the pack already hated me for becoming Luna.

This was a disaster waiting to happen.

I pushed myself away from the door and walked toward the large window overlooking the forest.

The moon was still high in the sky.

Bright.

Watching.

My wolf stirred again inside my chest.

Restless.

Interested.

Drawn toward something.

Toward him.

Mate.

The word echoed again.

I pressed a hand over my heart.

“No,” I whispered.

This bond couldn’t happen.

Not when the truth about me could destroy everything.

Eventually, exhaustion dragged me toward the bed.

But sleep didn’t come easily.

Every time my eyes closed, I saw golden eyes watching me in the moonlight.

Or dark ones studying me with dangerous curiosity.

And somewhere between those restless dreams, morning finally arrived.

The sound of voices woke me.

At first, I thought I was imagining it.

But then the noise grew louder.

Angrier.

I sat up slowly.

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the unfamiliar room.

For a moment, I forgot where I was.

Then everything rushed back.

The ceremony.

The Alpha.

The mate bond.

Rowan.

My stomach twisted.

The voices downstairs were getting louder.

Arguing.

I quickly dressed and slipped out of the room.

The hallway was empty, but the shouting below was unmistakable.

Curiosity pulled me toward the staircase.

When I reached the top step, I stopped.

The large room below was full of wolves.

Pack members gathered around the fireplace and long wooden table.

Their expressions ranged from angry to suspicious.

And standing at the center of it all—

Alpha Kael.

His posture was calm.

But the tension in the room was thick enough to choke on.

“You can’t be serious,” one man was saying.

I recognized him immediately.

Beta Marcus.

Selene’s father.

“The Luna trial exists for a reason,” Marcus continued sharply. “And she hasn’t proven anything yet.”

Kael’s voice was steady.

“She will.”

“And if she fails?”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd.

Marcus folded his arms.

“Then we will have allowed a stranger to weaken this pack.”

My chest tightened.

They were talking about me like I wasn’t even there.

Before I could step forward, another voice spoke.

“I think you’re all missing the interesting part.”

Rowan.

He leaned casually against one of the wooden pillars, arms crossed.

Several wolves glanced at him.

“What interesting part?” Marcus demanded.

Rowan’s gaze lifted slowly toward the staircase.

Toward me.

Every head in the room turned.

Heat rushed to my face.

“Well,” Rowan said lightly, “the part where the Alpha chose someone none of us expected.”

The room fell silent.

I forced myself to walk down the stairs.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

Dozens of eyes followed my movement.

Judging.

Measuring.

Doubting.

When I reached the bottom, Kael’s gaze softened slightly.

“You’re awake.”

“Yes.”

Marcus studied me with open disapproval.

“This is the girl?”

Kael’s voice cooled instantly.

“This is Lena.”

Marcus didn’t look impressed.

“She doesn’t look like a Luna.”

Whispers spread again.

I straightened my shoulders.

“What exactly does a Luna look like?” I asked.

That surprised him.

Rowan chuckled softly behind Marcus.

Kael’s lips twitched slightly.

Marcus scowled.

“A Luna leads the pack,” he said sharply. “She protects our traditions.”

“I didn’t ask for this position.”

“No,” Marcus said coldly. “But the Alpha gave it to you.”

Kael stepped forward slightly.

“That’s enough.”

The room immediately quieted.

But the tension remained.

Selene stood near the fireplace, her icy gaze locked on me.

Hatred practically radiated off her.

“You’ll face the Luna’s Trial tonight,” Marcus said.

My stomach dropped.

“Tonight?”

“Yes.”

Kael frowned slightly.

“That wasn’t the original schedule.”

Marcus didn’t back down.

“If she truly belongs here, she’ll prove it.”

The wolves around the room nodded.

Agreement spread quickly.

I realized something then.

They wanted me to fail.

Desperately.

Rowan watched the scene quietly, his dark eyes thoughtful.

Kael glanced at me.

“You don’t have to do this yet.”

His voice was calm, but I could hear the warning underneath.

The trial was dangerous.

I could feel the weight of every gaze in the room.

They were waiting for me to refuse.

Waiting for proof that I didn’t belong.

My wolf stirred again inside my chest.

Proud.

Defiant.

Slowly, I lifted my chin.

“I’ll do it.”

The room went still.

Marcus looked satisfied.

Selene smirked.

Kael studied me carefully.

“Are you sure?”

“No,” I admitted.

“But I’ll still do it.”

Something flickered in his golden eyes.

Respect.

Rowan pushed himself off the pillar.

“Well,” he said casually, “this should be interesting.”

His gaze met mine again.

And for the first time since last night, I noticed something different in his expression.

Concern.

Not curiosity.

Not suspicion.

Concern.

Which meant he knew something.

Or suspected more than he was saying.

Marcus clapped his hands once.

“The trial will begin at sunset.”

The pack slowly began to disperse.

But as the wolves left the room, whispers followed them.

Doubts.

Betting on my failure.

Selene passed close enough for me to hear her whisper.

“You won’t survive it.”

Then she walked away.

Silence settled over the room again.

Kael turned toward me.

“You shouldn’t have agreed so quickly.”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“You always have a choice.”

I shook my head.

“Not if I want them to stop looking at me like an outsider.”

His expression softened slightly.

“They’ll stop.”

“When?”

“When you prove them wrong.”

Rowan approached us slowly.

“You realize this trial isn’t easy,” he said.

“I figured.”

His gaze searched my face.

“Some wolves don’t make it through.”

My stomach tightened.

“Encouraging.”

Rowan shrugged.

“I prefer honesty.”

Kael looked between us.

“You don’t need to scare her.”

“I’m not scaring her,” Rowan replied calmly.

“I’m making sure she understands what’s coming.”

His eyes met mine again.

And his voice dropped slightly.

“Because something tells me you’re stronger than you look.”

My heart skipped.

Kael noticed.

And the air between the two men shifted instantly.

Tense.

Territorial.

For the first time, I realized something dangerous.

Rowan wasn’t just curious about me.

He was interested.

And Kael…

Kael had definitely noticed.

Rowan’s lips curved faintly.

“Sunset,” he reminded me.

Then he walked toward the door.

But just before leaving, he glanced back at me once more.

And the look in his eyes sent a strange shiver through my chest.

Not rivalry.

Not suspicion.

Something far more complicated.

Because suddenly it felt like the Luna’s Trial wasn’t the only challenge waiting for me.

Not when two of the most powerful wolves in the pack were watching me so closely.

And somehow…

Both of them were beginning to realize that the girl standing in front of them wasn’t just a simple wolf.

Not even close.