The Alpha’s secret
1568 Words
Lena couldn’t look away from Adrian.
“Did my mother ever tell you why she was afraid of you?”
The question remained between them.
Adrian said nothing.
That silence told Lena more than an answer could have.
She slowly pushed herself to her feet.
“You know.”
His gray eyes met hers.
“There are things you don’t understand.”
“Then explain them.”
“I will.”
“When?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“When it’s safe.”
Lena gave a bitter laugh.
“Safe?”
She glanced toward the shattered windows.
“Someone just broke into your pack looking for me. A stranger called me the last Blood Moon. My mother’s voice appeared inside my head, telling me not to trust you, and you’re still telling me to wait?”
Adrian stepped closer.
“You’re not thinking clearly.”
“I’m thinking more clearly than I ever have.”
She pointed toward him.
“You knew my mother.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about my bloodline.”
“Yes.”
“You knew this would happen.”
“I suspected it.”
“And you still rejected me.”
Adrian’s expression tightened.
“Yes.”
The simple admission hurt.
Lena swallowed.
“Why?”
He looked at her for a long moment.
“Because claiming you would have made you a target.”
“I already am a target.”
“I know.”
“Then what did your rejection accomplish?”
Adrian looked away.
“It bought you time.”
“For what?”
“For me to find the people who were looking for you.”
Lena stared at him.
“You could have told me.”
“You wouldn’t have believed me.”
“You didn’t even try.”
His gaze returned to hers.
“Because I was afraid.”
The words stunned her.
Adrian Blackwood didn’t look afraid.
He looked like the kind of man who walked into danger without thinking twice.
But tonight, he had admitted fear.
Lena lowered her voice.
“Afraid of me?”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“Afraid of what they would do to you because of me.”
Before Lena could respond, a sudden crash came from the corridor.
Adrian immediately turned.
His body changed.
The softness disappeared from his expression.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Lena.”
“I am done being told to stay behind.”
Adrian stared at her.
For a second, something almost like admiration crossed his face.
Then he nodded.
“Stay close.”
They moved into the corridor.
The pack house was strangely quiet.
Too quiet.
Several guards lay unconscious on the floor.
Lena’s heart raced.
“Who did this?”
Adrian crouched beside one of the guards.
“He’s alive.”
Then he noticed something.
A black symbol had been carved into the guard’s armor.
A circle surrounding three sharp lines.
Lena had never seen it before.
Adrian had.
His expression darkened.
“Blackthorn.”
“What is that?”
“An organization.”
“You said they were extinct.”
“I was wrong.”
They continued down the corridor.
At the end stood a locked door.
Adrian stopped.
“What is behind there?”
“Nothing.”
Lena looked at him.
“You’re lying again.”
His eyes narrowed.
“It’s a room I don’t want you entering.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother used to stay there.”
Lena’s breath caught.
“What?”
Adrian pulled a key from his pocket.
He hesitated before inserting it into the lock.
The door opened.
Dust filled the air.
The room was small.
A desk.
A bookshelf.
An old wooden chest.
And on the wall—
a photograph.
Lena stopped breathing.
It was her mother.
Younger than Lena remembered.
Standing beside Adrian.
And another man.
A man Lena had never seen before.
Her eyes moved to Adrian.
“Who is he?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
She stepped closer to the photograph.
The man had dark hair and pale gray eyes.
He looked remarkably similar to Adrian.
“Your father?”
Adrian’s voice was quiet.
“My older brother.”
Lena turned.
“You had a brother?”
“Yes.”
“What happened to him?”
“He died.”
“When?”
“Seventeen years ago.”
Lena stared at the photograph again.
The timing made her uneasy.
“Was he involved with my mother?”
Adrian’s expression became guarded.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He helped her escape.”
“Escape from the Blackthorn Order?”
“Yes.”
Lena’s fingers curled into fists.
“And then?”
“He was killed.”
The room seemed to shrink.
“By them?”
Adrian nodded.
“My brother discovered what your mother was protecting.”
“Me.”
“Yes.”
Lena looked at the photograph.
Her mother had been holding a baby.
Lena.
But there was something strange.
Her mother’s expression wasn’t the expression of someone simply protecting her child.
She looked terrified.
“What did my mother know?”
Adrian walked toward the chest.
“This.”
He opened it.
Inside were old documents, photographs, and a small silver pendant.
Lena recognized it immediately.
Her mother had worn it every day.
She reached for it.
Adrian stopped her.
“Don’t.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s what they want.”
“Who?”
Before Adrian could answer, the pendant began to glow.
Both of them froze.
Lena slowly pulled her hand away.
The glow disappeared.
Adrian stared at her.
“What?”
“You activated it without touching it.”
“What does that mean?”
He looked frightened again.
“It means you’re further along than I thought.”
Lena felt anger rise.
“You keep saying things like that without explaining anything.”
Adrian closed the chest.
“Your bloodline is awakening.”
“Fine. What happens when it awakens completely?”
“You become visible.”
“To whom?”
“Everyone.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“It means every supernatural creature in these territories will be able to sense you.”
Lena’s stomach tightened.
“And then?”
“They will come.”
“To kill me?”
“Some.”
“And the others?”
Adrian’s eyes darkened.
“To use you.”
Lena stepped backward.
“Why?”
“Because Blood Moon wolves don’t simply possess power.”
He paused.
“They can transfer it.”
Lena stared at him.
“What?”
“Your blood can strengthen another wolf.”
“So they want to use me as a weapon.”
“Yes.”
She looked down at her hands.
For the first time, the strange power frightened her.
Adrian moved closer.
“You’re not a weapon.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
“How?”
“Because I’ve watched you your entire life.”
Lena’s heart skipped.
“What?”
Adrian’s eyes softened.
“I was there the night you were born.”
She froze.
“You saw me?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you ever speak to me?”
“Because your mother asked me to stay away.”
Lena’s voice broke.
“She knew you?”
“She trusted me.”
“Then why did she tell me never to trust you?”
Adrian went completely still.
“I don’t know.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Both turned.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Adrian immediately moved in front of Lena.
“Stay behind me.”
The door suddenly slammed shut.
Adrian grabbed the handle.
Locked.
His expression changed.
“Get back.”
Lena obeyed.
He stepped away from the door.
“Adrian?”
“Get down.”
The door exploded inward.
Wood and metal flew across the room.
A figure walked through the smoke.
A woman.
Tall.
Dressed in black.
Her eyes were completely silver.
Adrian’s wolf surfaced instantly.
“Who are you?”
The woman smiled.
“You know who I am.”
Adrian’s face went pale.
Lena looked between them.
“You know her?”
The woman laughed softly.
“He knows my family very well.”
Adrian’s voice dropped.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
“So was your brother.”
The woman’s gaze shifted to Lena.
“And yet here we are.”
Lena felt the mark on her shoulder burn.
The woman smiled.
“There she is.”
Adrian moved to attack.
But the woman raised one hand.
A wave of invisible force slammed into him.
He flew across the room.
“Adrian!”
Lena rushed toward him.
“Don’t!”
He struggled to stand.
The woman looked at Lena.
“Your mother hid you well.”
“Who are you?”
The woman smiled.
“My name is Seraphine.”
She took one step forward.
“And I was there the night your mother disappeared.”
Lena’s heart stopped.
“You know where she is?”
Seraphine’s smile widened.
“I know exactly where she is.”
Adrian suddenly shouted:
“Lena, run!”
Seraphine’s eyes flashed.
“She isn’t going anywhere.”
Then she whispered something that made Lena’s blood turn cold.
“Your mother is still alive.”
And somewhere deep inside Lena’s mind, the same ancient voice whispered:
Find her.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD