Alpha Kieran's Second Chance Mate

The bright moon shone, casting a silver and sparkly glow over the luxurious garden of The Silverclaw Territory as Kieran Grey stood before his pack, the weight of generations pressing on his broad shoulders. Tonight, he would become Alpha, stepping into the role his father, Edmund Grey, once held with pride. The gathered wolves erupted in cheers as Edmund Grey raised his voice and spoke. “Do you, Kieran Grey, swear to uphold the legacy of your ancestors and lead the Silverclaw Pack with strength and honor?”. Kieran’s jaw tightened, and he raised his chin with the confidence befitting his new title. “I swear it,” he declared, the words laced with a quiet power that sent a shiver down everyone's spine. In the midst of the excited audience stood Selena Rivers, her heart thumping. Her green eyes sparkled as she watched Kieran. Kieran had always been her best friend since childhood, the boy who shared secret smiles with her during hunting lessons and whispered silly jokes that made her laugh. They were always punished together for being mischievous. But tonight, he was no longer just Kieran; her childhood friend. He was the Alpha. A roar of approval erupted from the crowd as he was declared Alpha. Selena waited in the corner, sipping from her glass cup, pretending not to watch Kieran as he navigated through the well-wishers. He looked different from how he looked this morning when she helped him calm down from being too nervous because of the coronation ceremony. He felt distant now that he was an Alpha. Selena forced a smile, her gaze lingering on Kieran. He looked powerful, untouchable. For as long as she could remember, Kieran had been the star in her sky, the one constant in her life, after her parents sacrificed their lives during a war between packs. He was now the Alpha of the Silverclaw Pack, not her best friend and boy she had a long time crush on. A voice, rich and familiar, broke through her thoughts. “Selena.” She looked up to find Kieran standing closely before her, a crooked smile playing at his lips. “Congratulations, Alpha,” she teased, raising her cup in a mock toast. He chuckled, a low sound that sent warmth pooling in her chest. “Don’t ‘Alpha’ me, Lena. Not you.” The way he said her name, like it was sacred, made her heart flutter. “But you're the Alpha now, I can't go around disrespecting you ” she said softly. His eyes held hers for a moment too long, and the air between them grew tight with tension. “Okay. Let's go out, tonight?” he asked. Selena looked around quickly to be sure no one heard him. "Are you crazy? You can't leave the pack when you've just become the Alpha. You'll probably have meetings with the elders till tomorrow, how can you think of going out?" A smirk played on Kieran's lips, he accomplished what he wanted. He wanted to see his best friend, not a member of the Silverclaw Pack. " You just called your Alpha crazy. Glad to have you back, Lena. Look, this is the last night I can go out with you. Let's celebrate alone. I'll tell everyone that I need to rest so let's meet at the usual place, I need to show you something. Pack everything we'll need, okay?" Selena went silent and thought about it. That night was truly the last night both of them could joke around. She would take this chance and tell him about her feelings, maybe, just maybe they could be together as lovers. She nodded and with a smile, he left. Selena waited at their meeting spot and soon, Kieran was there too. He was now dressed like the way she knew; a simple black t-shirt and trousers. "Let's go" He took her hands and led the way. They walked in silence, side by side, until the loud noise of the celebration was a distant hum. “We're here,” Kieran said, finally breaking the silence. They were in front of an old cabin and it was evident that no one had been there in months. "Where is this?" Selena asked, looking around. "It's an old bar of the pack. They felt the need to move it to the territory so this was abandoned. I wanted to come here with you on the day that I get pronounced as the Alpha. So, here we are" Both of them went in and Kieran got the lights on. They sat on floor, facing each other as Selena unpacked her bag, bringing out the content. " Brought us some beer!" She said excitedly. " That's my girl." He rubbed her hair playfully and they began to drink. Kieran sighed “All my life, I knew this day would come, but it’s different when it’s real. And honestly, I'm kind of scared. I'm the youngest Alpha in the history of the Silverclaw Pack and a lot of things will be expected from me. I'm afraid I won't meet up to my father's expectations.” “Oh, Kieran. You’ll be a great Alpha. Your father knows this that is why he left the pack in your hands, also he's not dead and he'll be here to help you through it all. So, don't try to be a god-like Alpha and shoulder all the responsibilites alone. You've done brave things before and you'll do even better” Selena said, her voice steady and her green eyes lingering on his handsome face. “Only because I had you by my side,” he admitted, his tone softening. Selena’s breath caught. She turned to face him, searching his eyes for some kind of emotions. She decided to take the first step and tell him about her feelings. “Kieran…” Before she could finish, he moved closer, the warmth of his body seeping into hers. “Lena, I'm about to kiss you. You can stop me if you don't like it” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Kieran....” He didn't wait. Instead, he cupped her face in his hands, his eyes flicking to her lips before meeting her gaze. He closed the distance between them, his lips brushing hers with tenderness. The kiss deepened, as they moved even more closer to each other. Selena's mind spun, her hands finding their way to the back of his neck, pulling him closer. He ran his fingers through her hair as their kiss turned fierce. A surge of heat coursed through her, sparking to life under his touch. They sank to the wooden floor, still kissing. Kieran’s lips trailed down her jawline to her neck as she moaned softly. Kieran’s gaze met hers, darkened with desire but softened with an emotion that went beyond passion. They surrendered to the moment, letting the clothes on them fall away as their bodies moved in perfect harmony, each touch and sigh more intense than the last. In the quiet aftermath, Selena whispered, “I love you, Kieran. I always have.” The words hung heavily in the air. Kieran drew back from the embrace as if struck. “Lena, we can’t... it’s not that simple.” Selena was hurt. “What do you mean?” “We’re not mated,” he said, his voice tight with anguish. “I can’t let myself feel this way for someone who isn’t my fated mate.” The silence that followed was suffocating. Selena sat up, the chill of the night seeping into her bones. “So, this meant nothing?” “It was just the spur of the moment.” Kieran said, regret clouding his eyes as he got dressed. She sat still, her heart shattering into pieces. “ You're rejecting me?" His head hung down, “I’m sorry, Lena,” he whispered. Without another word, He turned and walked back toward the territory. The weight of rejection pressed heavy on Selena's heart, a painful reminder that the bond she longed for was not hers to claim.