Episode 9: The Alpha Who Came Too Late
1267 Words
Kael Draven’s POV
I used to believe that no matter how far someone walked away, they would always come back if the bond was strong enough.
I believed Aria would forgive me.
I believed she would understand.
I believed she would wait.
That was my greatest mistake.
Because I forgot something important.
Even the strongest hearts can become tired.
Even the most loyal wolves can stop fighting.
And even a mate who loves you more than anything can eventually choose herself.
The first thing I noticed was the silence.
The Silver Moon Pack was too quiet.
Not peaceful.
Empty.
Like something important had disappeared.
I stood in the hallway outside our chambers, staring at the door.
Our chambers.
I hated that I still called them that.
Because they had not been ours for a long time.
I opened the door slowly.
Nothing had changed.
And somehow...
Everything had.
Her books were gone.
Her clothes were gone.
The flowers she always placed near the window were gone.
The small things she loved were missing.
Only emptiness remained.
I stepped inside.
My chest tightened.
For the first time, I allowed myself to feel what I had refused to acknowledge.
She was really gone.
"Alpha."
I turned.
My warrior, Rylan, stood at the entrance.
"What happened?"
He hesitated.
That hesitation made my anger rise.
"Speak."
"Your mate left during the night."
The words were simple.
But they felt like a blade.
"She left?"
My voice sounded strange.
Almost like I did not understand the meaning.
Rylan lowered his head.
"Yes.
"When?""
"Four nights ago."
Four nights.
She had been gone for four nights.
And I had not noticed.
The realization made my stomach turn.
"Why wasn't I informed?"
Rylan looked uncomfortable.
"Because... Luna Aria left quietly."
Quietly.
Of course, she did.
That was Aria.
She never caused problems.
She never demanded attention.
She simply endured.
And I had mistaken her silence for acceptance.
"Find her."
The command left my mouth instantly.
Rylan looked surprised.
"Alpha?"
"Find my mate."
The words felt powerful.
Like saying, they would fix everything.
Like calling her mine would make her return.
But deep inside...
I knew.
Something had changed.
Flashback — Aria and Me
"I want a simple life."
Aria smiled as we sat beside the lake.
I looked at her.
"A simple life?"
She nodded.
"Yes. A home. A family. A place where we are happy."
I laughed.
"You are going to be Luna of the strongest pack in the north."
She rolled her eyes.
"That doesn't matter to me."
"What matters then?"
She looked at me.
"You choosing me."
At the time, I smiled.
Because I thought that would always be easy.
I thought choosing her once was enough.
I didn't understand that love was not one decision.
It was a choice you made every day.
And I stopped choosing her.
Present Day
I walked into the dining hall.
Seraphina immediately stood.
"Kael."
Her voice sounded worried.
"What happened?"
I looked at her.
For the first time...
I did not see my brother's widow.
I saw the person who became part of the reason I lost Aria.
The thought surprised me.
Because Seraphina had not forced me to ignore my mate.
I had done that myself.
"Aria is gone."
Seraphina's face changed.
"What?"
"She left."
Silence filled the room.
Then Seraphina lowered her eyes.
"Maybe she needed time."
I looked at her.
Something about her words bothered me.
"Time?"
She nodded.
"She was hurt."
The fact that she admitted it made me uncomfortable.
Because everyone knew.
Everyone except me.
That night, I found Aria's letter.
It was hidden beneath the moon pendant she always wore.
My hands shook as I opened it.
The moment I saw her handwriting...
My wolf became restless.
"Mate."
I read every word.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Kael,
I waited for you to see me.
My breathing stopped.
I waited for you to remember that before I was your Luna, I was the woman who loved you.
I closed my eyes.
Because I remembered.
I remembered everything.
The way she looked at me.
The way she smiled.
The way she believed in me.
I waited until waiting became the only thing I knew how to do.
My heart broke.
Because that was true.
She waited.
And I let her.
I hope one day you understand what you lost.
The letter ended there.
No anger.
No hatred.
No curse.
Just goodbye.
And somehow...
That hurt more.
Aria’s POV
I watched the sunrise from the edge of the mountain.
The world looked different.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
Unknown.
For years, my entire life revolved around Kael.
His happiness.
His pack.
His responsibilities.
I forgot myself.
But now...
I was learning who Aria was without him.
And strangely...
I liked her.
I placed my hand over my stomach.
"One day, little one, I will show you the world."
A small smile appeared.
"You will never wonder if you are loved."
Because I knew exactly what it felt like.
To question your place.
To wonder if you mattered.
I would never let my child feel that pain.
Lucian appeared behind me.
I didn't hear him approach.
"You should rest."
I looked over my shoulder.
"You always appear when I need space."
His expression remained serious.
"Perhaps you need someone who knows when to stay."
The words surprised me.
Because they were not possessive.
They were gentle.
I looked away.
"I am not used to someone staying."
His eyes softened.
"Then get used to it."
My heart skipped.
I hated that his words affected me.
Because I was afraid.
Afraid of trusting again.
Afraid of needing someone again.
Afraid of loving again.
Kael’s POV
The search lasted for days.
No trace.
No message.
No sign.
Until one of my warriors returned.
"Alpha."
I stood immediately.
"You found her?"
He hesitated.
"We found where she was last seen."
"Where?"
His face turned pale.
"The Forbidden Moon Forest."
My blood ran cold.
No ordinary wolf survived there alone.
"Impossible."
The warrior swallowed.
"Alpha..."
"What?"
"There is another scent."
I froze.
"What scent?"
He looked at me.
"A Lycan."
The room became silent.
A Lycan.
Not just any Lycan.
There was only one.
Lucian Vareth.
The Lycan King.
My claws extended.
No.
Impossible.
Aria would not go to him.
She would not choose him.
She was my mate.
My Luna.
My—
The thought stopped.
Because suddenly I remembered.
I chose another.
I pushed her away.
I made her feel unwanted.
And now...
Someone else had found the woman I failed to protect.
Lucian’s POV
I felt him before he arrived.
The scent of anger.
Regret.
Possession.
Alpha Kael Draven.
He stood at the border of my territory.
A man searching for something he lost.
But he did not understand.
You cannot abandon something precious and expect it to remain waiting.
I stepped forward.
Our eyes met.
Two Alphas.
Two kings.
Two men connected by the same woman.
But only one of us had chosen her.
And only one of us would protect her.
Kael's voice was filled with rage.
"Where is she?"
I stared at him.
"Safe."
His jaw tightened.
"Bring her back."
A cold smile touched my lips.
"She is not something you can lose and reclaim whenever you want."
His expression darkened.
"She is my mate."
I stepped closer.
"Then you should have treated her like one."
The silence between us was dangerous.
Because we both knew.
The battle was not about territory.
Not about power.
Not about pride.
It was about Aria.
And for the first time in centuries...
I was ready to fight for something.
- Writer
