Stolen By The Ruthless Alpha King

Ch2. Stolen By The Ruthless Alpha King

The world erupted into chaos.

Steel clashed against steel.

Warriors shouted orders as smoke swallowed the Wolfbane fortress.

Magnolia stood frozen in the center of the courtyard, staring into the dark eyes of the Alpha King who had just shattered everything she had ever known.

Evander Bloodfang.

The man every pack feared.

The king mothers warned their pups about.

Yet the monster from the stories wasn't smiling.

He wasn't gloating over his victory.

He was watching her... with concern.

"I am taking you with me."

Magnolia lifted her chin defiantly.

"I belong here."

His jaw tightened.

"No."

"You belong to people who never deserved you."

Anger flared inside her.

"You don't know anything about my life!"

Before Evander could answer, a furious roar split the battlefield.

"GET AWAY FROM MY MATE!"

Adrian.

The Alpha of Wolfbane charged across the courtyard, his sword stained with blood.

For one brief heartbeat, Magnolia's heart leapt.

He came for me...

Then she noticed something.

It had taken a war...

...for him to finally look at her.

Adrian stopped several feet away, glaring at Evander.

"Put her down."

Evander remained perfectly still.

"I haven't touched her."

Magnolia glanced down.

He was right.

Despite saying he was taking her, he hadn't laid a hand on her.

"You've crossed into my territory."

Evander's voice remained calm.

"I conquered your territory."

Adrian's wolf flashed in his eyes.

"She is my mate."

The Bloodfang King looked directly at Magnolia before answering.

"Is she?"

The question echoed through the courtyard.

Adrian frowned.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Evander's gaze never left Magnolia.

"When was the last time you stood beside her?"

Silence.

"When was the last time she smiled because of you?"

More silence.

"When was the last time your Luna looked at you with happiness instead of hope?"

Magnolia felt tears sting her eyes.

How...

How did he see what no one else had?

Adrian's face darkened.

"You know nothing about us."

"I know enough."

Evander finally stepped closer to Magnolia.

"I know she was standing alone in the middle of a battlefield."

His eyes swept across the courtyard.

"I know none of your warriors stayed to protect her."

Every Wolfbane warrior lowered their eyes.

Because it was true.

In the rush to defend Adrian...

They had forgotten their Luna.

Again.

Magnolia swallowed hard.

"I don't need your pity."

Evander looked almost offended.

"This isn't pity."

"What is it?"

He answered without hesitation.

"Respect."

The single word struck deeper than any blade.

Respect.

She couldn't remember the last time someone had offered her that.

A horn sounded from the eastern wall.

"My King!"

One of Evander's commanders rushed forward.

"More enemy warriors are approaching from the forest."

Evander nodded.

"Hold the eastern line."

The commander hesitated, glancing toward Magnolia.

"And...the Luna?"

Evander looked at her.

"She comes with me."

"I said no."

For the first time, the Alpha King smiled.

"I know."

Then, before Magnolia could react, another explosion shook the fortress.

The balcony above them collapsed.

Massive stones crashed toward her.

She had no time to move.

Strong arms wrapped around her.

Evander threw them both to the ground as stone shattered where she'd been standing only seconds before.

Dust filled the air.

Magnolia coughed, trying to catch her breath.

She realized she was lying against his chest.

His body had taken the impact instead of hers.

"You i***t," she whispered.

"You could've been crushed."

Evander looked down at her.

"So could you."

When the dust settled, Adrian stared at them.

Not because Evander was holding Magnolia.

But because the enemy king had risked his own life without hesitation to save her.

Something twisted painfully in Adrian's chest.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd protected Magnolia like that.

And he hated himself for it.

Evander slowly helped Magnolia to her feet.

He released her immediately.

No lingering touch.

No possessive grip.

Only enough contact to make sure she was steady.

"You don't keep people against their will?" she asked quietly.

His expression softened.

"No."

"Then why are you taking me?"

"Because if I leave you here..."

His eyes moved toward Adrian.

"...you'll continue believing this is all you deserve."

Magnolia's heart ached.

She wanted to deny it.

She wanted to tell him he was wrong.

But somewhere deep inside...

She knew he wasn't.

Evander extended his hand.

"Come with me."

She stared at it.

The hand of her enemy.

The man who had conquered her home.

The ruthless Alpha King everyone feared.

She didn't take it.

"I don't trust you."

"I know."

"I may never trust you."

His voice remained steady.

"Then I'll earn it."

For reasons Magnolia couldn't explain...

Those four words shook her more than the battle surrounding them.

No one had ever offered to earn her trust before.

They had simply expected it.

As Evander turned toward the Bloodfang army, Magnolia took one last look at the fortress that had once been her home.

No one called her back.

No one ran to stop her.

No one fought for her.

Not until she was already leaving.

With tears slipping silently down her cheeks, Magnolia stepped forward.

Not because she trusted the ruthless Alpha King.

But because there was nothing left behind her worth staying for.