Wanted by Alpha Adrien
1031 Words
Kieran’s declaration haunted me through the night. As I lay on the small bed in my cabin, I couldn’t stop thinking about Adrien’s message. Why would he want me back? He’d made it clear I was nothing but a burden. The only thing I could be certain of was that whatever he wanted, it wouldn’t end well for me.
By morning, the weight of uncertainty had turned into a determination to act. I couldn’t just sit here, waiting for Kieran to figure everything out. If I wanted answers, I had to find them myself.
---
The settlement was alive with activity as I ventured out. Wolves trained in the clearing, their movements fluid and precise, while others worked to repair cabins or gather supplies. Despite the air of purpose, I could feel the stares following me, the whispers that quieted as I passed.
“Kieran’s in the training grounds,” Mara said when I asked where to find him. She hesitated before adding, “Don’t push him too hard. He’s...not always the easiest to deal with.”
I thanked her and made my way to the training grounds. Kieran was sparring with another wolf, their movements a blur of speed and power. His opponent was good, but Kieran was better. He moved like a predator, every strike precise, every dodge effortless.
When the match ended, he turned to me, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. “What is it, Liana?”
I hesitated under his intense gaze. “I want to help. I can’t just sit around while you decide what to do about Adrien.”
His expression hardened. “And what exactly do you think you can do?”
The words stung, but I pushed past the hurt. “I know Adrien better than anyone here. If he’s hiding something, I might be able to figure out what it is.”
Kieran studied me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. Finally, he nodded. “Fine. But you’ll do it under my supervision. I’m not taking chances with you.”
---
Kieran led me to a secluded part of the settlement, where he kept a small cabin that seemed to double as a war room. The walls were lined with maps, notes, and reports.
“This is everything we’ve gathered on Adrien Kane and the Blackstone Pack,” he said, gesturing to the chaos around us. “Start here.”
I spent hours sifting through the documents, my mind reeling with the information I uncovered. Blackstone’s dealings stretched far beyond the borders of their territory. Adrien had been consolidating power for years, forming alliances with packs known for their brutality.
But there was something else—something that didn’t add up. Several reports mentioned a mysterious figure working closely with Adrien, someone referred to only as The Whisperer.
“Who’s this?” I asked, holding up one of the reports.
Kieran frowned as he scanned the page. “We don’t know. Whoever they are, they’ve been helping Adrien eliminate threats and expand his control. We’ve never been able to identify them.”
A chill ran down my spine. The name felt familiar, but I couldn’t place it.
“I think this Whisperer has something to do with why Adrien wants me back,” I said.
Kieran crossed his arms, his gaze thoughtful. “If that’s true, then figuring out who they are is our next step.”
---
The days that followed were a blur of strategy and training. Kieran insisted I learn to defend myself, a task that quickly proved frustrating. My lack of a wolf made me slower, weaker than the others, and I could see the impatience in my instructor’s eyes.
“You’re holding back,” Kieran said one evening as he watched me sparring with Mara.
“I’m doing my best,” I snapped, my temper fraying.
“Your best isn’t enough,” he replied, his tone cold. “If Adrien finds you, you won’t survive unless you fight like your life depends on it—because it will.”
His words stung, but they also lit a fire in me. I threw myself into the training with renewed determination, refusing to let my limitations define me.
Over time, I started to notice a change in Kieran. He was still gruff, still demanding, but there were moments when his walls seemed to crack—when I caught him watching me with an expression I couldn’t quite read.
One night, as we stood by the edge of the settlement, overlooking the forest, I decided to confront him.
“You don’t trust me,” I said. It wasn’t a question.
He didn’t look at me, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “Trust is earned, Liana. And even then, it’s not always enough.”
I hesitated before asking, “What about you? You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”
The corner of his mouth twitched, but it wasn’t a smile. “Everyone has secrets.”
“Even Alphas?” I pressed.
“Especially Alphas,” he said quietly.
His words hung between us, heavy with meaning. I wanted to ask more, to peel back the layers of the man who had taken me in, but the moment passed as quickly as it came.
---
The next day, everything changed.
A courier arrived from Blackstone, carrying another letter from Adrien. This one was addressed directly to me.
"Liana, you know you don’t belong there. Come home, and all will be forgiven. Refuse, and you’ll regret it.
The message was as manipulative as it was infuriating. I handed it to Kieran, who read it with a scowl.
“He’s testing you,” Kieran said. “Trying to see if you’ll break.”
“I won’t,” I said firmly.
“Good,” he replied, his eyes darkening. “Because if he thinks he can intimidate us, he’s about to learn how wrong he is.”
For the first time in weeks, I felt a spark of hope—not just for survival, but for something more. I wasn’t alone anymore, and with Kieran’s help, I was determined to uncover the truth and take back control of my life.
- Writer
