Chapter Four: The Alpha King's Protection🤍
1217 Words
Chapter Four: The Alpha King's Protection
The forest remained silent after Dante's declaration.
Then chaos erupted.
Derek stared at the Alpha King as though he had lost his mind.
"My King..." he began carefully. "With respect, she belongs to Shadow Moon Pack."
The temperature around Dante seemed to drop instantly.
Aria felt it.
Everyone did.
The Alpha King's silver-black eyes shifted toward Derek.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Deadly.
"Belongs?" Dante repeated.
The single word made several warriors lower their heads.
Derek swallowed.
"I only mean that she is one of our pack members."
"Was."
Dante's correction came immediately.
The warriors froze.
Aria's heart skipped.
Because he was right.
Kael had rejected her.
Exiled her.
Thrown her away.
She was no longer Shadow Moon.
No longer protected.
No longer wanted.
The realization hurt.
But it also felt strangely freeing.
Dante turned toward Aria.
"Are you injured?"
The question caught her off guard.
After everything that had happened, she wasn't expecting concern.
Even a small amount.
"I'm fine."
The Alpha King raised an eyebrow.
"You can barely stand."
Aria immediately straightened.
"I said I'm fine."
The stranger beside Dante laughed.
"You know, most people don't argue with him."
"Good for them."
The stranger grinned.
Dante simply sighed.
For a terrifying Alpha King, he seemed surprisingly patient.
At least with her.
That realization made Aria uncomfortable.
Why?
Why was he helping her?
What did he want?
Nobody this powerful did things without a reason.
Derek stepped forward again.
"My King, Alpha Kael specifically ordered us to bring her back."
A dangerous silence followed.
Then Dante smiled.
It wasn't a friendly smile.
It was the kind that made warriors fear for their lives.
"And I specifically don't care."
The entire clearing froze.
Even Aria nearly choked.
The stranger covered his face.
"You really enjoy creating problems."
Dante ignored him.
Derek looked horrified.
"If we return without her—"
"Then return with disappointment."
The Alpha King turned away.
Conversation over.
Apparently.
Aria couldn't believe what she was witnessing.
Nobody spoke to pack enforcers like that.
Nobody challenged another Alpha so openly.
Nobody except him.
Dante Ravencrest.
The most powerful Alpha in the werewolf world.
The stranger walked toward the SUV.
"Can we leave before another disaster appears?"
Dante nodded.
Then looked at Aria.
"Come."
Aria blinked.
"Come where?"
"Ravencrest."
The answer hit her like a brick.
"The kingdom?"
"Yes."
Her stomach immediately tightened.
Everyone knew Ravencrest.
The center of Alpha power.
The territory ruled by kings.
The place ordinary wolves only heard stories about.
She had never imagined going there.
Not even in her wildest dreams.
"I can't just leave."
Dante's gaze remained steady.
"You already did."
The words struck deeper than expected.
Because they were true.
There was nothing left for her here.
No home.
No family.
No future.
Only pain.
Aria looked away.
The reality hurt more than she wanted to admit.
The stranger opened the SUV door.
"Trust me," he said. "Ravencrest is much safer than standing in a forest full of people trying to kidnap you."
He had a point.
Unfortunately.
Aria sighed.
"I don't trust either of you."
The stranger laughed.
"That's probably healthy."
To her surprise, even Dante looked mildly amused.
The expression vanished quickly.
But she saw it.
A strange flutter appeared in her stomach.
She ignored it immediately.
Absolutely not.
She was not admiring the terrifying Alpha King.
Not happening.
Not after Kael.
Never again.
Dante walked toward the vehicle.
After a brief hesitation, Aria followed.
Behind them, Derek called out one final time.
"Aria!"
She stopped.
Turning around slowly.
The warrior looked conflicted.
Guilty.
Almost desperate.
"Be careful."
Aria stared at him.
Then nodded once.
Without another word, she climbed into the SUV.
Moments later, they drove away.
Leaving Shadow Moon territory behind.
Miles away, inside the Shadow Moon Pack House, Kael Romanov stood in his office.
His mood had worsened throughout the day.
Something felt wrong.
His wolf was restless.
Agitated.
The mate bond might be broken, but the emptiness remained.
He hated it.
The office door opened.
Selene entered gracefully.
Beautiful as always.
Her green eyes sparkled beneath the afternoon light.
"Any news?" she asked softly.
Kael looked away from the window.
"Derek found her."
Excitement flashed through Selene's eyes.
"Then where is she?"
Silence.
Kael's jaw tightened.
"Dante Ravencrest intervened."
The smile vanished from Selene's face.
Immediately.
"What?"
"Dante took her."
Shock spread across her features.
This wasn't part of the plan.
Not at all.
She had expected Aria to disappear quietly.
Perhaps die.
Perhaps become a rogue.
But not this.
Anything but this.
"The Alpha King?" she whispered.
Kael nodded.
A dangerous look darkened his eyes.
Selene quickly recovered her composure.
"What will you do?"
Kael remained silent.
The answer scared even him.
Because for the first time since rejecting Aria—
He wanted her back.
The realization hit hard.
Too hard.
He remembered her face during the ceremony.
The pain.
The betrayal.
The promise.
"One day, Kael Romanov, you will regret this."
His chest tightened.
Regret was already here.
Selene noticed.
And panic surged inside her.
No.
This couldn't happen.
She had worked too hard.
Manipulated too carefully.
Lied too perfectly.
Aria was supposed to be gone forever.
Not protected by the most powerful Alpha alive.
If Kael discovered the truth...
Everything would collapse.
Her entire future would disappear.
A dark idea formed inside her mind.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
Perhaps Aria didn't need to stay alive long enough to reveal anything.
Selene smiled softly.
But behind that smile...
Something deadly was beginning to grow.
Meanwhile, inside the SUV, Aria stared out the window.
The forest rushed past.
The farther they traveled, the more distant Shadow Moon became.
She should have felt relieved.
Instead she felt empty.
Lost.
The stranger glanced at her from the front seat.
"You're thinking too much."
Aria rolled her eyes.
"Is that a crime?"
"No."
He smiled.
"But it's exhausting."
She almost laughed.
Almost.
Then she noticed something.
Dante had been silent for nearly an hour.
Watching the road.
Watching her.
Thinking.
"What?" she finally asked.
The Alpha King's gaze met hers.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then—
"The power inside you."
Aria stiffened.
"What about it?"
Dante's expression darkened.
"It shouldn't exist."
A chill ran down her spine.
Before she could ask another question—
A sudden pain exploded through her chest.
Aria gasped.
The same strange energy from before surged beneath her skin.
Wild.
Unstable.
Dangerous.
The vehicle began shaking.
The windows rattled violently.
The stranger cursed.
"Dante."
The Alpha King immediately moved.
His hand closed around Aria's wrist.
Instantly—
The power calmed.
The shaking stopped.
Silence filled the SUV.
Aria stared at him.
Breathing heavily.
Dante slowly released her wrist.
But his expression had changed.
For the first time—
The Alpha King looked genuinely concerned.
And that frightened Aria more than anything else.
Because whatever was happening to her...
It was clearly bigger than anyone expected.
To Be Continued...
Author's Note ❤️
Thank you for reading Chapter 4! 🌙🐺
What do you think is happening to Aria's mysterious power? And why is Dante so interested in protecting her? Don't forget to vote, comment, and add the story to your library if you're enjoying the story! Your support helps me continue Aria and Dante's journey.
— Ismotullah ✨❤️
- Writer
