Chaptertwo
1043 Words
Chapter Two — The Rejected Mate
Three days later, Elena's village was attacked.
It happened just before sunset.
The sky had turned a deep shade of orange when the first howl echoed from the forest.
Elena froze.
She was carrying a basket of clothes toward the village well when another howl followed.
This one was closer.
Then came the screams.
“Wolves!”
“Run!”
“They're attacking!”
The basket slipped from Elena's hands.
Clothes scattered across the dusty ground as villagers rushed through the streets in panic.
Elena looked toward the forest.
Dark figures were moving between the trees.
Too fast.
Too many.
Werewolves.
Her heart slammed against her chest.
She turned and ran.
People pushed past her in every direction. Children cried as mothers dragged them into houses. Men grabbed whatever weapons they could find, but nothing could stop the creatures pouring from the forest.
Elena ran toward her father's house.
She needed to know where he was.
“Father!”
No answer.
She ran faster.
Suddenly, a werewolf jumped over a wooden fence and landed directly in front of her.
Elena screamed and stumbled backward.
Its eyes glowed red.
It growled.
She turned to run, but another creature appeared behind her.
There was nowhere to go.
The wolf lunged.
Elena closed her eyes.
But before it could reach her, a powerful arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her backward.
She gasped.
The creature was thrown several feet away.
Elena opened her eyes.
A man stood behind her.
He was tall—far taller than any man she had ever seen. His black hair was slightly messy, and his clothes were dark, marked with the silver symbol of an Alpha.
But it was his eyes that frightened her.
Golden.
Bright.
Predatory.
The same eyes she had seen three nights ago in the forest.
Elena stopped breathing.
Kael.
The mysterious wolf.
The Alpha.
His gaze moved from her face to her wrist.
The crescent-shaped mark was glowing faintly beneath her sleeve.
Kael's entire expression changed.
For a moment, he looked stunned.
Then horrified.
“No.”
Elena frowned.
“What?”
Kael stepped backward as if she had suddenly become dangerous.
His golden eyes remained fixed on the mark.
“No,” he repeated, his voice colder this time.
Elena pulled her sleeve over the mark.
“What is wrong with you?”
Kael looked at her.
Their eyes met.
And something strange happened.
Elena felt a sudden warmth rush through her body.
Her heartbeat changed.
She could hear his heartbeat too.
Strong.
Fast.
Almost as if their bodies recognized each other.
Kael's fingers curled into fists.
He seemed to be fighting something inside himself.
“You're my mate,” he whispered.
Elena's heart stopped.
“My... what?”
Kael looked away.
“The Moon Goddess has made a mistake.”
Elena stared at him.
She had heard stories about mates her entire life. Every werewolf knew about the sacred bond.
A mate was supposed to be the person destined for you.
Your other half.
Your soul.
The one person you could never deny.
Yet Kael looked at her as though the bond disgusted him.
“You can't be my mate,” he said.
The words broke something inside Elena.
She swallowed.
“You don't even know me.”
Kael's jaw tightened.
“I know exactly who you are.”
Elena's confusion turned into anger.
“What does that mean?”
Kael didn't answer.
Instead, he turned toward the warriors behind him.
“Take her to the castle.”
Two guards stepped forward.
Elena immediately backed away.
“No.”
Kael looked at her.
“I said no!”
She tried to run, but one of the guards caught her arm.
“Let me go!”
“Don't touch me!” Elena shouted.
Kael watched silently.
Something in his expression flickered.
Pain.
For just a second.
Then it disappeared.
“Why are you taking me?” Elena demanded.
Kael finally answered.
“Because you're coming with me.”
“Why?”
He stared at her for several seconds.
Then his voice dropped.
“Because your father murdered mine.”
Elena's blood went cold.
“What?”
Kael turned away.
“You heard me.”
“My father would never—”
“You don't know what your father did.”
Kael's words were filled with hatred.
Elena shook her head.
“You're wrong.”
Kael looked over his shoulder.
“You'll learn the truth soon enough.”
Then he walked away.
Elena watched him disappear into the smoke and chaos.
Her mind raced.
Her father was not a murderer.
At least, not the father she knew.
She remembered his quiet voice, his protective nature, and the way he had always warned her never to enter the forest.
Why?
For the first time, Elena wondered if those warnings had never been about protecting her from the wolves.
Maybe he had been protecting her from the truth.
The guards dragged her away from the village.
“Wait!” Elena cried. “Where are you taking me?”
“The Alpha's castle.”
“I don't belong there!”
The guard said nothing.
Elena looked back.
Her village was burning.
Smoke filled the sky.
And somewhere among the flames was the only home she had ever known.
Her father was missing.
Her village had been attacked.
And the man who claimed she was his destined mate believed her father had murdered his.
As they entered the forest, Elena felt the crescent mark beneath her sleeve begin to burn.
She pulled it out and stared at it.
The mark was brighter than before.
Then she heard a voice.
Not from the guards.
Not from the forest.
Inside her mind.
Run, Elena.
She stopped walking.
The guards turned.
“What is it?”
Elena looked into the dark forest.
For a moment, she thought she saw two golden eyes watching her between the trees.
Then they vanished.
She touched the mark.
“Who are you?” she whispered.
The voice answered.
The one your father tried to kill.
Elena's eyes widened.
She suddenly understood one terrifying thing.
The attack was not random.
The werewolves hadn't come for the village.
They had come for her.
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