Fated Luna, Forsaken Alpha

Lena's breath came in ragged gasps as she sprinted through the dense forest, her heartbeat a thunderous drum in her ears. Run. Just keep running. The Bloodfang Pack’s territory stretched for miles, and the thick canopy overhead cast eerie shadows beneath the moonlight. The air was damp with the scent of pine and recent rain, masking her own scent—for now. But it wouldn't last. Kade would come for her. She knew that much. The Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack, her mate, her once-lover—the man who had let his pack doubt her worth—would hunt her down the moment he realized she was gone. But she wouldn’t be there to be found. Not this time. Lena ducked under a low branch, the fabric of her cloak snagging on the bark, but she didn’t stop. She had minutes before the warriors noticed her absence, before Kade’s wolves were on her trail. If she hesitated, even for a second, she would never make it out. Her wolf stirred inside her, restless and agitated. It wanted to shift, to tear through the forest at full speed. But shifting would leave a scent trail. If she had any hope of escaping, she had to remain in human form. Her stomach twisted violently—not just from fear, but from the secret she had uncovered that very morning. A secret that should have filled her with joy but instead had solidified her decision to leave. She was pregnant. Kade’s child grew inside her, and yet… the pack didn’t believe she was strong enough to carry an Alpha’s heir. They whispered behind her, doubted her worth, and worst of all, Kade had said nothing to silence them. It wasn’t just the whispers that had driven her to this moment. It was his silence. The river loomed ahead, fast and swollen from the past week's storms. It was her only escape. If she made it across, she could disappear into the human world. Start over. A deep, resonant howl split the air behind her. Lena’s pulse spiked. They knew. Her legs burned as she forced herself forward, her boots sinking into the damp earth. She could hear them now—wolves closing in. Fast. Too fast. She had seconds. Gritting her teeth, she lunged forward and threw herself into the river. The cold hit her like a punch to the chest, stealing the breath from her lungs. The current surged around her, yanking her under before she could fully orient herself. Move, damn it! She kicked hard, forcing her arms to cut through the water as she fought against the pull. A furious snarl echoed across the riverbank. Through the churning water, she glimpsed a massive black wolf standing at the edge of the river. Kade. His golden eyes burned like fire, locked onto her with raw fury. He shifted in a blur of motion, his human form emerging—bare chest rising and falling with labored breaths, muscles coiled with tension. "Lena!" His voice carried over the roar of the river, sharp and commanding. “Come back. Now.” Her chest clenched. For a brief moment, she wanted to. She wanted to swim back to him, let him pull her into his arms, let him tell her everything had been a mistake—that he had never doubted her, that he had always wanted her. But he hadn’t. And she wouldn’t be a fool again. Tears burned her throat. “I can’t.” “Lena, don’t do this!” Kade took a step into the water, his jaw clenched. Desperate. “You don’t have to run.” But I do. She forced herself to turn away. Then—the current yanked her under. The world became a blur of darkness and freezing water. Her body tumbled, weightless, as she clawed desperately toward the surface. Her lungs screamed for air, but the river’s grip was merciless, dragging her deeper. No. No, she couldn’t die. Not now. Not like this. Kade’s roar of fury echoed through the night. Then—everything went black.