THE ALPHA'S EXILE

EPISODE 3: THE ALPHA'S RECKONING

Kieran's heart pounded in his ears.

Lucian glared at him, sneering, his warriors closing ranks behind him. They were surrounded.

Elara's tense muscles stood beside Kieran, her hand wrapping around his arm—narrow, trembling, but resolute. She did not look at him, but he felt the hesitation in her stance, the catch of breath when Lucian spoke.

"I ought to have better from you, Kieran," Lucian slurred, face full of laughter. "You've been fleeing like a rabid beast, but here you are—right back where you belong." His smile spread farther. "In my mercy."

Kieran drew himself up to his full height. "I don't owe you anything."

Lucian barked a laugh, eyes shining. "No, but she does." His gaze flickered to Elara, his tone softening to cruel mirth. "Don't you, my love?"

Elara clamped her jaws together, refusing to answer.

Kieran stepped forward, muscles strained with pent-up anger. "Let her go. This fight is between us."

Lucian tilted his head, feigning thought. "And yet, she's the reason. She's the reason for your defeat." He looked at Kieran, enjoying the bite of his words. "Does it hurt? To know she's mine?"

Kieran's wolf snarled, anger barely leashed. "She isn't yours, Lucian."

Lucian’s expression darkened. “And yet, you’re the one in chains.”

A warrior stepped forward, silver cuffs glinting in the moonlight.

They expected him to surrender.

Fools.

Kieran lunged.

His fist shattered a warrior’s jaw, sending him sprawling. Chaos erupted. Kieran spun, seizing another by the throat and slamming him against a tree.

Blades flashed. A dagger sliced through the air—Kieran dodged, striking with lethal precision. But there were too many.

Pain shot through his back. Cold steel.

He staggered.

Elara's scream cut through the darkness.

Lucian laughed.

Kieran fell to one knee, panting as warm blood seeped through his shirt. The knife hadn't penetrated deep enough to kill him, but the wound slowed him down.

Lucian moved forward, boots crunching in the earth. "You always did fight hard," he said. "But you never learned when to quit.".

Kieran strained up, gasping. The warriors reformed their circle. He could take out a few more, but not all of them.

"Elara," he rasped. "Run."

She didn't budge.

Lucian's grip closed around her wrist before she could move. "She's not going anywhere."

Kieran snarled, but before he could reach her, a huge blow struck his skull.

Darkness descended.

Then—Elara's voice. Cold. Commanding. "Stop!"

Silence.

Kieran pulled open his eyes, vision hazy. Elara towered over him, shoulders stiff, her stance guarding.

Lucian's gaze narrowed. "Elara, step back."

"No." Her tone was stern, unbreakable. "If you wish him to live, you'll finish it now."

Lucian stared at her. Then, with a gradual smile, he gestured at his warriors. "Bind him. We're taking him home."

Home.

The word twisted in Kieran's gut like poison.

They weren't taking him to his former pack.

They were taking him to Bloodmoon.

Straight to the enemy's den.

Bloodmoon Territory

Travel was hell.

Silver burned into Kieran's wrists, sucking his power out with each mile. His wolf growled inside him, but the restraints held him back. Ahead with each step was a further indignity to his pride.

Elara walked ahead of them, straight-backed as a rod, her gaze fixed dead ahead. She hadn't looked at him since they'd departed. But Kieran saw the tension in her shoulders, the knuckles whitened on her sides.

Lucian, who rode beside them, kept her under close watch. Always watching.

"I must say, Kieran," Lucian guffawed, tone dripping with sarcasm. "This isn't a common sight. The mighty Alpha Thornbane, brought low." He edged closer slightly, false sympathy sparkling in his eyes. "How does it feel to be at the mercy of others?"

Kieran clenched his teeth.

Lucian let out a dramatic sigh. "Nothing to say? Disappointing." His gaze snapped to Elara. "And you, my love? You were so quick to defend him. Perhaps you still care?"

Elara's step faltered. A fraction of a second. Barely noticeable.

But Kieran saw it.

Lucian saw it, too.

A slow smile curled his lips. "Interesting."

"Shut up, Lucian," Elara muttered, continuing.

Lucian snorted. "I wonder. If we just leave him rotting in a cell long enough, will you still glance at him the same way you did tonight?"

Elara did not answer, but Kieran sensed the tension in her jaw freezing.

Lucian sneered again. "We'll find out soon enough."

Kieran forced himself to breathe normally. Lucian was taunting them. He would not give him that satisfaction of an answer.

But in here, rage bubbled.

Lucian had taken everything from him.

And so, he paraded Kieran like a broken trophy.

It would not endure.

Kieran would escape.

And when that came, Lucian would see that he should never have bound him.

Bloodmoon Fortress

When they reached the fortress, Kieran's body ached in pain. The throng that lined the gates of the fortress dangled in shocked silence—warriors, omegas, elders—gazing after Lucian as he pulled his most infamous foe within.

Some of them, Kieran recognized.

They had been friends, once. Today, they were strangers.

Lucian swung down from a stretch as if having just weathered the worst part of the ride. "Welcome home, Thornbane."

Kieran's face came up, blood-hued hair cascading over his eyes. "This isn't home."

Lucian's smile extended even farther. "Oh, but it is. At least, for however long I allow you to draw breath."

Two guards hauled Kieran in.

The fortress shut in around them—big halls lined with rows of torches, the scent of burning wood and aged whiskey. And something else.

Familiar. Floral.

Elara's perfume.

Kieran's heart clenched.

He turned quickly, catching a glimpse of a private wing. Elaborate doors.

Her quarters.

His mate lived here.

With him.

A growl rumbled in Kieran's throat, but before he could move, the guards hauled him towards a stairway downward.

The scent changed—wet stone, rusty metal.

A cell.

They were throwing him in a damn cell.

Lucian leaned against the bars, eyes gleaming. “Get comfortable,” he said. “You’ll be here for a while.”

Then he turned, his laughter echoing down the corridor.

Kieran exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay still.

Escape wouldn’t be easy.

But neither was breaking a mate bond.

And Kieran intended to do both.

A shuffle in the darkness made his wolf snap to attention.

Then—a voice, low and familiar.

"You shouldn't ha

ve come back."

Kieran turned around.

There was a figure in the cell beside him.

Torchlight fell on the last person he wanted to see.

His former Beta.

The one who had betrayed him.