His Mate

The Stranger

Chapter Two: The Stranger

Liora’s POV

The hall was empty. The people were gone, but their laughter and whispers stayed in my ears.

I pulled my cloak tighter and walked toward the door. My chest felt heavy. I just wanted to disappear.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. I tried to wipe them away, but more came.

“Why, Kaelen?” I whispered. “Why did you do this to me?”

I had trusted him. I had loved him. And he had broken me in front of everyone.

My hand touched the door when a voice stopped me.

“Leaving already?”

I turned and i saw the stranger was there, standing in the shadows. His eyes were fixed on me.

“I just want to go home,” I said, my voice shaking.

He walked closer, calm and strong.

“You chose me tonight,” he said. “You cannot leave.”

My throat tightened. “It wasn’t real. I only said that to protect myself. Please… forget it.”

He shook his head. “No. You spoke before your people and you should know that it cannot be taken back.”

He stepped closer. “I will not forget. From tonight, you are mine. And no one dares to take what belongs to me.”

Before I could protest further, he signaled. Two wolves appeared, his men. One brought forward a black horse. The stranger looked at me once more. “Come.”

I wanted to resist, but my body was weak. He guided me up onto the horse, his hand strong around my arm. Soon, I was in front of him, his arm steadying me as the horse moved through the night.

The cold wind down and brushed my cheeks. My tears started drying slowly , and I tried to stay awake, exhaustion pulled me under. My body leaned back against his chest, and for a brief moment, I felt the warmth of him before sleep claimed me.

When I opened my eyes again, the sun was rising. We had stopped before tall iron gates. Wolves stood guard on either side, bowing their heads as the stranger passed.

My heart pounded. This was not my pack.

“Where are we?” I asked softly.

The stranger dismounted, then looked at me. “Moonlight Pack.”

Fear curled in my stomach. “Moonlight Pack…?”

He gave a faint smile, helping me down from the horse. His hand lingered on mine. “I am Alpha Dalin. From now on, this is your home.”

I stared at him, too stunned to speak. Alpha. He was an Alpha?

His eyes softened, just slightly, as he leaned closer. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

My brows furrowed. “Remember you?”

His voice dropped, deep and steady. “Five years ago. The night of the blood moon.”

I froze. My chest tightened. My mind raced back,back to that one night I had buried deep, the night I swore to forget.

My lips trembled. My heart skipped painfully.

No… it can’t be…

But as his eyes held mine, I knew.

He was the one.

The stranger.

The man I had a one-night stand with.