The Ruthless Alpha's Hidden Mate

Before dawn, someone screamed from the eastern forest. Nora froze with one hand on the kitchen door. The scream came again. This time, it was followed by a long, low howl. The sound travelled through Silver Crest like a warning. Within seconds, the quiet castle erupted. Guards rushed toward the eastern gate. Doors opened along the servants' quarters. Boots struck the stone paths as warriors hurried toward the training yard. Nora stood in the doorway, still holding the empty bucket she had been carrying. "What happened?" she asked. Nobody answered. A young guard ran past her, sword already drawn. "Nora, move!" She stepped aside. Another warrior followed. Then another. All of them were heading east. Nora looked toward the forest. The trees were still dark beneath the fading night, but something about them made the back of her neck prickle. She had heard wolves howl before. That wasn't what frightened her. It was the feeling that came with the sound. Something inside her had reacted. For one strange second, her heart had raced as though the howl had called her name. Then the feeling disappeared. "Nora!" She turned. Lily hurried toward her, breathing heavily. "What are you doing standing here?" "I heard something." "We all did." Lily grabbed her arm. "Come inside." Nora didn't move. "What happened in the forest?" "I don't know." Lily glanced toward the eastern gate. "But people are saying the rogues are back." Nora's stomach tightened. The rogues had attacked Silver Crest before. Everyone remembered the last attack. But something felt different this time. She looked at the forest again. "I think someone was screaming." Lily's face changed. "Don't say that." "Why?" "Because if it was a person..." She didn't finish. A sharp horn sounded from the eastern wall. Everyone in the courtyard went silent. A warrior shouted from the gate. "Close it!" The heavy wooden gates began to swing shut. Nora watched until the opening between them disappeared. Only then did she realize that Mrs. Hilda was standing behind her. The older woman's face had gone pale. "Nora." "Yes?" "Come with me." There was something in her voice that made Nora obey immediately. Mrs. Hilda took her into the kitchen and shut the door. "Stay here." Nora frowned. "Why?" "Because I said so." "Mrs. Hilda, what happened?" "Nothing you need to worry about." "Then why are you frightened?" Mrs. Hilda went still. Nora immediately noticed. She had known Mrs. Hilda for most of her life. The woman could scold ten servants at once without losing her temper. She had remained calm when warriors returned injured. She had even stood through a winter storm while half the servants panicked. But now her hands were shaking. "I'm not frightened," Mrs. Hilda said. Nora stared at her. "You are." Mrs. Hilda's eyes hardened. "Do not argue with me this morning." Nora lowered her voice. "Is it because of the eastern forest?" Mrs. Hilda didn't answer. "Mrs. Hilda?" "Stay away from the eastern side of the castle today." "Why?" "Because I need you to trust me." Nora opened her mouth to ask another question. Mrs. Hilda walked away. That was when Nora noticed something strange. The older woman had locked the kitchen door. Outside the castle walls, Kaelan Draven stood beside the eastern patrol. The dead warrior lay beneath a dark cloak. Kaelan stared at the body without speaking. One of his scouts swallowed. "We found him near the old trail." "One of ours?" "Yes, Alpha." "Cause of death?" The scout hesitated. "His throat." Kaelan's expression hardened. "Rogues?" "We don't know." Darian stepped closer. "There were no signs of a fight." Kaelan looked down. The warrior's sword was still in its sheath. His boots were clean. There was only one deep wound across his neck. "Where are the others?" "Missing." "How many?" "Six." Kaelan lifted his head. "Six warriors disappear, one is dead, and you still don't know who we're dealing with?" The scout lowered his gaze. "No, Alpha." Kaelan turned toward the forest. His wolf stirred. Not because of the dead warrior. Because of something else. A scent. Faint. Almost impossible to detect beneath the smell of wet earth and blood. His wolf became restless. Find her. Kaelan frowned. The thought came again. Find her. "Alpha?" Darian's voice pulled him back. Kaelan looked toward the castle. For a brief moment, his eyes moved over the walls. Something was pulling at him. He didn't understand it. "Increase the patrols," he ordered. "Nobody enters the eastern forest alone." Darian nodded. "And the servants?" "Keep them inside the inner grounds." Kaelan's gaze remained fixed on the castle. "Especially anyone who has reason to be near the eastern wall." Nora spent the next hour trying to work. She failed. Every few minutes, her attention returned to the locked kitchen door. Why had Mrs. Hilda reacted that way? And why had that howl affected her so strangely? She had never experienced anything like it. She was carrying a basket toward the storage room when she heard voices behind the kitchen. Two servants were whispering. "The patrol found one." "Dead?" "Yes." Nora stopped. "They said the others are missing." A pause. Then the second voice became quieter. "They've found her." Nora's fingers tightened around the basket. Her heart skipped. Who had they found? She moved closer. "Who?" "I don't know. But Mrs. Hilda looked terrified when she heard." The floor creaked beneath Nora's foot. The voices stopped. Nora quickly moved away. She didn't notice Mrs. Hilda watching her from the opposite doorway. The older woman waited until Nora disappeared. Then she closed her eyes. "They're here," she whispered. By midmorning, the gates opened. A patrol returned. Kaelan rode at the front. Nora had no reason to be outside, but Lily had sent her to collect clean cloth from the laundry. She stepped into the courtyard just as the warriors entered. The entire pack lowered their heads. Nora did the same. Then she heard it. A growl. Not from the horses. Not from the guards. From Kaelan. His wolf had reacted. His head turned sharply. His eyes found Nora. For a moment, neither of them moved. Nora had seen Kaelan before. From a distance. During ceremonies. Across crowded halls. Never like this. His expression changed. The cold control he carried so naturally disappeared for one brief second. Kaelan stared at her as though he had been searching for something without knowing what it was. Nora's heart began beating faster. She didn't know why. Then a strange warmth moved through her chest. Kaelan took one step toward her. His wolf pushed forward. Mate. The word struck his mind so violently that he stopped. No. Impossible. He had never met this woman. Nora lowered her eyes and stepped back. That broke whatever had held him still. Kaelan looked away. "Alpha?" Darian's voice came from behind him. Kaelan didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained on the place where Nora had been standing. But she had already disappeared into the servants' corridor. His wolf growled. Find her. Kaelan clenched his jaw. "Who is she?" Darian followed his gaze. "A servant, I believe." "Name?" Darian looked surprised. "I don't know." "Find out." Nora didn't stop until she reached the laundry room. Her hands were shaking. She placed the cloth on the table. Why had the Alpha looked at her like that? Why had she felt as though something inside her had recognized him? And why did the strange feeling from the forest return the moment their eyes met? She pressed a hand against her chest. Her heartbeat refused to slow. "Nora." She turned. Mrs. Hilda stood in the doorway. The older woman looked from Nora's face toward the courtyard. "You saw him." It wasn't a question. Nora nodded. "Yes." Mrs. Hilda closed the door. "What happened?" "He looked at me." Mrs. Hilda's face tightened. "Did he touch you?" "No." "Did you feel anything?" Nora hesitated. "Why are you asking me that?" Mrs. Hilda said nothing. Nora stepped closer. "You know something." "I know that you need to stay away from the Alpha." "Why?" "Because some things are better left alone." Nora stared at her. "I've spent my whole life being told not to ask questions." Mrs. Hilda looked away. "Perhaps there's a reason." "Then tell me." "I can't." "Or you won't?" Mrs. Hilda's eyes met hers. For a moment, Nora thought she would finally answer. Instead, Mrs. Hilda whispered, "If anyone asks you about your parents, you know nothing." Nora went still. She had never asked about her parents that morning. She hadn't even mentioned them. "Why would anyone ask about them?" Mrs. Hilda's expression changed. She realized her mistake. "Nora..." Before she could continue, a horn sounded outside. Once. Twice. Then a third time. The castle erupted into movement again. Mrs. Hilda rushed to the window. Nora followed. A group of warriors stood near the eastern gate. One of them was pointing toward the forest. Darian ran across the courtyard toward Kaelan. Even from inside, Nora could see the urgency in his movements. Then someone shouted. "They're here!" The courtyard exploded into chaos. Kaelan immediately drew his sword. "Seal the gates!" Warriors rushed into position. Nora watched from the window. The forest remained strangely quiet. No attack came. No wolves appeared. Nothing moved. Then she saw something between the trees. A man. He stood far beyond the castle wall. His face was hidden beneath a dark hood. He wasn't looking at the warriors. He wasn't looking at the gates. He was looking directly at her. Nora froze. The stranger lifted one hand. For a moment, she thought he was going to wave. Instead, he touched two fingers to his chest. Then he pointed at her. Nora stepped back from the window. The man turned and disappeared into the trees. "Nora!" Mrs. Hilda grabbed her arm. "What did you see?" Nora stared at her. "He was looking for me." The color drained from Mrs. Hilda's face. "What did he look like?" "I don't know. His face was covered." Mrs. Hilda released her arm. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. Then she whispered the words Nora had been waiting all her life to hear. "They've found you." Nora stared at her. "Who?" Mrs. Hilda looked toward the forest. "The people who were never supposed to know you survived."