The Ruthless Alpha's Hidden Mate

Chapter 2

The prisoner did not look afraid.

That was the first thing Kaelan noticed.

Two guards stood on either side of the rogue as they led him across the courtyard, but the man barely seemed to notice them. His clothes were torn, mud covered his boots, and one sleeve was stained with dried blood.

Yet his eyes kept moving.

Across the courtyard.

Toward the servants.

Toward the castle.

Searching.

Kaelan stepped forward.

"Stop."

The guards halted immediately.

The rogue lifted his head.

For a moment, his eyes met Kaelan's.

Then they moved past him.

Straight toward the servants' quarters.

Kaelan's expression hardened.

"What are you looking for?"

The rogue smiled faintly.

"Nothing."

Kaelan walked closer.

"Then why haven't you stopped looking?"

The smile disappeared.

The rogue said nothing.

Darian moved beside Kaelan.

"Take him to the dungeon."

The guards pulled the prisoner away.

But just before he disappeared through the entrance, the rogue looked back.

His eyes searched the courtyard one last time.

Almost as if he expected to see someone.

Kaelan followed his gaze.

There were dozens of servants outside.

Then he saw Nora.

She stood near the kitchen entrance with Lily, holding a basket against her hip.

The rogue's eyes stopped on her.

His entire expression changed.

Recognition.

Kaelan saw it.

So did Darian.

But before either of them could react, one of the guards shoved the rogue through the dungeon doors.

The heavy door closed.

Kaelan kept staring at it.

"Did you see that?" Darian asked.

"Yes."

"Who was he looking at?"

Kaelan didn't answer.

His eyes returned to Nora.

She was already walking away.

Nora didn't know why she suddenly felt uneasy.

She had been carrying bread toward the kitchen when the strange feeling returned.

Someone had been watching her.

Again.

She looked over her shoulder.

Nothing.

The courtyard was busy.

Servants moved between buildings. Warriors gathered near the training grounds. A group of guards stood beside the main gate.

Everything looked normal.

Almost.

Nora continued walking.

"Nora."

She stopped.

Mrs. Hilda stood inside the kitchen doorway.

"Come here."

Nora approached.

"Yes?"

Mrs. Hilda glanced toward the courtyard.

"Did you go near the eastern path?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

Nora frowned.

"Yes."

Mrs. Hilda's shoulders relaxed slightly.

"Good."

"Why do you keep asking me that?"

Mrs. Hilda looked at her.

For a moment, Nora thought she might finally answer.

Instead, the older woman picked up another basket.

"There are enough problems today. I don't need you wandering around."

"I wasn't wandering."

"I know."

Mrs. Hilda lowered her voice.

"Just stay close to the castle."

Nora stared at her.

"You've been acting strange since this morning."

"I've always been strange."

Nora almost smiled.

"Not like this."

Mrs. Hilda's expression tightened.

"Do as I say, Nora."

She walked away.

Nora remained where she was.

Something was wrong.

She could feel it.

And for the first time, she wondered whether Mrs. Hilda was afraid of the rogues...

Or afraid of what they might find.

That evening, Kaelan sat in the council chamber with Darian.

The map of Silver Crest lay between them.

"Three camps," Darian said. "All abandoned."

Kaelan studied the marked locations.

"Any bodies?"

"No."

"Stolen supplies?"

"None."

"Then they aren't raiding."

Darian nodded.

"They're moving around the territory without taking anything."

Kaelan tapped one finger against the table.

"Where were the latest tracks found?"

"Near the servants' quarters."

Kaelan's hand stopped.

"Again?"

"Yes."

He leaned back.

"That's not a coincidence."

Darian watched him carefully.

"You think they're searching for someone."

"I know they are."

"For who?"

Kaelan looked toward the windows.

He could still remember the rogue's face when he saw Nora.

"I don't know yet."

But he had a suspicion.

And he didn't like it.

Later that night, Nora lay awake.

She couldn't stop thinking about the prisoner.

She had only seen him for a few seconds, but something about his eyes bothered her.

He hadn't looked at the castle.

He hadn't looked at the warriors.

He had looked at the servants.

At her.

She turned onto her side.

Maybe she was imagining it.

Maybe the man had simply looked in her direction.

Still, another thought wouldn't leave her alone.

Why had Mrs. Hilda been so frightened?

Nora closed her eyes.

Sleep came slowly.

Then the dream began.

She was standing in the forest.

The trees were taller than any she had seen around Silver Crest.

Moonlight fell between the branches.

Someone was calling her.

"Nora..."

She turned.

A woman stood several steps away.

Nora couldn't see her face.

"Who are you?"

The woman reached toward her.

Before their hands could touch, a loud howl tore through the forest.

Nora turned toward the sound.

A silver wolf stood between the trees.

Its eyes were fixed on her.

Then the woman whispered:

"Don't let them find you."

Nora woke with a gasp.

Her heart hammered.

She sat up and looked around the dark room.

Nothing.

Just her bed.

Her blanket.

The pale moonlight through the window.

She pressed a hand against her chest.

It had only been a dream.

At least, that was what she told herself.

---

In the dungeon, the captured rogue sat alone.

A guard approached his cell.

"You've been unusually quiet."

The rogue smiled.

"Have I?"

"You haven't asked for food. You haven't asked for water."

"I'm not hungry."

The guard frowned.

"What were you looking for in the courtyard?"

The rogue said nothing.

The guard stepped closer.

"You'd better start talking before the Alpha questions you himself."

That finally made the rogue laugh.

Not loudly.

Just enough to make the guard uncomfortable.

"The Alpha doesn't know what he's looking at yet."

"What does that mean?"

The rogue leaned back against the wall.

"You'll find out."

The next morning, Kaelan returned to the courtyard.

He had barely slept.

His wolf had been restless throughout the night.

Not because of the rogues.

Because of her.

Nora.

He didn't understand it.

He had met thousands of people in his life.

None had ever affected him this way.

Then he saw her.

She was standing near the kitchen entrance, speaking to Lily.

The moment Kaelan's eyes settled on her, his wolf stirred.

There.

The same strange pull.

Kaelan stopped walking.

Nora turned.

Their eyes met.

For a second, neither moved.

Kaelan felt something tighten inside his chest.

Nora looked away first.

She lowered her head and stepped aside.

Kaelan watched her leave.

His wolf growled.

Find her.

Kaelan clenched his jaw.

"Enough."

Darian glanced at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

But this time, Kaelan knew one thing.

He couldn't keep pretending nothing was happening.

Behind the kitchen, Mrs. Hilda stood alone.

She watched Nora disappear into the castle.

Then she looked toward the eastern forest.

Her face tightened.

"They're getting closer."

A voice came from behind her.

"Who?"

Mrs. Hilda spun around.

No one stood there.

Only the wind moved through the trees.

She looked back toward the forest.

For years, she had believed Silver Crest was far enough away.

She had been wrong.

Someone had found Nora.

And now the Alpha was beginning to notice her too.

Mrs. Hilda closed her eyes.

"Please," she whispered.

"Not yet."

But deep in the forest, something moved between the trees.

And this time, it was coming closer.