Ryker’s POV
The training ground was the only place that made sense anymore. One year had gone by, but the wounds still felt fresh. The memories refused to fade—but how could they? Each punch, each kick, each movement was a way to silence those memories. I trained harder than I needed to. I trained until my muscles burned and sweat soaked through my shirt. It was the only way to stop thinking about them—my Luna and my baby boy, who I never got to meet. I hit the sandbag harder, again and again, until my fists ached. I didn’t care. The pain had become better than the emptiness in my chest. “Alpha Ryker!” I stopped mid-strike and turned sharply. A palace guard sprinted toward me, panting. He fell to his knees and bowed his head. “What is it?” I demanded. “There’s a girl,” he said quickly. “She was found just outside the east border, bleeding—and she could barely breathe. We think she’s human, but we know she crossed from Alpha Damon’s territory.” My body went stiff at the mention of that name—Damon. I’ve never encountered him, but I’ve heard stories about his ruthlessness. Even so, I wasn’t intimidated. Still, something about his name stirred unease inside me. It raised an alarm. “Where is she now?” I asked, my voice low and steady. “The hospital wing. The doctor said she might not make it through the night.” “Bring her to the throne room,” I commanded. And without wasting another second, I grabbed a towel, wiped the sweat from my face, and made my way to my room. I didn’t know what it was yet, but I couldn’t let her stay here without answers—not when the safety of my people was on the line. I entered the bathroom and turned on the shower, letting the hot water stream down from the rainfall head above. I rested my hand against the cool tile, my head bowed. Steam curled around me. For a moment, I tilted my head back, allowing the heat to sink into my muscles. Peace had reigned over my pack lands for months now. No rogue attacks. No missing patrols. No tension from other Alphas either. It had been calm… unnaturally calm. But I had learned a long time ago that calm didn’t last. It only meant a storm was coming. I growled under my breath. “I won’t let chaos into my pack. Not again. Not after what happened last time.” I turned off the water suddenly. The silence that followed was deafening. Grabbing a towel, I wiped myself down quickly, my jaw tight. That girl, whoever she was, had better have answers. I wasn’t running a charity, and I wasn’t going to let some bleeding, breathless stranger bring danger to my people. I dressed swiftly in dark pants and a fresh black shirt. I pulled a leather strap over my left wrist—my father’s old band, engraved with our family’s crest. It reminded me of who I was and what I had to protect. The sound of my boots hitting the floor echoed through the empty hallway as I strode to the throne room. Two guards opened the doors without a word, and I stepped into the room, taking my place on the throne, silent and waiting. And then they came in. Two guards entered, one on each side of a figure barely able to stand. Her head hung low, her steps staggered, her limbs weak. They held her up by the arms, guiding her forward like a prisoner. Blood stained one side of her shirt. Her breathing was shallow and uneven. Then she lifted her head. Her eyes met mine—and my world slowed. My heart skipped a beat. Her scent hit me hard—like the smell of earth after rain. It was wild, strange, but somehow it felt like it belonged to me. Something deep inside me twisted and pulled. It was the same feeling I had felt once before—a bond I thought I’d never feel again. My wolf surged to the surface, claws scratching beneath my skin, growling one word loud and clear. Mate. This can’t be happening. Not again. I parted my lips to speak, but no words left them. She looked small, pale, and broken. She stood before me with the help of the guards, and then she looked away—as if trying to fight the pull. The bond hit me like a wave, but I stayed calm. My heart was pounding faster with each passing second. I stared at her for a long moment, thinking of the right words. She didn’t react either, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good sign. She was hiding—just as well as I was—but what was she hiding? The head of the guards spoke, shifting my attention. “Alpha, she was found just outside the east borders. The doctor said she suffered from dehydration, minor head trauma, blood loss, exhaustion… She’s lucky to be alive.” I stood from my throne and walked toward her. I kept my eyes on her, taking in every detail. She looked fragile, scared, and weak. Her lips were cracked, her face pale—but her eyes held something else. Strength. “What’s your name?” I asked. She paused for a moment, like she was thinking, trying to find the right words—and that, somehow, looked cute to me. Her eyes were filled with hesitation and fear. My wolf clawed at me. I wanted to hug her, to tell her she was safe here—but I couldn’t get that close. Not again. There were consequences. I know earlier I planned to send her away—for the safety of my people—but I was going to be selfish, just this once. I would keep her safe. Even if I couldn’t have her. “…Laila,” she said softly. “My name is Laila.” Laila? That was definitely a lie—but I let it pass. “Alpha Ryker,” I said. “Ruler of the Blackmist Pack.” She nodded slowly without saying anything. “You’re not from around here,” I continued. “I was… running,” she whispered. A single tear slid down her cheek. “That’s all I can say.” And my stomach twisted. Before I could stop myself, I stepped forward, lifted her face, and wiped the tear away. Her skin was rough and tired, but the moment we touched, the bond flared again. My wolf growled low inside me, wanting more. Ignoring the bond was going to be harder than I thought. She felt it too. I saw the way her body tensed, but she pushed it down—just the way I did. “You crossed into my land, unconscious and bleeding from Damon’s territory. That makes you a mystery, and I don’t like mysteries in my land.” “I’m not a threat,” she said in a trembling voice. “I just want to disappear.” Disappear. The word hit harder than I expected. I knew that feeling—the urge to vanish. To forget. I turned to the guards. “She stays in my palace once she gets better. I want her under my watch until we know who she is and what she’s running from. Take her back to the hospital and ensure she gets proper treatment.” There was a bit of a lie in that. I heard her catch her breath behind me. She clearly didn’t want to go to the palace—that much was obvious. But she didn’t have a choice. I had made up my mind. I couldn’t let her go. Not yet. My wolf had already claimed her, and he needed her as close as possible. She didn’t object—and that made me smile. Good girl. I looked back at her one last time. “Get well soon.” As I turned to leave, I felt it again—the pull. It was stronger this time, and something whispered in the back of my mind. Mine. But I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t claim it. Not after what happened the last time. Not when I knew how cruel fate could be. So I walked away, even though every part of me wanted to turn back. Sadness washed over me. The Moon Goddess had given me a second chance mate… But was this a blessing—or a lesson?
