Chapter three

Chapter Three: The Feared Alpha

The forest was silent.

Too silent.

Lynnek tightened her grip on the small dagger strapped to her thigh as she crossed the border into rogue territory. Every instinct screamed that she was being watched.

The wind carried unfamiliar scents.

Blood.

Rotting leaves.

Rogues.

She quickened her pace.

A twig snapped behind her.

She spun around, eyes scanning the trees.

"Who's there?" she demanded.

No answer.

Only silence.

Then—

A low growl echoed through the forest.

Three massive wolves emerged from the shadows, their fur matted with dirt and old blood. Their yellow eyes glowed with hunger.

Rogues.

Lynnek slowly backed away.

"I don't want trouble."

The largest wolf bared its teeth.

That was answer enough.

It lunged.

Lynnek rolled to the side just in time, her dagger slashing across the rogue's shoulder. The beast howled but recovered almost instantly.

The other two attacked together.

She kicked one in the jaw while ducking beneath the other's claws, but they were too many.

Too strong.

One rogue slammed into her, throwing her against a tree.

Pain exploded through her back.

The dagger flew from her hand.

The largest wolf stalked toward her, saliva dripping from its jaws.

"So this is how it ends," Lynnek whispered.

The wolf leaped.

A deafening roar shook the entire forest.

Something huge crashed into the rogue midair, sending it flying several meters away.

Another wolf.

No...

An Alpha.

His black fur shimmered like midnight beneath the moonlight, and his icy blue eyes burned with terrifying authority.

The rogues froze.

The Alpha let out another growl.

It wasn't loud.

It didn't need to be.

Power radiated from him, forcing every creature nearby to submit.

The rogues tucked their tails between their legs.

One by one...

They fled.

The enormous black wolf watched until they disappeared before turning toward Lynnek.

She slowly stood.

His gaze never left her.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then the wolf stepped behind a cluster of trees.

A few seconds later, a man emerged.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in black combat clothing. His dark hair was slightly damp, and the sharp angles of his face made him look more dangerous than any warrior Lynnek had ever met.

His piercing blue eyes settled on hers.

"So," he said calmly, "the rumors are true."

Lynnek frowned.

"What rumors?"

"That the future Luna of Lucaster was thrown away by her own pack."

"I am not your concern."

A faint smile crossed his lips.

"No?"

"No."

She bent down to retrieve her dagger.

"I didn't ask you to save me."

"You wouldn't be alive if I hadn't."

"I could have handled them."

His eyebrow lifted.

"Three rogues against one injured wolf?"

"I said I could handle it."

For the first time, he chuckled.

It was quiet.

Brief.

But genuine.

"You are either incredibly brave..."

He stepped closer.

"...or incredibly stupid."

Lynnek refused to back away.

"And you're rude."

His smile disappeared.

"I've been called worse."

She studied him carefully.

His scent...

It was unlike anything she had ever encountered.

Wolf.

But different.

Stronger.

Older.

It sent a strange warmth through her chest.

Before she could understand why, voices echoed through the forest.

"Alpha!"

Several warriors emerged from the trees, immediately bowing their heads.

"There you are," one said. "We've been searching everywhere."

Alpha?

Lynnek's eyes widened.

One of the warriors noticed her expression.

"You don't know who he is?"

She looked back at the stranger.

He folded his arms.

"No," she admitted.

The warrior smiled nervously.

"This is Alpha Miguel... ruler of the Blackstone Pack."

Lynnek's heart skipped.

The Blackstone Alpha.

The man every pack feared.

The mixed-blood Alpha said to be ruthless in battle and impossible to defeat.

She had expected a monster.

Instead, she found a man who had just saved her life.

Miguel met her gaze without flinching.

"I believe," he said, "we'll be seeing each other again."

Lynnek scoffed.

"I doubt it."

A knowing look crossed his face.

"You shouldn't make promises the Moon Goddess may decide to break."

Before Lynnek could reply, Miguel turned and walked away with his warriors, disappearing into the darkness as silently as he had appeared.

She watched until the last of them vanished.

Only then did she realize something that made her stomach tighten.

She could still smell him.

And for some reason...

His scent refused to leave her.