🐺 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬’ 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 🐺

🌕 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 🌕

Four weeks. That's how long the Alpha heirs had been back.

And Nymeria still couldn't figure out why they wouldn't stop looking at her.

Every morning when she crossed the courtyard to fetch water, she felt it. Their eyes on her back.

Every afternoon when she dropped to her knees to scrub the stone floors, she sensed them watching from the windows above.

It made her skin crawl with confusion.

She was nobody. A wolf-less orphan. A girl who scrubbed toilets for a living.

And yet, they couldn't seem to look away.

"Stop it," Nymeria muttered to herself, scrubbing the kitchen floor so hard her knuckles went white.

"They're not staring at you. You're imagining things. You're literally scrubbing poop off the floor. No one is staring at YOU."

But she was wrong.

Damien stood on the balcony overlooking the courtyard, his jaw so tight it ached.

His wolf paced beneath his skin, restless and hungry for something he couldn't name.

Every time he saw her that mess of dark curls, those defiant gray eyes the rage that had consumed him since his father fell ill went quiet.

She was like medicine he hadn't known he needed.

"She's scrubbing the floor again," Kai said, appearing beside him with a grin. "You know, most Alphas watch beautiful women dancing. You watch a girl cleaning toilets."

Damien didn't look away. "Shut up."

"I'm just saying." Kai leaned against the railing, his eyes tracking Nymeria's movements. "She's pretty when she's angry though. Look at her. She's attacking that floor like it personally offended her."

"You're staring too."

"Obviously." Kai's grin widened. "I'm not blind."

From the shadows behind them, Rafe watched in silence.

His mind raced with prophecies and ancient texts, trying to piece together what his instincts already knew.

She was important.

He just didn't know why yet.

---

Kai had started inventing excuses to walk past the kitchen.

"I need tea," he'd announce, strolling in for the third time that morning.

"Alpha Kai, you've had six cups," the cook said flatly.

"Seven now." He grabbed another cup, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Nymeria.

She was scrubbing pots in the corner, her sleeves rolled up, her hair escaping its bun.

His wolf purred.

She caught him staring and froze. "Alpha Kai? Do you... need something?"

"You," he almost said. Instead, he grinned. "Just making sure you're not working too hard."

Her cheeks flushed pink. "I'm fine."

"You're always fine." His voice dropped lower. "Too fine, actually."

Then he realized what he'd said and nearly choked on his tea.

---

The Moon Festival arrived under a sky full of silver light.

The grand courtyard blazed with torches and lanterns.

Music filled the air. Rival Alphas, noble families, and warriors from across the territories had gathered—not just to celebrate, but to judge.

With Alpha Viktor weakened, every eye was watching for signs of instability.

Nymeria's hands trembled as she carried heavy platters through the crowd.

Don't draw attention. Don't make a mistake. Just survive.

She was balancing a tray of goblets when Kai appeared beside her.

"You look like you're about to drop six glasses on the High Alpha of the Northern Territories," he said casually, taking the tray from her hands.

Her blush deepened. "I was fine."

"You were shaking." His eyes swept over her face, then lower. "Your hands are shaking. Your lips are trembling."

He paused, something dark flickering in his gaze. "And honestly, the way that dress fits you is distracting me."

Her mouth dropped open.

Kai's smile turned wolfish. "What? I'm just saying. That waist is criminal. Those curves—"

"Alpha Kai!"

"Kai," he corrected gently. "Just Kai. And I'm serious. Whoever designed that dress knew exactly what they were doing."

He let his eyes travel down her body and back up, slow and deliberate. "I've been staring at you all night, and it's not because of your serving skills."

She was bright red now. "You—you shouldn't—"

"I shouldn't look at you? Or I shouldn't want to touch you?"

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Because both are impossible."

He walked away before she could respond, leaving her more confused than ever.

The noble daughters cornered Nymeria near the training grounds, away from the celebration.

"Well, well," Seraphina Volkov sneered, her blonde hair gleaming in the moonlight. "Look who it is. The orphan who thinks she's special."

Nymeria backed away, her heart pounding. "I don't think I'm anything."

"Clearly you do," another girl snapped. "Or why would the Alpha heirs keep looking at YOU?"

"I don't know why they look at me," Nymeria whispered. "I don't want their attention."

"Liar." Seraphina shoved her hard.

Nymeria stumbled and fell, scraping her palms on the rough stone.

Before she could get up, kicks rained down on her ribs. She curled into a ball, protecting her head.

"Maybe if we destroy her face, they'll stop staring," Seraphina laughed. "No one wants an ugly mate."

Nymeria squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for more blows.

Then her silver pendant burned against her skin.

Damien felt it first—a sharp jolt of terror that wasn't his own.

His head snapped toward the training grounds. His wolf surged, roaring with fury.

Kai stumbled beside him, his playful smile vanishing. His hands clenched into fists.

Rafe's eyes widened as the same feeling crashed through him. "Nymeria," he breathed.

They ran.

Damien reached her first.

His Alpha aura exploded outward, crushing the attackers with invisible force.

Seraphina and her friends dropped to their knees, gasping for air. Their faces went white with terror.

"Did you touch her?" Damien's voice was low, dangerous. "Did you lay a single hand on her?"

They couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe.

"Answer me!"

"Alpha Damien—" Seraphina gasped. "She's just an orphan—"

"I don't care what she is." His voice cracked like thunder. "If any of you ever touch her again, I will destroy everything your families have built.

Do you understand?"

They nodded frantically, scrambling away.

Kai crouched beside Nymeria, his hands gentle as he helped her sit up.

His face was cold, the dangerous warrior beneath the playfulness revealed. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

She nodded weakly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I don't understand. Why do you keep saving me?"

Kai's expression softened. "Because you're worth saving."

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "And because I can't stop thinking about you. All I do is think about you."

Rafe arrived, his eyes dark with worry. He knelt on her other side, carefully examining her bruises.

His touch was impossibly gentle, as though she were made of glass.

"You're bleeding," he said quietly.

"It's just scratches," she whispered.

"It's not just scratches." He looked at his brothers. "She can't stay in the servant quarters. It's not safe."

Damien's expression hardened. "She's coming with us. We're moving her into the Alpha Wing."

Nymeria's eyes widened. "The Alpha Wing? I can't—I'm just a servant—"

"You're not just anything," Damien said fiercely. "I don't know what you are yet, but I know you're not nothing. And I'm not letting anyone hurt you again."

She tried to stand. "No, it's fine. I can walk back to my maid quarters myself. I'm fine."

She took one step and her legs gave out.

She crumpled toward the ground.

Damien caught her before she hit the stone. "That's it. I'm carrying you."

"Put me down!" she shouted, her face burning. "The elders will see. The Luna will—"

"The elders and Luna will have to talk to us." He lifted her easily, cradling her against his chest. "They can't do anything to you. You're ours now."

"YOURS?"