Marked by the Red-Eyed Alpha

She rushed toward me, wide-eyed and bundled in a frail patched-up shawl. Not bulky like mine, wolves didn’t need all that. Full wolves ran hotter, healed quicker. Even in the cold, Mira moved light and silent, like she belonged in the wild. She has always been the calmer friend but right now, her chest rose and fell with panic. She collapsed beside me in relief. “I found you! Thank the Moon Goddess. What were you thinking? Arnou and Derek are going to kill you!” I grinned, still breathless. "Only if they catch me." She didn’t smile and I rolled my eyes. She has always had a questionable sense of humour. Mira and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. She's also an Omega so we practically spend all our time together, well except when I get in trouble—just like now. We're both nineteen. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to catch her breath. Her brown hair, usually tucked behind her ears, had started to frizz at the ends from the snow. Big brown eyes flicked ar

Mira stiffened behind me. “What do you—” I started. “Mira,” Zara said, all sugar and rot. “I won’t ask again.” Mira trembled, then took a few reluctant steps forward. Zara leaned down and whispered something in her ear. Mira went still. Then Zara shoved her—hard. Mira hit the stone floor with a cry, her knee catching the edge with a sickening thud. I lunged. Rowan caught me mid-step, one arm around my waist. “Don’t,” he whispered. “Not like this. Not here.” “Let. Me. Go.” “They want you to snap.” Zara watched us with that wicked gleam in her eyes. “Aw. So protective. You two look cute together.” I stared her down. “Do that again, and I swear—” “What? You’ll snarl at me?” she laughed. “You’re barely even wolf.” “Touch her again and I’ll show you how human rage feels,” I snapped. She tilted her head, mock-pouting. “You’re lucky we’re in public.” Then she leaned towards me, her voice hard. “Meet us behind the training arena before moonrise. Or your little friend gets more

We gathered in the courtyard as soon as the bell stopped ringing. Every pack member, from the smallest pup to the oldest elder, stood shoulder to shoulder in silence. No one spoke. Not even the warriors, who usually couldn’t keep their mouths shut unless ordered. I shifted my weight, trying not to show the way my ribs protested. Mira stood beside me, her fingers twitching. Then he came. Alpha Boris stepped forward, towering in dark leathers that hugged his broad shoulders. He didn’t need to speak to command attention. His presence did that on its own. Cold grey eyes swept over us like a blade, calm but lethal. His dark hair, streaked faintly with silver, was pulled back from a scar that ran along his temple. No one knew how he got it, and no one dared ask. Beside him stood Beta Magnus. Younger, leaner, always with his jaw tight like he was biting back words. And then Luna Nora, regal and still, with that unreadable expression she wore like a mask. Even her beauty was sharp. Untouc