Chapter 2: The Stranger

Elena's POV 

The forest was too quiet. No crickets. No wind. Just the sound of my heart pounding like a war drum in my chest.

I don't know how long I've been running, but I know I'm close to the borders of Roseville, the most dangerous part of the city, prone to frequent rogue attacks. I had to stop because I was getting tired.

Ambrose, Mum, Dad and some pack members tried reaching out to me through the mindlink but I blocked them out.

I collapsed onto the forest floor, my back hitting the rough bark of a tree as the tears I’d been holding back finally broke free.

A bitter laugh tore out of me between sobs.

What a day indeed. 

My life had always been perfect, or so I thought. I am Elena Rivers. Daughter of Alpha Cade of Crescent Moon Pack—the second strongest pack in Roseville. A female Alpha. Marked by the Moon Goddess herself. 

Alphas had come from every corner of Roseville to ask for my hand. Powerful men. Respected men. I rejected every single one of them.

For Lucan.

And what did that loyalty earn me?

Shame.

Disgrace.

Rejection.

Before fifteen packs and the full moon itself.

What would people think of Crescent moon after this. 

Was the plan to make my family a laughing stock?

My chest burned, my wolf silent inside me, obviously wounded beyond words.

I pressed my trembling palm into the dirt and lifted my tear-streaked face to the sky, facing the full moon. 

“Moon Goddess,” I whispered, my voice shaking with grief, “you let this happen to your daughter, but why. Why me?” hot tears rolled down my face. 

“Don't I deserve to be loved, to have a mate, to be happy. Don't I?”

My fingers curled into fists.

“Lucan Woods… I won't forget today, you will surely regret this. I swear on my life, the moon standing as my witness, I'd take every single thing that seems like happiness away from you, Lucan Woods.” 

I stumbled back, letting my back rest on the tree, inhaling the fresh air deeply, slowly closing my eyes, allowing the peace of the forest to envelop me.

I'm not going to let them ruin me. Never. 

I don't know how long I've been sitting there with my eyes closed but I started hearing sounds of leaves rustling in the distance.

Footsteps. Someone was coming. 

I snapped my eyes open that instant and looked around to make sure I wasn't imagining things.

Who would be walking around the forest at this hour. Just then, sharp scent of blood hit my nostrils making me stand immediately.

The air felt stiff and dangerous, like there was some sort of predator devouring its prey, and who knows, I might be next.

The footsteps were getting closer and each step made my heart skip a little, I took a step forward on high alert, stretching my neck to see if someone was coming this way, but I saw nothing and everywhere fell silent again.

“Strange,” I muttered.

Just as I was about to sit down, a loud cry shot through the air followed by sounds of someone's body being ripped into pieces.

“What in the—I'm out of here.” I turned to the left lane, the way that leads back home. 

That's when I heard footsteps coming from behind me, louder this time. I felt it—that strange heat crawling up my spine. My wolf senses stirred for the first time since the rejection.

I paused in my tracks and turned back slowly only to come face to face with…. a MAN!

A brutally handsome one at that. Like… Holy fuck, Lucan stood no chance near him. 

He stood there and I forgot, for one terrible second, how to breathe.

He was tall, had no shirt on, wearing only low-hanging pants. His tattoos—Oh my, were super cool, they sprawled across his chest and down both arms like a map of somewhere dark and unnamed. I noticed a jagged scar on his cheek. His amber eyes watched me with such intensity that my legs almost gave up. 

The strangest heat crawled up my spine, sinking slow and treacherous, like my body was betraying me in front of someone I should be afraid of.

Lia, who hadn't made a sound since the altar, stirred.

"Elena."

"Quiet," I told her sharply.

"I'm just saying—"

"I said quiet."

I managed to force some words out of my mouth, my voice steadier than I felt. "Who are you?"

He didn't answer immediately, he just stared on and it unsettled me more than any threat could have.

"You're a long way from your pack, Elena Rivers," he said finally. His voice was low. 

"The dangerous part of the forest. Especially tonight."

I stiffened. "How do you know my name?"

The corner of his mouth twitched, not quite a smile though. "Crescent Moon's Alpha daughter. Moon-marked." His gaze dropped briefly to my collarbone, where my birthmark had been burning for hours. "Hard to miss."

I resisted the urge to cover it. "You didn't answer my question. Who are you?"

He held my gaze for a moment longer than was comfortable. Then, without a word, he stepped back into the dark. The shift happened fast — bones, muscle, black fur swallowing him whole until a massive wolf stood where the man had been. Amber eyes, still watching me.

Then he was gone. Swallowed by the trees like he'd never been there at all. 

I stood very still, my heart pounding loud in my chest.

"Lia."

"Mm?"

"What was that?"

She was quiet for a beat too long. "Nothing you need to worry about tonight."

Which from Lia, meant the opposite.

One thing was certain, this man was no ordinary werewolf. He was different.

“This city gets stranger every day,” I muttered under my breath.

 Just then, sounds of leaves rustling reached my ears. Hideous laughter followed after.

 Rogues. I smell rogues.

They've really got some nerves to still be around after the way that strange guy killed the others.

There had been a series of rogue attacks lately, and my father, Alpha Cade, had warned every pack member against late-night runs. But after everything that happened, I needed air.

“It’s time to go, Lia.

She hummed.

“Mind telling what the reaction earlier was about.” 

“Trust me it's nothing you don't know about.” She replied softly.

“Meaning?” 

“You will understand when the time comes, now can you get going lest those filthy creatures attack us.”

“Fine.” I sighed, and took off as fast as my legs could carry me.

Within minutes, I reached the pack house. I climbed through my window and landed quietly in my room.

I don't want anyone to notice I'm home.

I sat on my bed, eyes closed trying as much as possible to delete the last few hours out of my brain but the memories wouldn’t stop. They played again and again like a cruel movie.

I stood up, dragging my tired body to the bathroom,

“Maybe a cold shower will help,” I muttered, and Lia hummed in quiet agreement.

Standing before the faucet I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I could barely recognize the girl staring back at me—my hair was a mess, makeup ruined, my wedding dress was stained with soil and torn at some places.

I looked like a scary ghost!

“Damn” I sighed, reaching for the zip of my dress to unzip but a loud growl made me stop.

“Dad?” The voice sounded very much like his.