004: Taken By The Enemy Alpha

The forest erupted into chaos.

Howls ripped through the night—wild, uncoordinated, feral. Rogue wolves. Too many to count.

Ronan moved instantly.

He pulled me behind him, one arm wrapping around my waist as his body shifted forward, placing himself between me and the darkness. His dominance radiated like a storm, thick and palpable, making the air itself vibrate.

“Stay close,” he ordered. “No matter what you hear.”

A massive black wolf burst from the trees to our left, eyes glowing red with hunger, foam dripping from its jaws.

Ronan snarled—a deep, thunderous sound that shook the ground.

The rogue hesitated. Only for a moment. Then it lunged.

Ronan shoved me aside and shifted mid-motion, bones cracking, flesh reshaping in a blur of silver and shadow. Where the man had stood now towered a massive gray wolf, larger than any Alpha I had ever seen. Power radiated from him like fire in ice.

He met the rogue head-on.

The impact sent shockwaves through the forest. Snarls, snapping jaws, and the thunder of muscle and bone echoed through the night as Ronan tore into the rogue with brutal precision—no wasted motion, no mercy.

Another howl sounded behind me.

I spun just in time to see two more rogues emerging from the trees, circling. My heart slammed against my ribs. I had no weapon. No wolf. No pack.

Run, my instincts screamed.

But my legs wouldn’t obey.

The rogues advanced, lips curling back to reveal fangs stained dark. Fear clawed at my throat.

Then something deep inside me answered.

Heat flared beneath my skin—stronger than before, hotter, pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat. Silver light flickered across my arms, crawling like living fire.

The rogues froze. Unease flickered in their red eyes as they sniffed the air.

I lifted my trembling hands, unsure what I was doing—only that I needed them to stop.

“Don’t,” I whispered.

The word echoed through the clearing.

The ground beneath my feet trembled. One rogue whimpered. The others lowered their heads.

I gasped, staring at my hands in disbelief. What am I?

A roar shook the forest as Ronan finished the last rogue, blood staining his fur. He turned sharply, emerald eyes locking on me.

And then—

He stilled.

The silver light around me brightened, responding to his presence as if recognizing him.

Ronan shifted back, breathing hard, eyes dark and unreadable.

“What did you just do?” he asked quietly.

“I—I don’t know,” I stammered, panic lacing my voice. “I didn’t mean to—”

He was in front of me in an instant, gripping my wrists gently but firmly.

“That wasn’t an accident,” he said. “Rogues don’t submit.”

My chest tightened. “They did.”

“Yes,” Ronan agreed slowly. “To you.”

Silence pressed in around us, broken only by our uneven breathing.

“You can’t stay here,” he said finally. “Not now. Not after that.”

“Where would I go?” I asked bitterly. “I have nothing.”

His gaze softened—just slightly.

“You have value,” he said. “And that makes you dangerous.”

He turned, motioning deeper into the forest. “My territory is close. You’ll be safer there.”

I hesitated.

“Why are you helping me?” I asked. “Really.”

Ronan stopped and looked back at me.

“Because Silverclaw rejected their Luna,” he said. “And I won’t make the same mistake.”

The words sent a strange ache through my chest.

We moved quickly through the forest, the trees growing denser as unfamiliar scents filled the air. Ronan stayed close, always between me and the shadows.

After what felt like hours, the forest thinned—and massive stone gates came into view.

Blackrock Pack.

Torches burned along the walls. Guards snapped to attention the moment Ronan appeared.

Their gazes fell on me—curious, wary, some even awed.

“Open the gates,” Ronan commanded.

They obeyed immediately.

As we stepped inside, whispers rippled through the pack.

“That’s her…”

“The rejected one…”

“Why does she feel like—”

Ronan’s hand brushed mine, grounding me.

“You’re under my protection,” he said quietly. “No one will touch you without my permission.”

My throat tightened.

We reached the Alpha’s hall, a towering structure carved from dark stone. The doors closed behind us with a heavy thud.

Ronan turned to face me.

“You’ll stay here tonight,” he said. “We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

“And if I want to leave?” I asked.

His eyes darkened. “Then you’ll explain,” he said, “why the Moon answers you like a queen.”

Before I could respond, a sharp pain ripped through my chest.

I cried out, collapsing to my knees.

Silver light burst from me—violent, uncontrollable. Symbols flared across the floor, etching themselves in

molten energy.

Outside, the moon blazed brighter than ever.

And far away—

Alpha Kael clutched his chest.

The mate bond screamed.