The Alpha’s Blood Oath

The clearing smelled of blood and smoke. Dawn broke over the mountains, pale light filtering through the trees, catching the silver streaks in Lena’s hair and the gold in her eyes. She stood at the edge of the circle, still raw from her first full shift, sweat drying into streaks of grime and blood on her skin. The pack watched her. Not with fear, but with something sharper—respect, awe, and caution.

Kade moved beside her, shirtless, scars from the last fight glinting in the morning sun. He exhaled slowly, letting the pack’s gaze linger on him before he spoke. “You’ve seen what she can do. The moon chose well. But the trials are only beginning.”

Murmurs ran through the pack. Wolves, both human and fully shifted, exchanged glances. Some were still wary, remembering how quickly Lena had unleashed her wolf. Others bowed subtly, acknowledging her strength. Kade’s hand brushed Lena’s shoulder, grounding her.

“Your strength will be tested,” he continued, voice low, but carrying authority that made the nearest wolves flinch slightly. “Not just by enemies outside our borders, but by those inside. Loyalty is fragile. Control is rare. And the bond,” he glanced at Lena, amber gold eyes catching hers, “the bond will be your shield—and your weapon.”

Lena shivered. Her wolf itched beneath her skin, restless. She had felt the bond for the first time last night, tasted the fire of Kade’s claim, and it both terrified and thrilled her. But she had survived. She had conquered. And now she had to prove she could command, not just submit.

“First,” Kade said, his gaze sweeping over the pack, “we strengthen our hold. Cassian’s allies are still out there. Wolves who would see Blackwood torn apart. Tonight, we hunt. We send a message.”

The words sent a ripple through the pack. Excitement, fear, and anticipation collided. Lena felt the pull of her wolf, eager, predatory. But Kade’s touch grounded her, his voice firm: “Control it, or it controls you.”

A low growl escaped her throat. Kade smirked. “Good. That is the wolf acknowledging the Alpha. Now we move.”

The pack shifted, human forms and wolf forms merging, becoming a single force. Lena matched Kade’s stride, training herself to balance human thought with wolf instinct. Every step, every glance, every scent of the forest became data—information to anticipate, to react, to dominate.

“Tonight, you’ll learn the first rule of Alpha and mate,” Kade whispered, leaning close. His lips brushed her ear. “You protect the pack. You fight for your mate. And you do it together. No hesitation. No weakness. Failure is not an option.”

Her pulse jumped. Her wolf growled in response. Lena nodded, body coiling like a spring ready to release. She didn’t speak. Words weren’t needed. The bond spoke louder than any vow.

The forest beyond Blackwood trembled with distant howls. Cassian’s remnants were gathering. The rogues were circling. The first battle of many had begun.

The moon had climbed high, silver slicing through the trees, when the pack moved. Wolves padded silently, human forms blending seamlessly with shifting shadows. Lena followed Kade, matching his pace, matching his gaze, absorbing every detail of the forest around them. Each rustle, each snapping twig, each scent on the wind carried meaning.

“Stay close,” Kade murmured, voice low, lips near her ear. “The rogues are clever. They wait for fear. Don’t give them that gift.”

Her wolf growled at his words—not at the rogues, but at the thrill of anticipation. Lena’s hands itched to shift, her claws long, ready. But she remembered Kade’s lesson: control first, instinct second.

The first rogue appeared without warning. Shadowed, lean, eyes glowing faintly red in the moonlight. Lena froze for a heartbeat, then shifted. Claws extended, teeth bared, her body moving like it had known this all its life. The rogue lunged.

Kade was beside her in an instant, blocking with strength that drove the rogue off balance. Lena struck. Teeth sank. Claws raked. The rogue went down with a howl that cut through the night.

The pack surged forward as one. Wolves and humans alike moved with lethal coordination. Lena matched Kade step for step, strike for strike, feeling the bond pulsing like fire through her veins. Every motion carried his presence, every reflex guided by him.

A second rogue appeared, faster, smarter, but Lena’s wolf anticipated, coiling and striking with precision. Kade joined, teeth and claws tearing at the enemy, his golden eyes locking on hers. Mine. Yours. Ours. The unspoken command burned between them, solidifying trust.

The battle stretched on. Lena’s muscles screamed, her claws slashed, her teeth cut, and yet she felt a surge of power she had never known. This was the culmination of the baptism—her wolf fully unleashed, guided by her mind, bonded to Kade, feared and respected by the pack.

Finally, the last rogue fell, snarling, defeated, leaving the clearing eerily silent except for heavy breathing and dripping blood. Lena stood, trembling, her fur matted with sweat and victory, eyes glowing faint gold.

Kade stepped beside her, hand resting on her shoulder, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “You see? You fought beside me. Not just as mate, but as Alpha’s wolf. The pack sees it. They will follow you now, because you’ve proven yourself.”

The pack circled, nodding, growling low, some shifting into full wolves to show respect. Lena felt the thrill of recognition, power mingled with exhaustion. Her wolf, still coiled but calm now, purred within her. She had survived the baptism of claws and emerged not broken, but reborn.

Kade leaned down, lips brushing her temple. “Tonight, you learned control. And you learned that you are not alone. You are mine. And together, we are Blackwood. Our enemies will remember that.”

Lena exhaled, letting the tension leave her body, letting the bond hum in perfect resonance with his. She was no longer the frightened human who stumbled into Blackwood. She was wolf, mate, Alpha-in-training, and fire in human form.

The rogues may still lurk beyond the forest, but tonight, Blackwood had spoken. The Alpha and his Moon’s Chosen were a force no one could challenge.

And Lena, finally, understood the truth of the blood oath.