The Alpha King

"The child belongs to the prophecy."

The words echoed in my head.

I stared at the stranger in disbelief.

"What prophecy?"

His silver eyes narrowed.

For a moment, he seemed to be studying me.

Trying to decide whether I was a threat.

Or something else entirely.

The bodies of the rogues lay scattered across the forest floor around us.

The scent of blood filled the air.

Yet somehow, I felt safer standing near this terrifying stranger than I had felt around anyone else in a long time.

"Answer me," I demanded.

The stranger remained silent.

My patience snapped.

"I don't even know who you are!"

A dangerous look crossed his face.

The warriors behind him exchanged nervous glances.

Warriors?

I hadn't even noticed them.

Nearly twenty men had emerged from the shadows.

Each one armed.

Each one powerful.

And every single one of them treated the stranger with obvious respect.

No.

Not respect.

Fear.

The realization made my stomach tighten.

Who was this man?

One of the warriors stepped forward.

"Watch your tone."

The stranger lifted a hand.

The warrior immediately fell silent.

Then the stranger looked directly into my eyes.

"My name is Kael Nightshade."

The world stopped.

My heart skipped a beat.

No.

It couldn't be.

Every werewolf knew that name.

The ruler of all werewolf territories.

The strongest Alpha alive.

The man feared by kings and Alphas alike.

The Alpha King.

My legs nearly gave out.

I had just shouted at the Alpha King.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

I lowered my gaze immediately.

"Your Majesty."

His eyes remained fixed on me.

"Look at me."

The command slipped from his lips effortlessly.

And yet it felt impossible to disobey.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

His gaze softened slightly.

Only slightly.

"You're frightened."

I almost laughed.

Of course I was frightened.

I'd been rejected.

Banished.

Attacked by rogues.

And now I was standing in front of the most powerful werewolf in existence.

What part of this situation wasn't terrifying?

"I'm fine."

A lie.

A terrible lie.

Kael took one look at my face and clearly knew it.

His eyes shifted to my arm.

Blood.

A deep scratch from the rogue attack.

I hadn't even noticed it.

Kael's expression darkened.

"Who hurt you?"

I blinked.

The question caught me off guard.

The concern in his voice seemed genuine.

Which made no sense.

He didn't know me.

"Just the rogues."

His jaw tightened.

As though that answer displeased him.

One of his warriors approached.

"Your Majesty, we should leave. The scouts have reported movement nearby."

Kael ignored him.

His attention remained on me.

Then he surprised everyone.

Including me.

"You're coming with us."

My eyes widened.

"What?"

A warrior looked horrified.

"Your Majesty—"

"That's an order."

Instant silence followed.

No one dared argue.

I swallowed nervously.

"Your Majesty, I appreciate your help, but I can't go with you."

His expression became unreadable.

"Why?"

Because I didn't trust anyone anymore.

Because the last man I trusted had destroyed my life.

Because I was carrying a secret that could get me killed.

But before I could answer, a sudden pain shot through my abdomen.

I gasped.

My knees buckled.

Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground.

The Alpha King's arms.

Heat rushed to my face.

Kael looked down at me.

His silver eyes filled with concern.

A strange sensation spread through the air.

The warriors froze.

Every single one of them.

As if they'd just witnessed something impossible.

I didn't understand.

But they did.

One warrior looked absolutely pale.

"Your Majesty..."

Kael slowly turned toward him.

The warrior swallowed hard.

"The Moon Bond."

Silence.

My heart pounded.

Moon Bond?

That was impossible.

A Moon Bond was rarer than a mate bond.

A connection blessed directly by the Moon Goddess herself.

Most wolves never encountered one in their lifetime.

I stared at Kael.

He stared back.

Neither of us spoke.

But something had changed.

I could feel it.

A strange pull.

A strange warmth.

A strange awareness of him.

And judging by the look in his eyes...

He felt it too.