All Chapters of Alpha of My Heart: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The final note faded. Applause rippled through the hall, polite and distant, but Adrian barely heard it. His pulse still echoed the rhythm of the dance, steady and heavy, like a heartbeat he didn’t want to let go of. Samantha’s warmth lingered on his palms, her scent still coiled in his lungs, refusing to fade. He bowed slightly and forced himself to let her hand slip from his. “Thank you for the dance, Samantha,” he said. Her name felt strange on his tongue, and this was a dangerous thing. He straightened before the ache in his chest could betray him and turned back toward the throne. Each step felt heavier than the last. The air thrummed with whispers, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t. He returned to his seat, the firelight glinting off the edge of his mantle. He didn’t look at her, but he felt her, every flicker of her movement, every shallow breath. It was maddening, this awareness that refused to leave him. Luka’s presence settled beside him like an anchor. “You realize hal

The morning broke far too soon. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the council chamber, casting sharp lines across the polished table where Adrian sat, his hands clasped before him, his mind far from the droning voices that filled the room. He had barely slept even after he left her on the balcony. The scent of her still lingered, soft and maddening, caught somewhere between his throat and his memory. “…and Lady Crystal would make a fine Luna,” one of the councilmen was saying. “Her lineage is pure, and her wolf—” “—is strong, obedient,” another added. “A perfect match for the Alpha.” “Or Lady Priscilla, our beta's own sister. You grew up with her and it might be a good thing to keep the union within the pack.” Adrian said nothing. His expression was impassive, his gaze fixed on the rising dust motes dancing in the sunlight. He heard them list the names, women from the strongest packs, the most politically advantageous unions, but each name grated against him like a du

The group dismounted at the clearing, grateful for the brief respite after hours on horseback. The air was cool here, touched by the scent of running water from the nearby stream. A few birds darted through the branches above, their wings flicking sunlight across the ground. Alpha Rowan dismounted first, his movements brisk and purposeful. “We rest here for thirty minutes,” he instructed. “Then we ride until dusk.” “Yes, Alpha,” his guards chorused before moving to check the perimeter. Leif was already stretching, groaning dramatically. “If I sit on a horse for one more hour, I might actually forget how to walk.” Samantha chuckled softly as she slid off her horse. Her legs wobbled slightly from the long ride. Cade caught her elbow to steady her. “Careful,” he said. “I’m fine,” she murmured, though her muscles disagreed. “You always say that,” he replied with a faint smile. “You don’t have to act strong all the time, you know.” She gave a small laugh and glanced away, pretendi

The forest was alive with movement. Wolves darted between the trees, torches flared against the dark, and the low growls of men shifted into the restless sounds of their beasts. Orders were sharp, clipped, echoing off the bark and swallowed by the night. Alpha Rowan stood at the center of it all, his voice steady despite the storm beneath it. “Check the stream again. Then sweep outward, west first, then north. Whoever took her won’t get far.” “Yes, Alpha!” came the unified reply before paws struck the earth and disappeared into the thickets. Cade stood at the edge of the clearing, hands clenched, heart thudding in a hard rhythm that refused to calm. The night air was thick with damp and tension, carrying the faint scent of smoke from the torches. His head buzzed with the sound of the rushing stream, that same cursed sound that had hidden everything. Leif approached, mud splattered on his boots, a cut on his arm from the undergrowth. “Nothing,” he muttered. “We’ve checked the east

Darkness pressed against her from all sides, heavy and damp. The air was thick, carrying the smell of wet earth and rusted iron. A low throb pulsed at the back of her head, spreading in steady waves until it settled behind her eyes. She blinked. The world swayed. When her vision cleared, she was on the ground, hands bound behind her back, ankles tied. Her cheek rested against cold stone. Faint light filtered through cracks in the walls, enough to show rough-hewn metal bars and the curve of a small, dirt-covered space. A den. Or a holding cell. Her breath hitched, though she forced herself to stay quiet. Panicking wouldn’t help. She drew in air slowly, counting the seconds. One, two, three. The scent of wolves lingered in the air, male, strong, but unclean. Rogues. Her pulse quickened. She remembered the stream. The water had been cold against her hands. She’d heard a sound, something like a branch snapping, but before she could turn, pain exploded at the back of her skull. Then n