The Bastard Alpha

't come fro

nds with you when the world

ient wars, where no pack claimed territory and no Alpha ruled. The air was

ere monsters

ere legends

rfe

m clouds. The girl-my mate, whether I liked it or not-walked beside me now instead of in my arms. He

t given me

dn't

power was dangerous th

ore," she said quietly

ded. "

ou were

I was never officially exiled be

ay. "You don't act like som

plied, "that survival re

orest

sto

ger-reco

all carrying scars that spoke of battles survived and loyal

y kn

in my body wen

," I o

y di

red man with burn scars down one side

en waiting

olf s

ing fo

or

l sigils. These were rogues-but not the feral kind.

w who I a

d. "Kael. The bastard.

t a ripple th

. "The council will kill

n with silver-threaded braids and eyes sharp

beside m

e you?"

ked up, meeting my gaze with

"Exiles. Broken Alphas. Failed h

est ti

id you

The Moonbeast's cry carried

ad alrea

aled s

wing this ends one of two ways. We over

esita

d their he

rest sh

e shift. Something ancient stirred beneath the

asked for

te didn

stand,"

ey

bond

closer to me. "You

ed. "I'm forming

d before

indly anymore. We found refuge in the ruins by nightfall-stone structures half-swallowe

my blo

tepped inside,

d to life with

nto the walls-marks I und

owed hard. "This place

embers,"

ened. "This was

kind," I

t fel

a broken table, eyes

ip wasn't

was

ights," I said. "They'll send mercenar

rmur

the braids said. "We've

most

ands on the

lion," I continued. "

t their

on fear, blood purity, and erased truths. T

red man k

us be your

d flared

ething lock

beneath the

rom deep within the Wilds. Shapes emerged from

og

tca

xi

without bei

cause somethi

breathless. "They'

y. "They're answerin

there were

nearly a

a p

fac

uncil had never

always dema

when the ai

nto the ruins, heavy

yone

e shadows-tall, composed,

Alpha

lo

ra

arro

counting faces, measuring

lmly, "the bastar

pped f

ied. "That means you're eithe

s curved

o offer yo

moved to

flicked to he

said. "Come with me. I w

len

I refuse?

's eyes

leash the P

hit like

followers

leaned

start wi

bond

ruins

-slow and

e already lo

moment he t

opped being

came p