SHADOW OF THE ALPHA

was being watched. Every creak of the floorboards in the inn, every whisper of wind outside her window, felt char

the wolves without fear. And then there was the legend of Kael, the missing Alpha whose name carried bo

lashlight and a knife she'd borrowed from the inn's kitchen, though she doubted it would be much help agains

e trees cast long shadows in the fading light, and the air was heavy with the scent of damp earth

r even Ash himself. Part of her knew it was reckless to come

aint path she'd taken before, her heart pounding with every step. The deeper she went, the more the forest seemed to change. The air

it-a faint whisper, like a voice carried o

ra.

t a breath. She whipped around, her flashlight d

she called, her

e from a different direction. "L

, it wasn't. It was layered, distorted, as though i

tly, Lyra took a cautious st

t, she thought she might have imagined it. Bu

was

him. His silver eyes seemed darker, and his movements were tense, almost

voice shaky. "What's

rrupted, his tone sharp. "Yo

but you won't tell me why. I deserve a

u're getting into. This forest, the wolves, Kael... it's all connected. A

ped. "Stop treating me like some clu

ment, he looked torn, as though he were fig

he said, his voice low. "He'

mind racing. "What do yo

ne for years, but his presence has never truly left. And now, something's changed. The pack is restless. T

ed. "But why? What d

appearance fractured them. They've been leaderless, divided, and now they're desperate. If Kael comes back, the p

rd. "And you? Whe

en he finally spoke, his voice was barel

gh the forest. Her blood turned to ice as she realized it was

turned, his body tensing. "Stay be

forest was plunged into darkness. When the light returned, she s

re, but no less menacing. Their fur bristled as they s

ack," he commanded, his voice carrying a weight o

heir growls faltering.

searching for a way out, but the wolves had them surrounded.

his voice low. "When I say r

pounded. "Wha

said, his tone leavin

h inhuman speed, intercepting it mid-air. The two collided with a

, his voice cuttin

ng into the forest. The sounds of snarls and growls faded be

ungs burned, and her legs felt like lead, but she didn't stop. The forest s

her, she burst into a small clearing. She bent

nce was

ce spoke, cold

dn't have

epped out of the shadows-a man with dark eyes and a cruel s

the man raised a hand,