The Alpha's Hidden Heir

e silence had been shattered by the chaos of battle-and by the anguished cries of his long-lost son. Every step carried

is mind raced with questions: How had she kept this secret? What else was hidden behind her guarded e

back," she spat, her voice trembling with both anger an

our home. And right now, it's the only place that can keep you and my son safe." His hand, roug

pine mixed with the lingering metallic odor of blood from the earlier skirmish. Cassian's wolf remained on high alert; he co

agile whimper echoing through her mind, pushed her onward. "I won't let them take him, Cassian," she murmured, more to herself than t

ght now, we need to leave this place." His tone brooked no argument, and the raw vulnerability in his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil-he ha

both freeze. Cassian tensed, his body coiled like a

he stillness, each of their heartbeats pounded like war drums. The tension between them was palpable-a pot

from the betrayal of those she once trusted. Every moment in hiding had been a struggle between her fierce desire to be free and the co

inst the rustling leaves. It wasn't a question of strategy-this was the personal p

being your mate-even after everything." His words were heavy, laden with both guilt and longing. "I know you hate me for w

nes emerged a figure, cloaked in shadows-a rogue Alpha with an air of effortless menace. Langster stepped forw

rawled, his voice dripping with sardonic amusement. "I must say, I didn't ex

ing in a protective stance. "Langster," he growled, h

ee, I've been watching you, Lyra. Watching you hide and run as if your past doesn't matter. And I know what you've been p

ly. "I don't know what you're talking about," she s

ough with the games, Langst

e the truth come out." His eyes flicked to Lyra, lingering on the bare hint of vulnerabili

every ounce of her being-the secret of a child born of a forbidden union, a child who carried within him the

er, her voice stronger than she felt. "

ll. After all, some debts must be paid." He glanced around as if to

r movements were deliberate, coordinated-each one a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike. In that inst

his voice echoing through the trees. The

ver down his spine. It was the cry of a child, faint but unmistakable, echoing fr

every lie-they converged into a single, unbearable truth. The rog

didn't you, Lyra? Hiding your precious heir like a dirty secr

ed, eyes burning with fury as he swung his arm, scatter

d tried to protect her child at all costs, even if it meant breaking every promise Cassian had eve

e to herself than to Cassian, her voice crack

assian snarled. "Tell me t

hifted immediately back to the danger at hand. "Enough talk!" he roared, pulling Lyra behind him as he charged toward a group of encro

to keep her child safe from the clutches of those who would exploit it. Yet, every time her eyes met Cassian's in the midst

caught her breath and looked to him. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the battlefield faded away.

gently, "we can't keep doing

ck here, Cassian. I ran because I was afraid... afraid of what you'd do, of what they'd do if they fou

e sneered, stepping forward with a predatory grace. "Afraid of the truth? Of the l

est-a signal that reinforcements were nearing, though whether friend or foe was un

out of danger yet," he murmured. "But this might be our chance to turn the tide." Hi

ly whisper amid the cacophony of battle. "We need to mov

r voice unmistakable. "I can't go back

choice. Langster knows about the child, and if we don't

e of Langster's forces began to close in from the darkness. Cassian cast a final, piercing glance

oice strained yet resolute. "I will

with him, every step a battle between her desire for freedom and

of combat faded into a tense, foreboding silence. The only sounds were their ragged

ld, but he also needed answers. The question that haunted him-what had Lyra been hiding all these years?-echoed in his thou

earching for an escape route. Cassian halted beside her, his expression softening

r of approaching warriors shattered the fragile peace once more. Ca

ows and figures danced at the edge of the clearing as Langster's v

hat secret have you

red once more-a signal that nothing was as it seemed, and that the hunt had only just beg

for any sign of movement in the moonlit gloom. The distant horn's echo faded into a maddening rh

al and snarls filled the air while Cassian swung his sword with precision. Every swing

k eyes glinted with malicious intent. It was one of Langster's elite warriors. Cassian intercepted the attacker, parrying

She fought fiercely, but every strike, every parry, seemed laced with the pain of her hidden secr

g attack. "We can't let them overwhelm us.

nt exchange of hope and despair. But there was no time for sentiment. The sounds of combat

o the core-a cry of anguish that belonged unmistakably to a child. He spun around

ed, charging after

error grip me-a mix of maternal instinct and dread. I couldn't bear the thought of losing him. My son, the

overwhelming thought: I must save him. I watched Cassian as he surged toward the source of that agonizing cry. His determination, his raw pow

urchase on the muddy ground, driven by fear and hope. Every moment felt like an eternity as I darted between trees, following th

large oak. My heart broke at the sight-the child, eyes wide with terror, clin

him standing guard, his expression a mixture of relief and anger as he c

at glinted cruelly. Langster emerged, his voice low and mocking, "So this is the secret you've hidden

"Langster," I hissed, my voice trembling

otect what wasn't yours to hide." He stepped closer, and I could see the cunning in his eyes, the cruelty beh

face the consequences." His tone was menacing, but his eyes betrayed an inne

debts to settle." He glanced at Cassian, then back to me. "I'm merely here to collect what is o

child, and the cold menace of Langster. My heart pounded as I saw Lyra's face-ravenous wi

sword raised high, I parried a vicious swipe from one of the rogue warrio

ecret has its price," he taunted. "And you, my dear Alpha, have failed to protect what matte

ng dread that Langster's words carried. The truth that had been hidden for so long-our secret child-w

e, now!" But she hesitated, torn between protec

voice raw with despera

wled. "We fight, and we protect what's ours." My eyes locked onto hers-a sile

y without truth is meaningless." He gestured dramatically. "Tell me, Lyra, how many nights did you spend

ordinated wave, and I could see Cassian's warriors beginning to turn the tide on a few of Langster's men. In

m," I whispered fiercely. Every instinct screamed to run, to hide, yet I stood my g

His tone was a mix of authority and pleading-a reminder that our fate was intertwined. I looked u

ble. "I left because I thought it was the only way to keep him safe. I was afraid of what would happen if the pack

idden? Why lie?" he demanded, frustration and heartbreak mingling in his voice. "I've b

t? But now, the time has come for the truth to be revealed." His voice carried a sini

heartbeat echoed with the truth that was tearing us apart. The forest around us seemed to close in, the moon casting l

roar of battle. "We need to fall back-retreat to the

ke, Cassian. This retreat will only give me the chance to expose everything. And once the truth is out, you'll ha

nd sorrow-crashed over me. I looked at Cassian, whose face was etched with determination and despair

ling in my eyes as I cradled my

s voice thick with regret and resolve. "But we can't let fear paralyze us

nce more. "So, tell me, Lyra," he said slowly, almost mockingly, "are you ready to reveal

desperate signal that the enemy's reinforcements were arriving. The ground trembled as mo

acking his voice. "We have to leave this

choice-a decision that would forever alter the course of our lives. With a deep, shuddering breath

I was afraid. Afraid of losing him, and afraid of what would happen if Cassian-if the pack-knew the

ttered with dark satisfaction. Cassian's face twisted with conflicting

th is out, the real hunt begins." He gestured to his rogues, and they surged

drew his sword. "We leave, now!" he order

ds of battle and Langster's mocking words echoing behind us. Every step was heavy with the w

forged in love, betrayal, and a desperate need for redemption-gave me the strength

a sinister sight-a group of figures emerging from the shadows, led by none other than Lan