Chapter 2 — The Alpha
Kael Draven had ruled the Blackridge Pack for five years.
Five years of protecting his wolves.
Five years of fighting enemies that humans didn't even know existed.
And five years of making sure no human ever stepped too deep into his territory.
Until tonight.
Kael stood silently in the shadows, watching the human girl in front of him.
She smelled like winter air and wildflowers.
His wolf stirred immediately.
Alert.
Curious.
Dangerously interested.
Kael clenched his jaw.
That had never happened before.
Most humans smelled the same to him—fear and weakness.
But this girl…
She was different.
Brave enough to walk into the darkest part of the forest at night.
And foolish enough to challenge him.
"Your territory?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "What are you, the owner of the forest?"
Kael almost smiled.
Almost.
Instead, he crossed his arms.
"I'm the reason people stay out of it."
The girl studied him carefully, like she was trying to solve a puzzle.
Most humans would have run by now.
But she stayed.
"What's your name?" she asked suddenly.
Kael hesitated.
For years, he had avoided humans.
Avoided connections.
Avoided anything that could bring danger to his pack.
But something about this girl made it hard to look away.
"Elara Whitmore," she said, extending her hand confidently.
"Journalist."
She was introducing herself to him.
Like he was just another man.
Not the Alpha of the most feared wolf pack in the region.
Kael ignored her hand.
"Go home, Elara."
Her eyebrows furrowed.
"You didn't answer my question."
"You don't need to know my name."
Elara crossed her arms.
"Then I guess I'll just call you 'creepy forest guy.'"
Kael sighed quietly.
Humans were exhausting.
"My name is Kael."
Elara smiled.
"See? That wasn't so hard."
Kael's wolf suddenly growled inside his mind.
Low.
Restless.
Look at her.
Kael's eyes flicked back to Elara.
The moment he truly looked at her—
Everything changed.
His wolf froze.
Then a single word echoed through his mind like thunder.
Mate.
Kael's heart slammed violently against his ribs.
No.
That was impossible.
His wolf growled again.
Mate.
Kael immediately stepped back from her.
Elara noticed.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing."
But his voice had turned colder.
Distant.
Because if she really was his mate…
She was in terrible danger.
Kael forced himself to look away.
"You need to leave."
Elara frowned.
"Why? Afraid I'll discover your secret?"
Kael's silver eyes darkened.
"You have no idea what's out here."
A cold wind rushed through the forest.
The trees creaked softly.
Then Kael heard something.
A distant sound deep in the woods.
His wolf instantly became alert.
Not wolves.
Something worse.
Kael's expression hardened.
"You need to go. Now."
Elara blinked.
"Why do you keep saying that?"
Because something was coming.
Something that hunted wolves.
Something that would kill a human without hesitation.
Kael looked back at her one last time.
And his wolf whispered again.
Mate.
For the first time in years…
The Shadow Alpha felt fear.
Because if the forest monsters found her first—
His mate would die.