To save Rocky, I ventured into the Poisoned Forest, searching for rare herbs. My knowledge of healing was limited, so I relied on the old method—tasting the plants to identify their properties. The first leaf I chewed sent a searing heat through my abdomen. Damn it, it was the mate-bond enhancing plant!

The lore said the antidote would be within three steps. I scanned the area and spotted a man lying unconscious in the undergrowth. His sharp features were striking, his black jacket contrasting against his pale skin. My instincts took over as I approached him, my body trembling with need.

But I had to be respectful. Before acting, I leaned down and asked, "Sir, can you help me neutralize this?" He didn’t respond, his eyes closed, but his silence felt like consent. I reached for the hem of his jacket, my hands trembling.

Midway, his eyes fluttered open. They were piercing, like sunlight breaking through a storm. Embarrassed, I quickly covered his eyes with a strip of fabric torn from my sleeve. "Stop," he rasped, his voice strained, his grip tightening around my waist. I whimpered, pleading, "Aren’t you supposed to help me? Isn’t this enough?"

Afterward, I barely remember how I left. My legs wobbled, and I clutched my side as I stumbled back to the packhouse with the antidote. When I gave it to Rocky, his sharp eyes immediately caught the marks on my neck. His face paled, and he turned away. "Lennox," he said, his tone sharp, "what the hell just happened?"

I stammered, "I just went to the forest to get the antidote. Got bitten by something, that’s all. Didn’t see anyone else." He glared at me, a mix of anger and embarrassment coloring his cheeks, and snapped, "Get out of here."

---

Later, I realized I was pregnant. It was from that day. When Rocky saw me wincing in discomfort, he raised an eyebrow. "What’s wrong? Did you actually get hurt getting the antidote for me?"

That day, Rocky had been severely injured during a border patrol, and I’d risked everything to find the rare herbs in the Poisoned Forest. My lack of training left me with no choice but to test the plants myself. The first leaf I tasted sent a fire through my body. Damn it, it was the mate-bond enhancing plant! The old texts said the antidote would be within three steps.

I looked around and spotted a man lying in the brush. His features were striking, his black jacket stark against his pale skin. My instincts took over as I approached him, my body trembling with need. But I had to be respectful. Before acting, I leaned down and asked, "Sir, can you help me neutralize this?" He didn’t respond, his eyes closed, but his silence felt like consent. I reached for the hem of his jacket, my hands trembling.

Midway, his eyes fluttered open. They were piercing, like sunlight breaking through a storm. Embarrassed, I quickly covered his eyes with a strip of fabric torn from my sleeve. "Stop," he rasped, his voice strained, his grip tightening around my waist. I whimpered, pleading, "Aren’t you supposed to help me? Isn’t this enough?"

Afterward, I barely remember how I left. My legs wobbled, and I clutched my side as I stumbled back to the packhouse with the antidote. When I gave it to Rocky, his sharp eyes immediately caught the marks on my neck. His face paled, and he turned away. "Lennox," he said, his tone sharp, "what the hell just happened?"

I stammered, "I just went to the forest to get the antidote. Got bitten by something, that’s all. Didn’t see anyone else." He glared at me, a mix of anger and embarrassment coloring his cheeks, and snapped, "Get out of here."

---

I sat in my room later, my hands trembling as I realized the truth. The heat in my abdomen hadn’t just been from the plant—it was a life growing inside me. My wolf stirred uneasily, a low whine echoing in my mind. What have I done?

Rocky’s words from earlier echoed in my head. "Whoever dared touch the Alpha King is as good as dead. If I find out who it was, they’re finished." He’d turned to me, his sharp eyes narrowing. "It’s not you, right? Someone like you wouldn’t even cross his path." I’d forced a smile, my heart pounding. "Of course not. I wouldn’t dare."

No clues, but I had a secret now—one that could destroy everything.

It’s been a few days, and everything has been quiet. I let out a sigh of relief—it seems the savior isn’t coming after all. The world really isn’t such a bad place, is it? Before I left, I made sure to give him something to help him recover, a small way to repay his kindness.

When I saw Rocky again, he looked fine, though he couldn’t quite meet my eyes. I think he’s still grateful for what I did that day, saving him. But then Nelson, our Head Healer, came in with a serious expression, warning us to keep our heads down and watch our behavior.

“The Alpha from the Silver Pack is coming to handle some business. Stay quiet and focus on your work,” he said, vague as ever. I turned to Rocky immediately.

“What’s the Alpha coming for?” I asked.

Rocky smirked, his tone sharp. “To hunt down a rogue.”

The Alpha of the Silver Pack, Ryan Hawkins, is known for his cold, untouchable demeanor. His aura is so dominant it’s almost suffocating, and he’s rumored to be burdened by a rare wolfsbane poisoning that forces him to suppress his wolf’s instincts. Half of our pack’s resources come from him—his pack’s frequent skirmishes with rogues keep us busy with injuries, from broken bones to life-threatening wounds. He’s practically single-handedly boosted our pack’s economy.

Now that the Alpha is coming to inspect, I’m a little excited. Maybe we’ll sell more medicine! If I can save enough, maybe I’ll finally have the courage to confess my feelings to Rocky and plan a proper mark ceremony. The thought made me chuckle, but Rocky grabbed my arm, his grip firm.

“Listen, don’t get too close to him,” he warned. “He’s here to find someone. The day I got poisoned, you were supposed to be in the herb fields. Thankfully, you weren’t in the Poisoned Forest. The Alpha, though—he wasn’t so lucky. He passed out there, and some rogue took advantage of him. When he woke up, he tore the whole place apart, half the forest is gone now.”

The Poisoned Forest? My neck stiffened. I was supposed to be in the herb fields that day, but Rocky’s condition was critical, so I took a detour into the Poisoned Forest to find the herbs he needed. The memory of the savior’s scent enveloping me, his strength nearly crushing me, flashed in my mind. My stomach churned, and I instinctively checked my pulse. I’m healthy, strong even. But… how is it possible that I’m pregnant?

Rocky frowned and grabbed my wrist. “What’s wrong? Did you get hurt that day picking herbs? You’re so useless, let me check.”

I panicked, trying to pull my arm back.

Bang!

The door was shattered, its sturdy frame collapsing with a deafening crash. The force of it sent a shockwave through the room, and everyone froze in place. Even the air seemed to hold its breath as the dust settled, revealing a figure emerging from the chaos.

He stepped through the debris, his presence alone enough to make the room feel smaller, heavier. His silhouette was sharp, commanding, and the aura radiating from him was overwhelming—an Alpha’s aura, raw and unrelenting. My heart raced as I recognized him immediately. It was him. The one who had saved me that night.

Ryan Hawkins, Alpha of the Blue Pack.

His features were harsh, his jawline chiseled, and his eyes—those piercing, predatory eyes—were locked onto the room with a cold intensity that made my blood run cold. His wolf was close to the surface; I could feel it in the way his energy crackled in the air, threatening to suffocate anyone who dared to challenge him. He didn’t need to shift; his human form alone was enough to assert dominance.

My legs trembled, and I instinctively moved behind my younger packmate, Gemma, trying to make myself as small as possible. I didn’t dare breathe too loudly, didn’t dare let my scent drift too far. My wolf, Willow, stirred uneasily in the back of my mind, a low whimper echoing in my thoughts. She recognized him too, and the bond—the one I’d been trying so hard to ignore—thrummed faintly, a dangerous reminder of what he was to me.

But he hadn’t seen my face that night. He didn’t know it was me. That had to be my saving grace.

Head Healer Nelson Jenkins, the elder of our pack, stepped forward, bowing his head in deference. His voice was calm, respectful, but I could hear the underlying tension. "Alpha Ryan," he began, his tone even. "To what do we owe the honor of your presence?"

Ryan’s eyes flicked to Nelson, his lips curling into a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. "Are all your pack members present?" he asked, his voice low and commanding, the Alpha tone laced with authority. It wasn’t a question; it was a demand.

Nelson nodded. "Yes, Alpha. Everyone is here."

Ryan’s gaze swept the room, lingering for a moment on each face before he spoke again. "All males, leave. Females, stay." His voice was cold, dismissive, and the weight of his command pressed down on us like a physical force.

The men hesitated, glancing at Nelson for confirmation. When the Head Healer gave a curt nod, they began to file out, their movements quick and obedient. No one dared to question an Alpha’s orders.

I stayed rooted in place, my heart pounding in my chest. Gemma shifted slightly, her protective instincts kicking in, but even she couldn’t shield me from the Alpha’s piercing stare. Ryan’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the remaining women, and for a brief, terrifying moment, I thought his gaze lingered on me.

But then he turned away, his expression darkening. "This won’t take long," he said, his tone cutting through the silence like a blade. "Cooperate, and this will be over quickly."

My wolf whimpered again, a soft, desperate sound in the back of my mind. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. I couldn’t let him see me. I couldn’t let him know.

Not yet. Not ever.