Kaliyah instinctively clutched Levi’s shirt tighter, her eyes locked on the approaching figure.

“You really had to come here,” Levi said, his tone calm, not hostile, more like someone mildly inconvenienced by a familiar face.

The figure came into a clear view. He had tousled dark hair that curled slightly over his forehead and deep brown eyes that flickered with quiet amusement.

Tall and effortlessly handsome, he wore a black hoodie and matching sweatpants, hands tucked casually into his pockets like he hadn’t just emerged from the shadows of a forest.

“Of course I did,” the man replied. “It’s been, what… two hours since you disappeared and cut the mindlink? Oliver told me the elders were waiting.”

Then his gaze moved past Levi and landed directly on Kaliyah.

His eyes flickered from her face, to Levi’s arm around her waist, to the way she was holding onto his shirt like a lifeline. The corner of his lips twitched.

“Well, well,” he said, his voice dipping with teasing interest. “You found her.”

A slow, knowing smile spread across his face.

Kaliyah tensed even more, unsure whether to be flattered or frightened. The stranger’s presence wasn’t aggressive, but still.

“She’s beautiful,” he added, still watching her with an unreadable glint in his eye.

“I know,” Levi said, almost proudly.

The man smirked at Levi’s response, then took a slow step closer, still keeping his hands in his pockets.

“I’m Raymond,” he said, his voice smooth “But you can call me Ray. I’m Levi’s Beta.”

Kaliyah’s brows pinched slightly in confusion, but she nodded slowly. She glanced up at Levi.

Levi..

So that was his name.

She repeated it silently in her head..Levi, as if tasting the sound of it on her tongue.

Then her thoughts caught on the other word.

Beta?

What did that mean?

Her eyes shifted back to Raymond, then to Levi again, who was still watching her carefully.

“Beta,” she finally said aloud, her voice quiet but clear. “What… does that mean?”

Ray’s smirk turned into a grin, like he was delighted to be the one to explain.

“It means I’m second-in-command,” he said simply. “Right after Levi, who if you haven’t figured it out yet is the Alpha of our pack.”

Kaliyah blinked, her mouth parting just slightly.

Levi noticed the confusion flickering in Kaliyah’s eyes the way her brows knit slightly, the way she stared down at the dirt-covered ground as if trying to piece something together.

He could feel her hesitation. The whirlwind of questions in her head.

So he spoke, his voice low and reassuring. “Let’s go”

He reached for her hand but paused when he remembered her wrist. His eyes softened as they dropped to the swollen skin.

Gently, he took her uninjured hand instead, curling his fingers around hers protectively.

Kaliyah looked at their joined hands, it felt so right.

They began walking slowly through the forest. The leaves rustled gently around them.

Ray walked ahead, hands still tucked in his pockets, casting a glance back every now and then.

Kaliyah didn’t say anything, she didn’t know what to say. Her mind was spinning with too many thoughts.Alpha...Beta…Pack..Werewolves

The only word she knew there was a pack, which was a group of werewolves. Kate hated werewolf talk and never let her even read the stories and so she never bothered to know about them.

They had walked deeper into the forest and Kaliyah's eyes widened when she saw men standing guard, some armed with weapons that gleamed faintly under the light, others simply standing in an alert and composed position.

Among them were a few men, patrolling the perimeter with sharp eyes and quiet grace.

Kaliyah instinctively stiffened, her grip on Levi’s hand tightened, and she subtly moved closer to him, her body tensing.

Levi glanced at her, then smiled softly. He leaned closer and whispered, “Don’t be afraid.”

His words were quiet but for some reason they calmed her down.

Without realizing it, she nodded, and they stepped through.

The people instantly started bowing.

Some murmured, “Alpha. Beta” Others simply moved aside, their eyes never quite meeting Levi’s or Ray's.

Kaliyah could feel the shift in him, the same Levi who had cradled her in his arms and spoke to her with such tenderness now moved with the calm command of a man in charge.

An Alpha…

When they reached an open area, the sound of a smooth engine pulled her attention forward.

A sleek black SUV rolled up in front of them. It looked luxurious and polished. The kind of car that made a statement even in silence.

The driver’s window slid down with a soft whir, revealing a young man with tousled brown hair and warm brown eyes. He had a charming, almost boyish smile as he greeted, “Alpha.”

Ray, without a word, moved to the passenger seat and slid in.

As Levi opened the back door for her and guided her gently inside, the driver's gaze flicked to Kaliyah. His eyes widened slightly as realization danced across his face.

“Oh my,” he said with a bright grin, “Luna?”

His voice rang with excitement and curiosity.

Kaliyah blinked. Luna?

Before she could ask, Ray, without turning around, said flatly, “Drive, Tyler.”

And just like that, the SUV pulled away, the forest fading behind them.

Kaliyah sat quietly in the back seat, pressed gently beside Levi. Her eyes moved slowly, taking everything in as they drove deeper into the territory.

It looked… normal.

Not like some wild forest where beasts prowled.

There were streets, houses, stores. Even little shops with signs she couldn’t quite read as they passed.

People…no, werewolves walked around, laughing, talking, some carrying groceries, others seated at outdoor cafés.

The street lights perfectly illuminated the place, it was almost as bright as day.

It looked just like a regular place. Just that… instead of humans, these were werewolves.

The realization made her chest tighten again, but she tried to stay calm.

Levi glanced at her from time to time. He hadn’t let go of her. Now, he gently held her with one arm, letting her rest against him.

His body was warm and sooo comfy.

She didn’t even realize when her eyes began to flutter, the air was calm.

And before she could resist it, sleep crept up and pulled her under.

Levi looked down, and a soft smile tugged at the corner of his lips when he noticed her breathing had evened out.

She had fallen asleep.

Carefully, he adjusted his grip so she could be more comfortable and held her closer.

When the car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the packhouse, a tall, grand mansion with high windows and wide steps, Levi stepped out without waking her. His movements were precise, practiced.

He made sure her head didn’t hit the roof of the car.

Then he carried her like a princess, her head gently tucked against his chest, one of her arms resting limply around his neck.

Inside the mansion, the halls were grand, and the atmosphere shifted the moment they stepped through the doors. People bowed their heads as Levi passed. Some couldn’t help but steal curious glances.

It was a sight to behold.

A tall, striking man with dark hair and a powerful build, carrying a small, sleeping girl like she was made of glass. The way his hands were wrapped around her waist, the way her body rested against his, the way he looked at her…

As though she were the most precious thing in the world.

Inside the mansion, the halls were grand, and the atmosphere shifted the moment they stepped through the doors. People bowed their heads as Levi passed. Some couldn’t help but steal curious glances.

Who was the girl?

They all knew the Alpha. He wasn’t known for messing around. He didn’t entertain women.

Not even the flirtatious ones who tried. The only women he was ever seen with were his mother, his younger sister, and sometimes Mirella, Raymond’s mate.

But this?

And then, as Levi turned a corner, the atmosphere shifted again.

Standing ahead of him, waiting with calm but expectant expressions, were three older men in long coats. Their presence radiated authority.

They were the Elders.

When Levi saw them standing ahead, he paused.

His expression didn't change much, it was still stoic and unreadable but there was something in his eyes. Something sharp yet quiet.

There were three of them.

The one in the middle stood slightly ahead of the others. He had a stern face, brown hair peppered with streaks of grey.

His presence demanded attention, not because he tried to take it but because he expected it.

All three bowed, the two on the sides bowed low, showing full respect.

The man in the middle?

He barely dipped his head.

More of a nod than a bow. A gesture that said, I’m doing this out of duty, not respect.

He lifted his eyes and met Levi's gaze directly.

"So you wandered into human territory, Alpha," he said.

His voice was smooth, but it carried a quiet edge. It was not openly hostile but filled with something unspoken. Disapproval, dustrust and maybe even resentment.

Levi held his gaze calmly, shifting Kaliya slightly in his arms to keep her resting comfortably.

"I had something to do," Levi replied.

The man's lips twitched just enough to form what looked like a bitter smirk.

"You know it's against the law," he said.

His tone wasn’t accusing, but it wasn't neutral either. It was like someone who didn’t like being reminded that this young Alpha had power he didn’t.

Still, Levi didn’t even flinch. He looked at the man coldly.

“I found my mate there,” Levi said calmly, his voice low but firm. “Exactly what I was looking for, that’s why I went.”

The man whose name was Sebastian, lips twitched again, but this time there was no smirk. Just a tightening at the corners, like he was holding back the urge to scoff.

“So then,” Sebastian said, “every wolf in the pack who hasn’t found a mate should wander off into human territory?”

Levi’s jaw flexed. “If they’ve searched every corner of this pack and all the other pack and waited for over five years? Then yes.”

That silenced the other elders.

Sebastian said nothing at first. His eyes dropped to the girl sleeping peacefully in Levi’s arms and his gaze sharpened.

“She doesn’t smell like a werewolf, Alpha.”

Sebastian’s expression darkened, storm clouds rolling behind his eyes. He held back his next words with visible effort as Levi turned his body slightly, already walking past him.

The tension lingered like smoke.

One of the other elders glanced at the third, unsure whether to speak.

But then the unspoken truth slipped out.

Sebastian, the man now watching Levi's back with a mixture of disdain and cold interest was not just any elder.

He was Levi’s uncle.

The older brother of the former Alpha.

And now, the lead elder of the pack.

A man who had once thought he would be Alpha.

But the title had passed to Levi.

Levi climbed the grand staircase in steady strides, Kaliyah still resting in his arms like a delicate flower.

She hadn’t stirred once, not even as they passed the gazes and whispers of pack members who had never seen their Alpha hold anyone so protectively.

When he reached the top floor, he pushed open the double doors to his room with a quiet nudge of his foot.

The room was massive, wrapped in a soft, masculine grey theme. The walls were ash-toned, the curtains a deeper storm shade.

A king-sized bed sat in the center, draped in plush bedding and layers of charcoal and silver sheets.

The air smelled like cedarwood and Levi’s cologne.

He walked over and gently laid her on the bed, adjusting her comfortably against the soft pillows. She looked so small there, curled slightly, her dark hair fanned over his pale sheets.

Levi pulled the thick, warm comforter over her body. For a moment, he simply looked at her, his fingers brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face.

He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, letting it linger longer than it should.

Then he straightened, walked quietly to the door, and shut it with a soft click.

As he turned around, he saw them, Ray already standing, and Oliver just approaching from down the hall.

The moment Levi saw them, he didn’t say anything. He simply turned and continued walking down the hall. Ray and Oliver simply followed behind him.

They reached the balcony.

The cool night breeze brushed gently against their faces, rustling the trees below and carrying the soft sounds of the pack from a distance.

Oliver leaned against the rail, his hands folded over it, a teasing grin spreading across his face. He kept looking at Levi, barely containing the amusement in his face.

Levi exhaled and finally spoke, his voice as flat as ever. “What is it?”

Oliver immediately spoke “What do you mean, what is it?” he said with a dramatic lift of his brow. “You’ve been glowing ever since you came back.”

Ray chuckled lowly as he bit into an apple. “The Alpha’s finally found his mate,” he said with mock wonder. “I could hear the butterflies dancing in his tummy right now.”

Levi didn’t respond.

His eyes were locked somewhere in the distance, but they weren’t really looking at anything, he was seeing her.

His mind, his senses, were still filled with Kaliyah. The way she clutched his shirt, the way her body softened when he whispered not to be afraid.

Oliver laughed lightly. “Damn, he's really gone.”

Then he asked, “But how come she was in human territory? Wolves aren’t allowed there. If they’d found her, they would’ve killed her.”

Ray’s expression sharpened slightly. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “She doesn’t smell like a werewolf.”

Oliver blinked. “Wait, then…” his eyes widened, “is she human?”

Levi finally spoke, his voice low. “She didn’t smell human either.”

There was silence for a few seconds

Oliver turned to him. “Then how did you even find her?”

Levi leaned back against the wall, folding his arms. “I went into human territory,” he said, “Yeah, I know it was against the law. But I was done waiting, I’ve searched every corner of every allied pack for five years.”

He paused, his voice dipping into something a little more raw. “I thought maybe... maybe she wasn’t even alive.”

Ray and Oliver said nothing, they just listened.

“I went deep, that place was crawling with people. Government? Hunters? I don’t even know. They started surrounding me, ready to shoot or whatever. Normally, I would’ve just escaped”

He exhaled sharply. “But then I caught her scent.”

His tone changed.

“Unmistakable. It was her…my mate.”

“I looked around and there she was, standing there, and the moment I saw her, I couldn’t stop myself. I started following her. Ended up back toward the forest, she eventually ran tho”

He clenched his jaw.

“There was this someone, she yelled at her, talked to her like she was nothing. I almost ran out right then and tore into her throat.”

Oliver’s teasing expression was gone now.

They were all thinking the same thing.

Who was Kaliyah?

And what was she?

Ray glanced sideways at Levi. “So… what happened next?”

Levi’s eyes narrowed slightly, the memory flashing vividly in his mind. “She followed the woman home,” he said, voice low. “And I couldn’t just leave her. I just found her, I wasn’t going to let her out of my sight.”

He paused, letting that truth settle between them.

“I followed her and then got into her room.”

Oliver’s mouth dropped. “Whoa.” He blinked hard. “You snuck into her room?” His voice cracked with disbelief. “Oh my gosh, Levi…”

Ray stared. “You what?”

Levi just looked at them like it wasn’t a big deal. “I had no choice.”

Oliver threw his hands in the air. “Bro, do you hear yourself right now?”

Levi ignored him. “While I was in there, some boy came in, her foster brother so I had to hide. Then the next thing…” Levi's tone shifted, a cold fury creeping in, “...he started trying to force himself on her.”

The words sank like ice.

Ray’s jaw literally hung open while Oliver stood frozen, blinking slowly.

Levi’s voice was almost a growl now. “I gave him a tiny punch.” His eyes glinted. “Could’ve crushed his entire face.”

He let that hang in the air.

“Then I carried her,” he finished. “And jumped out the window.”

Silence….

Ray just stared, wide-eyed, the apple falling from his hand. Oliver looked at Levi like he was seeing him for the first time.

Finally, Levi turned to them and said flatly, “What?”

Oliver opened his mouth, closed it, then just shook his head. “You’re gone, man, like, deep.”

Ray finally moved, running a hand down his face.

Levi looked away, back at the night sky, his arms folded again. “I wasn’t going to leave her in that house.”

Oliver leaned against the balcony railing with that smug grin creeping back onto his face. “So, technically…” he drawled, looking at Levi. “You kidnapped her.”

Oliver smirked wider. “The Alpha kidnapped his mate. Romantic and illegal damn..”

Before Levi could say anything, Ray bent down, picked up the fallen apple, and without warning, hurled it at Oliver.

Thud.

“Ow!” Oliver stumbled back, clutching his forehead. “What the hell, man?!”

Ray rolled his eyes. “Shut up.”

Then his expression turned serious, his brows furrowed as he looked at Levi again. “She doesn’t smell like a wolf. She doesn’t smell human either. And she doesn’t smell like any creature I’ve ever come across.”

Oliver straightened, rubbing his forehead with a frown now too. “Yeah. I mean… a human and a werewolf have never been fated mates before.” He glanced at Levi. “So she can’t be human. Right?”

Levi’s eyes remained locked on the trees in the distance, but his voice was steady. “I have no idea,” he admitted. “But I’m going to figure it out.”

Ray and Oliver both looked at him.

“I haven’t really gotten the chance to talk to her,” Levi added. “Not properly, maybe when she wakes up… I can ask her a few things.”

He exhaled deeply. “But right now, what matters to me is keeping her safe and being with her. That family she was with…” his jaw clenched visibly. “..they were horrible.”

There was a pause.

Then Ray, still looking bothered, muttered, “How can a brother force himself on his sister like that?”

Levi cut in, his voice low and laced with disgust, clenching his jaw tightly, “if I ever get a hold of him, he’ll hate himself for the rest of his miserable life.”

The wind blew a little stronger then, rustling the trees around the balcony as silence briefly settled between the three of them.

Then Levi’s voice came again, calm but cold.

“And we need to keep an eye on Sebastian.”

Levi looked out into the darkness. “He already noticed she doesn’t smell like a wolf. And knowing him, he’ll use that to his advantage and start stirring things.”

Oliver’s face twisted. “Damn that nosy bastard.”

“He shouldn't be that dumb to lay a finger on the Alpha's mate” Ray said

Suddenly, a loud sound was heard.

It came from Levi’s private quarters, more specifically, from the direction of his room.

Where Kaliyah was.

Levi’s expression hardened in an instant. In one smooth movement, he turned away from the balcony and started moving.