Alina Pov

The courtyard was empty, yet the jeering laughter of the crowd still echoed in my ears long after they were gone. I stood frozen, staring at the spot where my parents had been dragged away. My hands trembled, a hollow emptiness filling my chest where my heart once was.

Gone.

Every step they had taken away from me felt like a knife carving into my soul. My parents—my only family—wrongfully imprisoned, humiliated in front of the pack they had served faithfully for years.

The Alpha’s cruel words replayed in my mind like a taunt.

You’ll die out there, alone and forgotten.

My fists clenched as I swallowed the lump in my throat. I wouldn’t cry. Not here. Not now.

They didn’t deserve to see my tears.

But as I turned to leave, the reality of what lay ahead hit me hard.

I had nowhere to go.

No house. No home. Just a broken shell of what once stood there.

The door hung open. Inside, everything was destroyed. Drawers were pulled out, chairs overturned. The small collection of trinkets my mother loved lay shattered across the floor.

I stepped inside slowly, my chest tightening.

I knelt beside a broken vase, my fingers brushing over its sharp edges. It had been my mother’s favorite. She always kept fresh flowers in it. She said they made the house feel alive.

Now it was in pieces. Just like everything else.

“Alina.”

The cold voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I turned to see two enforcers standing in the doorway, their faces hard and unreadable.

“What do you want?” My voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.

“By order of the Alpha,” one of them said, stepping forward, “you are to leave the pack immediately. You are no longer welcome here.”

I stared at him, the meaning of his words sinking in slowly.

“You’re banishing me?”

“You’re lucky that’s all he’s doing,” the second one said with a sneer. “After what you did, you should be grateful you’re not joining your parents in the dungeons.”

A small spark of defiance rose in my chest, but it quickly faded under the weight of everything I had lost.

My family. My home. My life.

I pushed myself to my feet, my legs unsteady beneath me.

“Fine,” I said. My voice shook, but I kept it steady. “I’ll leave. But this isn’t over.”

They didn’t respond. They only stepped aside, silently ordering me to go.

I walked past them without looking back.

I took nothing with me. There was nothing left to take.

Everything that mattered was already gone.

***

The forest was silent.

Too silent.

I pushed through the undergrowth, branches scratching against my skin as I moved. The trees loomed tall around me, their shadows stretching long and dark. It felt like they were closing in on me.

I didn’t know where I was going.

I just kept moving.

My mind was blank, yet full at the same time. Thoughts came and went too fast for me to hold onto any of them.

All I knew was that I couldn’t stop.

But as the sun began to set, the forest changed.

The shadows deepened. The silence shifted. What had once felt calm now felt wrong. The soft rustle of leaves and distant howls filled the air.

My heart began to race.

I wasn’t safe here.

A low growl behind me made my whole body go still.

Slowly, I turned.

Three wolves stepped out of the shadows, their eyes glowing in the dim light. Their fur was rough and uneven, their bodies thin but dangerous.

Rogues.

Fear clawed at my throat, but I forced myself to stand my ground.

“Back off!” I shouted, though my voice trembled.

The largest wolf snarled, baring its teeth as it stepped closer.

My wolf stirred weakly inside me, but the pain from the rejection and my exhaustion kept her down.

I was alone.

I bent quickly and grabbed a fallen branch, holding it in front of me like a weapon.

“I mean it!”

They didn’t stop.

One of the wolves lunged.

I swung the branch with all my strength. It hit its side, and the wolf yelped as it fell back. But the others didn’t hesitate. They rushed forward, teeth snapping dangerously close to me.

I fought as hard as I could, swinging and stepping back, trying to keep distance between us.

A wolf’s claws sliced across my arm.

I cried out, stumbling as pain shot through me. Warm blood ran down my skin, but I didn’t stop.

I couldn’t.

If I stopped, I would die.

Another wolf knocked the branch from my hand, sending it flying. Its weight slammed into me, and I fell hard to the ground.

I struggled beneath it, my hands pushing against its chest as its jaws snapped inches from my face.

“Get off me!” I shouted, kicking and twisting, but my strength was fading fast.

The wolf’s teeth came closer.

Then—

A deafening roar tore through the forest.

The weight vanished.

The wolf was yanked off me, thrown aside like it weighed nothing.

I scrambled to my feet, my vision spinning, and looked up.

A figure stepped out of the darkness.

He moved with deadly speed and precision, cutting through the rogues as if they were nothing. One wolf leaped at him, but he dodged easily. His hand shot out, grabbing its throat.

With one brutal twist, he snapped its neck and threw it aside.

The other two hesitated.

He didn’t.

In the next second, he was on them. His movements were fast and controlled, his claws tearing through them with ease.

It was over in less than a minute.

Silence fell again.

The bodies of the rogues lay scattered across the forest floor.

The man turned to me, his silver eyes faintly glowing in the dark.

“Are you okay?” he asked. His voice was low and firm, but there was a quiet softness beneath it.

I tried to speak, but no words came out. The rush of adrenaline faded, leaving behind pain and exhaustion.

Everything hurts.

“Hey,” he said, stepping closer. His voice softened. “You’re safe now.”

Safe.

The word felt strange.

I hadn’t felt safe in what felt like forever.

Before I could answer, my legs gave out.

The ground rushed up toward me.

And everything went black.

Kennedy’s Pov

I stood over the unconscious woman lying at my feet, the soft glow of the moonlight catching the blood staining her torn clothes. Her breathing was shallow but steady. Her dark hair was matted, strands sticking to her sweat-dampened face. A face so delicate, yet marked with bruises and scratches from the fight.

I frowned. This was supposed to be a simple patrol.

I hadn’t come to this part of the Northern borders out of duty. I only needed to clear my head after another exhausting argument with my council members. The rogues had been nothing more than a distraction, an irritation that needed to be dealt with quickly.

And this girl…

She was an unexpected complication.

“Troublesome,” I muttered, crouching beside her.

That was when her scent reached me.

It was faint and soft, something sweet, but beneath it was a deep sorrow that cut through the cold control I had built over the years. My wolf stirred at once, restless and alert.

I ignored him.

She was a stranger. Weak. Most likely a burden.

Yet here I was.

“What am I supposed to do with you?” I asked quietly.

She didn’t answer, of course. But the moment I even thought of leaving her there, my wolf growled low and dangerous inside me.

No.

The refusal was not mine.

It was his.

There was no hesitation in it. No doubt. No room for argument.

I exhaled sharply.

“Fine,” I said, sliding my arms under her injured body and lifting her carefully. “But don’t make me regret this.”

***

The journey back to the pack was silent.

Her scent filled my senses, distracting me in a way I didn’t like. I kept my focus ahead.

When we reached the gates of the Northern Pack, the guards straightened immediately, their bodies stiff with respect… and fear.

“Alpha,” one of them greeted, his voice steady. His eyes flicked briefly to the girl in my arms, but he didn’t ask questions.

They never did.

“Get Jerry to the infirmary,” I ordered. “Now.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I walked through the pack grounds, ignoring the stares that followed me. Wolves slowed, turned, and whispered. It wasn’t often their Alpha returned carrying someone, especially not an unconscious woman covered in blood.

I paid them no attention.

My only focus was the infirmary.

***

Jerry was already there when I arrived.

He leaned against the counter, arms crossed, a familiar grin on his face.

“Well, well,” he said, pushing himself upright and walking toward me. “What do we have here? A damsel in distress? Don’t tell me you’ve gone soft, Ken.”

I gave him a cold look. “Save it. She’s injured.”

He raised his hands in mock surrender, though the grin stayed. “Alright, alright. Bring her here.”

I placed her gently on the nearest cot and stepped back.

Jerry’s attitude changed instantly as he got to work. Whatever jokes he made, he never played around when it came to healing.

“She’s in bad shape,” he muttered, pulling out herbs and salves. “What happened?”

“Rogues,” I said, leaning back against the wall with my arms crossed. “She was fighting them when I found her.”

Jerry glanced at me over his shoulder. “She survived a rogue attack… like this?”

“She fought.”

It wasn’t praise. Just the truth.

She was thin, clearly underfed, but there had been something in her eyes when she fought. Something stubborn.

Jerry hummed and turned back to her. “She’s lucky you showed up. A few more minutes and…”

He didn’t finish.

I said nothing.

I didn’t know why I had saved her.

I didn’t save strangers.

“Well,” Jerry said after a while, his tone lighter again, “she’ll live. A few deep cuts, bruises, and she’s exhausted. But nothing I can’t handle.”

“Good. Finish it.”

He snorted. “Always so demanding. You know, most people would say ‘thank you’ when someone’s saving the life of the girl they brought in.”

“Don’t push it.”

Jerry chuckled. “You’re no fun.”

***

Not long after, he finished.

Bandages covered most of her wounds. Her breathing was stronger now, more even.

“She’ll wake up soon,” Jerry said, putting his things away. “And when she does, try not to scare her. You already look like you want to kill someone.”

I ignored him, my gaze fixed on her.

Jerry sighed under his breath, muttering something about me being hopeless, and then left the room.

The silence that followed was heavy.

I stood there, watching her.

Even in sleep, her face was tight with pain. My wolf shifted again, restless, watching her as closely as I was.

Then—

Her eyes fluttered open.

Dark. Wide. Uncertain.

She blinked a few times, staring up at the ceiling as if trying to understand where she was. Confusion filled her expression.

Then her gaze moved.

And landed on me.

The moment our eyes met, something snapped inside me.

Heat surged through my body. Every nerve came alive with a force I had never felt before. My wolf roared, loud and possessive, his voice echoing in my mind.

Mate.

The word hit like a command.

Strong. Absolute.

Unavoidable.

“Mate,” I said, the word leaving my lips before I could stop it. My voice came out low, rough, filled with an intensity I didn’t bother to hide.

Her eyes widened instantly, shock replacing the confusion.

“Mine,” I added, the word falling from my lips like a claim.

She went still.

Completely still.

She didn’t speak. Didn’t move.

She just stared at me, like she didn’t understand what I had just said.

And I couldn’t blame her.

Kennedy’s Pov

I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

She lay completely still on the cot, her wide, stunned eyes fixed on me. The word still echoed in my mind.

Mate.

I didn’t mean to move closer. I didn’t mean to let my guard down.

But my body moved on its own.

In the next second, I was beside her, pulling her into my arms.

“You’re my mate,” I said, my voice low and rough as I drew her closer.

She fit perfectly against me. My wolf stirred in satisfaction.

But she didn’t react.

She didn’t push me away… but she didn’t respond either.

Her arms hung loosely at her sides. Her face stayed frozen in shock, like she couldn’t understand what was happening.

I didn’t care.

Nothing made sense. Not even to me.

All I knew was the heat in my chest… the way my heart pounded like it never had before.

She was mine.

But why?

How?

I loosened my hold on her and leaned back slightly so I could look at her face.

Her eyes were beautiful. Dark, deep… filled with something heavy. Pain. Loss.

“What are you doing to me?” I murmured, more to myself than to her.

My wolf was restless, pacing, growling softly in my mind.

I searched her face for answers.

But she looked completely lost.

Then she tried to speak. Her lips parted. Her brows drew together as if forming words took effort.

But nothing came out.

Her hands flew to her throat. Panic flashed in her eyes.

She tried again.

Still nothing.

Something was wrong.

“Stop,” I said quickly, my hands gripping her shoulders. My voice came out sharper than I meant. “Don’t force it.”

Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she clawed at her throat. Fear rolled off her in waves, hitting me harder than I expected.

It twisted something deep inside me.

“Here,” I said, grabbing a glass of water from the table and holding it out to her. “Drink.”

She took it with trembling hands and raised it to her lips.

But the moment she tried to swallow, the water spilled out. She choked, coughing harshly as her body shook.

I took the glass from her and set it aside.

“Damn it,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

Her panic grew worse.

Her eyes darted around the room, wild and desperate, before landing on me again. Tears filled them, spilling down her cheeks as she shook her head.

“No,” I said firmly, cupping her face in my hands. “Look at me.”

Her gaze locked onto mine.

I softened my voice.

“Don’t panic. We’ll figure this out.”

She didn’t speak, but her breathing slowed slightly.

“Stay here,” I said, pulling away even though I didn’t want to. “I’m getting Jerry.”

He was already in the hallway when I stepped out, likely drawn by the noise.

He barely had time to react before I grabbed his arm and pulled him inside.

“What now?” he said, irritated. “You can’t expect me to fix everything in one night, Ken—”

“She can’t talk,” I cut in.

His expression changed instantly.

“Can’t talk? What do you mean?”

“She’s trying,” I said, nodding toward her. “Nothing comes out.”

Jerry moved toward her, all traces of humor gone.

“Alright… easy,” he said softly as he examined her.

Her hands stayed locked around her throat. She flinched when he touched her.

My wolf growled low, warning me to push him away.

I forced myself to stay still.

A moment later, Jerry straightened, his face serious.

“Her throat is swollen,” he said. “Probably from a hit during the fight. Her vocal cords could be inflamed… or worse.”

“How long?” I asked.

He hesitated.

“I don’t know. It might heal on its own… if she rests.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

He looked at me.

“Then it might not come back.”

My gaze snapped back to her.

She sat there, clutching her throat, tears in her eyes.

Then she looked at me.

And I saw it clearly this time.

Fear. Anger. Despair.

All of it.

I moved closer and knelt in front of her.

“Listen to me,” I said quietly, keeping my voice steady even though something inside me felt tight. “You’re going to be fine. You hear me? You’re safe now. We’ll fix this.”

A tear slipped down her cheek.

For a second, she just stared at me.

Then something changed.

She shook her head violently and pushed my hand away.

Her lips moved again, trying to form words that wouldn’t come. Frustration filled her face. She hit her chest lightly, then pointed at her throat.

“Don’t,” I said quickly, grabbing her wrists before she could hurt herself. “Don’t do that.”

She gasped.

Then suddenly—

She froze.

I saw it in her eyes first.

Pain.

Her hands flew back to her throat. Her face twisted as she struggled to breathe. A broken sound tore from her, raw and strained, like something trapped inside her.

“Jerry!” I shouted.

She coughed violently, her whole body shaking. Blood appeared at the corner of her mouth.

My chest tightened.

“Hey,” I said, my voice softer now as I held her shoulders. “Stop. You’re making it worse.”

She couldn’t hear me. Panic had taken over.

Her breathing turned uneven, broken. She doubled over, shaking.

“Do something!” I snapped at Jerry.

“I need her calm!” he shot back, already moving toward us with something in his hand.

I pulled her against me.

“Breathe,” I said into her hair, my voice low and steady despite the tension in my chest. “Just breathe.”

Her hands clawed at my shirt, gripping tightly.

“I’ve got you,” I murmured. “You’re not alone.”

Slowly… slowly… her movements weakened.

Her breathing eased into uneven, shaky breaths.

Jerry knelt beside us and carefully applied a soothing salve to her throat.

“She’s exhausted,” he said quietly. “The injury isn’t fatal, but the strain is making it worse. She needs rest, Ken. Real rest.”

I didn’t respond.

All my attention was on the girl in my arms.

Mine.

The word came again but this time, it felt different.

Not possessive but protective.

A promise.

She was mine.

And I would fix this.

I had to.