Hector's POV

"Alpha," Jonathan's voice came through the mind link.

"Yes, Jonathan," I answered.

"This year's Wolf's Moon Gala is held at the Dark Moon Pack. Are we going to RSVP?" Jonathan asked.

My least favorite tradition was the Wolf's Moon Gala, where we met neighboring packs Alphas, Luna's, and Betas. Almost all of them were snobbish and thought that they were better than others. At twenty-four years old, I was the youngest Alpha among them and the most successful at pack finances and protection management. Naturally, I would get many offers from the other packs to build alliances, which I always turned down. That was something my father frowned upon, even in his last days as Alpha of the Crystal Blood Pack.

"You know what to do, Jonathan," I replied, cutting off the link between us. Many disliked when I refused to attend the Wolf's Moon Gala, saying I was breaking tradition. A tradition that was created many centuries ago by people none of us had ever met, and a tradition I cared nothing about.

--

6 MONTHS LATER

It was the end of the month, and I was sitting in my office looking at the financial expenses of the month. One of the main focal points is the outer part of the southern border, which was rebuilt, as it was the weakest access point in the pack. My eyes were closed briefly; when I heard howls in the distance, it could only mean one thing: ROGUES. Rogues were filthy creatures, wastes of fur and skin that were banished from their pack for whatever reason. A wolf could only go so long without its pack before becoming feral. Formerly, these wolves had human counterparts, but now they were killing machines.

"Alpha," Jonathan called through the mind link.

"Johnathan, what's going on?" I asked as I stood from my seat.

"Rogues at the southern border," Jonathan replied. I could tell he was running from his voice.

Making my way out of the pack house, I asked, "How many?"

"We aren't sure, but it sounds like an entire pack," Jonathan answered.

"Fuck, get out of there as fast as you can," I replied as I cut off the mind link and shifted into my wolf form; black fur began to cover my entire body. Jasper, my wolf, was a ruthless monster; most would say he killed for sport.

As Jasper took complete control, I drifted into the depths of my mind. I knew from what Jonathan said we had to hurry; if the rogues were traveling in packs, our chances of success were slim, and the longer it took to get to them, the more significant the danger. I had to trust my wolf's instincts and move as fast as possible.

My senses were heightened as I watched Jasper speed through the forest. As we approached the pack's southern entrance, I heard howls. This side of the border had a small stream. Indeed, there would be one or two rogues, but the cries I heard sounded like there were more. As I came upon a clearing on the official borderline, I caught a whiff of jasmine and honeysuckle.

"Mate," Jasper yelled and raced toward it. In the dense forest, there was a hidden cave with a strong scent of jasmine and honeysuckle that I found very appealing.

"Alpha, where are you?" Johnathan's voice echoed through the mind link.

"In a cave, there was someone here," I told him as I followed the scent towards a small corner with a small entrance leading to the outside, too narrow for a wolf. I quickly turned to head out of the cave as fast as I could. As I emerged from the cave, I encountered two rogues'; I let Jasper go and stepped back, allowing him to attack them with full force. He ran towards the rogues, growling and snarling. The rogues were no match for Jasper's ferocity and strength, and they ran off.

My biggest fear was that they would enter through the weak southern border. Despite the lack of pack members, some were still in that area. A few minutes later, Jonathan arrived with some pack warriors. I told a few to chase after the two rogues, and the others to follow me in the opposite direction. As we traveled through the forest, the growls became more and more furious when I heard someone yell out in pain.

"Alpha, there's someone out there," one of the warriors said through the mind link. "Spread out," I commanded as Jasper let out a loud, menacing howl.

When I heard another scream, "HELP ME, SOMEBODY, PLEASE HELP ME."

We all charged forward, and I saw one of the rogues pin someone to the ground. I could hear the growls of the other rogues and my warriors as they fought, but my interest was in who they were chasing. Jasper fought off another rogue before tackling the one, pinning the person down. He grabbed the rogue by the tail and threw him against the tree. The rogue lunged at him, but Jasper quickly jumped to the right. As the rogue turned around, Jasper moved fast and bit down on his leg before twisting it and removing it from his body. The rogue screamed in agony and fell to the ground. Jasper stepped back, and the rogue lay motionless.

Johnathan came over and dropped a bag he had picked up from behind a tree that contained a pair of sweatpants. I quickly shifted back and threw them on. Turning back to the human lying on the ground, I saw she was unconscious. The scent became stronger as I approached her. When I looked down, her heavily bleeding leg shocked me. The rogue had bitten a large area of her thigh, and her shoulder was also bleeding, which suggested that she had suffered a significant injury. "Johnathan, get Dr. Neal; she's injured terribly."

I yelled out to him as I bent down to pick her up. Jasper pushed forward as I heard him say, "MATE!"

Maliyla's POV

I could feel the rogue's teeth digging deeper into my side; its growling could be heard as it bit deeper into me.

"Please help me, I don't want to die!" I screamed with tears streaming down my cheeks. As he licked his lips and lunged at my face, I saw his red eyes. My eyes filled with tears as I sat up straight on the bed.

'It was only a dream,' I thought to myself.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and a tall, dark figure ran in, revealing a man's silhouette. The tiny amount of light that filtered through the sheer curtains drew my eyes to his abs; he was wearing just a pair of black sweats; at least, I assumed they were black. He moved quickly, crossing the room instantly. His face was hidden in the shadows, but I could feel his intense gaze. I felt my heart racing, and I could feel my body trembling as he stepped closer, my breath becoming labored as I anticipated what was to come.

His voice was deep yet soothing as he asked, "Are you alright?"

Due to my inability to formulate a coherent response, I nodded in agreement.

The man stood just a few feet away; I watched as he tilted his head before speaking, "It was just a dream. Try not to move too much; you'll tear your stitches," he said before turning to leave.

Since I had no idea where I was or who he was, I called out after him, "Where, where am I?"

Taking a moment to pause, he told me, "You're safe; you were attacked. We can discuss the details later. For now, just rest," before exiting the room.

I lay in bed, my head spinning with questions and confusion. Although I was relieved to be safe, I did not know what had happened. Ultimately, I had no choice but to trust the unknown man and rest as he instructed.

The sounds of curtains being opened woke me from my sleep. I slowly opened my eyes to see a short woman hurrying around the room. Raising my head from the pillow, I noticed she had stopped in her tracks.

"I'm sorry, Miss, I didn't mean to wake you," the woman curtsied as she introduced herself as Jeanie, the housemaid. Jeanie apologized for entering the room without knocking but said she had been instructed to open the curtains and let in some light for me.

As Jeanie walked out, another woman wearing a white lab coat walked in. She was an older woman about five feet two inches tall with brownish hair. A pair of cat eyeglasses concealed her honey-brown eyes. She smiled and said, "Good morning, I'm Doctor Neal. I'm here to check on you and ensure you feel better."

With an understated nod, I sat up, wincing at the pain.

Doctor Neal looked up at me with an expression of concern on her face.

"How are you feeling aside from the pain?" she asked, walking toward the bedside and helping adjust the pillows.

I shifted on the bed, trying to find a more comfortable position. "I'm okay," I answered, my voice raspy from the pain and having just woken up, "It feels like I was run over by a truck."

Doctor Neal smiled sympathetically, "I know it hurts, but I'm here to help you through it," she said, placing her hand on my shoulder and gently squeezing, showing me she was there to help.

After taking my vitals, she checked the stitches on the wound bites, which had already begun to heal.

'At least I'll be able to get out of here soon,' I thought.

As she changed the wound dressing, it occurred to me that I still had no idea where I was. Looking up at her, I asked, "Where am I?"

A curious look crossed Doctor Neal's face, and she replied, "Crystal Blood Pack, you were brought here after you were attacked." She paused momentarily and then added, "You're lucky to be alive."

Despite feeling relieved, I was still uneasy about the situation. I watched Dr. Neal's' attention on my thigh as she finished dressing the wound.

"How long have I been here?" I muttered, wondering if she would tell me.

Dr. Neal looked up at me with a kind and concerned expression.

"You were brought here two days ago. But don't worry, you're safe here." She smiled reassuringly, "Rest now, and you'll be back on your feet in no time."

After packing up her medical bag, Dr. Neal walked out. The door closed behind her, and she left me in the room alone. As I sat on the bed, I glanced around the luxurious bedroom. The large bed and heavy velvet curtains gave the impression that it was expensively decorated. The walls were painted a deep navy blue, and a beautiful chandelier hung from the ceiling. In a way, I wondered who might have stayed in this room before me.

Suddenly, the man from last night appeared in the bedroom door. Despite his formal attire, he possessed freshly combed hair, a set of light blue eyes that were mysterious and alluring, and a pronounced jawline. The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up, showing off tattooed arms, and his black slacks looked freshly ironed and creased. The scent of neroli and green tangerine filled the room as he stepped closer to the bed.

"Good morning, my dear," he said in a deep tone, never letting his gaze leave mine.

As he stepped closer, I felt shivers go through me. The closer he got, the quicker my pulse became. I knew I should be afraid, but I was strangely drawn to him for some reason. He seemed to sense this and smiled ever so slightly.

"So, what's your name, Bella?" he asked, a slight grin on his face.

My heart raced as I replied, "My name is Maliyla."

He nodded and replied, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Maliyla. I am Hector, Alpha of the Crystal Blood Pack."

Maliyla's POV

'Holy shit,' I thought, repeating his words in my head. Of all the packs I could have landed in, I landed in the pack with the Alpha, that nobody knew anything about. As I stared at him, I wondered what he was thinking, yet I couldn't help but admire his devilishly handsome looks. I found something intriguing about him, from the scars on his arms to his blue eyes. His expression was unreadable, but something about him pulled me in, and I couldn't look away. I felt my heart racing and my palms sweating as he stared back at me.

A smirk spread across his face as he approached the bed. He sat on the bed just inches from me when Jeanie, the housemaid I'd seen earlier, appeared. I watched as Jeanie handed Hector a tray, and he asked, "Are you hungry?"

Nodding in response, Hector placed the tray between us and lifted the silver top to reveal a selection of exotic fruits, cheeses, eggs, bacon, and a steaming cup of coffee.

"Eat," Hector muttered, offering me some fruit.

With a smile, I graciously accepted, and we both enjoyed a moment of awkward yet peaceful tranquility.

As I ate, Hector sat sipping his coffee; our awkward silence was finally broken when he spoke, "Tell me, Maliyla, what exactly were you doing out in the woods alone?" he asked with curiosity in his eyes.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, unsure how to answer. Since I wasn't ready to confess, all I could do was shrug and reply, "Exploring."

Laughing, Hector cocked his brow at me. "Exploring? At night? I find your lie rather interesting," he told me.

"You don't believe me?" I asked, my voice faltering slightly as I braced myself for his answer.

Taking a moment to study me, he replied, "No, I don't believe you. You're running away from something, and I'd like to know what it is."

It took me aback, and I didn't know what to say. I could feel my heart racing as I tried to come up with a response. Finally, I mumbled, "I'm not running away from anything."

"No? Then why carry a backpack filled with books and a duffle bag with a few clothing changes?" Hector challenged.

I gasped in surprise at his words. "You looked through my stuff?" I exclaimed, my voice shaking.

A flush of anger began to spread across my face when Hector nodded. "You can't just go around looking through people's belongings without permission," I yelled, "Have you ever heard of privacy invasions?"

As Hector rose from his bed, he laughed. I crossed my arms as I watched him gather the breakfast tray and place it on the dresser.

He stared at me for a moment before he spoke, "Invasion of privacy is something you do to help someone. As for your case, since you had been unconscious for two days, I had to find out whom to call to come get you." I watched Hector go to the closet and grab the bag I knew was mine. "However, nothing here tells me anything other than that you have a very odd choice in reading material," he concluded as he placed my backpack in front of me.

As Hector met my gaze, I could feel the tension in the air.

"So, are you going to explain to me why you were out there?" He asked, emphasizing the last word.

Unable to explain myself, I looked away. There was no excuse that he would understand, and lying seemed better than telling the truth. All I could do was shrug and mutter an apology, but everything in me said he deserved better than that.

Walking toward the door, he responded, "Very well; until I know who you really are, or until you tell me the truth, I am holding you captive. Consider the Crystal Blood Pack your new home," Hector advised as he left the room, leaving me in shock with my mouth open.

I could feel my heart racing as I tried to process what had happened. My eyes were wide in disbelief, unable to move or speak. As a result, I was still trying to figure out what to do. If I told Hector the truth, he could throw me out, and I was in no shape to fend for myself.

Thinking about it, I was in a new pack; I could turn it into a new home, like he said. However, the last thing I wanted was to be held captive by an Alpha who clearly had no respect for others' privacy.

As a result of my wounds, I was unable to go anywhere, so I read instead, trying to keep my mind off the conversation Hector and I had.

I was grateful for the fact that none of my books were damaged, as they were my only escape from reality. Many times in a book, I found I fantasized about the ruthless Lycan King I had fallen in love with. A smirk spread across my face as I closed my eyes and thought about him, "Alec."

He never failed to bring a smile to my face, and I wondered if I would find someone like him someday. Compared to my beloved book husband, Erick was nothing. A wave of sadness and anger washed over me when I thought of Erick. Even today, I still wonder why he rejected me and why my parents blamed me for everything.

Even after being kicked out of the pack and renouncing it, it felt like my world was crumbling around me, and I was powerless to stop it. I had to learn to regain control of my life and find the strength to move forward, but I had to get out of my current situation. Laying back in bed, I grabbed another book and began reading until I felt my eyes heavy; closing my eyes for a moment, I drifted off into a deep sleep.

Suddenly, I awoke to the feeling of someone watching me. Looking around the dark room, I saw a pair of blue eyes. The light brightened around him; he was as handsome as ever; everything in me wanted him. With a smirk, he came closer to me. He gently caressed my face as his fingers wrapped around my throat, and I gasped as he pushed me against the wall.

"You feel so fucken good, kitten," he said. My eyes flew open as I heard my wolf howl in pain. Tears fell from my eyes as I dropped to my feet and screamed out in agony.

I felt someone shake me and say my name: "Maliyla, wake up!" "Shhh... it's OK," Hector cooed as he knelt beside me, his hands on both sides of my face.

As he held my face, I felt a tingling sensation run through me. The only thing running through my mind as I stared into his eyes was, could it be what I believed it to be, or was this also a dream?