A shadowed figure, an alpha's guard, blocked her path, and she couldn't clearly make out Brandon or the she-wolf he was holding close. Her instincts prickled like a warning growl in the back of her mind.
"Alpha's Mate, your room is ready now," the alpha's guard rumbled.
"Thank you, but I prefer the small house," she replied, keeping her tone even, though a pang of curiosity tightened her chest.
"A new pack staff just moved in there; are you going to stay with her?" the bodyguard asked, eyes sharp.
"What?" she froze, the question sending a ripple of unease down her spine.
"This way, Luna," he said, pointing toward a vast, curving staircase that twisted like the spine of a great beast, about twenty feet away. She followed silently, the echo of her footsteps mingling with the soft growl of distant wolves outside. He led her to the first level of the house, into a chamber that radiated sophistication and glamour unlike anything she'd ever seen—it was as though heaven had been carved into walls and ceilings.
Her belongings were arranged neatly in the walk-in closet, each piece awaiting her touch. She sank onto the soft bed, her mind momentarily distracted by the perfection surrounding her. Two she-wolves appeared, smiles bright but measured, and she forced a faint one back.
"I'm Paige, and she is Naomi," one of them said, pointing at the other.
"I'm…" she began, but Paige interrupted.
"Luna," she said sharply, making her roll her eyes and smirk despite herself.
"Are you off to work?" Emma asked.
"No, no one works here on weekends. We are here to serve you, but if you don't need our services now, we'll scroll through our phones and read… hot stories," Naomi said, her voice soft, almost conspiratorial.
"Read stories?" she asked, brow furrowed.
"Yes."
"Do you actually enjoy such privileges here?" she pressed, seizing every chance to understand Brandon, the Alpha she had just pledged herself to, fully aware of the beastly secrets beneath his composed exterior.
"The Alpha cares about his business…and his mystery mate. Since he doesn't work on weekends, he spends the whole day in his chamber with his secret…"
"What? He has a secret mate?" she blurted.
Paige's gaze darted to the door, checking for prying eyes.
"So we heard. None of us have seen the secret mate; she never goes out. She stays indoors."
Her eyes widened in shock.
"She is his strange power, not his mate," Naomi whispered, barely audible, and her own heart began to pound with alarm.
"Secret mate?" she asked, rage and fear knotting in her chest. Tears started streaming down her cheeks unbidden. She hated the phrase "strange power." Perhaps he had claimed her for the same reason—because according to him, she possessed something no one else could offer him.
"You mean she's in his chamber right now?"
"Yes, Luna."
"I never believed the story until I heard her voice through the intercom last night," Paige added.
"You did?" she asked, and Paige nodded gravely.
She stepped away from the she-wolves, her chest tight. She couldn't imagine what the innocent she-wolf had endured. Tears blurred her vision.
"If this is my last mission in this pack, so be it. I will set her free, and we will escape him! I will scream if I fail. The world must come to our rescue!" she howled, claws of frustration gripping her fists. "Why has no one ever tried to help her?"
"Are the male wolves aware of this?" she asked, barely breathing.
"Yes. Bernard is fully complicit; he is his partner in every scheme."
"And Mr. Richard?"
"He is his cunning beta. The mystery mate suffers greatly," Naomi said softly.
"You can't even escape, let alone set another free. No one except Bernard and Mr. Richard has ever entered his room."
"Who cleans his bedroom?" she demanded, her wolf-sense itching at the thought of infiltrating the Alpha's chamber.
"Bernard," Paige replied.
"He is such a wicked soul! I will confront Bernard tonight. How could he?"
"Bernard is always in the cookhouse; you can find him there. Please, do not call our names—the Alpha shows no mercy. Do you need our services now?" the she-wolves asked in unison. She shook her head, her gaze hard and resentful.
"Luna, our Alpha is kind but ruthless. We've served him for over a year and never faltered because we respect the boundaries. Please, do not implicate us. We're off to our quarters. There's a new hot story in new arrivals; I can't wait. Hit the intercom if you need anything," Naomi said.
"I also love writing and reading stories. Which platform do you use most?"
"WebNovel," they said in unison.
"Same here," she said with a grin. "I'm a writer there too."
"Wow," they chorused, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
She waved at them and turned to the crystal-clear lake visible through her window, the waters calm but her mind turbulent. They left cheerfully; she remained weary.
She stood still, staring at the lake, attempting to expel the anger swirling in her chest. The bedroom door creaked open after a gentle knock, footsteps approaching, but she refused to turn. She wiped tears that stubbornly clung to her face.
"Alpha's mate," Mr. Richard's voice called, steady but laced with concern. "Your Alpha wants to see you." She lifted her bloodshot eyes slowly to meet his. Worry etched deep lines on his face.
"What is it, alpha's mate?" he murmured.
"Why did Alpha Brandon claim me?"
"He claimed you because he wanted to claim you," Mr. Richard said, a wolfish grin flashing his diastema.
"You said he is claimed by another mate…"
"I was joking."
"No, you weren't! Tell me the truth. He claimed that mystery mate for what she could offer, and it's the same with me?"
"Listen. I see Brandon as my own blood. And right now, I see you as his mate. I will not deceive you. Stay close to him, and you'll get your answers."
"How can I get close when he is far? He is with a mate right now!"
"No, you are the one far from him. He sat in the grand pack hall for more than fifteen minutes, waiting for you, but you never showed. Bernard told him what you said. You couldn't eat with your Alpha! He called you this morning to spend time alone with you; what did you do? You chased him away with silence. You couldn't speak to your Alpha! Brandon isn't as bad as you think. He offered howling union, and you accepted. He didn't force you. You could have said no, and still could. But I wouldn't want you to, because he is what every she-wolf needs—he is caring," Mr. Richard explained.
"He claimed me because of…"
"What he needs from you, but my dear, you both need each other."
"I met him three years ago in a small therapeutic den where I worked as a skilled massage therapist. He insisted I rub away the stress of the full moon hunt. His constant pestering was why my thera-Alpha sacked me. He is also why my packmate left me!" she said, voice sharp and loud. She expected shock from Richard, but he showed none. It was clear he knew how deeply his Alpha had tested her.
"Did you try to find out why he was bothering you?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I hate him!"
"Why do you hate him?"
"He is an Alpha who looks down on outcasts. I hate Alphas for that."
"Brandon is not a bad Alpha."
"I don't believe you."
"I have no reason to lie."
"What kind of official pack business does he do?"
"He is your Alpha. Move closer, and you will see."
"Alright," she whimpered, wiping her tears.
"One more thing, alpha's mate. Learn to hear people out. Don't conclude too quickly. Discover what they want from you and offer humble help," Mr. Richard advised gently. Shame knotted her stomach; he was right. She rarely listened, always dwelling on how Alpha Daniel had treated her as an outcast, concluding that all Alphas were wicked. She needed to sharpen her mind—perhaps this is why Lunara considered her the most confused outcast in the park.
She regretted snubbing Brandon earlier. She was ready to shed timidity and confront him.
"Where is he?"
"Come with me."
Mr. Richard led her to Brandon's exclusive lounge. His guards and two gorgeously dressed she-wolves surrounded him; her heart sank at the lost opportunity to speak.
A pretty she-wolf on a separate sofa smiled at her as she entered, but her gaze was locked on Brandon, who sat, eyes fixated on one of the she-wolves engaged in a serious discussion.
The she -wolf handed her a bag with clothes and accessories. She took it, greeted her, and prepared to leave. Brandon didn't even glance at her. If she had known, she would have sent a servant for the dress.
"I'd appreciate it if you tried one or two. I want to ensure the size is correct," the she-wolf suggested. She froze, shaking her head.
"Why?" the she-wolf asked.
"I can't do that here. I believe the clothes will be perfect," she faked a smile, shooting Brandon a cold stare. She wanted his attention, but neither he nor the she-wolves looked her way.
"Thank you," she murmured to no one, leaving in silent frustration.
She dropped the bag on her bed, lingering in despair. Seeing the Alpha she had claimed only yesterday speaking with another she-wolf had ignited jealousy that clawed at her chest.
Examining the clothes, her face softened slightly. They were perfect sizes and exactly what she would choose if she had the money. She checked labels, laid them on the dressing sofa bed. Each piece outrageously expensive, ten in total. She felt honored, hung the dresses, and went through shoes and accessories. Her lips curved in a bittersweet mix of joy and sorrow.
Her joy soured as memories of servants' gossip and Brandon's snub returned. Brandon had ordered her to avoid Bernard, yet she resolved to defy that command. Tonight, she would confront Bernard and decide whether to celebrate her howling union—or plot her escape.
And then, she felt it—a low, guttural growl vibrating through the floor beneath her feet. Her wolf instincts flared. Someone, or something, was moving closer in the shadows, deliberate, silent, and unseen. Her pulse thundered in her ears.
A cold chill ran down her spine. She was not alone.
The bond has been awakened… but the storm is just beginning.
Please drop your Power Stones, comment and vote if you're ready for what happens next. 🐺