Chapter 4 Episode 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Luke 's POV

I never cared about showing affection in public before, but going wild on a random girl in an elevator? Even I had limits. Before I could say anything, she ran away like a scared deer.

I cursed myself for scaring her off so fast. Something about her woke up parts of me I thought were locked away. I wanted her, and my wolf didn't like losing.

I decided to go after her. She was a young girl running into the woods alone at night. What was she thinking?

I followed her faint scent, hidden by perfume and magic. Before I found her, I heard growls - Rogues! I welcomed the fight. After dealing with them, I pulled my pants back on. Showing up naked would probably freak her out more. But man, I really wanted to overwhelm her again.

When I got to the lake, she was neck-deep in the water, not moving. It looked like she had given up. Red swirled around her - she must be badly hurt.

"Damn, I should have protected her better," I growled to myself. Her leg was cut deep. She probably couldn't walk.

I stomped into the water to get her. An amazing feeling wrapped around me, almost like magic. Impossible. I picked her up and she relaxed against me. I liked that. A lot.

In shallow water, she jumped out of my arms and splashed me, being playful. My own playful side came out. I went from animal lust to protective to friendly in under 30 minutes, all because of her.

Chasing her through sand and water, I let myself relax. Her laughter made my heart happy. She was so beautiful - sun-kissed skin, bright red hair, and magical blue-green eyes.

Then she said my birth name, one no stranger should know. I was so dazed by her I forgot to question it.

Now here she was, teasing me in the water. "Some knight you are, Alpha Luke ."

Her words made me lose my breath. My eyes went black with want. I had to have this girl!

"Want me to rescue you, little wolf?" I stalked closer, accepting her challenge.

I could smell how much she wanted me too, even though the closeness scared her. Then I saw it again - her eyes swirling silver. She was a rare silver wolf! I should have asked about it, but my wolf took over.

'Make her ours,' he demanded.

The second I laid her on the beach, I had one thought - rip her clothes off and claim her. My wolf needed her powerful silver one. She was the perfect mate and he wouldn't let my human side argue. I'd deal with the rest later.

I grabbed her underwear, ready to take her. But before I could shred it, I heard growls from the trees.

An Alpha's wolf, ready to kill, was coming at us. I was trespassing in the Alpha King's territory now.

"Are you kidding me?" I roared in frustration. My wolf was stronger than any other and he wanted total obedience. Something I'd fought for years to control.

We jumped up and fixed our clothes. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't shift in front of her and reveal my true form. I usually used magic to disguise my wolf but I was low on the herbs for it. I'd been leaving the club to meet my witch friend when I ran into this temptress next to me.

"Run," she said, eyes wide.

"I don't run. I know the Alpha here. They won't hurt me."

"I know the Alpha too," she replied softly. Before I could ask more, a huge white wolf stood in front of us, poised to attack.

"Call off your Alpha, little wolf. We're just lost." I grinned cockily. The white wolf wasn't little at all, but I knew I was stronger.

He growled and howled for backup, glaring at me. He wouldn't back down even with the submissive vibes I gave off. I couldn't unleash my full power but it should have made him cower. He was on a mission, determined to defy me.

I held the girl behind me. She let out a moan as she pressed against my back. "Really? Not the time, baby," I whispered, my voice rough with want. Her scent was messing with my head. I needed to focus on the wolf who could kill her with one swipe.

"Sorry," she said, looking up at me all innocent. I grinned slightly, liking how she turned to me for safety.

I licked my lips, totally forgetting the crazy wolf about to eat us. All I wanted was to finish what we started before. Twice.

The white wolf didn't like being ignored. His claws slashed my chest, making me bleed. Rage flooded me, turning my eyes solid black. I let out an ear-splitting roar.

The girl gasped at my wolf's furious power. Quickly, she put her hands on my chest. An unexpected calm washed over me. The pain faded a bit, like she was healing me. But that was impossible...right?

Was she my mate? A mate's touch could calm your soul, ease pain, even heal a little. But we weren't mated, so how?

I pushed the thought away. I was the strongest Alpha ever. I'd know if she was my destiny. No, this little silver wolf was special in other ways.

Before I could destroy the white wolf and get answers from my temptress, she spun around and ripped off her red wig. Curly brown hair spilled down, shining in the moonlight. I blinked in surprise, growling low in my throat. I had to make her mine!

But she stepped forward, hands up, facing the huge wolf. "Elijah, stop! It's me!"

Both the wolf and I froze at her words. Elijah...that was the Alpha King's son and heir. And she knew him?

"Elara?" A voice from the trees made us all turn. The Alpha King himself stepped out from the shadows. "What in the Moon Goddess's name is going on here?"

Elara. The princess! That's who she was. I'd only seen her a couple times but never this grown up. Never this alluring. My wolf howled, realizing we'd been a breath away from claiming royalty.

"I can explain," she started but the King cut her off with a raised hand.

"You will, but not here." He gave me an icy stare. "And you, Alpha, care to share why I find you half-naked with my daughter?"

I scrambled for an excuse, trying to hide how bad this looked. "I was patrolling our border when I heard screams. Found the princess being attacked by Rogues. I stepped in to help, that's all." The lie tasted bitter but the truth would get us both in more trouble.

The white wolf - Elijah - snarled like he didn't believe me. The King looked back and forth between me and his daughter, suspicion thick in the air.

"Is this true, Elara?" His tone warned against deception.

She glanced at me, a thousand emotions flickering in her captivating eyes. I held my breath, silently begging her to play along.

"Yes Father," she said at last, dropping her gaze. "That's what happened. I was out for a walk and Rogues came out of nowhere. Alpha Luke saved my life." Her voice trembled, though from fear or suppressed desire I wasn't sure.

The King frowned, not fully convinced but unable to question his daughter's story. "We'll discuss your reckless behavior later, young lady. For now, let's get you home and tend to your wounds." He jerked his chin at Elijah. "Escort your sister back. I need to have a word with our valiant 'hero' here."

Elara opened her mouth to protest but thought better of it. With one last scorching look at me, she let Elijah lead her away, his fur brushing protectively against her side.

And then there were two. Me and the Alpha King who could order my death with a flick of his wrist. The man whose daughter I'd been seconds from claiming as my own.

"I don't know what game you're playing at, boy," he growled, "but it ends here. Stay away from my daughter or we'll have more than words next time. Am I clear?"

"Crystal, your majesty," I gritted out, hating the submission. "It won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't." He turned his back in dismissal. "Now get off my land before I change my mind about letting you leave it."

I didn't need to be told twice. With a final nod, I shifted and ran, my black coat blending into the shadows. But even as I put distance between us, my mind stayed locked on the silver-eyed princess who'd bewitched me, body and soul.

Elara. My little wolf.

I didn't know how, but this wasn't over. Fate had brought us together for a reason. Secrets be damned, she would be mine.

And when she was...there'd be no going back for either of us.