Alpha's Bargain

The night is darker than usual. Amelia keep to the edge of the clearing, deliberately blending with the shadows. Its been years since she mastered the art of hiding her presence-though an Alpha, she lives in the shadow of herself being forced to admit the place of an Omega by the rejection of her pack.

She has been blamed for being the cause of her Father's death, the Alpha of their pack, and she has lived with the guilt and pain of losing her father at a tender age. The pain of being rejected and the pain of being treated as a shadow in her pack. As she moves, a sharp pain suddenly hits her in the head. She grips the nearest tree, gasping as her vision blurred.

For a moment, she is not in the forest. She stands in a clearing, her father's figure faintly visible ahead, calling her name. "Amelia..." His voice echoes, full of urgency, but before she can move toward him, everything vanish. The cold reality of the night settles back on her. Just then, she hears the approaching sounds of battle. Her father's image feeling too real, too vivid-its like a warning.

A cold shivers down her spine. The night attack, the vision, her father's voice... Could they all be a sign that his death is tied to the unfolding event tonight? She does not know what to make out of it.

Amelia steady herself and presses on, ignoring the pounding in her head.

A sharp gust of wind flows through the trees, carrying with it a scent mixed with fear, blood and danger. This attack feels different. Rogues are known for striking in disarray. This night, the pattern of movement seem patterned and deliberately staged. She scans the tree line, her heart thudding.

The sound of wolves tears through the air. Her brother, Darius, she knows him too well that he has not the guts to lead although he's the current Alpha who is suppose to be preparing the Pack for defense and holding his territory.

A loud howl runs through the night-its a rogue's signal and it growing louder.

Amelia run! Her subconscious yells. Amelia see her legs dashing in the direction of the snarls. She has been used to hiding. This night is different and she wonders what changed about her. As an Omega in her pack, she does not exist and she is used to it. As she runs, she finds the path familiar. It's one that leads to her territory and it dawns on her that the snarling sound is leading to her territory. Her heart race faster.

The pack is at risk. Yet, no one has the stamina to guard it from rogues. Since the death of her Father, the rogues have been on the rampage satisfying their insatiable blood lust and tearing down every pack in their path. Recently, there has been merciless killings of various packs and the fatal destruction of territories that shared borders with Amelia's territory.

Amelia just in time arrives her territory to see that her territory has not been infiltrated by rogues but spots Darius where he's frozen with fear by reason of the snarling sounds of rogues now closer to their territory.

Coward! "You're are the Alpha!" she shouts at him with fury in her. He looks at her, eyes wide, but could say nothing. Amelia clench her fists.

The forest by now is alive with the snarling sound of wolves running from both sides as if rejoicing to go for a massacre.

Her pulse is pounding.

Just then, a rogue wolf dash towards them aiming directly at Darius. Amelia's body swings into action before her mind could catch up. She leaps forward, shape-shifting in mid-air, her smaller Omega form standing between Darius and the rogue. A brutal clash occurs. For a moment, she fills the rogue's teeth sink into her shoulder. Amelia shoves the wolf back and prepares for another attack, the rogue suddenly freeze, -its eyes opens wide in recognition. "You're... not suppose to be alive." All other rogues stop in their tracks.

She could clearly see confusion mixed with fear in their eyes. Amelia's breath pauses. The words haunted her-what does it know about her past? All her life, she has been used to being an Omega who does not exist to her pack and here she is raising her voice to challenge her brother, standing to confront rogues and shape-shifting, all happening so fast. She needed explanations for what was happening to her. The rogue wolf fled into the woods before she could ask what it meant.

Suddenly, a tall, broad-shouldered man with glowing and piercing eyes in the moonlight stands out in the dark. His appearance sends the wolves into retreat- His presence alone silence the fight. As if he commanded the chaos itself.

Amelia's breath caught in her throat. Killian.

She had heard rumors about him-its the rogue Alpha who had united several pack of outlaws and outcast wolves while destroying many others. He is ruthless, deadly, and had one goal- Power. He curls his lips to give a smirk.

"I believe I am expected." Killian said. Why? What do you want? Amelia replies.

Killian looks around, resting his gaze on Darius. "An Alpha, but a weakling." His tone is full of mockery and disdain. Leave us alone. Amelia fights back.

Darius tries to stand tall, but the fear is palpable on his face. "We-we'll fight you off, rogue. You have no right here." "Fight me off?" Killian chuckles. "You can barely hold your own border from crumbling, yet you will fight me?"

Amelia's eyes moves to Killian, at the same time his gaze meets hers and it sends fear into her. His eyes held something far more dangerous than any rogue she had encountered.

"I'm not here to destroy your pack," Killian said. "I'm here for you Amelia." Darius replies, stepping between Amelia and Killian. "You'll do no... "

Killian moves so fast that he covers a distance in seconds closing up the gap between himself and Darius before Amelia does anything. He grabs Darius by his throat with a single hand, lifting him off the ground before tossing him to the side as a piece of paper. "You are no match for me Alpha, you're nothing but a boy playing a leader. Stay out of my way." Killian says.

Amelia shivers.

Killian leaned closer, his breath hot against her ear. "You and I have unfinished business, Amelia. Your father's death wasn't an accident." "Keep! my father's name out of your mouth rogue!" Amelia fires back at the mention of her father. But deep down in her, she is in need of answers to many questions- so badly.

"I can help you uncover the truth. If you agree to my terms. Truth about your Father's death, about yourself. For instance, you're confused about what is happening to you tonight as a weak Omega that your pack have reduced you to."

"How dare you! You lead a rogue attack on us tonight and you claim to help? Amelia wonders how he knows so much. Almost everything about her life.

Her heart races as he steps back. The pack falls into an uneasy silence. There have been a lot of questions about her father's death and she has been blamed for her father's death over the years. How his death was an unbalanced exchange of an Alpha for a weak Omega. Standing before Killian, she realized more than she ever thought that the burden of guilt is crushing her.

Amelia swallowed hard, her mind racing. This is a dangerous game, but she's already caught in it. Apart from this, from the first time she set her eyes on him, its as if something in her, lit up, like a strong pull towards Killian and another part of her can tell that he feels the same way. Amelia's emotions were running riot that night. "What do you want?"

A smile spreads across Killian's face. "A bargain, Amelia. I'll help you reclaim what's rightfully yours-if you help me take down my enemies." An Alpha rogue asking help from an Omega. She is all the more confused. Amelia suspects a foul play. It is her pack that should bargaining to get help. How's it the other way?

She gets all the more scared the more she thinks about it.

Before she could respond, a howl echoed through the forest-more rogues were coming. They must be the rogues Killian regarded as his enemies. They could feel the impact their match is having on the ground such that the ground is shaking under the weight of the advancing wolves.

They are your enemies, not ours. Why should I help you? Killian's smirk appears on his face again and in an instant rushes towards Amelia.

"Don't play games with me. You think your weak pack stands a chance against the rogues? You are not doing me a favour if you accept my bargain.

You can choose to turn down my bargain and waste away or accept the bargain and we together bring down the rogues. Or I single handedly take down the rogues and come back against your territory. You decide."

Amelia knows he's right but Killian cannot be trusted. There's a dark side to him, an evil she's not seeing yet and it makes her feel she's about to be used. Another part of her wants to accept the bargain if not for anything, to uphold her Father's legacy and preserve her pack.

Amelia is torn between two while time is running out. She has to decide-strike a deal with the devil, or face the wrath of the rogues on her own with a weak pack and a weak Alpha or risk the destruction of her territory by an Alpha rogue.

"You should be dead, just like your father," Killian said, his voice low. "I know he was betrayed by those closest to him. Just like you will be." He paused, looking toward the tree line. "But if you want to learn the truth, you'll need to make a choice tonight."

Amelia's heart pounds as the echoes of wolves grow louder, their snarls approaching. She locked eyes with Killian, the weight of the moment crashing on her. The truth about her father's death, her future, her pack, the feelings of a deep connection, the truth about herself-they all rest on a single choice.

Amelia's pulse races as her mind piece together his words. Betrayed by those closest to him? Did Killian mean Darius? Or was it someone else in the pack? She didn't know who to trust anymore.

Killian reaches out, his fingers brushing her cheek. She flinched but didn't back down. "There's more at stake here than just your pack, Amelia. Your father wasn't the only one hiding secrets."

Behind her, Darius's voice suddenly cut through. "Amelia! Don't listen to him. He's lying. He's wants to turn you against us!"

But something in Darius's tone betrays him. The crack in his voice isn't just fear-its guilt. Amelia looks in the direction of her brother. She sees the flash of desperation.

In that moment, something clicked. All the time Darius had avoided speaking about their father's death, the way he had rushed to claim the Alpha position with no proper challenge... was he involved in her Father's death?

Killian speaks, his voice soft but firm. "Join me. Together, we can uncover the truth about your father's death-and take down those responsible."

Darius's voice cracks again. "Don't listen to him!" Amelia can feel the eyes of the pack warriors on her, waiting for her next move.

Amelia is at a crossroad. The pack that had ignored and belittled her, needs her now. And Killian, the rogue Alpha, who is ruthless and manipulative, but knows more about her father's murder than anyone else, offers her a way to uncover the truth.

The howls of the approaching rogues grows louder, and the warriors surrounding them grows restless. She has seconds to decide.

Amelia took a deep breath, meeting Killian's gaze.

"I accept your bargain but on my terms." She says with firmness.

Killian's smiles and says. "It is my deal and we do it my way, Amelia." "Killian, it has always been about you and you careless if anyone." She says. How she find the courage to talk back at him or where the words are coming from, she does not know. "I accept your bargain but if it is discovered that you're connected to my father's death in anyway, it's the end of the deal."

As the echoes of the rogue pack close in, Amelia feels the weight of her decision settle on her. She has chosen the path of danger, and no going back. There is no turning back.

Amelia can only think of the dangers and uncertainties that lies ahead and braces up to confront them.

The sound of the matching rogue wolves approaching was more closer and it sent a new wave of fear and unrest into the warriors. The moon had barely dipped below the horizon when Killian gave a prolonged howl. It was one that sent fear into the rogue wolves. The noise that once brought the forest alive gave way into silence. At once, the rogue wolves that were about satisfying their bloodlust suddenly retreated into the shadows of the forest, disappearing as quickly as they had come. The territory grew silent again except for the sounds of crickets that filled the air.

Amelia stood still, her heart still pounding from the weight of her decision settling on her and the imminent danger that was just averted. Now that the danger of an attack is averted, she cannot shake off the effect of her decision. She just made a deal with the most feared rogue Alpha, and there is no turning back.

The weight of her choice settles upon her, but she reminds herself that she needs answers, and this is the only way to keep her Pack alive. "Amelia!" Darius's voice cuts through the silence. She turns to see her brother storming towards her, his eyes blazing with anger. "What have you done?" he asks. "I did what I had to," she answers calmly. "Our pack is in danger. Killian can help us." "Help us?" Darius scoffs.

"He's a rogue! You just betrayed our family and everything Father stood for!" At the mention of their father, Amelia felt a pang of pain. "Don't speak to me about betrayal Darius! I've been in the dark far too long and not anymore. If you keep the truth away from me, I have no choice than to do what I need to do to lay my hands on it"

Darius's jaw tightens. "You don't know what you're getting into." " Enlighten me," she challenged. "Tell me what happened to Father!" He pauses, shifting away his gaze. "This isn't the time." "It's never the time with you!" Amelia shouts, her frustration taking over. "What is it you are hiding, Darius?" Before he could answer, a group of pack warriors who had gone scouting returns and were drawn by the commotion. Their faces showing a mix of confusion and concern.

Killian?

"Amelia just decided to ally with a rogue," Darius announces, pointing an accusatory finger at her.

"She just turned her back on the pack." Murmurs spread across the pack. Some look at Amelia with distrust, while others seem thoughtful. "Is this true?" another warrior questions. Amelia takes a deep breath. "Yes, I bargained with Killian. He has information about the threats we are facing-and about Father's death.

Also, we need his protection too since someone cannot stand up for his pack" A hush falls over the group. The mention of their former Alpha stirs emotions among the pack. "I think she has a point," an older warrior says. "We have been struggling to keep our territory while facing constant attacks. Maybe it's time we try a different approach." Darius fires his looks at the man.

"Siding with rogues, going against everything we believe in- is the different approach?" "Does it stand against what we believe?" Amelia interjects. "Or we are just too proud to admit that we need help?" There is mixed reactions among members of the pack. The division was clear-some side with Darius out of loyalty or fear, while others were swayed by Amelia's words.

Killian approaches them, his presence commanding attention. "Decide quickly," he coldly said. "There's much to do."

"We just decided." Amelia replied quickly. Darius bristled. "Don't think you can order us around." Killian raises an eyebrow. "I have no interest in leading your pack. But if you want to survive what's coming, you'll follow my lead."

"Your arrogance is irritating,"

Darius spits. Amelia steps between them. "Enough Darius! This won't help. Killian, what do you propose?" "Straight to business. We go beyond our borders. There's someone we need to find-he holds the key to the enemy's plans." "Who?" she asks. "You will meet him soon." He replies. "For now, prepare to leave at first light. Bring only those you trust." Darius laughs bitterly. "You're not actually considering this, are you?" "Its already decided Killian" Amelia says firmly. Killian leans closer to her.

"Be careful who you trust, Amelia," he whispers. "Not everyone is as they seem." She looks into his piercing eyes.

"What do you mean?"

With a slight smile, he says "Just a friendly warning." Without another word, Killian turns and vanishes into the forest. Amelia watch him go, her mind swirling with doubts. His cryptic message only deepened her suspicions about Darius.

Can her brother be hiding something? She look at him sadly. "I am thinking of the pack. And I need to know the truth about Father's death." Darius's eyes flashed with something-fear? Guilt? "Father died honourably. That's all you need to know." "Is that so!" she challenged. "Or is there more you're not telling me?"

He clenches his fists. "You're making a mistake."

"Maybe," she concedes. "But it's mine to make." The tension between them rises and the pack watch, breathless. Then, with a low snarl, he turns his back on her as he heads into his tent. Amelia calls out to the warriors. "Those who wish to join me, meet me at the northern edge by dawn. The rest can stay and protect our home."

A few nod in agreement, while others shift uncomfortably. The line between her supporters and Darius's loyalists is clear. As the crowd disperses, Darius retreat into his tent. His face is darkened with anger. He summons his most trusted allies.

"We can't let Amelia get through with this! "She is going to ruin everything." "What do you suggest?" one of them asks. Darius's eyes narrowed. "We must stop her alliance with Killian, by every necessary means." "That's risky," another cautions "If the pack finds out..."

"They won't," Darius interrupts sharply. "We'll make sure they won't."

In her tent, as she got herself prepared, Amelia's thoughts are heavy. She feels a mix of determination and doubt. Can she really trust Killian? And what is Darius planning.

"Amelia," a soft voice called. Startled and jolting back into reality, she turns to see her caller. It's Lena, her childhood friend. "Lena, what are you doing here? Anything the matter?" "I came to warn you," Lena whispers, looking around nervously. "I overheard Darius talking. He's planning something-and its against you." Amelia's heart skip a beat.

"What did he say?" "I couldn't catch everything, but he's gathering men to sabotage your plan." Amelia swallows hard. "Thank you." "Be careful Amelia, tread with caution" "I have no idea what is going on. but whatever it is, it's tearing the pack apart." "I will," Amelia promised.

As Lena slip out of the tent into the night, it's as though the weight of the world is crushing on her. With this new information from her friend, she felt betrayed. Standing outside her tent, at the entrance, she looked toward the dark forest where Killian had disappeared. The path ahead hold danger, but she is resolved to see it through.

The moon hides behind thick clouds, leaving the camp in near darkness. Unknown to Amelia, a pair of eyes is watching her from the shadows. The game has just began, and the stakes are higher than ever.

The early morning air is sharp, cold and harsh against Amelia's skin as she and her small group of warriors prepare to leave the camp. She looks toward the horizon where the first slivers of dawn is breaking through the gloom of the night, the sky painted with streaks of purple and red. Despite the beauty of the moment, her mind is clouded with tension.

Killian already is at the edge of the territory, waiting in silence, standing with a relaxed posture. But there is an unperceived threat in the way he carries himself. To him, its as if the whole world is a game he already won. His silver eyes caught the rising sun, making them glow faintly as they locked onto Amelia's.

"You're late," Amelia.

"We move at our own pace," Amelia shot back, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of irritating her.

Killian chuckles softly, "This isn't your territory anymore, Amelia. Out there," he gestured toward the forest beyond, "we play by my rules."

"Fine!" She swallows her irritation and signals to her men. A dozen of her best warriors stand behind her- silent. They wear cold faces, ready to follow her into the unknown. Despite their loyalty, Amelia sense their unease. Never have they ventured into rogue territory before-few had, and only fewer returned.

"We'll be moving fast," Killian warns, his gaze sweeping over her men. "Keep up, go hard or go home."

Without another word, he turns and began walking toward the forest, his long pace radiated confidence. Amelia pause for a moment, then follows. She keeps a cautious watch on Killian. He moved with a predatory grace, always aware of his surroundings, always watching.

The weight of what lay ahead settles heavily on her shoulders. They are leaving the safety of their borders into the unknown. Hours passes. The forest grows denser. The air colder. The deeper they go, the more isolated Amelia feels. The safety of her pack long behind her, replaced by unknown dangers of the lawless and dangerous rogue territory filled with enemies that would rip them apart than talk.

As they move deeper into the woods, shadows dance in the corner of Amelia's vision, as if hiding behind the trees and every crack of a branch or rustle of leaves set her on edge. The silence is heavy and killing, only broken by the steady rhythm of their footsteps-each step echoing their mutual distrust.

"You're quiet," Killian observed, breaking the silence.

"I don't have much to say," Amelia answers curtly, her eyes scanning the trees. Killian smirks. "You're thinking about your pack, aren't you?"

Amelia's jaw clenches. "Of course I am. You won't understand."

He stops, turning to face her, his expression unreadable. "You'd be surprised at what I understand."

Amelia narrow her eyes. "Why don't you enlighten me then? You've been hinting at things since all these started. If you know so much, why not tell me what really happened to my father?"

Killian study her with his piercing gaze for a moment. "Your father's death was not what it seemed. There's more going on, Amelia-things your pack don't even know, things your pack isn't telling you. He was a good Alpha, but he made enemies. Powerful enemies."

Her heart pounds at his words, but she refused to let him see her fear. "Who's behind it?"

Killian's lips curls into a faint smile, but he didn't answer. "You'll know when the time is right."

Frustration boils within her. "You're playing games, Killian. I need answers, not more of your cryptic warnings."

"You think I enjoy keeping you in the dark?" His voice is low. "This is not a game, Amelia. There is more to what is happening than you realize."

A rustling sound comes from the trees ahead. Killian's body tensed, his eyes scanning the shadows. "Stay close," he murmurs.

Out of the brush, three rogue wolves appeared, snarling as they encircled them. Their eyes loaded with malice, but Killian didn't flinch. Instead, he steps forward, his voice commanding.

"This isn't your fight. Leave, or I'll make you."

The lead rogue, a burly wolf with scars crisscrossing his face, let out a low growl. "You don't scare us, Killian. You've been out of the rogue business too long."

Killian's response was a blur of motion. In an instant, he throws himself upon the rogue, slamming him into the ground with brutal efficiency. The other two wolves rushed at him, but Amelia moves in, her instincts taking over. She dodges the first attack, spins around to land a hard punch to the second rogue's jaw. He staggered back, stunned by her strength.

Within moments, the fight is over. The rogues, bruised and bloody, retreats into the forest-their tails in between their legs.

Amelia wipes the sweat on her eye brow and forehead while her chest moves at her fast breathing. She glanced at Killian, who was standing over the fallen leader.

"You're stronger than I thought," he said, eyeing her with reluctant respect.

"Don't sound so surprised," she retorted, still catching her breath.

Killian gave a small nod before stepping away from the unconscious rogue. "We should keep moving. There will be more of them soon."

They resume their journey, but something had shifted between them. The battle forged an unspoken understanding. Despite their differences, they were a formidable team.

As they walk, Killian continue to drop hints about the conspiracy surrounding her father's death, but each time Amelia press for details, he pulls back.

"He was killed because he knew too much," Killian said at one point, his voice low. "There's a hidden enemy pulling the strings, manipulating packs from the shadows."

"Who?" Amelia demands. Killian's gaze hardened. "Not yet."

Her frustration is growing with every step, but she cannot deny that something bigger was at play. And despite her better judgment, she was starting to believe him.

After what feels like hours of silence, Killian stops abruptly. He turns to face her, with an unreadable expression .

"We're close," he says, his voice quiet, almost too soft for the moment.

"Close to what?" Amelia asks as her pulse raced.

Killian didn't answer immediately. His gaze shot quickly toward a deep narrow valley ahead-where unevenly cut rocks stuck out of the earth like teeth. A low mist swirled around the base of the deep narrow valley, hiding whatever was below.

"Something you need to see," he said as he started toward the valley, and after a brief moment, Amelia followed.

As they approach the edge, a strange odor hit her- a strong offensive taste of blood mixed with something else, something even darker. Her stomach twists as she looked down into the valley and saw carcasses.

Wolves-dozens of them-scattered across the rocky ground, their fur stained with dried blood. While some had shifted back into their human forms, their bodies were twisted and broken as their lifeless eyes stared at the sky; others remained in their wolf shapes.

Amelia's breath caught in her throat. They were from her father's pack.

"What...what happened here?" she whispers with a voice barely audible.

Killian crouches at the edge of the valley to let his eyes scan the bodies below as if he was not getting a clear look. "They were ambushed weeks ago," he said calmly; probably by another pack-one that didn't want them crossing into rogue territory."

Amelia knelt beside him, her heart heavy, recognizing several of the bodies. They had been part of the scouting team her father had sent out months ago, searching for answers after the first attacks but they never returned.

"This is your doing!," she accuse him, her voice shaking with anger. "You led them here to die."

Killian turns sharply to show his hard-gaze expression. "I didn't lead them anywhere. They made their choices-like you."

Her left hand folds into fist by her side and her body tremble with a fury not contained . She wanted to lash out, to blame him for the carnage before her, but deep down, she knows this wasn't his doing. The rogues were wild, yes, but this was something more -something darker.

Killian stood, dusting off his hands. "This is the price of walking blind, Amelia. You can't afford to keep pretending you know the whole truth."

"I know enough," she answers through gritted teeth, though the uncertainty bites her.

"Do you?" Killian's voice drops, filled with something close to pity. "If you really know what is happening-who is pulling the strings-you will not be so quick to judge me."

Amelia stands and face him, her eyes shot with fire. "Then tell me," she demands. Killian stared at her for a moment, as if weighing whether she is ready for what he has to say.

"Your father was close-too close," he said. "He uncovered something that threatened more than just the rogue packs. There are wolves out there, powerful wolves-who would rather prefer the entire system to burn than let the truth come out."

Amelia's heart pounds in her chest. "What truth?"

A chill runs down her spine, and for a moment, the world seem to spin around her. Her father's death had been shrouded in mystery, but the idea that it had been orchestrated by someone more powerful-someone within the system-was almost too much to bear.

Before she could ask more, a howl rang out from the trees, sharp and urgent. Killian's head snapped toward the sound, his eyes narrowing.

"We're not alone," he growls.

Instantly, the tension in the air shifted. Amelia and her warriors draw their weapons as their eyes scan the trees for any sign of movement. Killian's warriors too. The howl came again, closer this time, followed with sound of footsteps-many footsteps.

"We need to move," Killian said, his voice low and tense. "Now."

Amelia didn't argue. She signal to her warriors, and they fall into formation as Killian led them away from the valley deeper into the forest. Whatever truth she is searching for will have to wait.

Because now, they are being hunted.