Beneath the Alpha's Bloodline

Lila's POV

"Lila!" "Hide! Run!" From outside, my father's voice yelled.

With my legs shaking, I jumped off the bed. There was only one window and wooden walls in my tiny room. Outside, I could hear dogs growling and see shapes moving. They were attacking my pack.

I snatched up my coat and hurried to the door, but my mother rushed in before I could open it. Her eyes were wide with fear and her face was pale. "Lila, you must leave! "Now!" she cried, her voice tremulous.

"What's going on?" With hardly more than a whisper, I asked.

She grabbed my arm and said, "Hayden's pack." "They are here to kill us all. Lila, you must run. Go to the Forbidden Forest. Remain alive!

"No!" Tears were pouring down my face. "I can't abandon you!"

My mother's body shook as she gave me a hard hug. "Lila, you must. You have strength. You will live. Go now!

I stumbled outside when she shoved me in the direction of the back door. It was a hectic night. There were wolves everywhere, their eyes shining in the darkness, their mouths bared. I watched my father defeat three of Hayden's men with his wolf form, which was huge and strong. Despite his bleeding, he continued. He was buying me time so I could get away.

I took off running. My breath came in quick, frantic gasps as my feet banged against the floor. The trees towered over me like monsters in the dark jungle. Even though I could hear the battle's sounds fading behind me, I continued. I was unable to.

My legs finally failed me, but I was not sure of how long I had run. My chest heaved as I fell against a tree. My thoughts were a haze of pain and worry, and my heart continued to race. I had lost my pack. My parents had left. I was by myself.

I had no time for grief. I froze at the sound of footsteps. I listened while holding my breath. The steps were steady and determined. Something or someone was approaching me.

I tried to shrink as much as I could by pressing myself up against the tree. However, it was useless. I knew I had been found when a low growl rumbled across the bush.

A wolf entered the open space. This big wolf, with dark fur and bright blue eyes, wasn't one of Hayden's. With its head tilted as though trying to identify me, it gazed at me.

I stayed motionless. I held my breath. One step, then another, brought the wolf closer. I could feel the force radiating from it and see its muscles quivering beneath its fur. This wolf wasn't your normal one. It was an Alpha.

The wolf moved, its body changing and turning until I saw a man. His dark hair fell into his sharp blue eyes, and he had broad shoulders and a tall build. His look was intimidating and his face was hard. He viewed me as though I were a riddle that he was unable to solve.

His voice was chilly and deep as he said, "What are you doing here?"

I swallowed hard, looking for the right words. "They were attacked, my people. I had to run.

His eyes narrowed and he lifted an eyebrow. "Your pack? Are you a werewolf?

Even though I knew my smell was weak, I nodded. I was smaller and had softer features, so I didn't look like a normal werewolf. However, I was among them.

After studying me for a while, the man shook his head. "You're telling lies. You are a person. All you're trying to do is find a place to stay. "I'm telling the truth!" I said, raising my voice. It was Hayden who killed my group. My parents are no longer with me. There is nowhere else for me to go.

He didn't think I was real. His eyes showed it to me. But he paused for some reason. Perhaps it was the tears running down my face or the panicked tone in my voice. He groaned and mumbled, "All right," whatever it was. Let me show you my pack. However, you're on your own if you make any problem.

I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "I'm grateful."

He didn't answer. He simply turned and walked away, thinking I would follow. I did, my thoughts still spinning from all that had happened, my legs still shaky.

For what seemed like hours, we walked in silence. With the trees surrounding us, the forest was scary and dark. I kept looking at the man, trying to understand him. It was clear that he was an Alpha. However, there was something evil and broken about him. He avoided looking at me, and I could sense it in the way he handled himself.

We arrived in his pack's area at last. It was a big, well-defended camp, ringed by a high fence and wooden houses. With suspicious eyes, the other wolves watched me as we entered the gates. I sensed their mistrust and judgment. I had no place here.

I was shown to a small hut on the outside of the camp by the man, who I later found out was Kian. "You'll remain here," he stated icily. "Avoid wandering. Avoid causing problems. You're on your own if you do.

Too tired to protest, I nodded. Without saying anything else, he left, leaving me by myself once more.

My thoughts were racing as I sat on the bed. I had lost my pack. My parents had left. The wolves around me didn't trust me, and I was in an unknown area. Furthermore, the Alpha who had come to my help didn't trust a word I said.

Outside the hut, I heard a low growl as I tried to fall asleep. A pair of bright eyes were looking at me through the window as I sat up, my heart pounding. I'm being watched by someone or something.

However, I was still living. And that was sufficient for now.

I tried to go asleep as I lay down, but I kept having the sense that something was about to happen. Something dangerous. And I would need to be prepared when it did.

Lila's POV

"You shouldn't be here," Kian said, his voice hard and cutting through the quiet.

My hand was hanging above the door handle when I froze. I had just left my house in the hopes of seeing him. His tone chilled me, even though the morning sun was warm. There were mottled shadows on the ground between us as the golden light poured through the trees that circled the little area where our homes were located.

"I... I just wanted to thank you," I mumbled, shakily. "For keeping me alive. for allowing me to be here." Feeling uncomfortable and out of place in this strange spot, I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. I had a gut feeling that I was not wanted here.

His blue eyes pierced me as he turned to face me. They were cold and far away, like the tint of a winter sky. The scar that ran over his temple was partly hidden by his dark hair, which fell across his face. "I don't need your thanks. Simply avoid trouble.

I looked at something in his hand as I nodded. A new, deep cut that was bleeding. In sharp contrast to his brown skin, the red line stretched from his fingers to his wrist. I took a mindless step forward. "You're hurt."

As if he hadn't even noticed, he looked down at his hand. At his feet, blood trickled into the dirt. "It's nothing."

"Let me help," I blurted out. "I am skilled in wound care. I learned from my mother. Despite my nervousness, I tried to look confident as I pointed to his injury.

His jaw tensed as he paused. As he thought about my offer, the muscle in his cheek twitches. I briefly believed he would say no. But then he sighed and nodded. "Fine. Come with me."

I followed him to his cabin, my heart racing. The path was short, just a few steps from where we were, but it seemed like crossing an important border. His house was bigger than mine, positioned at the edge of the opening where the forest got deeper. The wooden door creaked as he pushed it open.

The inside was small but clean, with a tiny table and a bed in the corner. Sunlight streamed through a single window, lighting dust particles floating in the air. A rack stood against one wall, loaded with old volumes. He sat down on a wooden chair, stretching his hurt hand.

I grabbed a cloth and some plants from the shelf where I found soothing things. His arrangement was flawless; everything had its place. I found a bowl and poured water from a pitcher, then returned to where he waited.

"This might sting," I warned as I cleaned the cut. The water in the bowl turned pink as I worked.

He didn't move. His eyes were on me, watching every move I made. My hands began to shake as I felt his strong, heavy eyes. I tried to ignore how close we were and how I could smell his smoke and woods while I focused on the job at hand.

He said, "You're good at this," in a quieter tone. The sharp edge from before had become smooth.

Startled, I looked up. I was surprised to see how close our faces were. "Thank you. My mother... she was a healer." I gently wiped the wound to get rid of any leftover dirt. "She taught me everything she knew before she died."

His eyes remained fixed on mine, but he did not answer. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was in them. Something that he was trying to hide, a spark, a flicker of feeling. Unspoken questions filled the tense silence between us.

I carefully wrapped the cloth around his hand to finish the patch. I didn't back down, though. Warmth spread through me as my fingers stayed on his skin. He had hard scars on his hand, which were a result of living outside. I became aware of how close we were as his breath caught.

"Lila..." he mumbled in an angry voice. He had never called my name before.

His lips were on mine without notice, and I had no idea who had moved first. He seemed to have been holding back for too long because of the intense and passionate kiss. With my hands tangled in his hair, I returned the kiss. It was softer than I expected, sliding between my fingers.

He pulled me onto his lap, his hands holding my waist. I could feel his heart beating against my chest, matching the pace of mine. His lips traveled to my neck, and I gasped, arching into him. The touch of his tongue on my skin sent thrills down my spine.

"Kian..." I breathed, my voice barely a whisper.

He didn't reply. He paused in quiet question as his hands crept to the hem of my shirt. He pulled it over my head after I nodded, his eyes getting gloomy as he took in my presence. Then came his own clothes, which showed a marked and scarred chest.

He got up and brought me to the bed, lifting me along with him. As he put me down, the blankets felt cool against my hot skin. His hands were everywhere, touching, exploring, as if he couldn't get enough of me. I experienced the same feeling, studying the layout of his body by running my fingers over the curves of his muscles.

We quickly threw away the clothes we still had, clearing the obstacles in our way. Every touch was emphasized in the silent room as his skin felt electric against mine. Birds were calling to one another outside, but the sounds were unimportant and far away.

His lips left lines of fire on my skin as he kissed his way down my body. My back rose off the bed as he hit sensitive spots, and I gasped. As his mouth continued its journey, his hands braced my hips.

When he moved back up to kiss me again, I put my legs around his waist, drawing him closer. Our eyes met, and for a moment, the world stood still. Then he was moving, joining us together, and I cried out at the feeling.

The world outside faded. It was just the two of us, breathing and moving together. It was pure, powerful, and unlike anything I had ever experienced. The beat we found was urgent, desperate, as if we were both seeking something we couldn't name.

As we moved, breathing in short spurts, his forehead brushed against mine. My nails dug into his skin as I gripped his shoulders. His chest vibrated with the sound of his groan. The stress between us increased, and I felt lightheaded from the rising feeling.

It was powerful when it was launched. I shook beneath his body as I called his name. Shortly after, his breathing was heavy and his face was buried in my neck.

We laid there with our bodies linked when it was over. His arm wrapped around me, his fingers drawing lines on my skin. I felt safe, for the first time in what felt like forever. Time passed and the room was covered with deep shadows from the afternoon sun.

Neither of us said anything. Words didn't seem necessary, or maybe too risky. I studied his face, relaxed in the wake, and wondered what he was thinking. His face didn't show anything.

I must have fallen asleep, because when I opened my eyes, the light had changed. Kian stood by the window, dressed, and looked out. He heard me stir and turned.

"You should go back to your cabin," he stated, his voice bland. The same coldness I'd first experienced had taken the place of the warmth.

I nodded, gathered my clothes and dressed quickly. I turned to check behind me as I got to the door, but he had already turned away.

However, the moment was short-lived.

I felt weak when I woke up few days later. My gut churned and my head was spinning. My legs failed me as I tried to get out of bed, and I fell to the ground with a thud that sounded as if it were echoing throughout my tiny house.

My voice was weak as I called out. As I tried to crawl toward the door, black dots danced in my vision. My body was strange and resisted my orders.

Before everything went dark, the last sound I heard was Kian's voice calling my name.

I awoke amid worried faces in the pack's hospital. My nose was flooded with the antiseptic smell of medical plants. Too bright for my sensitive eyes, sunshine poured through the windows.

Over me hung the pack doctor, an old woman with brown hair streaked with gray. After giving me a serious look, she said, "Lila... you're pregnant."

Lila's POV

'Lila...you're pregnant"

The words were like a kick to the stomach. I blinked as I tried to take in the pack doctor's words. Are you sure? How? I mean, how am I pregnant? Trying to make sense of the news that seemed to echo throughout the little hospital room, my thoughts raced.

I glanced around the room, still having trouble seeing well. As I tried to focus, the white walls seemed to spin a little. Beside me stood the pack doctor, an old woman with a serious look, silver-streaked hair drawn back in a tight bun, and sympathetic eyes. With a clipboard in her damaged hands, she watched me closely, judging my reaction. Kian was also present, his face stoic, his arms crossed tightly across his chest. As far away from my bed as he could be while still being there, he stood in the room's corner.

"Pregnant?" I said it again, just above a whisper. The term sounded scary and strange when I spoke it.

With a careful lowering of her eyes, the doctor nodded. "Yes. I think she's about four weeks along. The sickness, lightheadedness, and tiredness you've been feeling are all normal early pregnancy signs.

My stomach twisted. Four weeks. That suggested that it took place that evening. The evening we shared. His touch, his kiss, the feel of his body on mine, the memories came rushing back. I had assumed that meant something, that perhaps he was attracted to me. I wasn't sure what to think at this point.

Kian wasn't looking at me when I looked at him. His eyes were locked on the wall as though it held some fascinating feature that only he could see, and his jaw was clenched so hard that I could see the muscle moving beneath his skin. Every line of his body radiated strain, and his stance was tight.

"Kian..." My voice shook a little as I began. I wanted him to say something, anything at all.

Before I could say anything more, he interrupted. He replied, "This is impossible," in a voice as hard and cold as ice.

His tone made me wince, and I pulled the thin hospital blanket tighter about me as though it might protect me from what he was saying. "What do you mean?"

At last, he turned to face me, his blue eyes cold and aloof. Any warmth that had been during our shared night had disappeared entirely, and in its place came a coolness that made me feel absolutely cold. "I mean, this isn't possible. I can't bear a child. I am... I don't have the ability.

The final, heavy word hung in the air. My heart was beating so loudly that I was certain everyone in the room could hear it as I stared at him. "But... but we..." I tripped because I couldn't think clearly.

He said, "It doesn't matter what happened," and pushed clear of the wall. At his sides, his hands clenched into fists. "I am impotent. It was proven by the test. Years ago, it was confirmed by three different doctors.

My vision became even more blurry as tears began to fill up in my eyes. The walls of the room felt like they were pushing in on me. "I'm telling the truth, Kian. I wouldn't. That is not what I would do. As I spoke, the words caught in my throat and my voice cracked.

His look toughened into something strange and nasty as he shook his head. There was no sign of the man who had hugged me so carefully. You're trying to trap me. You are trying to force yourself on me and make me take the responsibility for something that is not my fault."

No knife could cut as deeply as his words did. I had the sense that the room's air had been pulled out, and I was unable to breathe. A terrible tightness in my chest caused me to gulp for air. "Please, Kian... I am being honest. This is your kid. Instinctively, I stretched my hand to touch him, but he stepped away, avoiding contact.

His shoulders were stiff, and a muscle in his back was clearly moving under his thin t-shirt as he turned away. "I'd rather not hear it. You must go."

"What?" With my voice breaking, I whispered. I could only manage the basic words.

"You heard me," he stated in a serious and determined tone. As if I weren't worth the effort, he didn't even look at me while he talked. "Go. You are no longer welcome here. Gather your things and leave.

I had the sense that the earth was giving way under me. My mind was spinning with hurt and confusion, and my heart was broken. What was he doing? How could he simply... dismiss me in this manner? following all that had happened between us? How could he be so nasty, even if he didn't believe me?

Awkwardly, the doctor cleared her throat. She said, "Perhaps we should all take some time to process this news," in a softly strong voice. "Lila, stress is bad for the unborn child. You ought to get some rest.

But I was unable to sleep. Not with Kian's latest words. With shaky but steady legs, I forced myself out of bed. The room rocked a little, but I leaned against the wall for support.

I replied, "Fine," in a louder voice than I had expected. "I'll leave. You won't need to see me once more.

Kian stayed silent. He did not even notice my words. His words were less painful than his quiet.

Tears rolled down my face as I stumbled out of the hospital. The infirmary's gloom was suddenly replaced by the bright sunlight outside. As I went by, pack members paused to look, their curious gazes following me. I didn't give a damn. Kian's refusal was all I could think about.

I couldn't stay there, but I had no idea where I was going. Not after his earlier remark. Automatically, my feet led me across the courtyard, past the community dining hall where I had been eating my meals by myself for the previous weeks, and past the training grounds where fighters trained.

I returned to my cabin and sobbed as I lay on the bed. Naturally, my hands went to my stomach, where a small life was forming. Kian didn't seek that life. A life he wouldn't accept as his own. I hardly noticed the rough wool blanket beneath me scratching my skin.

Anger, sadness, and fear were among the feelings I experienced. How could I bring up a child by myself? How could I shield them from the werewolf world's perils? I had no experience as a mother. I had very few memories to lead me because my own had passed away when I was still a kid.

Above all else, though, I felt rejected. Kian had ignored me and didn't trust me. He believed I was trying to trick him by lying. It was too much to handle, the memory of his cold eyes, the disgust in his words. He didn't want the child I was having, and he rejected the child's presence completely.