My Forbidden Alpha

The night was alive with the scent of blood and the sound of pounding footsteps.

Selene's breath came in short, ragged bursts as she sprinted through the dense forest, her bare feet pounding against the damp earth. The sharp tang of pine needles pricked her soles, but she didn't stop. She couldn't. Not with them behind her. The hunters. Their scent clung to the wind-metallic and bitter, like old iron-and it sickened her.

They're getting closer.

Selene threw a quick glance over her shoulder, her keen eyes piercing the darkness. Faint silhouettes moved between the trees, no more than shadows, but they were fast-too fast for humans. She had underestimated them. These hunters were trained to track wolves like her, and their weapons were meant to kill.

The blood moon above bathed the world in crimson light, its eerie glow slicing through the black canopy. Selene's heart drummed wildly in her chest as the curse whispered its bitter reminder into her thoughts: You will never outrun fate, child.

She ignored it, biting her lip hard enough to taste copper. Fate was a cruel mistress, but she would not surrender to it. Not tonight.

"Fan out! She's close!" a rough voice barked from behind her.

Selene stumbled, her legs aching as exhaustion clawed at her muscles. A trap. That was what this had been all along. For days, the hunters had flushed her from safe haven after safe haven, driving her deeper into their territory, cutting off her options until this very moment. The forest was no longer her ally. Now, it was a cage.

The rustle of branches came from her left. Selene twisted sharply, changing direction and plunging through a tangle of thornbushes. The thorns sliced her arms and shoulders, but she gritted her teeth, the sharp pain feeding her determination. As she burst through the other side, she slid to a stop.

A clearing.

Wide, open, and empty.

Selene's pulse spiked as the realization hit her. She had been corralled.

She turned, already hearing the deliberate crunch of boots approaching from all sides. Men emerged from the tree line like shadows given form, their weapons gleaming faintly in the moonlight. Silver-tipped arrows, blades coated in wolfsbane, nets designed to hold her down and bind her limbs.

The hunters spread out in a circle, closing the gap between them, and Selene could feel their satisfaction radiating through the cold night air.

"Nowhere left to run, wolf," one of the men sneered, his smile a flash of white teeth. His voice oozed confidence. "Thought you'd give us more of a challenge."

Selene straightened, her chest heaving as her sharp gaze darted between them. Her wolf prowled restlessly beneath her skin, desperate to rise, but she fought the shift. It was too risky. Even if she managed to take down a few, there were too many. A full transformation would leave her vulnerable.

"Come quietly," another man said, a net dangling menacingly from his gloved hands. "We might even let you live."

Selene laughed bitterly. "Spare me the lies. You wouldn't waste silver on me if you planned to let me walk away."

The man's smirk fell, his expression hardening. He raised his bow, the silver arrow trained directly at her heart. "Suit yourself."

Time slowed.

Selene braced herself, her instincts screaming at her to move, but before the man could let the arrow fly, a deafening growl erupted from the shadows. The sound tore through the clearing, so deep and primal that the hunters froze, their faces draining of color.

Selene felt it before she saw it-the overwhelming, alpha presence that rippled through the air, raw and undeniable. Her wolf recoiled, then stilled, as if held in place by some unseen force.

Then, he stepped into the moonlight.

A towering figure, broad-shouldered and clad in dark clothing, emerged from the shadows like a specter. His black hair was tousled, as though he'd just woken from sleep, but his amber eyes glowed with a deadly focus. The hunters, so confident moments ago, hesitated as his presence crashed into them like a wave.

Lucian.

Selene's heart seized, though she masked her shock behind a scowl. Of all the alphas in the world, it had to be him.

"Alpha Lucian," one of the hunters stammered, lowering his weapon slightly. "We didn't know-"

"You didn't know this was my territory?" Lucian's voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of thunder. His eyes flicked toward Selene, lingering for a moment before snapping back to the hunters. "Or did you forget the rules?"

"We were hunting a rogue," another man said quickly, pointing toward Selene. "She's dangerous-"

"I don't recall asking for your opinion," Lucian interrupted, his lip curling back to reveal the faintest hint of fangs. "This rogue, as you call her, is under my protection now."

The words dropped like stones into the silence.

Selene's eyes widened. What is he doing? She opened her mouth to argue, to tell him she didn't need his protection, but something in the way he looked at her made her bite back the words.

"You can't be serious," one of the hunters protested. "She's one of them. Her scent-she's from the Bloodfang Pack!"

A ripple of tension spread through the clearing.

Selene stiffened. Bloodfang. The name of her former pack was poison to the ears of anyone who heard it, a stain she could never scrub clean. Years had passed since their destruction, but the stories of their crimes-of her crimes-still lingered like an unhealed wound.

Lucian tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "And yet, she is mine."

The declaration sent shockwaves through Selene's body, and she froze in place. What did he just say?

The hunters stared at him, dumbfounded. "Yours? She's-she's-"

"She's leaving," Lucian growled, his voice dropping an octave. The shadows around him seemed to deepen as his wolf pressed against the surface. "Now."

One of the men opened his mouth to argue, but Lucian's glare silenced him instantly. Reluctantly, the hunters lowered their weapons, muttering curses under their breath as they turned and retreated back into the woods. The sound of their footsteps grew fainter and fainter until they disappeared entirely.

The clearing fell silent.

Selene turned to face Lucian, her fists clenched at her sides. "I didn't ask for your help."

Lucian's gaze pinned her in place. "You wouldn't have lasted another minute."

"I don't need a savior," she shot back, her voice sharp. "Especially not you."

He arched a brow, amusement flickering across his otherwise stoic face. "And yet, here you are. Alive, thanks to me."

Selene bristled, hating how calm he sounded. Hating the way her traitorous heart skipped a beat every time his golden eyes locked onto hers. The alpha aura surrounding him was suffocating, an unspoken command that even her rebellious wolf didn't dare defy.

"Why did you do it?" she demanded, refusing to let him see how much his presence unsettled her. "Why claim me as yours?"

Lucian stepped closer, the faint scent of cedar and smoke wafting from him. His eyes searched hers for a long moment before he spoke, his voice low and steady. "Because you are."

Selene's breath caught in her throat. "What?"

"You heard me." He leaned closer, his towering figure casting a shadow over her. "You're mine. And I don't take kindly to anyone trying to take what belongs to me."

Her pulse thundered in her ears as the meaning of his words sank in. She staggered back a step, shaking her head.

"No," she whispered. "You're wrong."

Lucian's gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a soft growl. "Deny it all you want. But the bond doesn't lie."

Selene stared at him, horror and disbelief warring inside her. The bond. No. It wasn't possible. It couldn't be. Yet, as she looked into his amber eyes, a terrible truth began to settle over her like a shroud.

He was right.

She felt it, too.

The connection.

The pull.

Lucian Shadowfang was her mate.

And he was forbidden.

Selene didn't move. She couldn't. The word mate echoed in her mind like a curse, a cruel joke played by fate. Her chest tightened, her wolf stirring restlessly beneath her skin as if to confirm what she already feared. This man-this dangerous alpha-was hers.

But he couldn't be. She wouldn't allow it.

"No," she said sharply, shaking her head as though she could physically push away the truth. "Whatever this is-this bond-it's a mistake."

Lucian didn't flinch. His golden gaze remained steady, unyielding. "The bond doesn't make mistakes."

"Then it's broken." Her voice was sharp, though she couldn't suppress the faint tremor. "Because I want no part of it."

Lucian's lips curled into something between a smirk and a snarl, the kind of expression that sent a shiver up her spine. "What you want is irrelevant."

Selene's fists clenched. "You arrogant-"

"Careful." Lucian's voice dropped to a low, dangerous growl, his alpha presence pressing against her like a storm. "Your bravado might fool the others, but it doesn't work on me."

Her wolf whined at the back of her mind, submitting instinctively to his dominance. Selene fought to suppress it, to fight against the natural pull toward Lucian. The bond-fated or not-felt like a chain being tightened around her neck, and she refused to wear it.

"I don't belong to you," she spat, each word deliberate and slow. "And I'm not staying here."

Lucian took a step toward her, and Selene instinctively took one back.

"You don't have a choice."

"I always have a choice."

He tilted his head slightly, studying her like a predator sizing up its prey. "You're smart enough to know you won't survive out there alone."

Selene's heart stuttered at the truth of his words, but her pride burned hotter than her fear. "I've survived this long."

"Barely," Lucian replied, his tone calm but sharp as a blade. He gestured to the clearing behind them, where the hunters had nearly brought her down. "You'd be dead right now if I hadn't intervened."

Selene opened her mouth to argue but hesitated. He wasn't wrong, and that stung more than she cared to admit. She had been outnumbered, exhausted, and close to breaking. Still, she didn't need his help. Didn't want it.

"I'll take my chances."

Lucian sighed, though the sound held no trace of sympathy. "Stubborn." He turned his back to her, glancing at the line of trees. "You can leave if you want. I won't stop you."

Selene blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

He looked at her over his shoulder, his amber eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "You're free to go. Walk into the night and see how long you last."

It wasn't a threat. It was worse-an invitation. He was daring her, and the challenge lingered between them like smoke. Selene's instincts screamed that something wasn't right, but her pride urged her to move.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and started walking. The forest swallowed her quickly, the sounds of crickets and rustling leaves replacing Lucian's overwhelming presence. Every step felt heavy, like she was walking through thick mud, but she refused to look back.

I don't need him.

Her words echoed in her mind, repeated like a mantra. She was strong enough to survive on her own. She had done it for years, after all.

The problem was... she didn't know where she was.

Selene's senses were sharp-sharper than most wolves-but exhaustion and hunger clouded her focus. The forest around her was foreign, and every shadow seemed to shift and stretch, hiding unseen dangers.

Hours-or maybe minutes-passed. Time became meaningless as the cold bit into her skin and her legs grew weak. She stumbled, bracing herself against a tree, her breathing shallow.

Keep moving.

A low growl cut through the silence.

Selene froze, her fingers digging into the bark as she turned her head slowly. From the darkness came two pinpricks of yellow light-eyes. They blinked once, and the creature stepped forward, its snarl revealing rows of gleaming teeth.

A rogue wolf.

Its fur was mangy, patches of bare skin exposed where disease had taken root. It looked feral, broken, and it locked its gaze onto Selene like a starving animal finding its next meal.

Selene pushed off the tree and forced herself to stand tall, though her limbs trembled. Her wolf stirred beneath her skin, clawing to take over, but shifting now would burn what little energy she had left.

"Stay back," she warned, though her voice was hoarse.

The rogue wolf growled louder, lowering its head as it crept closer. Selene's mind raced. She could fight, but in her current state, it wouldn't be enough. Not against this.

The rogue lunged.

Selene threw herself to the side just in time, the wolf's claws scraping across her arm instead of tearing into her throat. Pain exploded along her skin, but she forced herself to move. The wolf spun on her, faster this time, and Selene knew she wouldn't dodge again.

Is this it?

A deafening snarl erupted from the shadows, and a massive black wolf crashed into the rogue, slamming it to the ground with enough force to shake the earth. Selene staggered back, her vision swimming as the two wolves fought in a blur of teeth and claws.

It didn't last long. The black wolf-twice the size of the rogue-tore its throat out in one savage movement. The rogue fell limp, its blood soaking into the dirt as the black wolf stood over it, panting.

Selene stared, her heart pounding. The black wolf turned its golden gaze toward her, and she knew.

"Lucian," she whispered.

The wolf shifted, his bones cracking and reshaping as he rose to his full height in his human form. Lucian didn't bother to put on a shirt as he strode toward her, his amber eyes glowing with quiet fury.

"Done yet?" he asked, his voice sharp but calm.

Selene swallowed, pressing her hand against her bleeding arm. "I didn't ask you to follow me."

"You didn't have to."

"You just couldn't help yourself, could you?" she snapped, though her voice lacked its usual fire. "Always the hero."

Lucian stepped closer, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off his body. He looked down at her, his expression unreadable. "If I were a hero, I wouldn't let you walk into a death trap just to prove a point."

Selene opened her mouth, but no words came. He wasn't wrong. Again.

Lucian sighed, and for the first time, there was something almost... gentle in his tone. "You're hurt. Come back with me."

Selene hesitated. Her pride screamed at her to refuse, to keep fighting him and the bond. But her body was weak, her wolf exhausted, and the truth was that she needed him.

Just this once.

"This doesn't mean I accept-"

"I don't care what you accept right now." Lucian's voice hardened again as he took her uninjured arm and pulled her toward him. "It means you're not dying on my watch."

Selene wanted to argue, to fight, but when he scooped her into his arms as though she weighed nothing, she couldn't summon the strength.

The last thing she remembered before darkness claimed her was the steady sound of his heartbeat and the faint, unshakable whisper of her wo

Selene woke to the scent of cedarwood, smoke, and something deeper-something that made her wolf stir restlessly in her chest. It took her a moment to place the sensation, but when she did, her eyes snapped open.

Lucian.

She bolted upright, ignoring the sharp tug of pain from her injured arm. Her surroundings hit her like a tidal wave-a large, dimly lit room with walls made of thick, dark timber. A fire crackled in a stone hearth across from her, casting long shadows along the wooden floors. The bed she was in-large enough to swallow her whole-was covered in soft fur blankets that smelled distinctly like him.

Selene shoved them off, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. Her body protested, her arm wrapped tightly in clean linen bandages, but she gritted her teeth and pushed herself to her feet.

The door opened before she could take a step.

Lucian.

He stood in the doorway, filling the frame with his towering figure. He wore a simple black shirt that clung to his broad chest and dark pants that gave him an air of effortless authority. His amber eyes zeroed in on her immediately, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"You're awake," he said, voice low and even. "Good."

Selene scowled. "Where am I?"

"My home," Lucian replied. He stepped inside, his movements measured, like a predator who knew he didn't need to rush. "You're safe here."

Selene's eyes darted around the room, looking for an exit. "I didn't ask to come here."

"You didn't have much of a say in the matter," he replied coolly, crossing his arms. "You were bleeding out in the middle of the forest. Would you have preferred I left you there?"

"I didn't ask for your help," Selene shot back, her voice rising. "You can't just claim me, drag me back to your territory, and expect me to be grateful."

Lucian's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes-something sharp and dangerous. "You're alive, Selene. That should be enough for now."

The sound of her name on his lips sent a jolt through her, though she didn't let it show. Instead, she squared her shoulders, fixing him with a glare. "I don't care what you think you've done for me. I'm leaving."

Lucian tilted his head, amusement ghosting across his face. "Are you now?"

Selene moved toward the door, but before she could take three steps, Lucian was in front of her. He hadn't even made a sound. One moment he was across the room, and the next he was blocking her path, his presence an immovable wall.

"Move," she hissed, glaring up at him.

"Sit down before you fall over," Lucian said, his tone softer now but still firm. His gaze dropped to her injured arm, and Selene hated the way his eyes softened-like he cared. "You're not ready to leave."

Selene clenched her jaw, her pride warring with the truth. She was weak, dizzy, and her legs trembled beneath her weight. But she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of being right.

"You think you can keep me here forever?" she challenged, her voice tight.

Lucian sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "No. I think you're going to stay until you're strong enough to leave without dropping dead at the edge of my territory."

"And why do you care?" she demanded. "What am I to you?"

Lucian's eyes darkened, and for a heartbeat, he didn't answer. The silence was heavy, crackling with something unsaid.

"You're my mate," he said finally, his voice low and even.

Selene's heart twisted painfully. She knew he would say it, but hearing the words aloud still struck her like a blow.

"You don't know that for certain," she said, her voice faltering.

Lucian stepped closer, and the space between them shrank to nothing. Selene's instincts screamed at her to move, but her body wouldn't obey. She was frozen beneath the weight of his gaze.

"I know," he said softly, his voice a deep rumble that sent heat curling through her chest. "And so do you."

Selene's wolf stirred, pressing against her barriers, desperate to close the space between them. She clenched her fists, willing herself to resist. "It doesn't matter. I won't accept it."

Lucian's jaw tightened. "Why?"

Selene swallowed hard, taking a step back. She couldn't look at him-at the way his golden eyes burned with a mix of frustration and something else. Something gentler.

"Because it's forbidden," she whispered. "You don't understand."

"Then help me understand."

Selene turned away, her fingers digging into her palms. How could she explain the truth? That the bond between them shouldn't exist? That no alpha should ever be tied to someone like her?

"I can't stay here," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "You don't know what I am."

Lucian was quiet for a long moment before he spoke. "You're a wolf."

"I'm a Bloodfang." The words felt like poison on her tongue. "Or what's left of them."

Lucian's gaze sharpened, but he didn't flinch. "I know."

Selene turned sharply to face him, her chest tightening. "You know? And you still-"

"You think I care about the sins of your pack?" Lucian cut her off, his voice steady. "I know what you are, Selene. I know what you've been running from."

Her heart stuttered. He couldn't know. He couldn't possibly understand the blood that stained her past, the weight of the crimes her pack had committed before they were destroyed.

"You don't understand," she said again, shaking her head. "You don't know what I did."

Lucian stepped closer, his gaze locking onto hers. "Then tell me."

Selene clenched her jaw, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that I can't stay here. You're making a mistake by protecting me."

Lucian didn't respond right away. Instead, he studied her-really studied her-until she felt like he could see past every wall she'd ever built.

Finally, he said, "You're not the monster you think you are."

Selene flinched as though he'd struck her. The words hit too close, like he'd looked inside her and seen the darkest parts she tried so hard to bury.

"You don't know that," she whispered.

Lucian's expression softened, just slightly. "I do."

The gentleness in his voice unraveled something inside her, something she wasn't ready to face. She turned away, blinking rapidly, her chest tight.

Silence stretched between them, broken only by the crackle of the fire.

"You can hate me if you want," Lucian said quietly. "You can fight the bond. But it won't change what we are."

Selene stared at the flames, her thoughts a chaotic storm. Lucian was right about one thing-she felt the bond just as strongly as he did. It pulled at her, a tether that wouldn't break no matter how hard she tried.

And it terrified her.

"I need time," she said finally, her voice barely audible.

Lucian inclined his head slightly, as though he understood more than she was saying. "Then take it."

Selene blinked, surprised by his willingness to give her space.

"But don't mistake my patience for weakness," Lucian added, his voice firm again. "You're not leaving this territory until I know you're safe."

Selene wanted to argue, but exhaustion weighed her down like stones. For now, she would stay. Just until she was strong enough to leave.

She told herself that over and over as Lucian turned and walked out of the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

And with the bond she couldn't escape.

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