(THE ALPHA I WAS NEVER MEANT TO LOVE)

CHAPTER TWO

The eastern tower was colder than the rest of the Alpha's territory.

I noticed it immediately.

The stone walls held the night's chill, and the narrow windows offered a distant view of the forest surrounding the territory. Two warriors stood outside the door, making it clear that I wasn't a guest.

I was a prisoner.

I couldn't understand how everything had changed so quickly.

Only hours ago, I had been standing before the Silverpine pack, embarrassed because the moonstone had rejected me.

Now I was inside Alpha Kael Draven's territory, carrying a secret I didn't even know I possessed.

And worse, he was my mate.

The word still felt strange in my mind.

Mate.

I had imagined finding mine differently. I had imagined warmth, happiness, maybe even the certainty that someone in this world finally belonged to me.

Instead, Kael barely looked at me.

When the door opened, he entered alone.

His presence immediately filled the small room.

I watched him carefully, hoping he would finally acknowledge what had happened between us.

He didn't.

He walked to the table and placed several papers on it.

"Tell me everything you know about your family."

I stared at him.

That was all?

No mention of the bond.

No explanation.

Nothing.

I told him what little I knew. My mother had raised me alone. She had never spoken about my father. She had never explained why we moved so often when I was younger. And whenever I asked about the pendant around my neck, she changed the subject.

Kael listened without interrupting.

But the longer he listened, the darker his expression became.

When I finished, he picked up one of the papers.

"There are gaps in your history."

"I don't know what you expect me to tell you."

"The truth."

"I am telling you the truth."

His eyes met mine.

For one brief moment, something softened in them.

Then it disappeared.

"You will remain here while I investigate your background."

My chest tightened.

"You're keeping me here?"

"For your protection."

It didn't feel like protection.

It felt like another rejection.

I looked away, swallowing the hurt rising in my throat.

"You don't have to worry. I won't run."

He said nothing.

Then he turned toward the door.

"Rest."

I almost called after him.

I wanted to ask why he was pretending the bond didn't exist.

I wanted to ask whether he felt what I felt.

But pride stopped me.

The door closed behind him.

Hours passed.

I remained awake, staring at the ceiling.

A servant eventually brought me food and a glass of water.

I hadn't realized how thirsty I was.

I reached for the glass.

Something smelled wrong.

Faint.

Almost impossible to notice.

I pulled it closer, then stopped.

The door opened.

A shadow moved across the room.

Before I could react, a figure rushed toward me with a blade.

I stumbled backward.

The glass shattered against the floor.

The attacker raised the weapon.

Then someone moved faster.

Kael.

He seized the attacker's wrist and slammed him against the wall.

The blade fell.

Everything happened so quickly that I could barely breathe.

The attacker struggled, but Kael held him firmly.

"Who sent you?"

The stranger said nothing.

Kael tightened his grip.

Still nothing.

Then the attacker looked directly at me.

His lips moved.

"Ask the Alpha..."

His eyes shifted toward Kael.

"...what happened nineteen years ago."

Then his body went limp.

Kael released him.

For several seconds, neither of us moved.

My heart pounded as I looked at the dead man on the floor.

Kael's eyes met mine.

And this time, I saw something I'd never seen before.

Fear.

Not for himself.

For me.

He looked toward the shattered glass.

Then back at me.

"Stay behind me."

I didn't understand why.

But as I stared at the dead assassin, one thing became painfully clear.

Someone had followed me into the Alpha's territory.

And whoever they were, they didn't want me alive.