The Alpha's Relentless Desire

The forest had a way of holding its breath at night.

Not a sound. Not even the wind moving the branches. Just that heavy stillness you only get before something happens.

Dorian moved through the trees, every step quiet. The ground was damp, soft enough to muffle his boots. Moonlight spilled through gaps in the branches, cutting silver lines across the dirt.

He'd done this walk a hundred times, but something felt... off.

A smell hit him again. Just a hint of it on the air. Sweet, light. Not one he knew.

He slowed.

Kieran came up beside him, matching his pace. "Still nothing?"

Dorian kept his eyes forward. "It's here. Keep going."

Kieran didn't ask what "it" was. Years together had taught him when not to push.

The trees thickened as they headed toward the edge of Moonclaw Forest. The scent got sharper. Close now. His wolf stirred, pressing against him, restless.

Not wolf. Not human. Something in between.

Then-footsteps. Light. Careful.

They stopped moving.

The sound came again. And then she stepped out from between the trees.

She was wrapped in a plain brown cloak, hood low over her face. Boots that looked worn through. She moved like she expected danger to be right behind her.

The scent punched into his lungs.

Mine.

The thought came so fast it almost made him tense.

Kieran's voice was barely a whisper. "An outsider."

"No one moves," Dorian said, not looking away.

She saw them. Stopped. Lifted her head. Hazel's eyes caught the moonlight, and she didn't look away. She didn't bow. Didn't even blink.

Her voice carried clear through the cold air. "I'm looking for the Blackridge Pack."

Kieran took one step forward. "You found it. You don't belong here."

"I need shelter."

Her heart was steady, but he could hear the edge in it. The kind people get when they're trying not to show fear.

Dorian's voice came out harder than he meant. "We don't take outsiders."

Her jaw tightened, but she didn't move. Didn't plead either.

It should've been easy. Tell her to turn around, walk away. Let the forest take her if it wanted. But she stayed there, and the pull in his chest twisted like a hook.

Kieran leaned toward him. "Alpha-"

"She stays."

Kieran's head turned, slow. "What?"

"Take her to the pack house. Feed her. We'll deal with it in the morning."

Kieran didn't like it, but he didn't argue in front of her. He motioned for her to follow.

Dorian stayed where he was, letting them go ahead. He needed space. The scent clung to him, heavy in his lungs.

By the time he got back, the pack house was awake with whispers. Outsiders didn't come here. Not unless they had a death wish.

He found her in the kitchen, sitting at the table. Lyra was giving her bread and a bowl of stew.

Her name was Selene. He learned that in the first two minutes.

She thanked Lyra softly, but her eyes never stopped moving. Watching the door, the windows, the shadows.

Dorian stepped inside. Her gaze snapped to him like she'd been waiting.

"Eat," he said.

She did. But he could feel her attention on him with every bite.

When she finished, he nodded toward the back door. She followed him outside.

The cold air brought her scent sharper.

"Why here?" he asked.

"I told you. Shelter."

"There are other packs."

"They wouldn't take me."

"Why think I would?"

Her gaze held his. "Because you didn't kill me the moment you saw me."

That stung more than it should have.

He turned away. "Stay out of trouble. Step out of line-you're gone."

No thank you this time. She just walked back inside.

---

The days after were worse than the first.

He kept his distance. Tried to, anyway. Her scent followed him like a shadow.

She wasn't like the others. Didn't bow her head when he passed. Didn't flinch when he spoke. And when she smiled-which wasn't often-it was small but... dangerous.

Lyra stuck close to her. Dorian let her. Lyra could handle herself, and she'd notice things others missed. But even Lyra's expression around Selene was hard to read.

Kieran caught him watching her one morning.

"This is dangerous," Kieran said.

Dorian didn't look away.

"You kept the pack together by keeping outsiders out. She's changing things. People are talking."

"Let them."

"If they think you're breaking your own rules, you'll lose control."

"I won't."

He said it like he believed it.

---

Three nights later, a patrol reported rogues near the border. Dorian went with Kieran and three others. Selene was supposed to be in the pack house.

The hunt ran under a blood-red moon. They tracked the rogues fast, following the smell of wet fur and rage.

A scream cut through the trees.

He didn't think.

Branches tore at his arms as he ran. The smell of fear hit him first-hers.

Selene was pinned against a tree, a massive rogue circling her. Its eyes glowed yellow.

Dorian shifted mid-run. His wolf slammed into the rogue, driving it to the ground. Teeth tore, claws ripped. The rogue bit deep into his shoulder, but the pain only fed the rage.

He drove his fangs into its throat until it stopped moving.

When it was over, he turned to her. She hadn't moved. Hands pressed to the tree, chest rising fast.

He shifted back. "You hurt?"

She shook her head, eyes locked on him.

And then-his hand closed around her arm.

Everything snapped. Like a chain pulling tight.

Heat burned under his skin. Her scent flooded him, drowning thought. His wolf roared in his head.

Mine.

Her breath caught. She felt it too.

Neither of them spoke. The whole forest felt like it had gone silent.

Kieran burst through the trees. Stopped when he saw them. His eyes moved between their faces.

"Tell me I'm wrong," Kieran said.

Dorian didn't answer. Couldn't.

It was already too late.

Selene was his mate.

And claiming her... would start a war.