Morning light spilled across the valley, soft and golden, but it didn't warm me. My legs ached, my lungs still burned from the climb. Lucien moved effortlessly ahead, silent, confident, like the mountains themselves obeyed him.
Ahead rose massive stone gates carved into the mountain, ancient and powerful. Symbols glowed faintly, humming with energy. My pulse quickened.
"This is your pack?" I asked quietly.
"Part of it," Lucien said. Calm. Controlled. Dangerous.
The gates opened slowly as we approached. Inside, dozens of wolves—warriors, strong and disciplined—froze the moment they saw me. Not disgust. Not mockery. Shock. Respect.
"Why are they looking at me like that?"
Lucien didn't slow. "Because they can feel what you are."
My throat went dry. "What does that mean?"
A woman, probably a Beta, stepped forward. Her eyes locked on my neck, pale with disbelief.
"That shouldn't exist anymore," she whispered.
Lucien nodded once. "Your life just became very complicated."
I groaned inwardly. "Terrific. Terrible explanation."
Before he could answer, a deep horn echoed through the valley. Urgent. Dangerous. Every wolf stiffened, alert.
Lucien cursed softly. "That was fast."
I froze. "What was?"
"My old Alpha," he said, voice calm but sharp. "He followed us."
Cold fear gripped me. Kaiden. Here. Now.
"Why?"
"Powerful men don't like losing something valuable," Lucien said, expression unreadable.
I swallowed. Valuable? I had never been anything but tolerated.
The horn sounded again. Warriors shifted into defensive positions. The gates creaked open wider. Outside, Alpha Kaiden waited, his warriors behind him, disciplined, deadly.
Lucien crossed his arms, calm as ever. "Let's see how badly he wants you."
I realized then: I wasn't just in danger from the rogues or my former pack. Kaiden himself was coming for me.
And it wasn't just about control anymore.