Page 9 of Alpha's Hidden Gem
Finally.
With one last surge of power, Ethan and I twist, ripping the rogue’s throat out in a spray of blood. It collapses to the ground, lifeless, the red glow fading from its eyes.
It’s over.
I stand over the rogue’s corpse, panting hard, blood dripping from my wounds. Every inch of me aches, my muscles burning from the effort, but I can feel the adrenaline still coursing through me. My wolf is still on high alert, scanning the area for any other threats.
We’re not safe yet.
Ethan limps toward me, blood matting his fur. His chest rises and falls rapidly, but his eyes are sharp, his stance steady. "That wasn’t a normal rogue," he mutters, shifting back into his human form. "Did you see its eyes? The way it moved?"
I nod, spitting blood onto the forest floor as I shift back to human form.
Something’s coming. I can feel it.
My chest burns, but I force myself to stand tall.
Something worse.
"Something’s coming, Ethan. And whatever it is, we need to be ready."
The next day, I’m back at my office, but my mind is still on the rogue. And on Lila.
The pieces aren’t fitting together, but the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced the two are connected somehow.
My duty is clear - investigate the werewolf scent, ensure pack safety, maintain our cover. Pursuing any kind of relationship with Lila would jeopardize all of that. So why can't I shake this feeling that she's somehow important?
There’s no such thing as coincidence.
I jolt upright in my chair, every muscle tensing as the howl echoes through the air. It's close, far too close to the city limits for comfort. And there's something in the sound, a raw edge of desperation that sets my teeth on edge.
Not again.
I'm out of my seat in a second, paperwork forgotten as I rush to the window. My eyes scan the treeline, searching for any sign of movement, any hint of what could have made that sound. But there's nothing, just the rustling of leaves in the wind and the distant hum of city traffic.
It doesn't make sense.
Rogues don't come this close to human territory, not unless they're looking for trouble. And after last night's encounter, I can't afford to take any chances.
My phone is in my hand before I realize it, Ethan's number already dialed. He picks up on the first ring, his voice tense. "You heard it too?"
Chapter 3
Dangerous Desires
Axel
The intercom buzzes, interrupting my brooding thoughts about last night's rogue encounter.
"Mr. Anderson," my secretary's voice crackles through. "There's a Ms. Taylor here to see you."
My jaw clenches. Lila. Of course she'd show up unannounced, throwing my carefully planned day into chaos. Just like she's done with every other aspect of my life since I first laid eyes on her.
"Send her in, Carol," I growl, steeling myself for another confrontation. I straighten my tie, a futile attempt to armor myself against her effect on me.
As the door swings open, her scent assaults me - vanilla, cinnamon, and a hint of defiance. My wolf surges forward, desperate to claim what he sees as ours. I shove him back ruthlessly.
She's not ours. She can't be.