The Alpha's Lost Mate

The scent of damp earth and pine filled Celeste Raynor's lungs as she ran through the dense forest, her heart pounding like a war drum. Twigs snapped beneath her bare feet, and the cold night air bit at her skin, but she didn't slow down. She couldn't. Something was chasing her. Someone.

The howls in the distance sent a chill down her spine, the unmistakable sound of wolves closing in. Her muscles burned from the endless sprint, but fear pushed her forward. She didn't know where she was running to-only that she had to keep moving. The memories she had clung to were nothing but scattered fragments, pieces of a life she couldn't fully remember. Waking up alone in the wilderness years ago, with nothing but a crescent-shaped scar on her wrist, had been the beginning of her nightmare.

A fallen branch caught her ankle, sending her tumbling forward. The impact knocked the air from her lungs, and pain shot through her limbs. Blood welled at her palms where they scraped against the rough ground. Her body begged her to stop, but stopping meant death.

Pushing up onto her hands and knees, she turned her head, straining to listen. Silence. No more howls. No rustling of leaves or snapping of twigs. The eerie stillness unsettled her more than the chase. Had they given up?

A low, menacing growl rumbled from the shadows. Celeste's stomach twisted. Slowly, she lifted her gaze. Silver eyes gleamed in the darkness, locked onto her like a predator that had just cornered its prey. The massive wolf stepped forward, its black fur blending into the night. More figures emerged behind it-shifters, their forms towering and formidable, muscles coiled with lethal strength.

A shiver ran down her spine. She had been caught. One of the wolves shifted mid-step, bones cracking and reforming, until a tall man with dark hair and piercing silver eyes stood in front of her. Power radiated from him, an Alpha's presence pressing against her like an invisible force.

"You're on Shadowfang territory," his deep voice rumbled, sharp and commanding. "Who are you?"

Celeste scrambled to her feet, fists clenched at her sides. "I don't want trouble. I was just passing through."

His eyes narrowed, scanning her from head to toe. Recognition flickered across his face, but it disappeared just as quickly. "You don't smell like a rogue."

A muscle in her jaw tightened. "That's because I'm not one."

"Then what are you?" His tone held the weight of authority, and it made something inside her stir-a strange pull, like a thread stretching toward him, a connection she didn't understand.

She shook her head, stepping back. "Let me go."

His gaze darkened. "Not until I get some answers."

The other wolves had formed a semi-circle around them, blocking any chance of escape. The air was thick with tension, their eyes watching her with curiosity and suspicion. She had been through enough packs to know that rogues weren't welcomed easily. Most were either driven out or killed.

Celeste steadied her breathing, forcing herself to remain calm. "I don't remember who I am," she admitted, voice laced with frustration. "I woke up one day with nothing-no past, no pack, just this scar." She lifted her wrist to show him the crescent mark.

The Alpha's expression shifted, his gaze locking onto the scar as if it held some deep significance.

One of the men behind him spoke. "Alpha Killian, she-"

"Silence," Killian ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Celeste swallowed hard. His name stirred something deep within her, a whisper of familiarity that sent a dull ache through her head.

Killian took a slow step toward her, his silver eyes burning with something she couldn't quite decipher. "You don't remember anything? Not even me?"

Her throat dried. "Should I?"

His jaw tightened, a storm brewing behind his gaze. Without another word, he moved faster than she could react, gripping her wrist and pulling her closer. The moment their skin met, a shockwave of heat surged through her, spreading like wildfire through her veins.

Her breath hitched. This feeling-it was powerful, overwhelming.

His grip didn't loosen. "You're coming with me."

Panic flared in her chest. "No! I'm not going anywhere with you."

"You don't have a choice." His voice held a finality that sent dread coiling in her stomach.

Two wolves flanked her, ensuring she wouldn't escape. The Alpha's presence dominated the space between them, his closeness making her pulse race for reasons she couldn't comprehend.

She struggled, but it was futile. Killian was stronger, faster, and the bond between them-whatever it was-left her disoriented.

"Let me go," she growled, thrashing against his grip.

"You belong here," he said, voice quieter this time, but firm.

Celeste wanted to scream that he was wrong, that she didn't belong anywhere. But something about the way he looked at her, the way his touch sent electricity dancing over her skin, made her wonder if maybe, just maybe, she had once belonged to him. The forest faded behind them as she was led into the heart of Shadowfang territory.