Chapter 2 The Alpha Appears

• Elara yanked her hand away from the glowing monolith, breathing hard. Her body was on fire. A deep, throbbing heat pulsed between her thighs. Her nipples were tight and sensitive against her wet clothes. She felt ridiculously, embarrassingly horny, like someone had flipped a switch she didn’t know existed.
• “What the actual hell is wrong with me?” she muttered, pressing her thighs together. “I touch one creepy rock and suddenly I’m one step away from dry-humping a tree. Fantastic. Just fantastic.”
• Before she could pull herself together, the ground started shaking violently.
• Heavy, thunderous footfalls crashed through the trees. Branches snapped and broke loudly. Something massive was charging straight toward the clearing.
• Elara’s heart slammed in her chest. “Who’s there? Show yourself right now or I swear I’ll… throw my flashlight at you!”
• Two glowing amber eyes appeared in the darkness.
• A gigantic black wolf stepped into the clearing. It was enormous, muscles rippling under its rain-slicked fur. Its lips curled back, showing long fangs.
• Elara took a step back. “Okay, that is not a normal wolf. That is a ‘I’m about to become a chew toy’ sized wolf. Nice to meet you, death.”
• The wolf stared at her with intense amber eyes. There was clear recognition in them.
• “You…” Elara said, voice shaking. “I saw you when I touched the stone. You were protecting a little girl. Was that me? And if so, can we talk like normal… beings? This staring thing is creepy.”
• The wolf took one slow step forward.
• “Don’t come any closer,” she warned. “I’m armed with sarcasm and a very small knife. I am dangerous.”
• The wolf tilted its head. Its amber eyes never left hers.
• Elara kept talking, mostly to stop herself from panicking. “My grandmother used to tell me stories about wolves and protectors. She warned me about shadowed lines and blood that calls to them. Was she right? Are you one of those protectors? Or are you just a very large, very scary dog?”
• The wolf made a low, almost amused sound.
• “Great. Now the giant murder wolf is laughing at me,” Elara muttered. “This night is officially the worst.”
• The wolf stared at her for a long moment. Then it began to shift.
• Bones cracked and reshaped. The massive form shrank and changed. In seconds, a tall, powerfully built naked man stood in the pouring rain before her.
• Elara’s eyes widened. “Holy shit… okay, the naked part I could have done without. A little warning next time would be nice. Seriously, dude. Clothes. We need to get you some clothes.”
• The man stared at her, breathing heavily. His voice was deep and rough when he finally spoke.
• “You’ve come back to me, little one.”
• Elara took a big step back. “Little one? Really? I’m twenty-six years old. I have bills and trauma. Call me little one again and I might actually stab you with my tiny knife.”
• Kael’s lips twitched. “My name is Kael Voss. I am the Alpha of the Blackthorn Pack.”
• “Alpha,” Elara repeated. “Of course you are. Because my life wasn’t complicated enough. Now I have a naked werewolf alpha telling me I’m special. This is definitely a fever dream.”
• Kael’s expression stayed serious. “The bond you triggered is real. And it is very dangerous.”
• “Bond?” Elara asked. “I touched a glowing rock and now I’m bonded? What is this, magical Tinder?”
• Kael took a step closer. “You woke something ancient. Something that connects us across lifetimes.”
• Elara shook her head. “I don’t remember you. Why do you keep calling me ‘little one’ like I’m five years old?”
• Kael’s jaw tightened. “Because I protected you once. When you were a child. I swore to keep you safe.”
• “That’s impossible,” Elara said. “I have a pretty good memory. I remember my first kiss and the time I threw up after eating bad sushi. I think I would remember a giant wolf babysitter.”
• “Some memories were sealed to protect you,” Kael said quietly. “The pain was too much.”
• Elara stared at him. “Pain? What pain? What happened between us?”
• Kael looked away. “I failed you once. I lost you. I won’t let it happen again.”
• Elara crossed her arms. “So you’re saying we knew each other in a past life? And now this bond says I’m your mate? Do I at least get dinner first?”
• Kael’s lips twitched again. “You are my mate.”
• Elara laughed shakily. “This is too much. I have enough problems. I don’t need a naked werewolf telling me I belong to him. Can you at least find some clothes before you claim me? I can’t take you seriously like this.”
• Kael took a step closer. “You feel the bond. The heat in your body. Don’t deny it.”
• Elara’s face burned. “That’s from the stone. Definitely from the stone. Not from the very naked, very attractive man in front of me. Nope.”
• “The stone only woke what was already there,” Kael said. “If you run too far, the bond will cause pain for both of us.”
• “Pain?” Elara asked. “What kind of pain?”
• “Separation sickness,” Kael explained. “It gets worse the farther apart we are. The bond wants to be completed.”
• Elara’s voice rose. “Completed? What does that mean exactly? Because if it means what I think it means, we are going to need a very long conversation and possibly therapy.”
• Kael’s gaze darkened. “It means we accept it. Fully. Body and soul.”
• Elara took another step back. “I just met you. I’m not accepting anything tonight. I need time. And coffee. Mostly coffee.”
• Kael extended his hand. “Come with me. Let me protect you again. Let me show you the truth.”
• Elara looked at his hand, then at his face. The pull was getting stronger. Her body was still throbbing with unwanted heat.
• “I don’t trust you,” she said.
• “You will,” Kael replied. “In time.”
• He took one more step closer. “Come, little one. We need to move before they find us.”
• Elara hesitated, then took a small step toward him.
• “Fine,” she said. “But we talk about everything. No secrets. And you’re finding clothes. Immediately.”
• Kael nodded. “No secrets.”
• As they started walking, Elara glanced at him. “One last question. If you were my protector before… why do you look like you’re the one who needs saving now?”
• Kael’s expression darkened.
• “Because I am broken, Elara. And the bond says you are the only one who can fix me.”
• Before Elara could respond, a distant howl echoed through the forest. Kael froze.
• “They’re already coming,” he said, voice low and urgent. “Run.