Chapter 3 – The Alpha To Be...

Elara

My heart stopped as the dire wolves stalked into the ballroom. Their red eyes glowed with deadly intent, making the fine ladies scream and scatter. Before I could process what was happening, strong fingers wrapped around my wrist.

"Run!" His deep voice commanded, and suddenly we were moving.

"Wait - what are you doing?" I gasped as he pulled me through the crowd. "They're following us!"

"That's the point." His amber eyes flashed as he glanced back at me. My legs struggled to keep up with his long strides. "We need to get them away from the civilians."

I couldn't believe it. "You're using us as bait?"

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Trust me."

We burst through a side door into the cool night air. Behind us, I could hear the dire wolves' heavy paws hitting marble, their growls getting closer. My borrowed dress whipped around my legs as we ran, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst.

He led us toward an open training ground, surrounded by towering stone walls. Guards appeared from the shadows, moving into position with practiced ease. My mysterious protector barked orders, his voice carrying natural authority.

"Archers on the walls! Close the gates once they're in! Remember - silver-tipped arrows only!"

The guards responded instantly, no questions asked. Just who was this man?

Still gripping my hand, he pulled me behind him. "Stay at my back," he ordered. "Dire wolves mark their targets and kill them. You're marked now - he'll come for you."

I swallowed hard, pressing closer to his broad back. "But ... why are you helping me?"

He didn't answer, his body tensing as the first dire wolf prowled through the gates. Its massive black form made regular wolves look like puppies. More followed - I counted five total, their red eyes fixed on us with murderous intent.

Whispers and gasps came from the balconies above. Girls from the ball had gathered to watch, their faces a mix of fear and... jealousy? They stared at my protector with undisguised longing.

"That's the Alpha's...," I heard one whispered but I couldn't hear who she said, 'special guard'? Or something ?

"He never pays attention to anyone! Who is she?" She added.

My chest tightened. Special guard? No wonder he commanded such respect. But there was no time to dwell on it as the dire wolves attacked.

They moved like living shadows, faster than anything their size should be. My protector pushed me back as he met the first beast head-on, his movements fluid and deadly. Guards engaged the others, silver weapons flashing in the moonlight.

I watched in awe as he fought. Every motion was precise, powerful. He didn't shift into wolf form like the others - he didn't need to. His skill with the silver blade was breathtaking.

A dire wolf slipped past the guards, lunging for my protector's exposed back while he fought another. Without thinking, I grabbed a fallen silver dagger and threw myself forward.

"Look out!"

Pain exploded in my arm as the beast's claws caught me instead of him. I cried out, stumbling back. My protector spun, his face transforming with fury when he saw my blood.

"Why can't you stay in one place?" he roared, dispatching the dire wolf with frightening efficiency. "Didn't I tell you to stay at my back?"

"But you were in danger!" I shouted back, clutching my bleeding arm. "What was I supposed to do? Just watch while the person who saved me got hurt?"

Something flickered in his amber eyes - surprise? Confusion? His jaw clenched as he ripped a strip from his shirt, quickly binding my wound. His touch was surprisingly gentle despite his anger.

"Don't get hurt," he growled softly. "Not for me."

The intensity in his gaze made my heart stutter. When was the last time anyone had cared if I got hurt? Years? My stepfamily would have watched me die without blinking.

The fight ended quickly after that. Two dire wolves lay dead, the others captured in silver chains. Guards moved efficiently, securing the area as excited chatter broke out above us.

Slow clapping echoed across the training ground. A distinguished man with graying hair at his temples approached, wearing the ornate clothes of the Alpha King.

"Excellent work!" he called out. "These cursed beasts have been spying on our palace for months. Now, thanks to my son's quick thinking, we've finally caught them."

My brain stuttered to a stop. Son?

"Blayze," the Alpha continued proudly, "you've proven once again why you'll make an excellent Alpha when your time comes. Though finding a mate tonight would make it even better." He winked.

I stared at the man beside me - Blayze, the Alpha's son. The heir whose mating ceremony this whole ball was for. The one every unmated female had come hoping to catch.

And he'd spent the night saving my life.

My heart seemed to stop, then restart at double speed. This couldn't be happening. I was nobody - a wolfless girl in a stolen dress. Yet here I stood, bleeding from defending the future Alpha.

Blayze's eyes found mine, that unreadable emotion back in their amber depths. The air between us felt charged, like the moment before lightning strikes.

Then his face hardened, and he stepped away from me.

"Take her to the healers," he ordered a guard. "Then escort her out. She doesn't belong here."

His words hit like a physical blow. Of course. What had I been thinking? A future Alpha could never mate with someone like me.

But as the guard led me away, I could have sworn I heard him whisper:

"It's for your own good."

His words echoed in my head as the guard took my arm. For my own good? I wanted to laugh, but it came out more like a choked sob. My bleeding arm throbbed, but my heart hurt worse.

"It'll only be good if I get a mate," I mumbled, anger replacing the hurt. After everything tonight - the dire wolves, defending him, this wound - he was just dismissing me?

Something snapped inside me. Maybe it was nearly dying, or maybe I was just tired of being pushed around. I yanked my arm from the guard's grip.

"No!" My voice rang out stronger than I expected. "I'm also invited to this ball!"

Everyone froze. Blayze turned back slowly, his amber eyes narrowing. I fumbled with my dress pocket, pulling out the blood-stained invitation card with trembling fingers. The same invitation I'd been admiring this morning, before everything went crazy.

"I have every right to be here," I said, lifting my chin despite my racing heart. Mom would be proud of my courage - or maybe she'd think I was crazy.

The Alpha King stepped forward, his presence making me want to shrink into myself. But I'd faced dire wolves tonight. I could face this.

I dipped into a clumsy bow, wincing as my injured arm protested. "Your Majesty," I managed to say, proud that my voice only shook a little.

His eyes crinkled with interest. "May I see your invitation, young lady?"

Walking forward on shaky legs, I handed him the card. Blood from my arm had stained one corner, but the royal seal was still clear. I could feel everyone watching - the guards, the giggling girls on the balcony, and most of all, Blayze's intense stare.

The Alpha studied the invitation, then looked at me with new interest. "She is indeed invited," he announced, his voice carrying across the training ground. "And quite brave, I must say."

He handed the invitation back to me with a warm smile that transformed his whole face. "I watched what you did. Jumping in front of a dire wolf to protect my son - that takes real courage. You would make a fine mate for any wolf."

My eyes filled with tears before I could stop them. When was the last time anyone had praised me like this? The Alpha King himself was thanking me, while my own stepmother treated me like dirt. Even Misty had never shown me a moment's kindness.

"I... thank you, Your Majesty," I whispered, wiping my eyes quickly with my good hand.

I could hear jealous whispers from above. The other girls weren't happy about the Alpha's praise. But their petty words couldn't touch me right now - I felt like I was floating. Even without a wolf the Alpha see my worth.

"Well, if you say you can attend the ball even injured," the Alpha continued, "I certainly won't stop you. Though perhaps we should have that arm looked at first?"

I nodded gratefully, but before the guard could lead me away, another voice spoke up.

"Wait."

My heart skipped as Blayze stepped forward. His face was unreadable, but something smoldered in those amber eyes as they met mine.

"If you're indeed invited to the ball," he said slowly, extending his hand, "then... can I have the pleasure of dancing with you?"

Time seemed to stop. The future Alpha - the man I'd been running from dire wolves with, the one who'd just tried to send me away - was asking me to dance?

His hand waited in the air between us,

strong and scarred from fighting. One dance could change everything. One dance could destroy everything.

And I had to choose now.