That night, the Blackwood forest was shrouded in thick fog. The light of the full moon broke through the gaps in the trees, creating faint shadows that moved with the wind. Evelyn Stone ran without stopping, her breathing ragged, her body covered in cuts and dirt. Fear gripped her soul, but she had no choice but to keep going.
"Don't let her get away!" A man's growling voice echoed through the trees.
Evelyn held her breath, hiding behind a large tree trunk. Her heart raced as heavy steps approached. Golden yellow eyes flashed in the dark, a sign that her pursuers were after her.
"Smell it."
One tall and dangerous figure stood between them, his eyes sharper, his aura more dominating. Alpha Lucian Blackwood. He was a legend among werewolves, a leader both feared and respected. And tonight, he was hunting someone, Evelyn.
Evelyn tried to hold back the trembling of her body, but she knew it was futile. The werewolves could hear her heartbeat, and smell her fear. When she tried to run again, a burly hand caught her from behind, gripping her arm firmly.
"Don't you dare resist, little Omega?" Lucian's voice was deep and cold, sending chills down Evelyn's spine.
She tried to rebel, but the grip grew stronger. Their eyes met and in that instant, something hit her soul hard feeling that shouldn't have been possible.
Mate.
Evelyn was stunned. Fate should not be this cruel. However, Lucian only smiled wryly, his eyes blazing with dangerous intensity.
"Look who's destined for me."
"I am not yours!" Evelyn shook her head, fear and anger mixing in her chest.
"You can keep denying me, but your body knows who I am," Lucian replied in a low voice, almost a dangerous whisper.
Evelyn was not about to give up so easily. Quickly, she lifted her foot and stomped hard on Lucian's boot. It wasn't enough to hurt an Alpha as strong as him, but it was enough to stun him for a moment. Evelyn took advantage of the moment to pull away and run in the opposite direction.
However, she didn't get far. In an instant, Lucian was in front of her, his eyes flashing with wearing patience.
"Stubborn," he muttered, before in one swift motion, he hoisted Evelyn onto his shoulders like nothing more than a rebellious kitten.
"Let go of me!" Evelyn punched him in the back, struggling, but her strength was not enough to fight a man like Lucian.
"Enough," Lucian's voice sounded threatening and Evelyn could feel the tremor of Alpha authority in his voice.
Her body responded without her realizing it, her subconscious instincts submitting to his commands. Lucian strode steadily through the forest, leading Evelyn to a destiny she never imagined. No matter how hard she tried to resist, she knew this was just the beginning of something much something that could either destroy her or save her.
Evelyn closed her eyes, trying to hold back the fear and heat that had run through her body ever since she was touched by that man. She hated that fact. She did not want to be bound to an Alpha who was known to be cruel and unforgiving.
However, her body could not lie. Every step Lucian took, every breath he took made Evelyn's instincts scream- not to run, but to stay close.
Beyond the lush forest, stood an elegant black wooden pavilion, tightly hidden among the trees. The architecture carried an ancient style that was sturdy yet graceful-with carvings typical of the Blackwood herd on the doors and pillars. The place looked like a private headquarters, not as large as the main mansion, but still reflecting the Alpha's prestige.
Lucian opened the door with a light push. Inside, the scent of cedar wood and herbal incense filled the room. The fireplace burned warmly, reflecting light onto the smoothly polished dark wood walls. Evelyn still struggled in his arms but to no avail. He lowered her to the sofa and for the first time, their faces looked at each other in silence.
"Are you going to continue rebelling like a child?" Lucian asked, his voice calm, but full of hidden threats.
"You can't treat me like a prisoner."
"You're not a prisoner. You're my mate. And that means you belong to me." Lucian bowed slightly, then leaned closer and inhaled the scent of Evelyn's body.
Evelyn looked away, but she could feel the intense gaze of Lucian's eyes still on her. Then, unexpectedly, Lucian got up and took a cloth and a bowl of warm water from the table by the fireplace. Silently, he knelt in front of her.
"What are you doing?" Evelyn asked suspiciously.
Lucian did not answer. He simply dipped the cloth into the water, then slowly wiped the wound on Evelyn's arm. His touch was warm and very gentle, in contrast to the cold and dominant figure who had just carried her like a sack of grain.
"You're bleeding," Lucian said.
Evelyn bit her lip. She couldn't help but feel confused. Why would an Alpha as powerful as him bother tending to an Omega's wounds?
"I may be hard. But I will not hurt what is mine." Lucian stared intensely at Evelyn.
***
A few hours later, after Lucian had left the room to talk to the guards outside, Evelyn saw her chance to escape. She quietly slipped off the sofa, peering at the slightly ajar wooden door. Her heart skipped a beat.
She made it out of the pavilion, her bare feet touching the cold ground. She held her breath, running as far as she could in the opposite direction. The sounds of the night forest the chirping of insects, and the rustling of twigs all sounded eerie, but freedom was too tempting to ignore. However, after only a few hundred meters, Evelyn heard heavy voices behind her. Firm footsteps.
"Evelyn!"
The voice boomed like a thunderclap. She turned around and there was Lucian, standing with eyes blazing with anger.
"You could have died out there. Did you think I'd stand by and watch my mate disappear?"
Evelyn backed away, but Lucian was already in front of her. He didn't hug or drag her. He just stared at her with heavy breathing, his jaw set.
"I won't lock you up, Evelyn. But don't force me to become a monster just because you can't see who I am."
"Because I don't belong to you!" shouted Evelyn.
"Do you think you can just ignore this bond?" asked Lucian as he approached step by step.
Evelyn turned her face away, holding back the tears that were about to fall. She hated herself because a part of her wanted to lean in, wanted to trust but was too broken for that.
"I may be an Alpha, Evelyn. But I'm also a man who just found his soulmate. And I won't let you go."