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CHAPTER 4

The Alpha

The perfume of pine and soil filled the packhouse, blending with the faint scent of sage that seemed to cling to the corners. Even though I was standing in the large auditorium with walls covered with banners of previous triumphs, all I could hear was the loud pounding of my heart. Like me, the house itself seemed to be holding its breath in suspense.

I was a stranger when I first joined this pack, a lady with no name or history, but now I was going to meet Kai, the Alpha. Something about him, like a tune I had heard before but couldn't quite remember, tugged at the strands of my soul in a familiar yet unnerving way. The echoes of my former existence were nearly audible, calling me to recall.

Kai, a tall figure, greeted me as the massive wooden door groaned open. The warm light of the hall behind him illuminated his figure as he stood framed in the doorway. His magnetic charisma captured and held my attention. My breath caught when our eyes met, and he had an aura that demanded respect and admiration.

I felt a chill go down my spine as he whispered, "Luna," in a voice as rich and deep as dark chocolate. "Greetings from my pack."

I tried to calm my voice as I said, "Thank you, Alpha," but I could feel his heavy stare as it passed over me.

With a glimmer of tenderness piercing the seriousness of his look, he murmured, "Call me Kai." "You are now a member of this pack. We look after our own.

The bond between us grew stronger as I moved in closer. We seemed to be drawn together by the energy that seemed to crackle in the air. The sensation that our paths had already crossed and that we were connected by something more than chance persisted in my mind. However, how is it possible? I was reborn with vague, disjointed recollections in a body that was not mine.

"Luna, why have you come to our pack?" Kai's sharp eyes never left me as he questioned. "You don't appear like the others. You possess a light.

I paused, uncertain of how to describe the whirling feelings within me. My voice was barely above a whisper when I eventually uttered, "I... I'm looking for a place to belong." "Everything I knew was gone. Even though I don't remember much, I feel like I'm supposed to be here.

The gap between us narrowed as Kai took a step closer, revealing gold flecks in his black eyes. "You're no longer alone. You will be protected by this bundle. I'll keep you safe.

His speech was so sincere that it made my chest feel warm. I wanted to touch him, to make this unspoken pact between us official. However, the sound of footsteps reverberated behind us before I could follow that urge.

Alpha! We are in a predicament! A young warrior hurried into the hall, his brow strained with haste.

In an instant, Kai's demeanor changed from one of tenderness to concentration. "What's going on?"

"A breach has occurred at the eastern border. He looked at me and then back at Kai. "We think it's poachers again," he replied. "They have been observed close to the river."

I could feel the strain coming from Kai as his jaw tensed. “Gather the pack. I'll take the lead.

"Hold on!" Before I had a chance to reconsider, I blurted out the word. "How about if I can assist?"

With doubt on his face, the young warrior arched an eyebrow at me. "Luna, you're not even trained."

As a spark of indignation ignited inside me, I protested, "I may not have formal training, but I have skills." "I am capable of healing. I may have an impact on anybody hurt.

Kai looked at me, carefully considering what I had to say. Healing is useful, but it's risky in the real world. I can't allow you to endanger yourself.

"I won't cause any trouble. "I swear," I murmured, my heart pounding. "Let me prove myself, please."

There was stillness for a time, and then Kai groaned and raked his hand through his black hair in exasperation. "All right. But remain near me. I want you out of danger if things go wrong.

"Understood," I answered, feeling a wave of excitement pass over me. Perhaps this was my opportunity to establish my value, fit in with this pack, and get to know Kai better.

The chilly night air struck me as we hurried out of the packhouse, energizing my senses. The way ahead was illuminated by the silver beams of light from the moon, which hung high in the sky. I collapsed next to Kai, my heart racing from the magnetic energy that pulsated between us as well as the excitement of the next action.

The noises of the forest diminished as we got closer to the eastern boundary, giving way to the distant rustle of leaves and the sporadic snap of twigs beneath our feet. There was a noticeable tension, and I could see my instincts taking over, making me more conscious of my surroundings.

Then there was a huge crash, and then a succession of howls of rage reverberated through the woods. Kai turned to face me with a strong and determined gaze, and I drew closer to him out of instinct.

His voice was forceful as he said, "Stay behind me."

Before I could answer, a number of guys wearing dark attire, carrying weapons, and resembling hunters more than anything else stepped out of the shadows. Their intentions were obvious as they moved toward us.

One of them yelled, "Alpha Kai!" with a sneer. "You ought to have remained in your own domain. Now, this is where we hunt!

Kai moved forward with a firm, authoritative attitude. "I won't allow you to intrude on our territory. Get out immediately or suffer the repercussions.

Or what? Will your small group of mutts assault us? My nerves were irritated by the leader's nasty chuckle. "You believe you can frighten us away?"

The poachers suddenly surged forward with their firearms out. With my pulse pounding, I moved involuntarily toward Kai, prepared to assist in any way I could. However, in the middle of the confusion, a strange urge sprang deep within me.

"Remain back, Luna!" Kai yelled, but I had already started to move.

I felt a surge of energy that directed my efforts as the first poacher arrived at us. With unexpected quickness, I ducked under his lunge and instinctively put my hand against his arm, sending a surge of warmth into him. His face was marked with astonishment and bewilderment as he staggered back.

Kai stepped back to reevaluate me, his eyes wide with surprise. "How did you"

I had no time to elaborate. I concentrated on the next assailant, the energy pulsing inside me, pushing me forward. I had a sense of belonging to a force bigger than myself that I was unaware of.

But then there was a deep rumble that felt my heart sink as the ground beneath us shook. I looked up, my thoughts racing with uncertainty when I noticed that the ground itself appeared to move. The poachers looked at one another uncertainly as they froze, their sneers turned to terror.

One of them screamed, worried, beginning to seep into his voice, "What the hell is happening?"

A darkness hung over me before I could answer. My breath caught in my mouth as I looked up and saw a huge figure descending from the sky a legendary beast with scales that gleamed in the moonlight, resembling a dragon. The ground trembled under its weight as it landed, and its eyes radiated an unearthly brightness.

"What is that?" I let out a cry as horror tore at my gut.

With a protective stance and determinedly narrowed eyes, Kai moved ahead of me. “Luna, stay behind me!”

The tension in the air was changing, and I could sense the terror paralyzing the poachers. This was no ordinary encounter; rather, it was a pivotal moment that would test all I believed to be true.

A loud, booming voice filled the meadow as the monster opened its jaws. "You will pay because you have trespassed on holy property."

With their bluster cracking beneath the weight of the creature's presence, the poachers scurried back. As memories of my previous existence flooded back, memories of wars waged and lives lost, I felt a surge of strength surging inside me.

As the understanding struck me like a lightning, I turned to face Kai, my pulse pounding. It was time for me to accept my fate because this wasn't simply a random meeting.

The poacher leader suddenly regained his calm and said, "We're not frightened of you! We are here to claim what is rightfully ours, and we will fight to do so!

The creature's strong, unwavering eyes turned to face him. "The forces at work are beyond your comprehension. You will not treat this protected territory lightly.

"Luna," Kai urged, "you must access whatever emotions you had before. We might need your strength if this beast is what I believe it to be.

I nodded and closed my eyes, allowing the energy to flow within me. I grabbed for it, transforming my doubt and dread into something real and strong. When I opened my eyes, I saw Kai standing erect, his resolve burning brightly inside of me.

But as I was about to use whatever force I had, a dazzling light burst from the earth under us. As the world around me turned dark, I was flung backward.

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