Chapter 1 Mine
Chapter One
Mine
Nyra should have turned back the moment the forest went silent.
But she didn’t.
The deeper she walked into Nightfang territory, the colder the air became. Thick fog curled around her legs while branches scraped softly against her skin.
Her wolf was restless inside her.
Wrong. Something feels wrong.
Nyra swallowed nervously and tightened her grip on the small knife hidden beneath her jacket.
“Stupid idea,” she whispered to herself.
Sneaking into the territory of the most feared Alpha in the north at midnight?
Definitely stupid.
But her curiosity had always been stronger than fear.
A sharp sound suddenly echoed nearby.
Crunch.
Nyra froze instantly.
Her breathing slowed.
Another sound came from deeper within the trees.
Then silence.
Too much silence.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.
“Who’s there?” she called softly.
No answer.
A cold wind brushed past her—
And carried the scent of blood.
Fresh blood.
Nyra’s stomach tightened.
Before she could move, voices echoed ahead.
Male voices.
She crouched quickly behind a tree, heart pounding hard against her chest.
Through the fog, she saw them.
Three men.
Massive. Armed. Covered in blood.
And kneeling before them was another man begging for his life.
“Please,” the kneeling man choked out. “Alpha… please…”
Nyra’s breath caught.
Alpha?
The tallest man stepped forward slowly.
Black boots crushed dead leaves beneath him.
His dark shirt clung tightly to his broad body, sleeves rolled to reveal tattooed arms streaked with blood.
Power radiated from him dangerously.
Even from far away, Nyra could feel it.
The kneeling man trembled violently.
“I gave you everything,” he cried.
The Alpha tilted his head slightly.
“And you betrayed me anyway.”
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Deadly.
Nyra’s pulse quickened.
Then the Alpha grabbed the traitor by the throat.
A sick crack echoed through the forest.
The body dropped instantly.
Nyra slapped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from gasping.
Oh God.
The Alpha slowly wiped blood from his hand.
Then—
His head turned directly toward her hiding place.
Nyra stopped breathing.
Silver eyes locked onto hers through the darkness.
Impossible.
There was no way he could see her.
But the dangerous smile spreading across his lips said otherwise.
“Come out,” he said quietly.
Nyra didn’t move.
One of the men beside him growled.
“Should I drag her out, Alpha?”
“No.”
The Alpha’s eyes never left hers.
“She’ll come herself.”
Every instinct screamed at Nyra to run.
Instead, her legs betrayed her completely as she stepped out from behind the tree.
The men beside him stared at her with surprise.
The Alpha stared like he already owned her.
Up close, he was devastating.
Dark messy hair. Sharp jaw. Cold silver eyes. Blood staining his fingers.
Beautiful.
Terrifyingly beautiful.
Nyra forced herself to speak.
“I-I didn’t see anything.”
A soft chuckle left him.
“Liar.”
Heat rushed to her face instantly.
The Alpha stepped closer.
Then closer.
Until she could smell smoke, leather, and danger all over him.
Nyra’s back hit the tree behind her.
Trapped.
His gaze slowly dropped to her lips before returning to her eyes.
“You crossed my border,” he murmured.
His hand lifted slowly—
And brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
The touch was gentle.
Which somehow scared her more.
“You should be terrified right now.”
Nyra swallowed hard.
“I’m trying not to be.”
Another dark chuckle escaped him.
Then suddenly—
His expression changed.
His body went rigid.
The air between them crackled violently.
The Alpha inhaled deeply near her neck.
Once.
Twice.
A low growl rumbled from his chest.
Possessive. Animalistic.
Nyra’s knees weakened.
The men behind him looked shocked.
“No way…” one whispered.
The Alpha’s eyes darkened as they locked onto hers.
Completely obsessed.
Completely ruined.
Then his fingers tightened around her waist as he pulled her flush against him.
“Mine.”
