Chapter 3 THE ALPHA RETURNS

The entire Silver Moon Pack seemed to hold its breath.

Maya stood near the back of the pack house, carrying a tray of empty glasses while the servants rushed around her. For the past hour, everyone had been preparing for one thing.

The Alpha was coming home.

Alpha Adrian Blackwood.

Maya had heard his name countless times, but she had never seen him. She knew the stories. He was powerful, strict, and respected-a strong Alpha who had spent years strengthening the Silver Moon Pack and protecting its territory.

But to Maya, he was still just a name.

Someone important who belonged to a world far above hers.

"Maya!"

She nearly dropped the tray.

Maya turned quickly and saw Selena standing at the end of the hallway, dressed in an elegant dark-blue dress. Her hair was perfectly styled, and two servants stood behind her carrying several boxes.

"Where have you been?" Selena demanded.

"I was helping in the kitchen."

"I didn't ask what you were doing." Selena pointed toward the courtyard. "Take those glasses there. And don't embarrass yourself."

Maya lowered her eyes. "Yes, Selena."

"And Maya?"

She stopped.

Selena's expression hardened. "When the Alpha arrives, stay out of sight."

Maya nodded. "I understand."

"I mean it." Selena stepped closer. "People like you don't need to be standing around important guests."

The words stung, but Maya had heard worse. She simply nodded again.

"Yes, Selena."

Selena walked away.

Maya tightened her grip around the tray and continued toward the courtyard.

Outside, the pack had gathered. Warriors stood near the entrance in their formal uniforms while members of the pack whispered excitedly among themselves. Some of the younger women kept checking their appearance, fixing their hair or smoothing their dresses.

Maya didn't understand why.

Then Lena appeared beside her.

"Look at them," Lena whispered.

Maya glanced around. "Why?"

Lena stared at her. "You really don't know?"

"Know what?"

"The Alpha is returning."

"I know that."

"No, I mean look at everyone. They're acting like he's already here."

Maya looked toward the main gate. A line of warriors stood there, and the large iron gates were open. Beyond them, the road disappeared into the forest.

Then a distant sound reached them.

Engines.

The crowd immediately became quiet.

Maya's fingers tightened around the tray.

Several vehicles appeared through the trees.

The first one entered the territory slowly, followed by another and then another. The pack members straightened as the vehicles approached.

Someone whispered, "He's here."

Maya looked toward the arriving vehicles.

She couldn't explain why, but suddenly her heart began beating faster. Maybe it was the atmosphere. Maybe it was because everyone around her seemed nervous. Or maybe it was simply because this was the first time she had ever seen the Alpha who ruled the pack where she had spent most of her life.

The first vehicle stopped.

Two warriors stepped out.

Then the back door opened.

A man stepped onto the ground.

The entire courtyard went silent.

Maya froze.

Alpha Adrian Blackwood stood beside the vehicle.

He looked different from what she had imagined. He wasn't wearing a crown or anything that announced his position.

He didn't need one.

His presence alone was enough.

He looked calm, but there was something intimidating about the way he carried himself. His eyes moved slowly across the gathered pack, taking in the people waiting to welcome him.

Maya quickly lowered her gaze.

She remembered Selena's warning.

Stay out of sight.

She turned slightly, hoping to disappear behind the other servants.

But before she could move, Adrian's eyes stopped.

His attention settled on the servants.

Then on Maya.

Maya didn't notice.

She was already stepping backward, trying to make herself invisible as she had done for years.

But Adrian suddenly became still.

Something inside him had awakened.

His wolf had recognized something before his mind could understand it.

Mate.

The word echoed through him.

Adrian's eyes widened.

Impossible.

He had returned expecting to deal with pack matters, nothing more. Yet the moment he stepped onto Silver Moon territory, his wolf had reacted.

And it was reacting to one person.

A girl standing among the servants.

Adrian stared at her.

Maya felt someone's gaze on her.

Slowly, she looked up.

Their eyes met.

For one strange second, everything around them seemed to disappear.

Maya's breath caught.

She didn't know why she couldn't look away.

Adrian didn't move.

Neither did she.

Then Selena noticed.

Her smile disappeared.

She followed Adrian's gaze.

And when she saw who he was looking at, her face went pale.

"Maya?"

Maya immediately looked away.

"Yes?"

Selena's voice was sharp. "Come here."

Maya hurried toward her, keeping her head lowered.

But Adrian's eyes followed her.

His jaw tightened.

There was something about that girl.

Something he couldn't explain.

Something his wolf seemed absolutely certain about.

His Beta stepped closer.

"Alpha?"

Adrian didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained on Maya.

Then, quietly, he asked, "Who is she?"

The Beta looked toward the servants.

"Maya. She's been working in the pack house since she was a child."

Adrian's expression changed.

"Since she was a child?"

"Yes."

Adrian looked at Maya again.

She was standing beside Selena with her head lowered, as if she had been trained never to draw attention to herself.

His wolf growled inside him.

Mate.

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

He had no idea who Maya was.

But he suddenly knew one thing.

He needed to find out.

And Maya had no idea that the moment she looked into the Alpha's eyes, the quiet life she had spent sixteen years surviving had already begun to change.