The Alpha's Hidden Mate (First Blood Chronicles #6)

Chapter 1

The journey to Veridia Region had been long, but the moment they arrived in the skies above the dense woods, the aircraft slowed.

The pilot's voice came through the speaker, instructing them to prepare for the descent.

Zayron stood near the open hatch, his parachute strapped tightly to his back.

He glanced at the other alphas and their mates as they adjusted their gear. The ten she-wolves assigned to them stood in position, ready to jump when called.

Alpha Zayron gave a final nod, signaling that it was time. One by one, they stepped forward, leaping into the night air.

The wind roared in Zayron’s ears as he plummeted, his hands gripping the straps of his parachute. He pulled the cord, and the chute snapped open above him, slowing his fall as he glided toward the dark forest below.

The others descended alongside him, their parachutes blooming like shadows against the moonlit sky.

As soon as Zayron’s boots hit the ground, he crouched low, detaching his chute and scanning the area. The forest was silent except for the rustling of leaves as the others landed nearby.

The aircraft above them banked sharply, its engines humming as it turned away, leaving them in the heart of Veridia’s wilderness.

Other alphas adjusted the straps of their weapons and turned to Alpha Zayron.

“What now?”

Zayron looked ahead, his expression grim. “Now, we move,” he said as he led the way as though he was familiar with the region.

The forest was thick with mist, the scent of damp earth and pine lingering in the air. The alphas moved silently, their eyes scanning the shadows as they followed Zayron’s lead.

The night was beginning to break, the first hints of dawn barely touching the sky. Their pace was steady, their movements precise.

An alpha behind Zayron finally spoke. “Where exactly are we going?”

Zayron didn’t slow down. “The last pack before the border.”

Another alpha scoffed. “That pack was destroyed last week. The Ashokan wolves took it over.”

“Then we take it back. We wipe them out and rebuild. Then we move to the five other packs they destroyed and do the same,” alpha Zayron said.

One of the alphas frowned. “That will take time.”

Zayron’s voice hardened. “This must be done within a week. I need to return home. My mate is pregnant.”

A heavy silence followed. The alphas exchanged glances but did not question him further. They understood the urgency in his voice.

By the time they reached the border, the sky had begun to lighten, casting a dull glow over the land. The pack they sought stood on a hill, surrounded by long, protective walls.

But parts of the wall were shattered, evidence of where the Ashokan wolves had broken through during their attack. Rubble lay scattered around the entrance, the scars of battle still fresh.

As they stood watching, the sudden sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence. A figure dashed across the broken path, a she-wolf.

Her scent hit them immediately. She was running, her dark hair flowing behind her as she disappeared into the trees.

“She’s going to warn them. We must go in immediately,” an alpha muttered.

“We move now,” Zayron ordered.

Without hesitation, they followed him, moving up the hill toward the open space in the walls. Their steps were swift but controlled, their bodies tense as they climbed the uneven terrain.

When they entered the pack’s heart, the destruction was evident.

The once-thriving land was in ruins, burned houses, shattered windows, and overturned carts. Bloodstains from the previous battle still marked the ground.

But there were signs of new dwellers. The scent of fresh food drifted through the air, roasted venison and wild herbs.

Smoke curled from a chimney, a sign that someone had started a fire in the kitchen.

Despite this, the rest of the pack remained eerily quiet. The Ashokan wolves who had taken over were still asleep, unaware of the danger approaching.

Zayron didn’t waste a second. He snapped his fingers, and in an instant, the alphas shifted. Their bodies contorted, bones snapping and fur sprouting as they embraced their wolf forms.

Low growls rumbled in their throats, their eyes gleaming with the hunger for battle.

Zayron turned to the wolves. “Spread out. Take every pack house. Leave none alive.”

With swift precision, they assigned groups to different sections of the pack.

The alphas led their warriors into the houses, breaking through doors, catching the Ashokan wolves off guard.

The sounds of battle erupted, growls, yelps, the crashing of furniture. The Ashokan wolves, startled from their sleep, had no time to fight back.

Their screams were short-lived as the warriors tore through them, their claws slicing through flesh, their teeth sinking deep.

Zayron moved through the chaos, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of survivors. His wolf was restless, eager for blood.

He spotted a warrior trying to escape through a broken window and lunged, his powerful jaws clamping onto the enemy’s neck. The body went limp in seconds.

The battle didn’t last long. The Ashokan wolves had been unprepared, their numbers too few to defend themselves. Within minutes, silence returned to the pack.

As they shifted back into their human forms, the she-wolves accompanying them handed them clothes. They dressed quickly, wasting no time.

Zayron stood in the center of the pack, his breathing even, his gaze sweeping over the scene. The first step was done.

But there were still five more packs to reclaim and drive the Ashokan wolves out of the Veridia region. And Zayron intended to finish this before the week was over.

“You should go to the kitchen and make something for us to eat before we leave for the next fight,” Alpha Zayron commanded the she-wolves. The women hurried to the kitchen as instructed.

As soon as they left, Zayron turned to address the alphas again, but then a familiar scent touched his nose. He stopped, sniffing the air.

He breathed in and out, looking around. The scent he was perceiving was Kayla’s. His heart skipped a beat. He knew her condition. She was pregnant.

Zayron’s pulse quickened. Kayla wasn’t supposed to be here. She was meant to be safe, far from the war zone. His mind barely had time to process before his body moved on instinct.

Without hesitation, he ran out of the pack. The other alphas exchanged confused glances, wondering where he was going, but they were too tired and hungry to follow. However, Alpha Ethan ran after him.

As Zayron rushed out of the pack and through the broken wall, he continued following the scent back into the woods they had come from.

“Zayron, what is it?” Alpha Ethan called out from behind, but Zayron didn’t answer.

When Ethan asked again for the third time, Zayron finally spoke, his voice urgent. “I can smell my mate. She’s close by. She must have followed me.”

Alpha Ethan sniffed the air but didn’t detect anything.

“I can only smell fresh blood,” the alpha said.

However, Zayron knew the scent was strong in these woods, and he couldn’t ignore it.

As they ventured deeper into the woods, Zayron spotted two wolves chasing a young girl. She wore a loose top and tight denim pants.

Zayron quickly advanced, grabbing the girl’s hand and pulling her behind him, shielding her.

He waited as the wolves neared. They stopped as though recognizing Zayron as the strongest Alpha, then turned and fled.

Zayron turned to face the she-wolf. His mouth dropped open in disbelief, and he let out a soft gasp.

“Oh, my goddess! How did you get here, Kay?” Zayron asked, his voice full of shock.

He took a step closer, still stunned. “What are you doing here, alone, in this place?” he asked, but the she-wolf didn’t respond.

His eyes slowly moved down to her baby bump. “Why didn’t you stay back where it was safe?”

“Alpha, do you know her?” Alpha Ethan asked.

“She is my mate.”

“I thought you said your mate is pregnant?”

“She is pregnant! Can’t you see? Are you blind?” Zayron responded, his voice laced with frustration.

“Alpha Zayron, what are you saying? This girl is Asian and she is not pregnant!” Ethan said, his tone full of confusion.

“I’m saying she is my mate! She is not Asian,” Zayron said again.

At that moment, Alpha Ethan began to understand what was going on.

“Shadow Caster!” Alpha Ethan muttered under his breath.

“The continental healing…” he whispered again.

“Someone stole the messenger's blood and activated this Shadow Caster.” Ethan continued speaking to himself, then looked back at Zayron.

Seeing how Zayron was holding the Asian she-wolf’s face, Ethan sank to the ground, muttering in shock.

“Oh, my goddess! He is our commander!”

“Whoever stole the messenger's blood is probably in our midst,” Ethan continued muttering under his breath.