The night was unusually quiet.
A cold wind moved through the tall trees surrounding the Blackwood Pack mansion, carrying with it the distant sound of wolves howling under the full moon.
Inside the mansion, Lena Carter walked slowly down the long hallway with a cleaning cloth in her hand.
She kept her head low, careful not to make noise.
Working in the Alpha King's mansion was not easy. One mistake could cost her job… or worse.
Lena was only a human living among wolves.
She had worked in the mansion for nearly a year, yet she still felt like she didn't belong there.
Most pack members ignored her. Others treated her as if she were invisible.
But Lena didn't complain.
She needed the job.
Her mother was sick, and the small salary she earned helped pay for medicine.
So she worked quietly, never attracting attention.
Tonight, however, something felt different.
The moon outside was bright and full, casting silver light through the tall windows of the mansion.
Earlier that evening, Lena had heard the servants whispering nervously.
"Tonight is the full moon ceremony."
"The Alpha will return to the mansion."
Just hearing those words made Lena uneasy.
Alpha Damon Blackwood.
The most powerful wolf in the entire region.
His name alone was enough to silence a room.
People said he was ruthless, cold, and feared by every pack around them.
Lena had only seen him once before from a distance.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
And terrifyingly powerful.
She hoped she would never have to stand close to him.
Lost in her thoughts, Lena continued cleaning until she reached the end of the hallway.
Then she noticed something strange.
One of the doors was slightly open.
Her heart skipped a beat.
That door was never open.
She had been warned many times never to enter that room.
But tonight the door stood slightly ajar.
Curiosity slowly pulled her closer.
"Maybe someone forgot to lock it," she whispered to herself.
Carefully, Lena pushed the door open.
The room inside was large and dark.
Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, lighting the floor with pale silver.
Lena stepped inside slowly.
The air inside felt heavy… almost strange.
Then suddenly—
A low growl echoed through the room.
Lena froze.
Her heart began beating rapidly.
Before she could move, a deep voice spoke from behind her.
"You shouldn't be here."
The voice sent a chill down her spine.
Slowly, Lena turned around.
And her breath caught in her throat.
Standing near the doorway was a tall man dressed in black.
His broad shoulders blocked the light behind him.
His eyes glowed faintly gold in the darkness.
Even without anyone telling her, Lena knew exactly who he was.
Alpha Damon.
The Alpha King.
Fear rushed through her body.
"I—I'm sorry," Lena said quickly, her voice trembling. "The door was open. I didn't know anyone was inside."
The Alpha didn't respond.
Instead, he took one slow step forward.
Then another.
Lena felt her back press against the cold wall.
His golden eyes never left hers.
"You're human," he said calmly.
It wasn't a question.
"Yes," Lena whispered.
For a moment, the Alpha remained silent.
Then his expression suddenly changed.
As if he had just realized something impossible.
"You…" he murmured.
Lena frowned nervously.
"What is it?" she asked quietly.
The Alpha stepped closer.
Now she could feel the warmth of his body.
His scent surrounded her—wild, powerful, and strangely comforting.
"Why do you smell like that?" he asked.
"I don't understand," Lena replied.
But before she could move away, the Alpha suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Lena gasped in surprise.
He pulled her closer.
So close she could hear his heartbeat.
Then he whispered something that made her entire world stop.
"You are my mate."
Lena's eyes widened in shock.
Mate?
That was impossible.
She was human.
And he was the Alpha King.
But the way he looked at her… the way his wolf seemed to react to her presence… made her heart race with fear.
"No," Lena said quickly. "That can't be true."
But the Alpha didn't release her.
Instead, his grip tightened slightly.
"You entered the forbidden room on the night of the full moon," he said quietly.
His glowing eyes darkened.
"And now… my wolf has chosen you."
Outside the mansion, wolves howled loudly under the moon.
Inside the room, Lena felt her heart pounding harder than ever.
Because deep down…
She knew her life had just changed forever.