POV: Kael
Something was wrong with me. I stood at my office window, watching the training yard below where Leo sparred with Marcus. Three days had passed since I'd assigned the rogue to my personal guard, and in those three days, I'd found myself watching him far too often.
It was for security reasons, I told myself. The boy was a mystery, showing up wounded and alone with a story full of holes. I needed to keep an eye on him, figure out what he was hiding. That was the logical explanation.
It didn't explain why my wolf prowled restlessly every time Leo was near. Or why I'd caught myself staring at the curve of his neck during morning briefings. Or why the scent of him, faint beneath the dirt and sweat, made something in my chest pull tight.
I was Alpha of the Nightbane Pack. I didn't get distracted. I didn't lose focus. And I certainly didn't feel drawn to scrawny male rogues who could barely hold a weapon.
"Alpha?"
I turned to find Vera, my head guard, standing in the doorway. The scarred woman raised an eyebrow. "You've been staring out that window for twenty minutes. Something interesting is happening in the yard?"
"Just observing," I said, moving back to my desk. "How's the rogue doing?"
"Leo?" Vera stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "Better than expected, honestly. His wrist is healing fast, shoulder too. Marcus says his form is improving, though he still fights like someone trained for speed over power."
"That's not unusual for smaller wolves."
"No, but..." Vera hesitated. "There's something odd about him, Alpha. The way he moves sometimes, it's like he's had formal training. Pack training. But he claims he was born rogue."
I'd noticed that too. Leo held himself like someone who'd grown up with structure, discipline. Not like the wild rogues we usually caught at our borders.
"Keep watching him," I ordered. "Report anything suspicious."
"Of course." Vera turned to leave, then paused. "Alpha, if I may speak freely?"
"When have you ever needed permission?"
A small smile crossed her face. "You've been different since he arrived. Distracted. Your wolf is agitated. The pack can feel it through the bond."
I said nothing. She was right, and we both knew it.
"Maybe you should send him away," Vera suggested carefully. "If he's causing problems.."
"No." The word came out harsher than I intended. "He stays."
Vera studied me for a long moment. "As you command, Alpha."
After she left, I returned to the window. Leo had been knocked down again, but he rolled to his feet quickly, weapon raised. Stubborn. Resilient. Refusing to quit even when outmatched. My wolf rumbled with approval.
I slammed my fist against the window frame. This had to stop. Whatever this was, I needed to get it under control before it became a weakness someone could exploit.
+++++++
That evening, I found myself in the dining hall during the warriors' meal. I usually ate alone in my quarters, but tonight I'd made an exception. To observe, I told myself. Nothing more.
Leo sat at the far end of the long table, between Vera and Thomas. The massive warrior who'd fought him three days ago now seemed almost friendly, laughing at something Leo said. The rogue had a way of fitting in despite his omega status, I'd noticed. The warriors respected him after that dirty trick with the staff.
I watched as Leo reached for bread with his left hand, keeping his right close to his body. The wrist was still healing then, not as fast as Vera claimed. He hid the weakness well.
"Alpha Kael." One of my council members, Henrik, approached my table. "May I speak with you?"
I gestured to the empty seat across from me, keeping Leo in my peripheral vision. Henrik sat, his expression troubled. "We received word from the eastern borders. Silver Creek Pack has been sending scouts into neutral territory, close to our lands."
That caught my attention. Silver Creek was two territories away, not close enough to be a threat normally. "Why?"
"They claim they're hunting a rogue." Henrik lowered his voice. "A murderer who killed their Alpha during the Blood Moon festival."
My hand tightened on my cup. "Go on."
"Apparently, this rogue is a female. Silver hair, early twenties. Their Beta, Matthias, is offering a substantial reward for information leading to her capture." Henrik pulled out a folded paper, sliding it across the table. "They sent this."
I unfolded it. A crude sketch showed a young woman with long silver hair and sharp features. The description beneath listed her as dangerous, unstable, a traitor who'd murdered Alpha Declan in cold blood.
Something about the sketch bothered me, but I couldn't place what.
"The Beta claims she's likely disguised herself," Henrik continued. "Could be anywhere. He's asking neighboring packs to be vigilant, to report any suspicious newcomers."
My eyes drifted back to Leo, laughing at Thomas's story. Not a woman. Not silver-haired. Nothing like the sketch. So why did my instincts prickle with warning?
"Tell Silver Creek we haven't seen anyone matching that description," I said, folding the paper. "But we'll keep watch."
"Of course, Alpha." Henrik stood, then hesitated. "There's one more thing. Rumors suggest this wasn't a simple murder. Some wolves from Silver Creek whisper that their Beta might have been involved, that he framed the girl."
"Rumors aren't facts."
"No, but..." Henrik glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "Beta Matthias has approached our council before, Alpha. Quietly. Asking about alliance possibilities, trade agreements. Always careful never to go through official channels."
I went very still. "When was this?"
"Two months ago. And again, three weeks ago. Right before their Alpha died."
A conspiracy. Matthias worked behind his Alpha's back, possibly arranging his death, framing someone else to cover his tracks. It was ambitious, brutal, and exactly the kind of play a power-hungry Beta would make.
"Why wasn't I informed of these contacts?" I asked, my voice dropping to a dangerous growl. Henrik paled. "Councilor Bram thought them insignificant, Alpha. Just a Beta feeling out possibilities. Nothing came of the meetings."
Bram. My oldest council member, cautious and calculating. He wouldn't mention inconsequential conversations to me, but he also wouldn't hide anything important.
Unless he was part of it.
"Summon Bram," I ordered. "Tonight. Private audience."
"Yes, Alpha." Henrik hurried away.
I looked back at Leo. The rogue had gone quiet, head tilted like he was listening to something. The warriors around him talked and laughed, but Leo's attention was elsewhere, focused on a pair of guards at the next table.
I enhanced my hearing, picking up their conversation.
"...Beta Matthias pays well for information," one guard muttered. "My cousin in Silver Creek says he's desperate to find this murderer."
"Desperate enough to lie about what happened?" the other replied. "My sister was at that festival. She says something didn't add up about the whole thing."
"Careful. That kind of talk could get you killed."
Leo's hand clenched around his cup, knuckles going white. His jaw was tight, eyes fixed on his plate. Interesting.
++++++++++
I found Leo in the training yard after dinner, working through sword forms alone. His movements were stiff, favoring his injured side, but determined.
"You should be resting," I said from the shadows. He spun, weapon raised, then lowered it when he saw me. "Alpha. I didn't hear you."
"That's the point." I stepped into the moonlight. "Your wrist isn't healed enough for this."
"It's fine."
"It's not." I moved closer, watching his stance. "You're compensating, putting too much weight on your left side. You'll injure yourself worse."
"I need to get stronger." His voice was tight with frustration. "I can't be the weakest link."
"You've been here three days. No one expects you to match warriors who've trained for years."
"You do." Leo met my eyes, and I saw fire there. Rage, carefully controlled. "You said if I couldn't keep up, I was out. So I'm keeping up."
He attacked without warning, his blade whistling toward my shoulder. I blocked easily, catching his wrist. He hissed in pain but didn't pull back, instead using his momentum to sweep at my legs. Smart. Using my strength against me.
I stepped over the sweep and twisted, putting him in a hold. His back pressed against my chest, my arm around his throat. Not tight enough to choke, just to control.
"Never telegraph your attacks," I said quietly. "Your eyes give you away."
"Noted." He was breathing hard, his heart racing. I could feel it against my forearm.
I should have released him. Should have stepped back, maintained proper distance between Alpha and subordinate.
Instead, I found myself breathing in his scent. Sweat and leather, dirt from the training yard, and underneath it all, something else. Something that made my wolf sit up and take notice. Flowers. Faint but definitely there. Like wildflowers after rain.
Male wolves didn't smell like flowers.
"Alpha?" Leo's voice brought me back. "You can let go now."
I released him, taking a deliberate step back. "Again. This time, don't lead with your eyes."
We sparred for another hour. Every time he fell, he got back up. Every time I corrected him, he adjusted. Stubborn, resilient, refusing to quit. Just like that first day.
Finally, I swept his legs out from under him and followed him down, pinning him to the dirt. My hands caught his wrists, holding them above his head. My body pressed along his, keeping him immobile.
We were both breathing hard. His face was inches from mine, eyes wide, lips parted.
My wolf surged forward, wanting to close that distance. Wanting to press closer, to taste, to claim. What the hell was wrong with me?
"Why?" The word came out rougher than I intended.
Leo blinked. "Why what?"
"Why does my wolf want you?" I leaned closer, unable to stop myself. "You're male. You're weak. You're a rogue with more secrets than sense." My voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "So why can't I stop thinking about you?"
Leo's eyes went even wider. His pulse jumped beneath my fingers where I held his wrists.
"I don't know," he breathed.
Liar. He knew something. I could see it in his face, the fear and confusion and something else. Something that looked almost like longing.
I forced myself to release him, to stand, to put distance between us before I did something unforgivable.
"Training is over," I said, my voice rough. "Get some rest."
I walked away before he could respond, before I could do something stupid like stay.
My wolf snarled in frustration, pacing, wanting to go back. Wanting to understand why a scrawny male rogue made him feel like he'd found something he'd been searching for his entire life. This was madness. And I had no idea how to make it stop..