Alexander's POV
He slammed the door behind him, cursing under his breath. The damn woman had a way of getting under his skin like no one else ever had. She was a human—weak, reckless, and so stubborn that it bordered on suicidal. And yet, she'd become more than just a fleeting nuisance. She was... a problem.
Standing in the dimly lit room of his office, Alexander raked a hand through his hair, trying to ignore the pounding in his skull. He needed a plan. Elena was a wild card—a variable he hadn't accounted for. Every instinct screamed to keep her far away from this mess, to lock her up until it was over. But he knew better. She wasn't the type to sit quietly in the corner and wait.
Fuck. If anything, she'd probably do the opposite just to spite him.
He threw himself into the leather chair behind his desk, the scent of old books and the faint trace of whiskey filling his senses. Maps, papers, and old reports cluttered the surface in front of him. He eyed them with a simmering frustration, trying to piece together the web of chaos Elena had unwittingly walked into.
The rogues. The attacks. Her involvement. It didn't add up. She was too damn normal. A small-town girl with zero connection to this world. Why would they be targeting her?
The thought sent a chill down his spine. He pulled open a drawer, grabbing one of the reports he'd received from his informants. The parchment crinkled beneath his fingers as he spread it out, scanning the words for the hundredth time.
Rogue Activity Report
Increased rogue presence in the eastern territory.Pack members reported sightings near human settlements—possible recon missions.No confirmed reason for heightened activity. Possible connection to "Target: E.L."
He snarled at the paper, eyes zeroing in on the last line. Target: E.L. They had been watching her. For how long? And why?
Alexander leaned back, gaze fixed on the ceiling. If they were watching her, then she was more than just a random human. But that couldn't be true. He'd done the research—checked every damn detail of her life. There was nothing extraordinary about Elena. No hidden bloodlines. No buried magic. She was... plain. Infuriatingly so.
"Think, Alexander," he muttered, tapping a finger against the armrest. There had to be something he was missing, some link that would explain why the rogues were suddenly interested in a nobody like her. He hated being in the dark. Hated not having control. And right now, he was blind.
He stood abruptly, crossing the room to the small cabinet near the window. The crystal decanter inside gleamed in the moonlight, a silent temptation. With a sigh, he poured himself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid sloshing softly. It burned as he took a deep gulp, but he welcomed the pain. At least it made things clearer—if only for a moment.
What the fuck are you hiding, Elena? She had to be hiding something. Or maybe... maybe she didn't even know what it was. Either way, it didn't matter. He needed answers. And he needed them now.
The phone on his desk buzzed, the sharp sound slicing through his thoughts. He glanced at it, frowning. The number was familiar—one of his scouts, stationed near the southern border.
"What is it?" he growled, answering on the second ring.
"Alpha," came the urgent voice on the other end. "There's been movement. A rogue pack, circling the perimeter."
"Where?"
"Close. Too close." There was a pause, and he could almost feel the tension radiating through the line. "And they're not alone."
Alexander's grip tightened around the phone. "What do you mean?"
"They've got a... human with them. A woman."
His heart stuttered, blood running cold. No. It couldn't be. They wouldn't—he'd just left her upstairs, goddammit.
"Describe her," he snapped, already striding toward the door.
"Dark hair, slim build... looks scared out of her mind."
He stopped short, a growl rumbling low in his chest. Not Elena. But that didn't mean she wasn't in danger. If they were targeting random humans now, they were getting bolder. And that made them a threat he couldn't ignore.
"Hold your position," he ordered. "I'm on my way."
He hung up before the scout could respond, shoving the phone into his pocket. His mind raced, scenarios playing out in rapid succession. If the rogues were after humans, then it meant they were expanding their reach. Testing the boundaries. But why? What was their endgame?
And where the hell did Elena fit into it?
He'd find out. Even if he had to tear through every damn rogue in the region to get his answers.
He stormed back to his desk, yanking open the top drawer and pulling out a small, worn notebook. It was old—filled with names, places, and bits of information he'd collected over the years. But more importantly, it held the names of his contacts.
He flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for. Kade – Information Broker. If anyone knew what the rogues were up to, it would be Kade. The bastard always had his ear to the ground, listening for every scrap of gossip and intel that passed through the territories.
Alexander dialed the number, heart pounding as he waited. One ring. Two. Then—
"Alexander," a smooth, familiar voice drawled. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Cut the crap, Kade," Alexander snapped. "I need information. Now."
There was a chuckle on the other end, low and amused. "Always so direct. What is it this time? More rogue trouble?"
"Something like that." He took a breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "They're targeting humans. One in particular. I want to know why."
"Humans?" Kade sounded genuinely surprised. "That's... interesting. And a little out of character. What's her name?"
"Elena."
A pause. Then, a soft whistle. "Oh, that human. I see why you're so worked up."
Alexander's blood turned to ice. "What do you know, Kade?"
"Only that there's a lot more to your pretty little human than meets the eye," Kade murmured. "But if you want specifics... well, that'll cost you."
"Give me a fucking break," Alexander growled. "I don't have time for your games."
"Then make time," Kade replied smoothly. "You're not the only one interested in her, you know. And if you're not careful... you might just lose her."
The line went dead, leaving Alexander standing in the dark, phone clenched in his fist.
Lose her? No. That wasn't an option. He'd protect her, even if it killed him. Even if he had to rip apart every rogue in the territory to do it.
Because no one—no one—took what was his.