Alpha Kaelen

Elara’s POV

I truly believed I was dead. I thought the suffocating, cold earth had completely consumed me, burying my broken body just like Lilith had coldly ordered. But slowly, miraculously, the heavy blanket of darkness began to lift. A sharp, stinging scent of bleach and rubbing alcohol pierced my senses. I fluttered my heavy eyelids open, wincing against the harsh, blinding fluorescent lights.

I found myself lying in a sterile hospital bed. The rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor echoed in my ringing ears. Where was I? Looking out the small window, I quickly realized this place was located miles away from the Pyrewood Enclave estate.

The door swung open, and a cheerful, bustling nurse walked in holding a clipboard.

"Oh, thank the Goddess, you're finally awake!" she said brightly, checking the IV line connected to the back of my bruised hand. She casually informed me that I had been completely unconscious for an entire week.

A week.

"A... week?" I choked out. My throat felt like it was coated in shattered glass. "What happened?"

"A group of passing hikers discovered you brutally dumped in the dense woods. You were in terrible shape, honey." The nurse's cheerful tone sobered into deep concern.

I groaned weakly, my entire body screaming in agonizing protest as I desperately struggled to sit up against the pillows. Fire laced through my chest.

"Did anyone come to look for me?" I asked, my voice trembling with desperate, pathetic hope. "My husband? The Alpha of Pyrewood Enclave?"

The nurse offered a sympathetic but final shake of her head. "No. Nobody came."

The words dropped like heavy stones onto my chest. Hot, bitter tears streamed silently down my bruised face. I had been missing for seven days. My own husband hadn't even bothered to launch a search party for his missing Luna. He just let me vanish into the dirt.

"I need to go," I rasped, gripping the edge of the mattress.

"Are you crazy?" The nurse gently but firmly pushed my shoulders back down. "You have intensely fractured ribs. A fully broken left leg encased in a heavy cast. And a severe, lingering concussion. You need rest, or this could develop into something permanent."

But I stubbornly insisted. I didn't care about the agony tearing through my bones. I had to know the truth. I demanded to check out of the hospital immediately.

With absolutely no money, no ID, and no cell phone, my only viable option was to desperately hitchhike back to the estate. I limped along the side of the highway for what felt like hours. My wolf was working overtime to heal me, but the massive injuries were simply too much. Finally, a kind, unassuming family in a worn-out sedan pulled over and picked me up.

I huddled silently in the back seat, staring blankly out the window. But their casual, excited gossip during the long drive completely shattered whatever was left of my bleeding heart.

"Did you hear the news?" the wife excitedly babbled to her husband, completely unaware of who was sitting in her backseat. "Alpha Conrad is officially preparing to marry Lilith! You know, the widely known daughter of the ruthless Steelrend Syndicate."

"It's about time we got a highborn Luna," the husband replied, keeping his eyes on the road. "And that boy she brought back? Ronin? Turns out he isn't formally adopted at all. He is actually Conrad's proud, biological heir. The boy has real Alpha blood!"

I stopped breathing. The air physically vanished from my lungs. Biological heir. He lied to me. He had been sleeping with her long before she ever showed up at the estate, long before she ran me over with a heavy truck and ordered my brutal execution.

"And where's the old Luna?" I asked. My voice was completely numb, echoing like a hollow ghost in the cramped car.

The wife simply shrugged her shoulders indifferently. "Who cares? Not even Alpha Conrad cares. He hasn't spoken her name in public once since Lilith came back."

I turned my head away, pressing my trembling lips tightly together to hold in a sob. I didn't want to break down crying in front of strangers. He didn't care. He was practically celebrating my death.

Three agonizing hours later, the family's car finally dropped me off at the bustling Central Square of the estate. The moment my good foot hit the pavement, I was swallowed by a massive, cheering crowd. The entire pack had already gathered. Red velvet ropes and a long carpet were laid out flawlessly. They were enthusiastically welcoming CEO Jarek for the highly anticipated Aurelia Metropolis contract signing ceremony.

I stood hidden in the absolute back, tucked away in the shadows. I looked down at my dirty hospital clothes and the heavy cast on my leg. I was a broken, battered mess.

"Lilith is incredible!" a pack member standing a few feet away loudly praised. "She's leading this genius project all by herself! Finally, a Luna who knows what she's doing!"

My fists clenched tightly in pure, unadulterated anger. My fractured ribs throbbed with every heavy breath. The Aurelia Metropolis was completely my project. I spent countless sleepless nights drafting the proposals and negotiating the strict terms. She had shamelessly stolen the hard-earned fruit of my intense labor right after brutally hitting me with a heavy truck and leaving me to die.

In the direct center of the square, up on the grand stage, Conrad, Lilith, and Ronin stood proudly. Lilith wore a stunning designer dress, dripping in expensive jewelry. They were smiling brightly, holding hands, and posing for the flashing cameras like a flawlessly perfect, destined family.

An overly curious reporter boldly stepped up to the edge of the stage, pushing his microphone forward. "Alpha Conrad! We are all excited about this moment. But regarding the leadership... why is Luna Elara noticeably absent today?"

A dark furrow appeared between Conrad's brows, but before he could even open his mouth, Lilith stepped closer to the microphones.

She answered with sickeningly feigned innocence, her voice dripping with fake softness. "Elara doesn't want to come. Maybe she's sick. Or maybe... she just doesn't want to be in the same room with me." Lilith looked down, acting like a tragic, misunderstood victim. "I never want to fight with her. As long as I have Conrad, it's enough for me."

They held hands and smiled lovingly at each other.

The brainwashed crowd hissed loudly.

"She's so horribly jealous!" a woman near me spat in disgust.

"Such toxic pettiness," another man agreed, hurling nasty insults at my name. "Lilith gave us an heir and secured this project! Elara can go fuck herself!"

I stood completely paralyzed in the shadows, the cruel words raining down on me like acid. I couldn't control the growing, agonizing pain in my chest. I was consumed by the final realization that Conrad truly never cared about my existence. I fiercely debated stepping out right then and there to expose them. But I deeply feared I would only humiliate my broken, battered self by confronting them in these dirty hospital clothes.

Just then, the atmosphere shifted drastically. A honk echoed in the near distance. A sleek line of heavily armored cars sped aggressively down the main avenue toward the square. The crowd's angry murmurs instantly morphed into excited gasps. A massive, gleaming black Maybach smoothly pulled up right in front of the red carpet.

This was it. CEO Jarek had arrived.

Conrad puffed out his chest and eagerly stepped off the stage. He rushed forward, his hand extended to warmly greet the powerful CEO.

Jarek quickly stepped out of the passenger side of the Maybach. But instead of rushing to shake Conrad's eagerly extended hand, Jarek completely ignored him. The CEO humbly and respectfully walked around the vehicle and opened the heavy back door.

The crowd collectively held its breath.

A towering, immensely powerful man gracefully stepped out. He stood around 6'3", possessing a commanding, athletic build that screamed raw strength and absolute control. Broad shoulders and a sharply chiseled jawline gave him a terrifyingly dominant presence. He had piercing, deeply predatory green eyes that swept over the crowd like a hunting beast sizing up its prey.

The moment his expensive boots hit the pavement, a deathly, suffocating silence instantly fell over the completely stunned crowd. My own heart hammered wildly against my fractured ribs.

"Kaelen Vance," the incredibly handsome man said. His voice was a deep, vibrating, and undeniably sexy rumble that sent shivers down the spines of every wolf present. He casually offered his large hand to a dumbfounded, wide-eyed Conrad. "Nice to meet you."

Loud gasps violently rippled through the packed crowd. The silence shattered into frantic whispers.

Alpha Kaelen! The massively powerful business tycoon who absolutely ruled the Thunderglave Reach. He had hundreds of thousands of companies under his iron reign. He had absolutely no logical reason to personally attend such a relatively small project signing in person. The Aurelia Metropolis was huge for us, but it was absolutely nothing to a billionaire Alpha like him.

"Alpha Kaelen heard about our unique project and was really interested in it," Jarek quickly explained to the awe-struck Alpha of Pyrewood Enclave. "So, if you agree, Vance Global will personally become your new, exclusive partner."

Conrad loudly gasped in pure, unfiltered joy. His face split into a massive grin, his eyes shining with greedy ambition. The elders standing behind him collectively inhaled sharply. "Of course! Come in, please. Let's discuss this in detail." Conrad eagerly and desperately invited the billionaire Alpha toward the corporate hall.

But Kaelen didn't move. His intimidating gaze remained locked on the stage.

Kaelen's suddenly chilling, authoritative voice stopped Conrad dead in his tracks.

"Wait. Why isn't Elara here?" Kaelen demanded, his tone leaving absolutely no room for argument. "She's in charge of the project."

Frantic whispers erupted all around me again. The crowd looked utterly confused.

Pure panic flashed brightly across Lilith's suddenly pale face. She gripped her designer dress tightly, but she quickly forced a strained, sweet smile and strutted forward.

"Luna Elara found working on this project simply too exhausting," Lilith lied smoothly, batting her perfectly manicured eyelashes at the towering Alpha. "So she stepped back and handed everything to me. Trust me, Alpha Conrad. I can do a much better job."

My nails dug deep into the palms of my hands. Another filthy lie.

But Kaelen completely ignored her words. His cold green eyes stared right through Lilith as though she was nothing but thin air. He didn't even blink at her pathetic attempt to charm him.

"I don't do business with amateurs. And certainly not with your mistress," Kaelen stated freezingly to Conrad, his deep voice carrying a terrifying, crushing weight that echoed across the silent square.

The crowd gasped in utter shock at the blatant, brutal disrespect. Lilith's face turned completely white with absolute humiliation. Conrad froze entirely, his jaw dropping open.

"Bring Luna Elara back by tonight!" Kaelen barked, his dominant alpha tone slicing through the tension like a blade. "Or the cooperation is completely off."

With that devastating ultimatum hanging heavily in the cold air, Kaelen confidently strode right past a frozen Conrad and a completely humiliated Lilith. He didn't look back once. He headed directly toward the grand estate doors, leaving Jarek and his burly, heavily armed soldiers scrambling to follow their dominant Alpha.