"Alpha Shadows: Forbidden Shackles"

"Before you start reading, I have a small request… I don't know if you truly enjoy the story or not, but your silence makes me wonder! I'd love to see any reaction, even a small one, to ease my heart a little. Your engagement means a lot to me and gives me the motivation to keep going! And most importantly… the real events haven't even started yet. What's coming will be even more thrilling and exciting! Don't miss the crucial moments!"

Adrian sat on the ground, silently scanning his surroundings, deep in thought about his next move. Should he continue traveling with these women until they reached a nearby pack and leave them there? Or would it be safer to take them back to his own pack?

Every option had its risks, but one fear weighed on his mind—the possibility of running into Rogues along the way. If that happened, they would all be in danger. He wasn't concerned for himself, but he felt responsible for these women. He had to get them to safety as soon as possible. However, leaving them with a pack that might get attacked could lead to another tragedy. He wouldn't let that happen.

After careful consideration, Adrian made his decision. He would take them back to his pack.

At first, he hadn't wanted to shoulder this responsibility. His journey was supposed to be simple—revenge for his mate's death. But things had become far more complicated than he anticipated. He was finally getting closer to uncovering the truth behind the person whose name and tattoo he had discovered. If he wanted answers, he needed to return.

Arcon sat down beside him. "Have you decided what we're going to do?"

Adrian nodded. "Yes. We'll take them back to our pack."

Arcon frowned. "But… what if we get attacked on the way?"

"I hope we don't," Adrian replied. "That's why we'll leave before sunrise. When night falls, we'll find a cave or a safe place to hide until morning."

Arcon sighed. "You're right. Fighting while protecting them would be difficult. We need to keep them alive."

As they spoke, a small girl stepped out from one of the houses, her face pale with hunger. Her eyes darted to the supplies they had gathered. Without hesitation, Adrian handed her some food.

She hesitated at first but then took it and started eating hungrily, as if she hadn't eaten in days. Moments later, the rest of the women began emerging from the houses, followed by five other children.

Adrian and Arcon distributed the food among them, making sure everyone got their share. By the time they were done, only a few supplies remained.

Arcon took a deep breath, assessing their situation. Twenty women. Six children. His companion. A large group like this would be difficult to move unnoticed.

Returning them safely to the pack was going to be a challenge. But until they reached a secure place, their lives were in his hands.

Adrian stood before the group after they had finished eating, his gaze steady as he spoke. "We need to move now. Before sunrise, we should be far enough away. We'll take you to our pack—Klek's pack will welcome you."

The women exchanged uneasy glances before one of them asked hesitantly, "What if they attack us on the way?"

A murmur of uncertainty spread among them, but Arkon quickly responded, "We'll avoid them as much as possible. Right now, this is our best option."

Seeing their reluctance wane, Adrian gave the final instruction. "Shift into your wolves. We must cover as much ground as possible. If we walk, it will take days. If we run, we'll reach safety faster."

Arkon disappeared into one of the houses and emerged carrying his unconscious mate. Without hesitation, the women shifted into their wolf forms, and Adrian and Arkon took charge of the children. Then, without looking back, they ran.

---

At sunrise…

Ten wolves arrived at the ruins of the village they had attacked the previous night. The sight before them was grim—bodies of their fallen comrades lay sprawled across the ground, their wounds deep, their deaths brutal.

One of them stepped forward, sniffing the air before growling. "One is still alive."

The injured wolf was barely breathing. Another rogue lifted him onto his back before they scanned the area, searching for any sign of the women. But there was nothing.

They had escaped.

Splitting up, the rogues took different paths, determined to find them before the news of the massacre reached the pack.

---

Hours later…

Fatigue finally caught up with them. The wolves, having run relentlessly, were slowing down. The children, exhausted and hungry, whimpered softly.

Adrian turned to Arkon, his voice firm. "They won't make it if we push any further. We need to rest."

Arkon clenched his jaw. "If we stop now, we'll lose precious time. They're surely hunting them down as we speak."

Adrian exhaled sharply. "I know. But if they collapse, we'll be vulnerable. We need a safe place to rest, even if just for a little while."

After a brief hesitation, Arkon nodded and began searching for shelter. It didn't take long before he found a cave nestled between the rocks. They hurried toward it, and once inside, Adrian turned to him, his expression serious.

"I'll scout the area. Give the children food while I'm gone. If anything happens, if I don't return in time… take them and run."

Arkon's gaze darkened, but he nodded. "Be careful."

While Adrian disappeared into the darkness, Arkon settled the children and distributed food. He sat beside Lucy, who remained unconscious, watching over her while listening carefully for any sounds from the forest.

Half an hour later, Adrian suddenly appeared, urgency in his voice. "We have to move. Now. They're coming."

Arkon didn't hesitate. He lifted his mate while Adrian, thanks to his large size, carried the children. Without another word, they took off into the night.

---

As darkness fell…

The long journey had drained them, but they kept running. Distance was their only advantage, and with the temperature dropping, the rogues would struggle to track them.

At last, Adrian signaled a stop. He gently set the children down before shifting back and disappearing behind a tree. When he returned, he carried firewood and quickly lit a small fire, allowing its warmth to ease their shivering bodies.

Arkon, however, was still tense. Lucy had yet to wake up, and worry gnawed at him. Without a word, he left the cave, needing to clear his head—and to hunt.

---

Back at the pack…

Chloe sat alone, lost in thought, an unsettling feeling twisting in her chest. Something was wrong. She could feel it.

No matter how much she reassured herself of Adrian's strength, her heart remained heavy with worry.

Harlan entered the house quietly, his gaze soft as he sat beside her. She hadn't even noticed him until he gently touched her shoulder, startling her.

"Why are you here?" she asked, trying to smile. "Amber must be waiting for you. The children, too."

Harlan chuckled. "She missed you, so I figured we'd stay here for the next two days."

Chloe studied him for a moment before murmuring, "Father sent you, didn't he?"

A sheepish smile tugged at Harlan's lips. "He did. He told me you haven't been sleeping well since Adrian left. The nightmares… they won't leave you alone, will they?"

She sighed. "It's not just the nightmares, Harlan. My heart tells me something terrible is going to happen."

Harlan placed a reassuring hand on hers. "You're overthinking it. Adrian will be fine. He always is."

She didn't respond. She only hoped he was right.

Just then, Amber entered with their twin daughters, Jessica and Jen, who immediately rushed to Chloe, wrapping their little arms around her.

"We missed you, Grandma!" they chimed together.

Chloe smiled warmly. "I missed you too, little ones."

Jessica pouted. "And your stories! We want a bedtime story!"

Chloe chuckled. "Where's Addison? Didn't he come with you?"

Amber sat beside Harlan. "He'll be here soon with Oliver."

It wasn't long before Oliver arrived, his usual dramatic flair in full force.

"Unbelievable! Two days away, and you all act like I vanished into thin air?"

Chloe laughed, shaking her head. "You troublemaker! I haven't seen you in a month. Where have you been hiding?"

Oliver clutched his chest dramatically. "Harlan keeps sending me on missions! He doesn't care about my feelings—or my mate's! I have to leave her with those two little devils." He pointed at his sons. "They're not children. They're tiny, chaotic monsters!"

Laughter filled the room, and for the first time since Adrian left, Chloe genuinely smiled.

Longin entered, watching the scene unfold before him. Seeing them laugh together, he finally sat down and joined them.

For one night, at least, they could pretend everything was fine.

1. Will Adrian and Arkon reach the pack before the rogues find them?

2. Is Chloe's intuition correct, or is she overthinking her worries about Adrian?