Chapter 3 An Old Acquaintance Returns
Under the moonlight, I—or rather, the new me—stood frozen, trying to wrap my head around the power surging through me. It felt as natural as breathing, but as deep and mysterious as the ocean. My silver hair floated like it had a mind of its own, picking up on the tiniest energy in the air. I could "hear" trees whispering and "feel" a rabbit’s panicky heartbeat miles away.
Is this what being the Silver Moon Alpha Female is all about?
While I was taking in these new feelings, I sensed someone powerful—but familiar—coming from far away, moving crazy fast. Unlike Marcus Bloodclaw’s aggressive, possessive Alpha scent, this presence was… cold and clean, like northern cedar, but with this weird warmth that felt comforting.
Whoever it was had more power than Marcus at his strongest. And weirdly enough, my new power didn’t push back against this presence—it hummed back, like it recognized something.
In seconds, a few dark figures glided through the forest like ghosts, stopping in the clearing not far from me. The guy in front stood tall in a sharp black outfit, his silver-gray short hair glinting cold in the moonlight. He was handsome—almost too much—but those deep forest-green eyes were locked on me, swirling with disbelief, joy at finding something lost, and… a respect that bordered on devotion.
Behind him, a few attendants with strict, disciplined auras dropped to one knee, heads bowed low in total submission.
The lead guy didn’t kneel. Instead, he walked toward me step by step, his stride faltering just a little. His eyes scanned my silver hair and eyes, then stopped on the healing wound around my neck. A flash of anger crossed his face—definitely not for me.
He stopped three steps away, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he spoke, voice hoarse with feeling.
"Your Highness..." he started, and that old title made my heart flutter for no reason I could name.
He studied my face carefully, like he was checking every little detail, his deep green eyes getting misty. "Ten years… I searched every corner of the continent, practically."
I watched him cautiously, not saying a word. He felt familiar, but after Marcus Bloodclaw’s betrayal, I wasn’t gonna trust anyone easy.
He saw my caution, and pain flashed across his face. Slowly, and dead serious, he dropped to one knee. His followers bowed their heads even lower.
"Caden Frost of the Northern Wolves—at Your Majesty’s service," he said, voice firm and sure. "I felt the Silver Moon Alpha Female’s power come back, so I ran here. Thank God… I finally found you."
Caden Frost? That name rang a bell—he’s the unofficial king of the harsh northern lands, known for being crazy strong and ruthless. And he’s… calling me "Your Majesty"?
"You know me?" I finally asked, my voice scratchy from screaming earlier and all the shock, but with a new authority I didn’t recognize.
Caden looked up, his eyes showing no doubt—just loyalty, and something deeper. "Yes. Since the day you were born, the Frost clan has been your most loyal guardians." His eyes got distant, pained. "That rebellion against the royal family ten years ago… we thought you were gone. To keep you safe, the last Alpha Female—your mother, Elara Thorne—sealed your bloodline power and sent you to hide with humans. That collar was part of the seal."
So that’s what happened… Marcus Bloodclaw tearing off the collar accidentally broke my seal. All those "lucky breaks" of his? Just bits of my power leaking out.
"I got here too late, let you go through so much pain," Caden said, his eyes going back to the wound on my neck—anger flaring again. "Marcus Bloodclaw… how dare he treat you like this!"
Still kneeling, he moved closer, looking up at me with intense, determined eyes. "Your Majesty, the Silver Moon Alpha Female is back—and the real leader of the wolf clans needs to be restored. I, Caden Frost, swear on my title as King of the Northern Territories in this life and the next, you’re my only ruler. My claws are yours to command, my lands are yours to rule, my life is yours to use however you want."
He paused, his voice low and strong—like he was making a promise that’d last forever "This time, I’ll always stand in front of you. Nobody’s gonna hurt you again."
Looking into his determined eyes, feeling the real sincerity in his words, and sensing how my inner power connected to his naturally—I felt a tiny crack in the frozen part of my heart.
Maybe I wasn’t totally alone after all.
