<h4>Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Into the Alpha’s Den</h4>
Selene and Sara crouched low by the edge of the ridge, their appearances already altered.
The enchantment hadpletely changed their look, going as far as reshaping their faces, even the color of their eyes and hair. Now even they couldn’t recognize themselves.
The enchanted bracelets wrapped around their wrists masked every trace of their true scent. To anyone passing by, they were no more than two frightened human sisters, lost and desperate in the woods.
Selene inhaled deeply, steadying the rapid beat of her heart. She knew every detail mattered. If the disguise failed even for a minute, if one wolf caught the strangeness in their scent, they would truly be done for. Everything would unravel before it even began.
Sara adjusted the bracelet on her wrist with trembling fingers, her lips pressed in a thin line. "Are you sure about this?" she whispered.
Selene’s gaze remained fixed on the dark path below them. "It’s toote to turn back now. They’lle through here. We just have to y our part."
And as if the fates themselves were listening, the rustle of movement came. The faint thud of padded paws striking the forest floor in a steady and powerful rhythm sent their hearts racing.
The wolves wereing.
Sara’s hand clutched Selene’s arm, and the two exchanged a look—silent, breathless, determined.
Momentster, shadows emerged from the treeline: a patrol, their formation tight and practiced. Large wolves padded first, their fur gleaming under the moonlight, their presencemanding the night like predators who knew thend was theirs.
At the front stood a tall wolf with sharp eyes and controlled movements. He looked like an alpha, but they were not sure.
His build was notparable to alpha wolves, but he was leading the others. Maybe he had higher status.
Sara’s fingersced with Selene’s for courage, and then—on cue—they stumbled from the ridge into the wolves’ path.
Selene let her knees buckle first, forcing a desperate tremor into her voice. "Please—!" Her cry pierced the night. "Help us!"
Sara followed with broken sobs, clutching Selene’s arm. "We’re begging you! Please, don’t leave us here! We’ll do anything, just don’t let them take us back!"
The group halted immediately. Several wolves bristled, hackles raised, eyes narrowed at the sight of two strangers.
Ethan stepped forward, his head raised for silence. His eyes swept over the girls sharply, assessing, cautious. "Humans?" His voice was low, skeptical. Then he shifted in front of them and immediately pulled on his clothes, unbothered by his nakedness.
Selene forced herself to shrink beneath his gaze, trembling. "Our stepmother—she tried to sell us to traffickers. They were going to take us away..." Her voice cracked, breaking into raw sobs. "We ran, but... we can’t go back. Please, take us with you. We’ll serve your pack—we’ll do anything—just don’t let them find us."
Sara buried her face in her hands, her sobs echoing in the night. The performance was near wless; even Selene almost believed it herself.
Ethan’s expression darkened, his face conflicted. His men shifted uneasily, some muttering under their breath.
After a long pause, Ethan exhaled sharply and decided to mind-link Kael, who was at the very back. His voice reached out through the bond, a silent call only meant for the two of them. He calmly told him the situation about the two human girls. They im they’re being hunted. What do you want me to do with them?
The answer came swift, unshaken, edged with authority. Take them back. The pack isrge enough to shelter two more mouths. They can stay.
Ethan’s eyes softened, just slightly. He crouched a little, though his presence still radiated dominance. "You are not allowed to cause trouble," he said firmly. "You’lle with us. You’ll be safe in our pack."
Selene lowered her head, hiding the flicker of emotion in her eyes.
Ethan gestured to two wolves at the rear. "They’ll carry you. It’s faster this way."
Both women recoiled instantly, instinct guiding their reaction. Sara stepped back, her hand flying up. "No! Please—we can walk!"
<fn8398> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel</fn8398>
Ethan frowned at their panic. "No harm wille to you. If you ask us for help, then you must trust us."
Still, they hesitated. Their fear was actually very strange to him. Ethan’s brow furrowed. He opened his mouth to speak again when the ground itself seemed to shudder with a heavier set of paws.
From the shadows at the very back of the group, a massive wolf emerged. His fur was as dark as midnight, his form towering, each step radiating power and lethal grace. His golden eyes burned through the night like molten fire.
The moment Selene saw him, her body froze.
What is he doing here? Is it really him? Can her luck be this rotten?
Her breath caught in her throat, every muscle in her body locking. Her fingers mped around Sara’s hand so tightly it nearly hurt. The disguise, the lies, the n—they all felt paper-thin in the face of that one overwhelming presence.
Kael’s growl rumbled through the night, low andmanding. "We don’t have time for this."
Selene’s world tilted. She pinched herself so hard just to check her emotions, to keep them in control—and then she realized. If Kael was here, then... her eyes snapped back towards Ethan. Then he must also be from that pack.
Was she actually going back to the Silver Dawn pack? The same ce she had escaped with so much difficulty?
Her entire being was suddenly engulfed, as if someone had dumped ice-cold water over her head. Her breathing grew fast, and even Sara noticed it, her concerned eyes shing toward her.
But Selene’s gaze did not leave the big ck wolf. She felt that gripping pain again, like it was suffocating her.
Kael’s chilled eyesnded on her before moving instantly, and hemanded in a deep voice:
"If they want to go, they do as we say, or they are free to leave."
With that, he did not wait another second and dashed into the woods.
He didn’t want to waste another moment here, not when it kept him away from his mate.