The Alpha kings Secret Mate

Chapter 2: The Stranger's Offer

The rogue Alpha led me deeper into the forest, his grip firm but not painful. My heart pounded as I stumbled after him, my body weak from the rejection. The cold night air stung my skin, but I forced myself to keep moving.

Was this a mistake?

I had no idea who he was. I didn't even know his name. All I knew was that his presence was overwhelming, and his red eyes seemed to see right through me.

I should have been afraid. And yet, something inside me whispered that this man—this dangerous stranger—was my only chance at survival.

Finally, after what felt like forever, he stopped. We stood in a small clearing, surrounded by tall trees and thick fog. The moonlight barely reached us here, making everything look dark and eerie.

He turned to face me, crossing his arms over his chest. "You made a bold choice, little wolf."

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. "Who are you?"

His lips curled into a smirk. "You can call me Kade."

Kade.

The name sent a strange shiver down my spine. It sounded powerful. Dangerous.

"And you are?" he asked, tilting his head.

"…Aria," I muttered.

His red eyes darkened slightly, as if the name meant something to him. But the moment passed quickly, and he leaned against a tree, studying me.

"You're weak."

The blunt words hit me like a slap.

I stiffened, my fingers curling into fists. "I know."

I had been reminded of that fact my whole life.

Kade let out a low chuckle. "At least you're honest."

I looked down at the ground, biting my lip. "Why did you bring me here?"

His smirk faded, and his gaze turned serious. "Because I see potential in you."

I blinked in surprise. "Potential?"

Kade nodded. "I can sense power inside you. It's buried deep, but it's there. Right now, you're nothing but a broken omega." His eyes gleamed as he leaned closer. "But I can make you stronger."

Stronger.

The word sent a spark of hope through me.

I had always been weak, always been looked down on. I had never been given the chance to be anything more.

But now, this man—this rogue Alpha—was offering me something I had never had before.

A choice.

A chance.

I swallowed hard. "What do you want in return?"

Kade smirked. "Smart girl."

He stepped closer, his voice dropping lower. "If you come with me, you'll train under me. You'll learn to fight, to survive. But it won't be easy. You'll have to forget the weak omega you were before."

Forget the omega I was before…

I thought of Damon's cold eyes. Of Celeste's cruel smirk. Of the laughter and whispers that had followed me as I ran from the hall.

I never wanted to feel that weak again.

I lifted my chin, meeting Kade's gaze. "I'll do it."

His eyes flickered with approval. "Good."

Without warning, he lunged at me.

I gasped, stumbling backward, but he was faster. His hand wrapped around my throat—not tight enough to choke me, but firm enough to hold me in place.

My heart raced.

"You need to learn something right now, Aria," he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. "The world isn't kind to the weak. If you want to survive, you'll have to fight for it."

His grip loosened, and he stepped back, watching me with sharp eyes.

I gasped for air, my pulse pounding. "What was that for?"

"To see how you react under pressure." He smirked. "You failed."

Heat rose to my cheeks, but I didn't argue. He was right. I had frozen. If he had been an enemy, I would be dead right now.

Kade sighed, running a hand through his silver hair. "You have a long way to go, little wolf."

I clenched my fists. "Then teach me."

A slow grin spread across his face. "Oh, I will. But first…" He turned away. "We need to get out of here before your former pack realizes you're gone."

The reminder sent a chill down my spine.

The pack.

Damon.

Would he even care that I was gone?

Probably not.

I took a deep breath, pushing the thought away. I didn't belong there anymore.

I belonged to my future.

And for the first time in my life, I was ready to fight for it

I followed Kade deeper into the forest, my legs aching from exhaustion. Every step felt heavy, my body still weak from the rejection. But I refused to stop. I refused to be weak anymore.

The night was silent, except for the crunch of leaves beneath our feet. A cold wind howled through the trees, sending shivers down my spine.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked, my voice hoarse.

Kade didn't turn around. "Somewhere safe."

Safe.

Did such a place even exist for someone like me?

I had spent my whole life in the pack, surrounded by people who despised me. Even when I tried to stay invisible, I was always the target of cruel words, cold stares, and punishments for things I didn't do.

And now, I wasn't just an unwanted omega.

I was a rejected mate.

Would they come after me?

Would Damon?

My chest tightened at the thought. I forced myself to push it away. It didn't matter anymore.

I had made my choice.

I would never go back.

---

After what felt like an hour of walking, the trees began to thin. I could make out the outline of old, broken-down buildings in the distance. My heart pounded as I stepped into what looked like an abandoned village. The houses were crumbling, vines creeping over the walls, shattered windows covered in dust.

Kade finally stopped, turning to me.

"Welcome to my home."

I stared at him, my mouth slightly open. This was his home? A ruined village in the middle of nowhere?

"You live here?" I asked, unable to hide the disbelief in my voice.

He smirked. "I don't need luxury. I need a place where no one will find me."

I frowned. "Why are you hiding?"

His red eyes flashed, but the smirk never left his lips. "That's a story for another day, little wolf."

Something about the way he said it sent a shiver down my spine.

Kade turned and started walking again, leading me toward one of the bigger buildings—a stone house, still mostly intact. He pushed open the wooden door, and I followed him inside.

The air was thick with dust, but the inside was surprisingly clean. There was a fireplace in the corner, a few chairs, a table, and a staircase leading to what I assumed was the second floor. It wasn't much, but it was better than I expected.

Kade walked over to a shelf, grabbed a cloth, and tossed it at me.

"Clean yourself up," he said. "You look like you've been dragged through hell."

I caught the cloth, my fingers tightening around it.

He wasn't wrong.

My dress was torn and covered in dirt. My feet were scratched and bruised from running barefoot through the forest. My long brown hair was a tangled mess, and my face was probably streaked with dried tears.

But more than that… I felt like I had been dragged through hell.

I made my way to a small water basin in the corner and splashed some cool water onto my face. It helped, but it didn't wash away the deep ache inside me.

When I turned back around, Kade was watching me, his red eyes unreadable.

"What?" I asked, my voice softer than before.

He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "You said you wanted to be stronger."

I nodded. "I do."

"Then you need to understand something first," he said, his voice turning serious. "Strength doesn't come from wanting it. It comes from suffering. From pain. From survival."

I swallowed hard.

"Are you ready for that?" he asked. "Are you ready to endure whatever it takes?"

The answer came without hesitation.

"Yes."

For the first time in my life, I meant it.

I didn't want to be the weak, unwanted omega anymore.

I didn't want to be the girl who was rejected and thrown aside.

I wanted to be more.

Something flickered in Kade's eyes—approval, maybe. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"Good," he said. "Then we start tomorrow."

A lump formed in my throat, but I nodded.

Tomorrow.

The first day of my new life.

And I had no idea what awaited me.

Silence stretched between us after Kade's words. My body was screaming for rest, but my mind was still racing. I had just lost everything—my pack, my mate, my home. And now, I was standing in a ruined village, agreeing to train under a rogue Alpha I knew nothing about.

It was reckless. Dangerous.

And yet, something inside me told me I had made the right choice.

I pulled the cloth tighter around my shoulders and looked around the old house. There wasn't much—just the cracked wooden furniture, the flickering light of the fireplace, and the quiet hum of the wind outside.

I glanced at Kade. "You said we start tomorrow. What exactly are you going to teach me?"

Kade smirked. "How to survive."

That was not the answer I expected.

He pushed away from the wall and walked toward a large wooden chest in the corner. I watched as he flipped it open and pulled out something long and heavy. When he turned back to me, my breath caught.

A sword.

The blade glinted under the dim light, sharp and deadly.

My eyes widened. "Wait—you expect me to use that?"

Kade chuckled, tossing the sword to the ground between us. The metal clanged against the floor, making me jump.

"You think wolves only fight with their claws?" he asked, his red eyes gleaming. "You've been living in a pack too long, little wolf. Out here, it's different."

I swallowed hard. I had never used a weapon before. Pack wolves relied on their speed and their wolves in battle. But I had always been the weak one, the omega, the outcast. I had never even been allowed to train properly.

And Kade could see it.

He crouched down beside the sword and ran a finger along the blade. "Tell me, Aria. Do you think you could kill someone?"

The question sent a chill down my spine. I clenched my fists.

"I—I don't know."

Kade studied me for a moment before sighing. "Figures." He picked up the sword effortlessly and stood. "You were raised to be weak. To obey. To accept your place as an omega."

His words stung, but I didn't deny them. It was the truth.

"But if you want to change that, you need to stop thinking like a pack wolf," he continued. He took a step closer, his red eyes locking onto mine. "No one is coming to save you. No one is going to hand you power. You have to take it."

His words sent a strange, burning sensation through me. Take it.

I had spent my whole life waiting—waiting for kindness, for love, for acceptance. But all I had received was pain.

No more.

I straightened my shoulders and met Kade's gaze. "Then teach me."

A slow grin spread across his lips.

"Oh, I will," he said. "But first—you need rest."

I frowned. "Rest?"

Kade nodded toward the stairs. "There's a room upstairs. You can sleep there."

I hesitated. "Aren't you afraid I'll run?"

Kade's smirk deepened. "Where would you go, little wolf?"

I had no answer.

I glanced at the sword in his hand one last time before turning toward the stairs. My legs were shaking as I climbed up. My body was exhausted, but my mind was spinning.

When I reached the small bedroom, I collapsed onto the old mattress. It smelled like dust and wood, but I didn't care. For the first time in what felt like forever, I let my eyes close.

Tomorrow.

Everything would change tomorrow.

---

I didn't know how long I had been asleep when I woke up to a sound.

A howl.

My body tensed. My heart pounded as I sat up, straining to listen.

Another howl. Closer this time.

And then—footsteps.

Heavy, deliberate footsteps outside the house.

Someone was coming.