Chapter 22 Chapter 22
Unknown’s POV
I was already inside the territory when she said it.
"Someone’s here".
Her voice was carried across the clearing, soft but sharp with fear even though she was unconscious when we left her before. The wolves froze instantly as a result of how strong the voice was. Across the courtyard, Alpha Leonidas’ head snapped up, his golden eyes flashing toward the forest like a predator sensing movement in the dark.
His wolf surfaced immediately.
Territorial. Violent.
Ready to kill.
I leaned casually against the trunk of a tall oak tree at the edge of the clearing, watching the scene unfold with quiet interest.
The moonlight barely touched the place where I stood, shadows hiding most of my form. Not that the wolves could sense me properly anyway. That was the advantage of being a vampire.
Werewolves relied heavily on scent. And my kind....
We didn’t smell like prey.
Or predator.
To them, we smelled like nothing.
Leonidas stepped forward slowly, placing himself between the girl and the forest while also staying between her and me even though he was not aware.
He was protective, possessive and most of all it was also interesting.
"Sable". he said quietly without taking his eyes off the darkness, "stay behind me".
The Hidden Omega's name.
Sable.
I studied her carefully from the shadows. She stood a few feet behind him, her arms wrapped tightly around herself like she was trying to hold her body together. Her dark hair moved gently in the night wind, and her silver eyes scanned the trees nervously.
But it wasn’t fear that had alerted her. It was instinct.
The Omega Queen’s instinct.
The power humming faintly in the air around her made that very clear even if she hasn't learn to control her powers. Even now, for me it pulled at something deep inside me. Not like it did for the wolves.
For them, her presence was a command.
For my kind....
It felt like gravity trying to no vain. A quiet force pulling everything toward her.
My lips curved slightly.
So the legends were true after all. The wolves weren’t the only creatures who had been waiting for her to awaken. Across the courtyard, several wolves began shifting uneasily.
Their senses were struggling, trying to find the intruder. Trying to find me. But none of them could.
Not yet. Not if I don't want them to and that was one of the powers vampire as over TThe werewolves–masking our scents.
Leonidas’ voice cut through the silence.
"Whoever you are", he growled into the trees,
"step out".
His claws extended slowly.
Sharp. Deadly.
Behind him, half the pack had already shifted partially into wolf form waiting for the intruder they couldn't find to show himself. Their muscles tensed, teeth bared.
Which was somehow adorable.
I sighed softly.
"Well", I murmured to myself.
"This is getting dramatic".
Sable’s head snapped toward my direction instantly. Her silver eyes locked onto the exact tree I was leaning against. Like she heard my words.
Ah.
Interesting.
She couldn’t smell me like the wolves.
But somehow....
She could still feel me.
Her voice came out in a whisper.
"There".
Leonidas moved immediately.
His body shifted forward like a weapon released from a bow.
"Come out", he snarled.
I pushed away from the tree.
The moment I stepped into the moonlight–
The entire pack stiffened.
Because now they could see me and they immediately understood something was wrong. Very wrong.
The scent in the air wasn’t wolf.
It wasn’t human.
It was something colder.
Something ancient.
Something that didn’t belong in their territory.
One of the wolves growled.
"Alpha... that’s..."
Leonidas’ eyes narrowed dangerously.
"A vampire".
I gave a small, polite nod.
"Good evening".
Several wolves lunged forward instinctively.
Leonidas’ arm shot out, stopping them instantly.
His gaze never left mine.
"What are you doing in my territory?"
Straight to the point.
I respected that.
"I was passing through".
His expression darkened.
"You crossed three border patrols".
"Yes".
"And none of them noticed you".
"That tends to happen".
Because it was the truth, if I don't want to be find out nobody can do so–except the first time which was now by the lady.
The air around us grew heavier. Leonidas’ wolf was practically screaming beneath the surface of his skin now. Using every instinct he had to tell him that I was a threat.
In which he wasn’t wrong.
But I wasn’t here to fight him. Not tonight.
My gaze shifted past him to her.
Sable.
The moment our eyes met, recognition flickered across her face.
Her brow furrowed slightly.
Then her eyes widened.
"You...."
I smiled faintly.
"Hello again".
Leonidas glanced back at her briefly.
"You know him?"he asked.
Her voice was uncertain.
"He’s the guy who caught me when I tripped at school".
Several wolves exchanged confused looks.
Leonidas’ eyes darkened again.
"You were already near her before tonight".
"Yes".
"And you expect me to believe that’s a coincidence?"
"Not particularly".
His claws extended another inch.
"Then start explaining".
Before I could answer–
A distant howl echoed through the mountains.
Every wolf in the clearing froze. Even Leonidas turned his head toward the forest.
Another howl answered the first. Then another.
Different voices, different packs coming dangerously closer.
My smile faded slightly.
Ah.
So they had arrived faster than expected.
Leonidas’ eyes narrowed.
"What was that?"
"You already know".
His gaze snapped back to me.
"The Alphas".
"Yes".
Several wolves shifted nervously.
The tension in the clearing doubled instantly.
Leonidas’ voice dropped into a dangerous growl.
"You brought them here", he questioned.
I shook my head slowly.
"No".
My eyes flicked toward Sable again.
"She did".
Her expression tightened.
"I didn’t do anything".
"No", I said calmly.
"But the moment you awakened.....every Alpha within a hundred miles felt it".
Another howl echoed closer.
This one was stronger, more powerful. It sounded like a young ancient wolf
Leonidas’ wolf growled loudly.
"They’re coming here".
"Yes".
Sable’s voice came out softer now.
"How many?"
I considered the question.
Then shrugged slightly.
"Enough".
Leonidas stepped closer to me, his presence heavy with Alpha authority.
"If you’re lying–"
"I’m not".
Another sound suddenly reached my ears.
This time it was not a howl but footsteps and there were many of them moving fast through the forest.
My head turned toward the trees. The wind shifted slightly, carrying a very familiar scent.
That was cold. Sharp.
And very dangerous.
Well.
That was unfortunate.
Leonidas noticed my expression change.
"What?"
I didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, I looked toward the dark tree line where the forest seemed to breathe with movement.
Then I exhaled slowly.
"Looks like we’re out of time".
Leonidas’ voice hardened.
"For what?"
I met his gaze.
"For arguing".
Another figure stepped out of the forest shadows.
Then another and another like they were waiting for each other to move out first.
Wolves.
But these wolves were not from his pack and were not rogues either.
Alphas.
The hunt had begun.
Behind me, Sable’s voice trembled slightly.
"Who are they?", she asked.
But my eyes remained fixed on the largest wolf stepping into the moonlight.
Tall. Powerful.
Silver eyes burning like ice.
'So he had arrived already', I thought.
My voice dropped to a quiet whisper.
"Well..."
Leonidas followed my gaze toward the approaching Alpha.
His wolf stiffened instantly.
Because he recognized the scent too.
And when the Alpha finally stepped fully into the clearing—
I murmured the one name that would make this situation much worse.
"Kael".