The wild alpha forced Luna

"Nielle," A commanding voice interrupted her moment with Kieran, jolting her back to reality from the conversation she was having with him. "You are needed in the assembly room." Her heart raced at the unexpected summons, and she exchanged a quick glance with Kieran, her best friend, with whom she'd developed a deep bond. Kieran had hinted at seeking her father's approval to become her mate, a thought that thrilled her as her eighteenth birthday approached.

Upon her return to the cabin, Damian, her father's trusted Beta, stood at the doorstep with a grave expression, forewarning that something was amiss. She waved briefly to Kieran and followed Damian, her curiosity now fully piqued. The assembly room, typically reserved for important pack meetings, was an unfamiliar setting for her.

As she entered, a whirlwind of emotions assailed her senses—excitement, concern, and curiosity. She had a keen sense of mood, and the mixture of emotions left her bewildered. Her eyes darted around, taking in the Elders deeply engrossed in conversations with unfamiliar, older individuals. Her father, with a furrowed brow, was in conversation with a man she didn't recognize.

The stranger was a commanding presence, towering over her father at six-foot-four, radiating strength. Broad shoulders and a well-defined, muscular physique hinted at his physical prowess. Dark, slightly disheveled hair framed a striking face with chiseled features and full lips. Sensing her scrutiny, he turned, his amber eyes locking onto hers. He had an aura of steel but briefly softened as he met her gaze, his eyes skimming her figure before returning to her face. Nielle blushed under the intensity of his stare.

He offered a curt smile before resuming his discussion with her father, seemingly dismissing her presence. Her father, noticing her, approached her with a scowl marring his face. "Nielle, you've been running again, I see."

Nielle glimpsed at her reflection in a nearby mirror, her tousled long brown hair and a faint sheen of sweat giving her sun-kissed skin a dewy glow. Wiping a smudge of dirt from her nose, she turned her attention back to her father, grinning sheepishly in an attempt to defuse his annoyance. "It was too nice a day to stay indoors."

"But what did I tell you? It isn't safe to be out alone in wolf form, especially during hunting season, and even though our property is posted, humans don't always heed—"

"I was with Kieran, and we stayed away from the property's edge. We're not foolish, you know."

Her father sighed once more. "Ah, Kieran..." He paused, his expression growing serious. "Nielle, I have something to tell you. As you may know, the pack to the east has a new Alpha. His name is Zephyr." He gestured towards the imposing man standing across the room, and Nielle gave a polite and interested smile in response to her father's announcement.

"Meet me?" She couldn't help but wonder why her presence was required for this political gathering. The intricacies of pack politics had never concerned her, and her father had always shielded her from council meetings. Nonetheless, it was evident that the men in the corner, engaged in conversations with her pack's Elders, must be representatives from the eastern group.

"Yes, Zephyr is here to meet me... and you."

"Me?" Nielle was taken aback, and an inexplicable quiver of unease began to creep within her.

"Yes, you. The Elders have decided that with a new Alpha in charge, a fresh alliance should be formed. Zephyr is willing to be mated to you, and our packs will continue to coexist in peace."