A fierce ALPHA before a loving Mother

Chapter 3

Lila waited outside the pack house, the cool night air brushing against her skin as she watched Alec approach. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over the clearing. The silence between them was thick with unspoken words, heavy with years of unresolved tension. As Alec closed the distance between them, she braced herself for whatever he was about to say. But deep down, she knew this conversation was one she had been avoiding for far too long.

Alec stopped a few feet away, his expression guarded, his eyes searching hers for something—answers, perhaps, or maybe just a hint of the girl he used to know. But Lila had no intention of giving him what he wanted. She had spent years burying the pain he caused her, and she wasn’t about to let him dig it all up again.

“We need to talk,” Alec said, his voice low and controlled. But there was an edge to it, a hint of frustration that told her he was struggling to keep his emotions in check.

Lila crossed her arms over her chest, raising an eyebrow. “I thought that’s what we were doing.”

Alec’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Don’t play games with me, Lila. Not now.”

“Games?” she echoed, her voice tinged with bitterness. “I’m not the one who played games, Alec. Remember?”

He flinched, the reminder of his past actions cutting deep. But he recovered quickly, his expression hardening. “I’m not here to rehash the past,” he said, his voice cold. “I’m here because I need to know the truth. About why you’re really back.”

Lila’s heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm. She couldn’t let him see her falter, couldn’t let him know how much his words affected her. “I’ve already told you why I’m here,” she replied evenly. “The pack is in danger. I’m here to protect it.”

Alec shook his head, frustration flashing in his eyes. “Don’t give me that. There’s more to it than that, and you know it. You didn’t just come back out of the goodness of your heart. You have an agenda.”

“Of course, I have an agenda,” Lila shot back, her temper flaring. “I’m not going to sit back and watch this pack be torn apart by rogues. Whether you like it or not, I’m here to help.”

Alec took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. Lila’s pulse quickened, but she refused to back down. “And why should I believe you?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous. “You left without a word. You walked away from your pack, from me. Why should I trust anything you say now?”

Lila swallowed hard, the pain of his words slicing through her. She had left for a reason—a reason he would never understand. But how could she explain that to him? How could she make him see that she had no choice?

“You don’t have to trust me,” she said, her voice quieter now, tinged with the sadness she had tried so hard to bury. “But I’m not asking for your trust. I’m asking for a chance to prove myself.”

Alec’s gaze softened for a moment, the anger in his eyes fading. But just as quickly, the wall came back up, and he shook his head. “I can’t just take your word for it, Lila. Too much is at stake.”

Lila’s heart ached at his words, but she knew he was right. Trust was something that had to be earned, and she had lost his a long time ago. But she couldn’t let that stop her. Not now, when everything she cared about was on the line.

“Then let me prove it,” she said, her voice firm. “Give me a chance to show you that I’m not the same person who left. I’m stronger now. I can help you.”

Alec studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Lila could see the conflict in his eyes, the war between his instincts and his emotions. He wanted to believe her—she could sense that much. But the wounds she had left behind still ran deep, and she knew it would take more than words to heal them.

Finally, Alec nodded, though his posture remained tense. “All right,” he said, his voice cautious. “I’ll give you a chance. But I’ll be watching you, Lila. One wrong move, and I’ll stop you myself.”

Lila nodded, understanding the weight of his words. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

They stood in silence for a moment, the air between them charged with tension. Lila could feel the questions burning in Alec’s mind, the things he wanted to ask but couldn’t bring himself to say. But she wasn’t ready to face those questions—not yet.

“I should go,” Lila said, breaking the silence. “I need to prepare for what’s coming.”

Alec didn’t respond, but his gaze followed her as she turned to leave. Lila could feel his eyes on her back as she walked away, and it took every ounce of willpower not to look back. She needed to stay focused, needed to keep her emotions in check. But as she moved deeper into the forest, her heart heavy with the weight of their conversation, she knew that facing Alec had awakened something inside her—something she wasn’t sure she was ready to confront.

The forest was quiet, the only sounds the rustling of leaves in the breeze and the distant calls of nocturnal animals. Lila’s mind raced as she navigated the familiar paths, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions and unanswered questions. She had known returning to the pack would be difficult, but she hadn’t anticipated how much Alec’s presence would affect her.

She couldn’t afford to be distracted by old feelings, couldn’t let her past with Alec cloud her judgment. But as she reached the small, secluded clearing where she had once sought solace as a child, she realized that burying those emotions wasn’t going to be as easy as she had hoped.

Lila sank to the ground, her back against the trunk of a towering oak tree. The cool earth beneath her hands grounded her, giving her a moment of peace amidst the chaos in her mind. She closed her eyes, letting the sounds of the forest wash over her, trying to find some semblance of calm.

But the memories came rushing back, unbidden.

She saw herself as she had been five years ago—a scared, fragile girl, trembling in the shadow of the powerful wolves around her. She had wanted so desperately to belong, to be accepted by her pack, by Alec. But they had seen her as nothing more than an Omega, weak and unworthy of their respect. Even Alec, her destined mate, had looked at her with disdain.

And then there was that night—the night that had changed everything.

Lila squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the memory, but it was too strong. She could still feel the cold sting of Alec’s rejection, the way he had turned his back on her when she needed him most. The pain had been unbearable, driving her to flee into the wilderness, to escape the life she had known. She had left everything behind—her pack, her home, her heart.

But the wilderness had changed her. It had broken her down, forced her to confront her fears, her weaknesses. And in the process, it had forged her into something new, something stronger. She had embraced the power within her, learned to control it, to wield it. The girl who had left this place was gone, replaced by the Alpha who had returned.

But even as an Alpha, Lila couldn’t escape the pull of her past, the bond that still tied her to Alec. It was a bond she had tried to sever, but it refused to be broken. And now, standing on the precipice of a new battle, she had to confront the truth she had been avoiding for so long.

She still loved him.

Lila opened her eyes, the realization hitting her like a punch to the gut. Despite everything, despite the years and the pain, her feelings for Alec hadn’t faded. They had only grown stronger, buried deep beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to resurface.

But love was a weakness she couldn’t afford. Not now, when the pack needed her to be strong. She had to put her feelings aside, had to focus on the mission ahead. The rogues were coming, and she couldn’t let her emotions cloud her judgment.

Lila rose to her feet, her resolve hardening. She couldn’t change the past, couldn’t undo the mistakes that had led her here. But she could fight for the future, for the safety of her pack. And she would fight with everything she had, even if it meant facing Alec and the feelings she had tried so hard to forget.

As she made her way back to the pack house, Lila’s mind was clear, her purpose set. The battle was coming, and she would be ready. But as she walked, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the true battle wouldn’t be fought against the rogues.

It would be fought within her own heart.