Moonbound: The Alpha's Chosen

Alexander's estate sat nestled in the foothills outside the city, a sprawling stone mansion surrounded by acres of private forest. As his Bentley wound up the long driveway, Emily watched the city lights recede behind them, feeling as though she were leaving one world for another.

"You'll be safe here," Alexander said, misinterpreting her silence for concern. "No reporters, no A Group lawyers, no Lucas."

Emily nodded absently, her mind still replaying the confrontation at the Strathmore. Lucas's anger had been expected, but the flash of hurt in his eyes when she'd mentioned their night together had caught her off guard. That, and the possessive intensity of his final gaze, had left her more confused than ever.

"I shouldn't have gone," she murmured.

Alexander's hand covered hers briefly. "On the contrary. Now you understand what you're dealing with. Lucas Stone doesn't take defeat gracefully."

The car stopped before massive oak doors that opened as if by magic, revealing a livered butler who greeted Alexander with practiced deference.

"Welcome home, sir. The east wing guest suite has been prepared, as requested."

Alexander guided Emily through a soaring entryway adorned with antiques that belonged in a museum. Despite her exhaustion, she couldn't help but marvel at the blend of ancient artifacts and modern luxury. The place exuded old money and power in a way that made A Group's corporate headquarters seem nouveau riche by comparison.

"You should rest," Alexander said, directing her toward a sweeping staircase. "You're still recovering."

"From what, exactly?" Emily asked. "These symptoms, the fever, the pain—what's happening to me, Alexander?"

He studied her face for a moment. "Let's discuss it after you've rested. My housekeeper has left fresh clothes and necessities in your suite." With a gentle squeeze of her shoulder, he added, "You're safe here, Emily. Whatever comes next, I'll help you through it."

The guest suite was larger than Emily's entire apartment, decorated in soothing blues and silvers with a private balcony overlooking the forest. The enormous bathroom featured a sunken marble tub that beckoned to her aching muscles. After a long soak that eased some of her physical discomfort, Emily wrapped herself in the plush robe provided and explored the suite.

On the dresser sat neatly folded clothes—silk pajamas, casual wear, even undergarments in her exact size, a detail both considerate and slightly unnerving. As she moved a folded sweater, something metallic caught her eye. Partially hidden beneath the clothing was a silver wolf-head pendant, identical to the one she'd left behind in her apartment.

"My necklace?" Emily whispered, lifting it by the chain. The familiar weight settled in her palm, the wolf's detailed features catching the lamplight. "How did he...?"

She hadn't mentioned leaving her pendant behind, yet here it was—or one exactly like it. A chill ran down her spine as she considered the implications. Had Alexander been to her apartment? Had he somehow known about the pendant before she'd even met him?

Yet as she held it, a wave of comfort washed over her, easing the constant ache that had plagued her since removing the original. Without consciously deciding to, Emily slipped the chain around her neck, the pendant settling against her skin with familiar warmth.

The effect was immediate and profound. The fever that had burned through her for days subsided, her muscles relaxed, and the strange pressure building within her gently receded. Emily sank onto the edge of the bed in relief, fingers curled around the wolf head.

A soft knock at the door roused her from her reverie. "Emily? May I come in?" Alexander called.

"Yes," she answered, quickly donning the silk pajamas laid out for her.

Alexander entered carrying a silver tray with tea and what appeared to be leather-bound books. He smiled when he saw the pendant around her neck.

"You found it. Good. I was hoping you would."

"How did you know I had one? Or that I'd left it behind?" Emily asked, wariness battling with gratitude for the relief the pendant had brought.

Alexander set the tray down and took a seat in a nearby armchair. "I recognized the design when we first met. It's a rather distinctive piece. When I noticed you weren't wearing it recently, I thought you might appreciate having a similar one." He gestured toward the books he'd brought. "I have quite a collection of folklore about such symbols."

Emily approached, curious despite her lingering suspicion. The books appeared genuinely ancient, their leather bindings cracked with age, pages yellowed and fragile.

"These are incredible," she murmured, carefully opening the top volume. Inside were handwritten notes and detailed illustrations of various mythological creatures, including numerous depictions of wolves and wolf-human hybrids. "Are these about the legends mentioned in my article?"

"Among other folklore," Alexander replied. "I've been a collector of mythology and ancient cultures for decades. Your article caught my attention because it aligned with some of the more obscure texts in my library."

As Emily leafed through the book, a photograph slipped from between the pages. She picked it up, startled by the familiar features staring back at her. The young man in the sepia-toned image could have been Lucas's twin—the same strong jawline, the same intensity in his eyes, even a similar posture of confident authority.

"This is Lucas?" she asked, confused by finding his photo among Alexander's possessions.

Alexander took the photograph, a wistful expression crossing his face. "No. That's me, actually. Taken about thirty years ago."

Emily looked from the photo to Alexander in disbelief. The man in the picture appeared no more than twenty-five, and while Alexander was undeniably handsome for his age, he had to be at least in his fifties now.

"The resemblance between you and Lucas is remarkable," she said.

"Family genetics," Alexander replied with a slight shrug. "The Stone men have always shared certain traits across generations. Lucas resembles his father, who resembled his father before him... and yes, who resembled me. Though I prefer to think I've worn the years with more dignity than my relatives."

There was something in his tone when he mentioned Lucas's family—a bitterness that suggested old wounds. Emily recalled the tension between the two men at the Strathmore Club.

"You and Lucas have history beyond just being relatives, don't you?" she asked.

Alexander's expression darkened momentarily. "The Stone family has its... complications. Internal rivalries, competing visions for the future. Lucas and I have found ourselves on opposite sides of many such disagreements."

"And my mother? How does she fit into all this?" Emily pressed, sensing an opportunity for answers.

"Helena was... connected to our family circle, though not directly." Alexander's careful phrasing suggested he was selecting his words with precision. "She left that world behind when she married your father."

"But why? What was she leaving behind?"

Alexander closed the book, his movement deliberate. "That's a longer conversation, Emily. One we should have when you're fully recovered." He gestured to the pendant around her neck. "That symbol has significance in the old stories. It's said to provide protection to the wearer."

Emily's hand rose to touch the wolf head. "Protection from what?"

"From forces beyond our understanding," Alexander replied enigmatically. "Your mother believed in its power, it seems. And given how it appears to have eased your symptoms, perhaps there's some truth to the legends after all."

He stood, gathering the books. "Rest now. Tomorrow, if you're feeling stronger, we can explore my library. There's much more that might interest you—perhaps even answers about your mother and her connection to these mysteries."

As he moved to leave, Emily called after him, "Alexander? Thank you. For the pendant, for sharing your knowledge... for everything."

He smiled, the expression warming his usually reserved features. "You're welcome, Emily. Sleep well."

Alone again, Emily curled beneath luxurious sheets, her hand closed around the wolf-head pendant. For the first time in days, her body felt like her own again, the pain and fever replaced by a comforting warmth that radiated from the silver against her skin.

As she drifted toward sleep, her thoughts turned fleetingly to Lucas and the anger in his eyes when he'd seen her with Alexander. The photograph troubled her—the uncanny resemblance between a young Alexander and present-day Lucas, the implications of family connections she didn't understand. Whatever relationship existed between the two men, she was somehow caught in its gravity, pulled between opposing forces in a conflict whose dimensions she was only beginning to glimpse.