The Masked Alpha: Unveiling the Truth | Read Free Preview
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Chapter 1 — Ambush And Stranger
Charlotte's POV:
I was leading a routine border patrol with my high-ranking Gamma warriors at the edge of Emberveil territory when one of my scouts rushed up, urgency in his voice.
"Alpha! Movement in the northeast sector—three columns, over a hundred Blackfang wolves, trying to slip past our lines."
A hot surge of anger shot through me, followed by that familiar, restless energy. My wolf, Kael, stirred eagerly beneath my skin. I hadn't gotten my own hands dirty in a while, and the itch for a real fight was suddenly overwhelming.
"Understood. Stand down and take five. I'll handle this myself," I said, a cool smile touching my lips.
A heartbeat later, I phased and reappeared at the northeast border.
The moment I materialized, the air erupted with snarls. Over a hundred dark-furred wolves swarmed from the trees, encircling me, teeth bared and eyes glowing with menace.
I stayed perfectly still. In my mind, I reached for Kael. Hey. Showtime.
Kael surged forward in a blur of power and fury. Within minutes, the forest floor was strewn with the remains of the Blackfang ambush.
Once I'd shifted back to human form, I ordered a team to clean up the scene and the rest to resume patrol. Needing to clear my head, I took off alone into the dense woods beyond the border, letting the cool air whip past me.
I was moving at an easy pace when a sudden rustling broke the silence behind me—something large, moving fast through the undergrowth, heading my way.
I caught the scent on the wind and instantly went still. Kael identified it immediately—a top-tier Alpha, same rank as me.
I turned cautiously, following the trail with silent steps.
A figure burst from the thicket ahead—tall, powerfully built, but moving with a heavy stagger. The smell of blood was strong on him.
His face was streaked with what looked like mud and ash, making his features hard to distinguish. On his right arm, a tattoo of a crimson wolf's head stood out starkly.
The rustling behind him grew louder.
"It's not safe here. Run," he growled at me, the words rough and strained.
That single command seemed to drain the last of his strength. Mid-stride, his legs gave out, and he crashed to the ground right at my feet, motionless. The crushed grass beneath him darkened with blood.
I frowned. The metallic scent was thick, and the faint, fading pulse of his wolf spirit told me everything—he was gravely wounded, his natural healing pushed beyond its limits. If he didn't get help soon, he wouldn't make it.
For an Alpha to be brought this low... whoever was after him was both powerful and likely not alone.
Kael tensed inside me, ready.
Just then, a sharp voice cut through the trees. "Hey—there's a girl!"
I looked up. A man with messy curly hair was pointing at me.
"Then bring her along," said another man behind him, sporting a severe crew cut. His gaze crawled over me, dirty and suggestive.
Kael was already roaring internally, hungry for another fight.
I suppressed my own aura, letting my shoulders slump. Playing meek, I whispered, "Please... don't hurt me. I'm just an Omega passing through."
The crew-cut guy swaggered forward. He used a claw-tipped finger to lift my chin, his eyes glinting. "Well, aren't you a pretty little thing? Just a low-rank Omega, sure, but you've got the looks... and the curves.
"Why don't you come with us?" he continued, his voice dropping to a sleazy pitch. "Be our pet back at the den. Bet you'd like that better than being some pack's doormat."
I glanced at his claws, still slick with gore, and forced a scared swallow. "O-okay. Just don't kill me. I'll do what you say. Let me just grab my stuff from my camp..."
My apparent submission made him grin. "Forget your stuff. If you're saying yes, we can start the fun right now."
The curly-haired one chuckled darkly.
Still grinning, the crew-cut man retracted his claws and grabbed my wrist, yanking me hard against his chest.
The second I collided with him, I struck.
My own fangs elongated in a flash, and I sank them deep into the side of his neck.
A choked, agonized scream ripped through the forest—then ended abruptly as his body went limp. I shoved him away in disgust, letting him drop to the dirt.
The curly-haired man stared, horrified, before snarling a curse. He shifted mid-leap, a dark wolf lunging for my throat.
I didn't bother with words. I gave Kael full control.
Less than a second later, it was over. Kael shook the wolf's lifeless form from her jaws and faded back, leaving me in charge.
I looked down at myself. My favorite jacket—the one my grandmother had sewn for me—was torn and smeared with dirt and blood. Great.
I kicked the two bodies lightly, frustration simmering. Once I'd cooled off, I hurried over to the injured Alpha still lying unconscious on the ground.
Kneeling, I reached inward and channeled a surge of healing energy into him, aiming to jump-start his own wolf spirit. For an Alpha of his caliber, that should be enough to kick his recovery into gear.
As I worked, I reluctantly tore a long strip from the hem of my already-ruined shirt to make a temporary bandage for the worst of his wounds.
Just as I was tying it off, his hand shot up and clamped around my wrist.
His eyes were open now—sharp, wary, and locked on me.
"Easy. I'm just patching you up," I said calmly, finally getting a clear look at his face. He was handsome, in a rough, weathered way.
He studied me intently, his gaze narrowing. Then, his voice hoarse but clear, he asked, "You're... Isabella?"
Hearing that name, I froze. My hands stilled completely.
Chapter 2 — A Name From The Past
Charlotte's POV:
I stared at him for a long moment before slowly getting to my feet and taking a deliberate step back.
That name... only someone connected to the Langston bloodline would know it.
Was this man from the Langston family of the Ironpine Pack?
While I was still reeling, the distinct "thwap-thwap-thwap" of rotor blades grew louder overhead. I glanced up to see a sleek, black helicopter circling low.
The side door slid open, and a rope ladder tumbled down. A man descended quickly—on his arm, I spotted the same crimson wolf's head tattoo.
His scent marked him as a high-ranking Beta.
I immediately melted back into the shadows of the trees, concealing myself.
From my hiding place, I watched as the new arrival approached the injured Alpha with a posture of deep respect. He carefully helped the man to his feet and supported him toward the waiting ladder.
Just before he was hauled up into the aircraft, the injured Alpha paused. His head turned slightly in the direction where I'd vanished. His voice, though low and meant for himself, carried clearly to my sharp hearing.
"So, this is where you've been hiding," he murmured, a note of grim certainty in his tone. "I'll be back for you."
My hands curled into tight fists for several seconds. I forced myself to take a long, slow breath, unclenching my fingers one by one. Shutting my eyes briefly, I pushed the encounter, the name, and the promise from my mind. Then, in one fluid motion, I turned and sprinted back toward where my patrol team was stationed.
The moment I returned, my Beta, Marcus, was waiting for me, his expression tense. "Alpha," he said urgently, keeping his voice down. "The Watsons are already at your grandmother's house."
Hearing "the Watsons", a wave of immediate distaste washed over me, and I frowned.
I was raised by the Langstons of the Ironpine Pack. After my adoptive parents died, I left Ironpine with my adoptive mother's mother, Ruth Lawson—the woman I simply called Grandma.
The Watsons were my biological parents' family, a Gamma line within the mighty Ironpine Pack. They'd lost me shortly after I was born.
Not long ago, while I was away on pack business, I'd carelessly left behind a trace of my DNA. They'd somehow found it, tested it, and now they were here to claim me, to drag me back into the Watson fold...
After a beat of heavy silence, I gave Marcus my orders. "I'm heading to Grandma's. You're in charge of Emberveil Pack until I return. I'll make it back as soon as I can."
"Understood, Alpha."
I felt no affection for the Watsons—a family I found pretentious and arrogant.
But to uncover the truth about that night, the one that haunted me, I had to go back. I needed to be inside the Watson family, and more importantly, inside the Ironpine Pack itself.
To make the Watsons lower their guard, I decided on a disguise before returning to Ruth's cottage. I carefully suppressed Kael's dominant Alpha aura, cloaking myself once more in the harmless scent of an Omega. I also took time with some cosmetics, subtly altering the shape of my brows, darkening under my eyes, anything to make my striking features seem plain and forgettable.
Just outside Ruth's front door, I caught the sound of a voice dripping with faux-sweetness.
"Daddy, I'm so bored... and it's so stuffy in here. Do you think... Do you think Charlotte doesn't want to meet me? Does she blame me for taking her place all these years?"
That was Juliana Watson—the girl who had been switched with me at birth and raised by the Watsons as their precious daughter.
The moment I learned the Watsons were my biological family, I'd had Marcus dig up everything on them. Everything.
Even now, Kael let out a low, internal growl of disgust at the girl's cloying, artificial scent.
A stern, male voice answered her. "Don't be ridiculous, Juliana. The switch was a tragic mistake, not your fault. Why would she blame you?"
That was Joshua Watson, Gamma of the Ironpine Pack. My biological father.
Juliana's voice took on an even more pathetic, wounded tone. "Then why is she making us all wait so long...?"
Her transparent attempt to make me look bad was almost laughable.
A cold sneer formed on my lips.
"Um, Ruth," Juliana's voice turned impatient and rude, "could you go find her? Tell her to hurry up?"
My frown deepened. I was about to push the door open and stride in when Joshua's voice, sharp with impatience, cut through the room.
"Forget it. If she's not here in the next five minutes, we leave without her. She can find her own way back to Watson Villa."
My fists tightened again. This time, I didn't hesitate. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Grandma, I'm back."
Ruth stared at me, her eyes scanning my altered face for a good few seconds before recognition dawned. Worry immediately flooded her features. "Charlotte, sweetheart, what happened? Your clothes are all torn up!"
I walked over and hugged her, feeling the familiar, comforting warmth. "I'm okay, Grandma. Really." Then, leaning close so only she could hear, I whispered, "Don't let them know I'm an Alpha. Or what I really look like."
Confusion flickered in her eyes, but she gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod.
I pulled back and offered a casual shrug to the room. "I tripped during some training drills. It tore my shirt."
"Torn is torn. Don't worry about it, I'll make you a new one," Ruth said, her voice firm with affection. She then turned, gesturing toward the others. "Come, meet your parents. This is Joshua and Elena Watson. And this is your sister, Juliana."
I let my gaze travel to Joshua first. He was dressed in an expensive-looking suit, his build solid, his hair barely touched by gray. He looked younger than his nearly fifty years. His scent confirmed his Gamma status.
Joshua stared back at me, his frown etching deeper lines into his forehead. "Are you certain you're my daughter?" he demanded, his nose wrinkling slightly. "You smell like nothing but an Omega." Before I could answer, he barreled on, irritation clear. "What took you so long?"
No Gamma had ever dared speak to me in that tone. The urge to let my claws extend and teach him a lesson in respect was a sharp itch in my veins. I forced my eyes down, masking the flare of anger behind a facade of cool detachment. "I told you. I fell. It delayed me."
"Clumsy and careless," he muttered, as if that settled it. "Let's go. We need to reach Ironpine territory before nightfall." With that, he turned on his heel and walked out the door, as if he couldn't bear to be in the same room with me a moment longer.
"Charlotte, I'm... I'm your mother." Elena stepped forward, her movements still graceful. She reached for my hands, her own trembling slightly as she looked me over. "Are you hurt? From the fall?"
Looking into this elegant woman's face, seeing the genuine concern in her eyes, I was suddenly reminded of my gentle adoptive mother. A sharp, unexpected pang of loss and longing hit me square in the chest. I shoved the feeling down, hard.
I shook my head, withdrawing my hands gently. "I'm fine. Thank you."
"Mom, come on," Juliana said, looping her arm through Elena's and pulling her away from me. Her smile was bright and brittle. "Let's not keep Dad waiting any longer."
"Alright, alright," Elena said, nodding quickly. She reached out again, this time to tug softly at my sleeve. Her eyes pleaded with me. "Charlotte, let's go home. Please, don't make your father wait any longer."
I gave a single, stiff nod and turned to say a proper goodbye to Ruth.
Ruth patted my shoulder, her eyes filled with a complex mix of love and worry. Then she looked past me, toward Juliana, her expression turning hopeful. "Juliana, are you sure you won't consider staying here for a little while? With me?"
"No." The refusal was instant and carried a hint of revulsion.
She looked around the humble cottage with undisguised scorn. "Do I look stupid to you? Give up my life, my everything, to stay in this... this backwater dump and suffer with you?"
Grandma's shoulders slumped slightly, and she let out a soft sigh. "Very well. Go on, then. But... will you visit your father sometime? When you have time?"
At the mention of her biological father, Juliana's face instantly darkened, twisting with something ugly. "Don't talk about that murderer!" she exclaimed, her voice rising sharply.
"I have only one father," she declared, lifting her chin. "And his name is Joshua Watson." With that final pronouncement, she forcefully pulled a reluctant Elena out the door.
Juliana only knew her biological father as a "murderer". She had no idea he was a Langston—a member of the Alpha bloodline that led the Ironpine Pack, the most powerful pack in the northern territories.
I watched her retreating back, the cold sneer returning to my lips. I couldn't help but wonder just how spectacularly she would regret those words when she finally learned the truth.
Grandma shook her head helplessly, watching Juliana go. Then she turned her warm, sad eyes back to me. "You should go too, sweetie."
"I know." I leaned down and wrapped her in one more fierce hug. My whisper in her ear was low, filled with ironclad resolve. "I will visit Dad. And I will clear his name. I swear it."
Chapter 3 — Unwelcome In Watson Villa
Charlotte's POV:
Once I finished speaking, I didn't give my grandmother a chance to argue. I grabbed my bag and walked out.
Only one car was left in the driveway, the driver waiting beside the open door. As I approached, he stepped aside. Inside, Joshua sat in the back seat, his expression stern and unyielding.
The moment he saw me, he spoke up, "There's something you need to know before we arrive. Once we're back in Ironpine Pack, we'll be publicly introducing you as the Watson family's adopted daughter."
He hadn't mentioned any of this during our phone call earlier.
I lifted my eyes, meeting his with a cool, steady gaze.
Joshua's frown deepened under my silent scrutiny. He explained, impatience edging his tone, "The Watson family's current standing owes a great deal to our alliance with the Garcias, the leading Beta family.
"Their eldest son has taken an interest in Juliana. The marriage arrangement has been in place for some time. To protect the interests of both families, we must make this... nominal adjustment regarding your status."
I almost laughed inwardly. So that was it. He was worried the Garcias would look down on his true-born daughter if they knew she was just a supposedly plain-looking Omega, jeopardizing the whole alliance.
"Fine by me," I replied, my voice flat.
That actually worked in my favor. I wasn't returning for their name or their status anyway.
Then I pulled my phone from my bag, tapped open a game, and let my focus shift to the screen.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Joshua glance over. His brows drew together, his face a mask of disdain and contempt. I didn't need to ask what he was thinking—probably just another useless Omega, wasting her time on mindless games.
Good. If the Watsons completely underestimated me, it would make everything I had planned much easier.
Pushing the thought aside, I looked down at the "game" in my hands. If he had looked closer, he'd have realized it wasn't some casual puzzle. It was a high-stakes memory simulator designed to push top-tier Alphas to their limits.
The level displayed ninety-nine pairs of identical symbols, scrambled across the screen. They were shown for one minute, then flipped over. The goal was to remember every position and match the pairs, clearing the board through memory alone.
For this round, I'd only glanced at the layout for a second before hitting start. It took me four seconds to clear it, with a 1% margin of error.
But I wasn't satisfied. I hadn't beaten the record set by the highest-ranked Alpha werewolves yet.
I refreshed the level, ready to try again.
Just then, my phone buzzed with a series of texts.
LittlePiggy sent, "Lynx, are you really done taking jobs? Seriously?
"Someone's offering triple your usual rate for a contract. You're really not interested?
"Triple the pay. Triple!!"
I let out a soft, impatient tch and typed back two words, "Not interested."
LittlePiggy said, "You're turning down an eight-figure job? What are you going to do instead?"
I replied, "Taking some time off."
LittlePiggy asked, "How long is this break going to last? I need to give them an answer."
I said, "Depends on my mood."
LittlePiggy was speechless. "Unbelievable."
The identity of "Lynx"... I hadn't used it in a long time. I lowered my head, lost in thought for a moment. Maybe once I settled into Ironpine Pack, there would be uses for that persona again...
Before long, the car pulled up to Watson Villa in Ironpine Pack. I looked up. It was noticeably smaller than my estate back in Emberveil Pack.
I frowned slightly but said nothing.
Joshua wore a proud, almost smug expression. "Ironpine Pack is the strongest Pack in the northern territory. As the Lead Gamma, our home reflects that status. Even the estates of high-ranking Beta families are on this level.
"You'll need to drop that... provincial demeanor around others from now on. It looks unsophisticated and reflects poorly on the Watson name.
"Now, go on inside yourself. I have urgent business at the military camp." With that, the car drove off, leaving me standing alone.
No one came to greet me. I walked toward the entrance alone.
A couple of wolf guards stationed at the door gave me a cold, assessing look—the kind reserved for just another unimportant Omega.
After I knocked, Elena welcomed me in with practiced warmth. "Your father's car certainly is faster. Juliana and I just got in ourselves.
"Your grandmother, your eldest brother, and your younger brother are all home as well."
I nodded in acknowledgment.
"Come, Juliana and I will take you to greet your grandmother first."
Juliana walked ahead of us and called out sweetly from down the hall toward the dignified-looking elderly woman seated farther inside. "Grandmother, we're back."
She handed her bag to a waiting servant and strode into the living room with the easy familiarity of someone who owned the place.
"Juliana, you're back! Did you bring me anything?"
A little boy, around six or seven, came running out from the living room. According to the dossier my people had prepared—his name was Hugh, the Watson family's third son.
"What could you possibly bring back from a place like that?" A raspy voice remarked from within the living room.
"Yeah, and the girl you brought back smells like she came from the middle of nowhere," Hugh added, shooting a dismissive glance my way before turning back to the couch and picking up his gaming console again.
I followed Elena into the living room. It was decorated in an opulent, old-world style—all ornate gold trim, rich fabrics, and crystal.
An elderly woman with silver hair sat elegantly on a plush sofa, sipping from a delicate coffee cup. She was dressed impeccably, jewels glinting at her ears and throat.
Juliana quickly moved to her side, embracing her with a fawning smile. "Grandmother, where's Reid?"
"He flew to Vaelthyr Pack at noon," Barbara replied, her gaze affectionate as she looked at Juliana. "Said something about visiting a new medical research institute over there."
Hearing this, Elena frowned, her tone mixing reproach and confusion. "But I told him we were having a welcome dinner for Charlotte tonight, that the whole family would be together. How could he miss something so important?"
Barbara's voice sharpened, thick with displeasure. "What's so important about bringing home some plain-faced Omega?"
Elena fell silent, sighed softly, and gave me a look that might have been meant as an apology.
Then, turning back to me, she gestured toward the elderly woman. "Charlotte, this is your grandmother."
"Grandmother," I said, my voice quiet.
Barbara didn't even look my way. She set her coffee cup down on its saucer and called to a servant. "Mia, bring the latest vitality supplement from the Elder Council for Juliana. She should have it now."
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