Taken by the Outcast Alpha (Whispers of Fate)

1. Finn

Chapter one

Finn

I sling my leg over the bike, feeling the familiar weight settle beneath me. The invitation crinkles as I slide it into the saddlebag, tucking it carefully next to the Fate Weaver. My hand lingers on the ancient hammer, its power thrumming against my fingertips.

Should I have taken it? The thought nags at me, not for the first time. Exiled or not, I'm still bound to protect it. It's more than duty—it's in my blood.

I zip the bag closed, my jaw clenching. Years of safeguarding my pack, my family, the very artifact that now rides beside me... and for what? To be cast out on false pretenses?

No. Something's not right. The pieces don't fit, and until I solve this puzzle, the Fate Weaver stays with me. It's too valuable, too dangerous to leave behind.

I rev the engine, feeling the bike rumble to life beneath me. The vibrations travel up my spine, a familiar comfort. As I pull out onto the open road, the wind whips through my hair, carrying the scent of pine and distant mountains.

Laconia looms ahead, both refuge and potential trap.

I'd planned to go to the rally the instant my friend, Derek, invited me, but on the heels of Victor's challenge that left me without a pack, it seemed… convenient. Too convenient. But it's my best shot at lying low while I figure out my next move.

The Fate Weaver's weight on one side of the bike is a constant presence, a reminder of everything I've lost and everything that's at stake. Maybe taking it will ultimately be the thing the Silverclaw Pack cannot forgive me for, since the misuse of its power had been the major charge against me. But leaving it with those who so easily turned on me and lied felt like the ultimate betrayal of the oath I took when I stepped into the Alpha role.

I'll find answers, I vow silently, leaning into a curve, following the bend in the road smoothly. And when I do, those responsible will learn why you don't cross an Alpha—even an exiled one.