The Lost Alpha’s Daughter’s Return

The limo cruised through the entrance of Yosemite National Park. Five girls, dressed in designer clothes that clashed wildly with the rugged landscape, laughed and chatted inside.

“Is it just me, or do we look completely out of place?” asked Rachel, glancing out the window.

“You think?” Sarah replied, tossing her head back in laughter. “What kind of birthday is this, Bloom? We could be lounging on a beach in Greece, but no—you just ‘had’ to lose that bet.”

“Believe me, it wasn’t by choice,” Bloom Tillbury shot back then she leaned her head against the seat with a dramatic sigh. "I would rather be anywhere but here right now."

Everyone in California knew who Bloom Tillbury was. The heiress to a multi-million dollar empire. Her face was a regular on magazine covers. And every move she made was scrutinized by the media. But here, in the middle of a national park, she was just a girl with a debt to pay—a bet lost to her friends. If she hadn’t been so confident in her poker skills, they’d be halfway across the world sipping cocktails.

“I think it’s refreshing,” Nina commented. “We needed a change of pace. And besides, it’s just one night. How bad could it be?”

The limo pulled up to the camping site, drawing a wary glance from a nearby park ranger. He shook his head at the sight of the luxury vehicle and its high-spirited occupants.

“Looks like we’re already making friends,” Rachel joked as the girls piled out of the limo.

As they set up camp, Bloom’s phone buzzed. She rolled her eyes as she saw the caller ID and picked it up. "What now, Marianne?"

“Bloom,” her publicist started, “please tell me you’re not doing anything reckless.”

"Define reckless." Bloom smirked.

"I'm serious, Bloom," Marianne warned. "The paparazzi have been sniffing around since they found out it’s your birthday. Don’t give them any ammunition for tomorrow’s headlines."

"It’s just me and the girls," Bloom replied as she glanced around as her friends huddled together, already opening bottles of wine. “No boys, no wild parties. We’re behaving.”

Marianne didn’t sound convinced. “You better. The last thing we need is a repeat of last year’s birthday fiasco. Stay out of trouble, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry. I’ll be a perfect angel,” Bloom said sarcastically before ending the call. She shoved the phone into her bag, already irritated.

"Marianne again?" Sarah asked.

"Who else? She’s convinced we’re going to get caught up in some scandal, as if a few s’mores and a campfire are going to make headlines."

"Well, you ARE Bloom Tillbury. Even the marshmallows would be glamorous," Nina teased.

The evening passed in a blur of laughter, gossip, and the clink of glasses. Bloom found herself relaxing, letting go of the frustration she’d felt earlier. The wilderness wasn’t so bad, she admitted to herself. The towering trees and cool night air were far different from the chaotic city she was used to, and the full moon above cast an ethereal glow on everything around them.

Later, as the fire died down and her friends retreated to their tents, Bloom stayed outside for a moment longer, staring up at the moon. It was unusually bright tonight. Its light was so intense it made the trees cast long shadows. She felt a strange pull toward it, something that stirred deep inside her chest, though she couldn’t explain why.

“It’s just a moon,” she whispered to herself, shaking off the feeling. Still, she couldn’t help but admire its beauty. There was something different about this night, but she didn’t know what. With a shrug, she zipped herself into her tent and lay down, her eyelids heavy.

***

The sensation of cold, damp air brushing against her bare skin jolted Bloom awake. She gasped. Her breath hitched as her eyes flew open. The soft fabric of her sleeping bag was gone, replaced by the rough texture of dirt and fallen leaves beneath her.

Her mind raced as she sat up abruptly, blinking against the darkness. She was no longer in her tent. She wasn’t anywhere near camp. The trees around her were unfamiliar.

And she was naked.

]“What the—?” she whispered to no one. Her heart pounded as she spun in circles, looking for any sign of her friends, her tent, anything familiar. But there was nothing.

"Guys?" Bloom called out. "This isn’t funny!"

There was no response, only the rustling of leaves and the faint whisper of the wind.

How could she have ended up here? Naked, alone, in the middle of nowhere?

Her breath came in short bursts as the cold started to settle deep into her bones. This had to be a prank. It had to be. She could hear Sarah and the others laughing, waiting to jump out and yell, “Gotcha!”

Anger flared within her. She clenched her fists. Her teeth chattered as she shouted into the night, “Very funny, guys! You can stop now!”

Silence.

“Okay, seriously, this isn’t cool!” Bloom’s voice grew louder, fueled by frustration and fear. “When I find you, I swear—”

But no one answered. There was only the quiet rustle of the forest and the distant call of an owl, leaving Bloom standing there, naked and alone under the glow of the full moon.