CLAIMED BY THE RUTHLESS ALPHA

Seraphine POV (The third most dominant)

I looked into Darius’s face, and even though he was smiling, I’d have put money on the fact he hated them as much as I did.

It must’ve been in my head. Why would he? He was probably just regretting all the ‘fun’ he’d missed out on with Melody and Eden.

Leo pinched my n****e hard. I bit off a curse and barely stopped myself from kneeing him in the balls. I’d barely refocused when his hand slid down my stomach and dipped beneath the waistband of my shorts.

A hickey was one thing. His hand between my legs was another matter entirely.

I grabbed his wrist. “Leo, wait.”

He never stopped sucking my throat. Shifters healed fast, but with how aggressively he was marking me, this hickey would last a week if I didn’t end this soon.

I grabbed his hair and yanked his head back. “Why would you want me to stop? Let me make you feel good,” he groaned, forcing his mouth back to my neck.

The only way you can do that is by dropping dead.

“I know you can,” I whispered, “but just slow down. This is too fast.”

Leo lifted his head. In the darkness of the forest north of the cabins, his hazel eyes narrowed. “We’re here for one thing, sweetheart. Keep arguing and I might stop caring whether it’s good for you.”

That was the Stone pack mentality through and through. I covered my face with both hands. “I’m sorry,” I cried.

“You know how I feel about tears, Seraphine,” he snapped. “Save them for when I’ve gone. Or better yet, save them for the next guy.”

“Please, Leo… I’ve never done this before. Please don’t hurt me.”

He went silent. I felt his excitement surge. Every man wanted to be first. “Baby,” he crooned, “you should’ve said so.”

So you could sneak into my cabin one night and r**e me? No thanks.

“I was so scared. I didn’t want anyone else to know.” I lowered my hands and met his eyes with practiced vulnerability. “I wanted you to be the first.”

He pulled his hand from my shorts. An almost tender look crossed his face. “Baby, I don’t want to hurt you. Just do what I say and it’ll be good. I promise.”

That’s when I knew I had him.

His focus narrowed entirely to what was between my legs. I widened my eyes with just the right mix of trust and anxiety the expression I’d perfected in my bathroom mirror. “It won’t hurt?”

Lust filled his gaze. “Not at all. After, I’ll move you into my cabin. I’ll protect you.”

He’d f**k me, zip up, and forget I existed. “You promise?”

He lowered his head. “I’ll do anything to protect you.” Just before his lips touched mine, I turned my head so he kissed my cheek instead.

Before suspicion could rise, I wrapped my arms around him. “I knew I could count on you. I was so scared hiding what I was.”

“Sure thing. Now, where were we?” His mouth returned to my throat while one hand pawed at my breast.

I went back to concentrating. As a submissive wolf, partial shifting shouldn’t be possible. Only dominant wolves could force it. But years of rage, control, and my wolf’s reluctant agreement had made it possible.

Leo was dangerous. Third most dominant in the pack. He had helped drag my mother out to die. I needed him distracted.

My wolf rose slowly from where she hid. Strength trickled into me. I watched my right hand transform, fingers lengthening into sharp claws.

I didn’t know where Darius was. He hadn’t returned for lunch after storming out of breakfast. I hoped he stayed away long enough for me to finish this.

Just one more second.

Leo suddenly lifted his head. “What are you”

I stabbed my claws into the side of his neck.

His eyes widened in shock and fury. Blood sprayed hot across my skin as I fought to pin him. I’d let him pull my shirt off for this exact reason, blood washed off skin far easier than fabric.

He threw me off. I slammed into a tree but bounced back up. We crashed together again in a tangle of limbs. His claws raked my stomach. Agony flared, but I didn’t let go.

Blood poured from his neck. I’d hit an artery.

He weakened. I pressed harder, staring into his eyes as life faded. “This is for my mother,” I hissed in his ear. “This is for Lira Bree.”

His final breath rattled out.

One down. Only Jax left.

I dragged his body deeper into the forest for the wildlife, found my shirt, and hurried back to my cabin, the broken silver chain heavy in my pocket.

I pressed my forehead and palms against the shower wall as lukewarm water streamed over me. The scent of blood, Leo’s and mine had long disappeared down the drain, but I still felt dirty.

I had to get to the farmhouse before Darius came looking. Yet I couldn’t turn the water off.

I was so tired.

The moment I’d returned to my cabin, I’d shoved the broken necklace under the mattress, stripped, and rushed into the shower just before the tears started. This was the only place safe enough to fall apart.

I stayed under the spray longer than I should have, letting silent sobs shake my body. Another name crossed off the list. But it never felt like victory. Just exhaustion and the heavy weight of more violence still to come.

A soft click sounded my cabin door.

“Galen?” I called out, thinking it was Darius. Silence answered.

Hoping my eyes weren’t red, I turned off the water, wrapped a towel around myself, and stepped out. “If you give me a minute, I’ll dress and make your din”

The bathroom door flew open with a kick. I flew backward, crashing into the wall. Before I could recover, a sheet was thrown over my head, blinding me.

Laughter erupted. The pack.

I struggled, but too many hands grabbed me. They dragged me out of the cabin. My towel was ripped away. Suddenly I was airborne.

My back slammed against the hard ground, knocking the breath from me. Someone hauled me up and shoved me again. I hit another surface hard. Then another shove. A trip. Another fall.

They kept me blind and disoriented on purpose. The laughter grew louder every time I stumbled or cried out. I recognized the game. They’d played it with others before breaking spirits through confusion and fear.

It felt endless. Every time I got to my feet, someone tripped me or shoved me into a cabin wall. My head rang. Blood trickled from a cut near my hairline.

Just when tears of frustration burned my eyes, a strong arm wrapped around my front and jerked me against a hard body. A dark whisper brushed my ear. “This is just the beginning.”

The final shove sent me flying. My head smashed against wood. I slumped to the ground and waited for the next round.

No one grabbed me. The laughter had stopped. I was alone.

Still cautious, I finally tore the sheet off.

I came face to face with a massive dark brown wolf with startling emerald eyes.

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