The Dark Alpha's Claim

Chapter1

“Where is she? Still asleep?”

Annika's eyes flew open when she heard her stepmother's angry voice. She rose from the floor just as the door to the basement was flung open.

Odessa stood at the door, her face a mask of fury. She held a long whip in her hand.

“Get out here you brat!” She commanded and lashed Annika across her legs.

Annika winced from the pain and jumped up from the piece of cloth she had slept on throughout the night. Her bones ached in response from lying on the bare floor every night. She stood shivering from the cold air, her legs stinging painfully as the last traces of sleep cleared from her eyes.

“Good morning, stepmother.” She mumbled.

“Get out of this room this instant!” Odessa snapped. “Get out and get to work.”

Annika hurried out of the basement before Odessa could whip her again. She made her way to the kitchen and began her morning chores which included washing the used dishes and cleaning the entire house.

She was still in the middle of her chores, her hands deep in the cold soapy water when Lupa, her stepsister, walked into the kitchen and flung the dirty plates she held on the floor.

Annika glared at her, but remained quiet because she knew talking to her would get her punished. She was three years older than Lupa yet the latter treated her like a slave.

She picked up the plate, brushed off the dirt from her body and continued her chore.

When Lupa didn't get the reaction she was expecting, she opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. Turning around, walked up to Annika and dumped the water on her head.

“Lupa stop it!” Annika snapped, unable to remain silent.

“How dare you speak to me?” Lupa snapped back. She lifted her hand and slapped Annika on the face. “How dare you?”

Annika held her face, her eyes prickling with tears. But she held them back. She wouldn't give Lupa the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

She turned back to her chores and continued without another word. Her silence angered Lupa and she gripped her hair in a tight fist.

Annika cried out, pain exploding in her head and down her spine.

“Let me go.” She screamed.

“You should be thankful, you ungrateful brat.” Lupa spat viciously. “Mother should have kicked you out of this house years ago. Whatever you're going through now, you deserve it and more.”

She shoved Annika away and kicked the bucket of water she was using for her washing.

Annika fell to the floor, and the tears she had been holding spilled down her cheeks.

“What did I ever do to you?” She whispered. “Why do you hate me so much, Lupa?”

“Because you're worthless. A worthless, wolf-less omega. You caused our father's death!”

“I wasn't even there when he died.” Annika cried out.

“Liar! You killed him, just like you killed your w***e of a mother.” Lupa shot back. “Your suffering is your punishment for your evil deeds.”

She crouched beside Annika and pushed her face closer.

“I hope you die a slow, miserable death Annika. And I hope you rot in hell.”

Having spoken to her satisfaction and enjoying Annika's tears of pain, she straightened and walked out of the kitchen.

Annika slumped down to the floor, her face streaked with tears. She drew her knees up and curled into a ball, crying her heart out.

No matter how much she heard those same cruel words, she could never get used to it. It had been six years since the day her father died, and it still hurt like it was yesterday.

Her stepmother and stepsister never failed to remind her and blame her for the death of both her parents. Her mother died a few minutes after she was born, and her father had tried to raise her for three years. When he realized he couldn't, he took Odessa as his chosen mate.

But fate was cruel as it snatched her father ten years later, just when she turned thirteen. The day before he died, she had begged him to get her the first branch of the oak tree after the winter period, as a birthday present.

He had obliged her, especially as she was his favourite daughter. The oak tree was located at the edge of the forest, far away from the mountain pack. But on his way back, he died mysteriously.

Everyone blamed her for his death, and the stigma had remained with her ever since. She never recovered from it, and Odessa didn't fail to make her life a living hell.

For as long as Annika could remember, she had always been abused and treated like a nobody. The abuse started at a young age and continued for so long that it became a normal routine.

She was whipped at the slightest offense and she had the scars to prove it. Long faded red whip marks on her back, legs and arms.

Many times, she thought of running away. But she had nowhere to go. The only thing she could do was wait for the mating ceremony which was the following night. If fortune smiled on her, she would find her mate and finally be free from the world of cruelty she was subjected to.

She was still deep in thoughts, curled beside the fridge when Odessa stepped into the kitchen.

Her eyes widened in anger when she saw the soapy water all over the floor, and Annika doing nothing to wipe it off.

Annika noticed her and jumped to her feet quickly.

“I'm sorry stepmother.” She said, her voice shaking with fear. She quickly grabbed a mop and began to wipe the floor.

To her surprise, Odessa didn't try to hit her. She walked up to her and snatched the mop from her hand.

“Go upstairs and wash up.” She ordered. “Put on something to cover the scars on your arms and legs. Go, now.”

Annika frowned in confusion, but she didn't dare disobey. She hurried back to the basement, intent on searching through the pile of old worn out clothes she had to wear.

A few minutes later, Odessa slipped into the basement. She was holding a floral white dress and she handed it to Annika.

“Use the bathroom upstairs and put this on.” She instructed her. “Hurry up.”

“Thank you. But stepmother, what is the need for…” Before Annika could finish her words, Odessa slapped her.

“Do what I say and don't question me.” She snapped.

Her cheeks stinging, Annika took the dress and walked out of the basement. She didn't understand why Odessa was acting strangely nice towards her.

She disappeared into the bathroom to wash off the dirt and grime on her body. A few seconds later, she came out, fully dressed, her hair wrapped in a towel.

As she headed back to the basement, she heard whispers. Some visitors had arrived while she was in the bathroom, and as she listened, Odessa ushered them into her room and she shut the door.

Annika grew suspicious. Odessa never had visitors, and even if she did, she never took them to her room. Her curiosity piqued.

Holding the hem of her dress, she tiptoed up to the door, her feet creaking softly on the floorboard.

Her heart pounded loudly in her chest as she stopped in front of the door and pressed her ear against the cold wood.

She could clearly hear Odessa talking with the visitors.

“She isn't of any importance. No one will notice if she's gone. I will sell her to you for two hundred pieces of silver.”

Annika frowned as she listened. Were they talking about her?

“How old is she?” One of the visitors asked.

"She will be nineteen tomorrow. The perfect age.” Odessa replied.

“I hope she isn't the rebellious type.”

“I assure you, she isn't. She is very docile. She won't give you any trouble.”

Annika's heart slammed against her chest as realization dawned on her. They were talking about her. Odessa was planning on selling her off.

“Very well,” the visitor remarked. “We will come for her after the mating ceremony tomorrow night.”

“She will be well-prepared. I promise you.”

Annika's eyes widened the moment she heard footsteps approaching. The visitors were leaving.

She moved away from the door, but in her haste, she slipped and landed on the floor. The door opened and Odessa stood there with three other men, glaring at her.