Marked by Fate

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Alpha’s Claim

Claire was already on her second cocktail when she felt the familiar buzz of alcohol warm her skin. She leaned back against the bar, laughing at one of Sarah’s stories about a warrior who had mistaken her for someone else during training.

“That’s what he gets for not paying attention,” Claire said, sipping her drink. The sharp tang of citrus danced on her tongue, mixing with the low thrum of excitement in the bar.

The place was packed tonight, the music loud and pulsing. Wolves from their pack and nearby territories mingled, creating an electric energy in the room. It was exactly what Claire needed—a break from the endless responsibilities that had piled up since becoming Luna.

Dressed in her most daring black dress, Claire felt free for the first time in weeks. The fabric clung to her curves, dipping low enough to show just a hint of cleavage and stopping scandalously high above her thighs. The dress left her back bare, and the mate mark on her neck was on full display.

She wasn’t trying to hide it. In fact, she wanted it seen.

Sarah leaned in, her voice just loud enough to be heard over the music. “You’re playing with fire, you know that?”

Claire smirked. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Evan’s going to lose it when he sees you like this.”

Claire shrugged, taking another sip of her drink. “Maybe he deserves to. He’s been so busy lately we hardly see each other. I need a little fun, and if it drives him crazy, all the better.”

The two women shared a laugh before Claire grabbed Sarah’s hand and pulled her toward the dance floor. The music thudded through the room, a primal beat that seemed to sync with Claire’s pulse.

She threw herself into the rhythm, letting the stress of the past few weeks melt away. Sarah danced beside her, their movements fluid and carefree. The other wolves gave them space, though Claire could feel their eyes on her.

Her mate mark glowed faintly under the dim lights, a reminder to everyone in the room that she was claimed. But that didn’t stop some of the braver wolves from lingering too close, their gazes drifting down her body.

One particularly bold male stepped closer, his intent clear. Sarah shot him a glare that could have frozen lava.

“Don’t even think about it,” Sarah warned, her voice sharp.

Claire laughed, brushing off the attention as she pulled her phone out of her clutch. She snapped a quick photo of herself on the dance floor, her hair wild and her lips curved in a teasing smile.

She typed out a text to Evan:

*You should come dance with me, Alpha. I’m waiting.*

A few moments later, she added another message:

*Or are you too busy being boring?*

The second the messages sent, she felt a thrill of anticipation. She could practically hear Evan’s growl in her mind.

---

Back at the pack house, Evan was in his office reviewing security protocols when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his brow furrowing.

The photo made his chest tighten and his blood heat. Claire, on a crowded dance floor, in that dress, with his mark glowing on her neck. She looked carefree, wild, and utterly intoxicating.

His wolf growled low in his chest, the sound vibrating through his body. The messages that followed only fanned the flames of his possessiveness.

Evan didn’t waste a second. He was out of the pack house and in his car within minutes, the engine roaring as he sped toward the bar. His thoughts were singular: Claire.

When he arrived, the scene inside was exactly what he’d imagined—and worse. Wolves, males especially, couldn’t seem to keep their eyes off her. She was a magnet, her energy drawing them in like moths to a flame.

Evan stood near the entrance, his sharp gaze locking onto her immediately. She was laughing, her head thrown back as she danced, the mark he’d given her standing out like a beacon.

He clenched his fists at his sides, his wolf howling in his mind. She was his, and every wolf in this room needed to understand that.

Claire turned then, her eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on him. For a brief moment, surprise flickered across her face, followed quickly by a teasing smile. She raised an eyebrow, as if daring him to do something.

Evan didn’t hesitate. He moved through the crowd with purpose, wolves instinctively stepping aside as he approached. When he reached Claire, he didn’t say a word. Instead, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her against him in one fluid motion.

Her breath hitched, but her smirk remained. “Took you long enough,” she teased.

Evan growled softly, his voice low and dangerous. “You’ve had your fun. Now it’s my turn.”

He spun her around, his arm wrapping around her waist as they moved to the music. The heat between them was immediate, the mate bond thrumming like a live wire.

“Everyone in this room is staring at you,” he said, his lips brushing against her ear. “Do you enjoy driving me mad?”

Claire laughed, the sound light and teasing. “Maybe a little.”

Evan’s grip tightened, his possessiveness bubbling to the surface. “They’re looking because they know you’re mine.”

“I think they already figured that out,” Claire replied, tilting her head slightly to expose her mark.

Evan let out a soft growl, his hand sliding lower on her back. “I should take you home right now,” he murmured.

“Should you?” Claire asked, her voice dripping with challenge.

Evan met her gaze, his eyes dark with desire. “Don’t push me, Claire.”

The tension between them was electric, the air thick with unspoken promises. For a moment, the rest of the room faded away, leaving only the two of them.

Claire leaned closer, her lips brushing against his jaw. “Then take me home, Alpha,” she whispered.

Evan didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed her hand, leading her off the dance floor and out of the bar. The whispers and stares followed them, but neither of them cared.

The moment they were outside, Evan pulled her into his car. The silence between them was heavy with anticipation as he drove back to the pack house, his grip on the steering wheel tight.

When they finally arrived, Evan didn’t wait. He pulled Claire inside, his hand firm on her lower back.

“Evan—” she started, but he silenced her with a kiss, his lips capturing hers in a way that left no room for argument.

Claire melted against him, her fingers tangling in his hair as the world around them disappeared. She was his, and he was hers, and in that moment, nothing else mattered.