Chapter 2: A King’s Claim
1016 Words
Ruby
The moment Alpha King Manson walked out of the packhouse, the tension in the air snapped. Everyone exhaled a breath they hadn't realized they were holding including me. My heart was still racing, my skin still burning where he had touched me.
He couldn’t be my mate.
He wouldn’t be my mate.
I had spent years convincing myself that the mate bond was meaningless. I had already been rejected once. I had survived it. There was no way I would let myself be claimed by anyone, let alone the most powerful Alpha in existence.
Leah grabbed my wrist, her grip tight. “Are you insane?” she hissed. “You just rejected the Alpha King to his face!”
I shook her off and took a deep breath, steadying myself. “I didn’t reject him. I just… refused to accept him.”
She gave me an exasperated look. “That’s the same thing when it comes to an Alpha! And not just any Alpha Manson Lee. You do realize he could wipe out this entire pack if he wanted?”
I clenched my jaw. “He won’t.”
I wanted to believe that. I needed to believe that.
But deep down, I wasn’t so sure.
Alpha Graham, my pack’s leader, strode into the room, his face pale and furious. His Beta and several warriors followed close behind. His beady eyes darted around the room until they landed on me.
“You,” he growled, closing the distance in seconds. “What the hell did you do?”
I stiffened but didn’t back down. “I didn’t do anything.”
He grabbed my arm roughly, his fingers digging into my skin. “Then why is the Alpha King demanding you be brought to him immediately?”
My stomach twisted. “What?”
Leah gasped beside me, her hands flying to her mouth.
Alpha Graham’s lips curled. “You might have played your little act in front of the pack, but you don’t fool me. You knew exactly what you were doing. You wanted his attention, didn’t you?”
My body tensed at the accusation. “I don’t want anything from him.”
He scoffed. “Then I suggest you go outside and tell him that. Because if you bring trouble to this pack, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
I yanked my arm free. I had endured Alpha Graham’s cruelty for years, but I would not cower to him now. Not over this.
With my head held high, I walked past him, ignoring the murmurs and stares as I stepped outside.
The night air was cool against my flushed skin, but it did little to calm the storm raging inside me.
And there he was.
Manson stood at the edge of the courtyard, surrounded by his warriors, his golden eyes trained on me.
Waiting.
No. Not waiting. Hunting.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to walk toward him, ignoring the trembling in my hands.
The moment I was close enough, his voice rumbled through the night.
“Come with me.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a command.
My pulse pounded. “Why?”
A ghost of a smirk touched his lips, but his eyes remained sharp. “Because I don’t like repeating myself, little Omega.”
I folded my arms, planting my feet. “I don’t belong to you.”
His smirk widened slightly as if my resistance amused him. “Not yet.”
Frustration bubbled in my chest. “I told you, I don’t want a mate.”
“And I told you,” he said, his voice dropping to something almost dangerous, “you don’t have a choice.”
I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. “I have a life here.”
His eyes darkened. “Do you?”
The question sent a cold shiver down my spine. Because we both knew the answer. I had no real place in this pack. I had no home and no family that cared for me. The only thing I had was my work, and even that was just tolerated, not appreciated.
Manson took a step closer, his presence suffocating. “You think this pack will protect you? That Alpha Graham won’t turn on you the second he sees an opportunity?”
I clenched my fists. “I can handle myself.”
Manson’s jaw tightened. “You shouldn’t have to.”
Something about his tone made my breath hitch. There was no mockery in his words. No amusement. Just… frustration. As if the idea of me suffering under this pack’s rule genuinely bothered him.
And that terrified me more than anything else.
Because it made me wonder if maybe just maybe he wasn’t the monster I had painted him to be.
I turned away. “I’m not going with you.”
Manson exhaled slowly. Then, before I could react, he moved.
One second, there was space between us. The next, he was right in front of me, his fingers wrapping gently yet firmly around my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.
His touch was like fire, sending sparks through my skin. My wolf whimpered in longing, but I ignored her.
“Look at me,” he murmured.
I did. I didn’t have a choice.
His golden eyes burned into mine, intense and unreadable. “You don’t trust me yet,” he said. “I get it. But I’ll tell you one thing, little Omega.”
My breath hitched.
“I don’t walk away from what’s mine.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
Then, just as quickly as he had closed the distance, he released me.
His warriors waited, watching silently. Manson turned to them, his voice calm but authoritative. “We leave by dawn.”
My heart stopped.
He glanced at me over his shoulder, his golden eyes glinting in the moonlight.
“I suggest you be ready.”
And just like that, he walked away.
Leaving me standing there, breathless, completely shaken, and utterly powerless against the force that was Alpha King Manson Lee.
- Writer
