The alphas runt

The Alpha’s Claim

The Great Hall remained frozen long after Kael’s words faded into silence.

Try it.

The threat still echoed against the stone walls like a living thing.

Lyra stood beside him, heart pounding violently beneath her ribs while raw alpha power filled the room so heavily it became difficult to breathe. Torches flickered wildly against the walls, shadows twisting across the faces of frightened pack members.

No one moved.

No one dared.

Because Kael Draven looked moments away from violence.

Magnus slowly straightened from where the alpha aura had forced him backward. Though age lined his face, the elder’s cold gray eyes still held authority.

But for the first time tonight…

There was fear beneath it.

“You would challenge sacred law?” Magnus asked carefully.

Kael’s expression remained terrifyingly calm.

“I would destroy sacred law.”

Gasps rippled through the hall.

Lyra’s stomach twisted harder.

This was spiraling out of control.

The bond between them pulsed violently, feeding emotions back and forth faster than she could process. Kael’s rage crashed against her senses like a storm, overwhelming and scorching.

Yet beneath all of it…

Fear.

Not fear for himself.

Fear of losing her.

The realization nearly hurt more than the cruelty around them.

Magnus narrowed his eyes. “You shame your bloodline for a weak omega.”

Kael stepped forward again.

“Say runt one more time.”

The elder fell silent immediately.

Because everyone in the room understood the truth now.

The alpha’s control was hanging by a thread.

Lyra moved instinctively before thinking.

Her small hand wrapped carefully around Kael’s wrist.

The effect was instant.

The violent pressure crushing the hall eased slightly.

Kael looked down at her immediately.

Just her touch calmed him.

The realization sent new whispers through the crowd.

A mate bond this strong was rare.

Dangerously rare.

Lyra swallowed nervously beneath dozens of staring eyes.

“Please,” she whispered softly.

Kael’s jaw tightened.

For several long seconds, he said nothing.

Then finally—

“Meeting dismissed.”

Magnus’ expression darkened. “You do not dismiss the council.”

“I just did.”

Several warriors immediately stepped aside as Kael turned toward the hall doors.

Then his large hand settled against Lyra’s lower back possessively.

Protectively.

“Come.”

The entire room watched in stunned silence as the alpha escorted the runt from the Great Hall like she already belonged beside him.

Like she already wore the title of luna.

The moment the doors shut behind them, Lyra released a shaky breath.

“That went badly.”

Kael glanced down at her.

“You’re alive. That means it could’ve gone worse.”

Despite everything, she nearly laughed.

Nearly.

The hallways outside remained crowded with pack members pretending not to stare. Conversations immediately died as Kael and Lyra passed.

The bond pulsed warmer when he moved closer to her.

As if his wolf disliked the attention surrounding them.

Which it probably did.

Kael suddenly stopped walking.

Instantly, every wolf nearby lowered their gaze.

“Anyone caught harassing her,” he said coldly, voice carrying through the corridor, “answers to me personally.”

Absolute silence followed.

Fear spread visibly across several faces.

Kael meant every word.

And everyone knew it.

Lyra stared at him quietly.

No one had ever protected her before.

Not like this.

Not openly.

Not without shame attached to it.

The realization made her chest ache strangely.

Kael continued walking, keeping her close against his side while warriors quickly cleared paths ahead of them.

“They’re scared of you,” Lyra murmured softly.

“They should be.”

She glanced up at him.

“You don’t enjoy hurting people.”

The statement surprised him.

“How would you know?”

“You could’ve killed Elder Magnus tonight.” Her crystal-blue eyes studied him carefully. “But you didn’t.”

Kael looked away briefly.

Snow-covered mountains stretched beyond the tall estate windows beside them.

“I wanted to.”

Honesty.

Raw and immediate.

Lyra believed him instantly.

“But you stopped.”

His silver gaze returned to her slowly.

“Because you asked.”

The quiet intensity in his voice stole her breath for a moment.

Then footsteps approached quickly behind them.

“Alpha.”

Damien caught up with them, looking exhausted already.

“The council is splitting into sides.”

Kael looked unsurprised.

“Who?”

“Half the warriors are loyal to you no matter what.” Damien sighed. “The others support the elders.”

Lyra’s stomach dropped.

Civil division.

Already.

“All because of me,” she whispered.

Kael stopped walking immediately.

“No.”

“It’s true.”

“It’s not.”

Damien looked between them awkwardly before muttering, “I’m going to pretend this conversation isn’t happening.”

Neither paid attention to him.

Kael stepped closer until Lyra had to tilt her head up to meet his eyes.

“This conflict existed long before you.”

She frowned softly.

“The elders worship power,” he continued quietly. “You merely exposed how ugly that belief became.”

Lyra looked down.

“I still caused this.”

Kael’s hand lifted gently beneath her chin.

“Look at me.”

Slowly, she obeyed.

“You did nothing wrong.”

The certainty in his voice made her chest tighten painfully.

Because part of her still couldn’t understand how someone like him could look at her this way.

Like she mattered.

Like she was precious.

Like she belonged to him.

Damien cleared his throat loudly.

“As touching as this is, there’s another problem.”

Kael’s expression hardened instantly.

“What now?”

“The northern packs heard already.”

Lyra blinked in alarm.

“What?”

Damien rubbed a hand through his hair.

“News travels fast when elders start panicking.”

Kael cursed quietly.

Of course the other packs would hear.

And once they did…

This wouldn’t remain a private conflict anymore.

A runt mated to one of the strongest alphas in the north?

The story would spread everywhere.

Lyra’s chest tightened with dread.

“They’ll think you’re weak.”

Kael’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“I don’t care what they think.”

“But your pack does.”

Silence followed.

Because she was right.

An alpha’s reputation affected everything—alliances, territory disputes, future heirs, respect among other wolves.

And Kael had just tied himself publicly to the lowest-ranked wolf imaginable.

Damien sighed heavily.

“There’s more.”

Kael looked ready to murder someone.

“Say it.”

“The Blood Moon gathering is next week.”

Lyra froze.

Even she knew what that meant.

Every major northern pack would attend.

Including their alphas.

And now Kael would either have to appear alone—

Or bring her.

The room suddenly felt colder.

Damien looked deeply tired already.

“If you show up with Lyra, it becomes official.”

Kael answered instantly.

“She’s my mate. It already is official.”

“Yes,” Damien muttered, “but announcing it to every powerful wolf in the north is different.”

Lyra’s heart pounded harder.

“No.”

Both men looked at her.

She shook her head quickly.

“I’m not going.”

Kael’s expression darkened immediately.

“Yes, you are.”

“They’ll humiliate you.”

“Let them try.”

“You don’t understand how people see me.”

Kael’s silver eyes sharpened.

“I understand perfectly.”

“No, you don’t.” Her voice cracked softly. “You’ve never been looked at like you’re worthless.”

The hallway fell silent.

Regret flashed across her face instantly.

She hadn’t meant to say it like that.

Kael’s expression changed slowly.

Not anger.

Pain.

A dangerous kind of pain.

“Lyra,” he said quietly, “look at me carefully.”

She hesitated before lifting her gaze again.

“You are not worthless.”

Emotion tightened painfully in her throat.

“You can keep saying that,” she whispered. “It won’t magically erase eighteen years.”

Kael went completely still.

Something dark flickered behind his silver eyes.

Not directed at her.

At the pack.

At everyone who made her believe that.

Before he could respond, another voice suddenly cut through the hallway.

“Well. This is pathetic.”

Selene.

Lyra stiffened instantly.

The beautiful she-wolf approached slowly, dressed elegantly in deep crimson with her dark hair flowing over one shoulder. Several female wolves followed behind her like shadows.

Her amber eyes landed on Lyra with open disgust.

Then shifted toward Kael.

“Tell me this isn’t real.”

Kael’s expression became ice.

“Careful, Selene.”

She laughed softly, though bitterness poisoned the sound.

“For years the entire pack believed you would choose strength.” Her eyes flicked toward Lyra mockingly. “Instead you choose… this?”

Damien muttered, “Oh, this is going to end badly.”

Lyra stepped backward automatically.

Kael immediately noticed.

His posture shifted subtly.

Predatory.

Protective.

Selene saw it too.

Pain flashed briefly across her face before anger buried it again.

“She’s weak,” Selene snapped. “Everyone knows it.”

“She is standing right here,” Kael said coldly.

Selene ignored him completely.

“She’ll embarrass Silver Fang. Other packs will laugh at us.”

Kael’s voice lowered dangerously.

“And?”

“And?” Selene stared at him in disbelief. “You are the alpha!”

“And she is my mate.”

The words cracked through the hallway with absolute certainty.

No hesitation.

No shame.

Lyra’s chest tightened so hard it hurt.

Selene looked almost furious enough to cry now.

“You would choose a runt over your own pack?”

Kael took one slow step forward.

“I am choosing my pack.” His silver eyes glowed faintly. “I’m removing the rot inside it.”

Silence.

Even Damien looked impressed.

Selene’s face flushed with rage.

“You’re blinded by instinct.”

“No,” Kael said calmly. “I simply see her value where the rest of you failed.”

Lyra stared at him helplessly.

Why did he keep saying things like that?

Things no one had ever said to her before.

Selene looked toward Lyra suddenly.

And smiled cruelly.

“You really think he’ll keep loving you once this destroys everything?”

The words sliced straight through her chest.

Fear twisted violently inside her.

Because part of her wondered the same thing.

Kael noticed instantly.

His expression turned lethal.

“Leave.”

Selene lifted her chin stubbornly.

“You’re making a mistake.”

Kael’s wolf surfaced visibly now, silver eyes glowing brighter.

“I won’t repeat myself.”

Fear finally crossed Selene’s face.

But before leaving, she looked directly at Lyra one last time.

“This pack will never accept you.”

Then she turned sharply and disappeared down the corridor.

Silence followed.

Heavy silence.

Lyra stared at the floor.

Because the worst part was…

Selene was probably right.

Kael stepped closer immediately.

“Don’t listen to her.”

“She’s not wrong.”

His jaw tightened.

“She is.”

“You can’t force people to love me.”

“No,” he said quietly. “But I can force them to respect you.”

The possessive certainty in his voice sent warmth through the bond again.

Dangerous warmth.

Because every second near him made it harder to imagine walking away.

And maybe that was the cruelest part of all.

He made her want things she’d stopped dreaming about years ago.

Safety.

Belonging.

Love.

Kael’s hand slid carefully into hers.

The size difference startled her every time.

His hand was massive around her small fingers.

Warm.

Strong.

Protective.

Mine.

The bond purred contentedly between them.

Damien looked away dramatically.

“I miss when my alpha was emotionally unavailable.”

To Lyra’s shock, she laughed softly.

The sound seemed to catch Kael off guard too.

Because suddenly he was staring at her like he’d discovered something precious.

And somehow…

That look scared her more than anything else.

Because she was starting to realize the terrifying truth.

She was falling in love with him too.