From Rogue To Queen

Mason's Claim

—-Mason’s POV—

“Please,” She whispered barely above a breath. “Help me.”

I acted instinctively, lifting her into my arms and settling down in the chair with her on my lap. She seemed on the verge of passing out. I had seen her with her friends but resisted the urge to introduce myself. Her eyes were a beautiful stormy grey that seemed to hold a universe of pain. As I held her, her scent enveloped me - a mix of wildflowers and a hint of something uniquely hers. I brushed a strand of hair away from her face, revealing a faint scar on her cheek. My heart clenched at the thought of someone hurting her. Her lips parted slightly, and I could see the fear lingering in her eyes.

The tension in the room escalated as Luke's voice sliced through the air like a blade. "She's mine! You have no right to interfere," he roared, his anger palpable.

I tightened my grip on her protectively, feeling a surge of possessiveness unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

“She approached me,” I said as nonchalantly as I could manage, my voice low and controlled. “If she’s yours, then why does she seem so afraid of you?” My question hung in the air like a dare, challenging Luke to reveal his true intentions. The woman shifted in my arms, her body tense but leaning slightly into my protective hold.

Luke's eyes darkened with rage as he took a step forward, his fists clenched at his sides. "She's just drunk, I need to get my mate home," he spat out, the venom in his words betraying his true nature.

I ignored Luke's words, focusing instead on the woman in my arms. Her breathing had steadied against my chest, her scent calming my racing thoughts. Gently, I lifted her chin to meet my gaze, silently promising her safety and protection.

I stated matter-of-factly, "I don't detect a mating bond."

"Neither do I, Alpha," Logan replied beside me.

“Would you dare lie to your King Alpha?” Eliza asked Luke.

As Eliza's words hung in the tense air, Luke's face contorted with anger and desperation. His eyes darted between me, the woman in my arms, and the rest of the pack gathered in the room. The challenge was clear, and he knew he couldn't deceive us any longer.

"I'll make her understand. She belongs to me, she always has," Luke's voice trembled with suppressed fury as he made a move toward Alexa and me. Instinctively, I pulled her closer to me, shielding her from his advancing form.

“Mr. Luke Harrington from the Lunarhowl Pack,” I announce with every ounce of authority. “You have overstepped and made false claims. I suggest you leave now, otherwise I will revoke your soon-to-be Alpha title.”

He glared at me and hissed, "Alexa belongs to me."

So, her name is Alexa. I don’t remember hearing that name on any of the pack census reports, which means she is most likely a rogue.

Luke's insistence on claiming Alexa as his mate only fueled the protective rage burning inside me. The way he spoke of her as if she were an object to be owned made my beast snarl in defiance. I held Alexa tighter against me, my eyes never leaving Luke's intense gaze.

I am known for doing some impulsive things, but this is probably the most reckless one yet. Luke lunged forward, determined to grab Alexa from my arms. In a split second, I made a decision that would bind us together for eternity. Without hesitation, I leaned in and sank my teeth into the crook of her neck, marking her as mine.

The room fell silent as Alexa gasped in shock and pain, her body tensing against mine. Her sweet scent mingled with the metallic tang of blood filled my senses, intensifying the bond forming between us. Luke froze in his tracks, a mixture of fury and disbelief contorting his features.

As I released her, a warm trickle of blood slid down Alexa's skin, marking her with my claim. But the pain was quickly replaced by a sense of calm and warmth spreading from the mark. Her stormy grey eyes met mine, a mix of confusion and something unidentifiable swirling within them. Probably anger, she didn’t even know my name and she most definitely did not come to the bar tonight to be claimed by a stranger.

As her blood filled my mouth, I was hit with the strong taste of drugs coursing through her veins. It was clear that someone had gone to great lengths tonight to ensure her drinks contained more than just alcohol.

My blood boiled at the thought of what might of happened to her had Logan not insisted on grabbing a few drinks tonight. We just got to Serenity Falls tonight, and this is already a disaster.

I cupped Alexa's face gently, my fingers trembling slightly. "My name is Mason Turner. I'm the Alpha King, and I just claimed Alexa as my mate." I announced to the room, my voice steady even though my heart was pounding with a mixture of fear, desire, and uncertainty.

Luke's face was a scowl of pure anger, his eyes filled with hatred as he looked at me. "You can't do this. She's mine!" he roared, his voice echoing through the room.

“Logan, Eliza. Escort our Mr. Luke home if he does not leave.” I commanded.

I locked eyes with Luke, challenging him with my own fierce gaze. "I can do whatever I want, Luke Harrington. And as for you, you're no longer welcome here. Your Alpha title is revoked, effective immediately."

Luke's face twisted in anger, but he didn't argue. He knew he had lost. He reluctantly left the room, his eyes never leaving me.

I’m not entirely sure when Alexa blacked out, I had been more preoccupied with keeping her safe and ensuring Luke didn't get to her again. But as I sat there, cradling her limp body in my arms, I felt a wave of protectiveness and concern wash over me.

"You okay, Alpha?" Eliza asked, concern etched on her face as she approached.

"She needs to see a healer," I replied, my mind still swirling with the events of the night. "I don't know how she's still alive after what Luke gave her."

"I'll call one and have him meet us at the manor," Logan assured, already pulling out his phone.

I nodded, my mind racing with thoughts of what could have happened to Alexa. I knew I had to keep her safe, not just from Luke, but from whatever other dangers she was exposed to in her life. I didn't want to intrude on her life, but I couldn't let her go.

As we carried Alexa out to the car, I couldn't help but wonder what her life was like before tonight. What had led her to be a rouge shifter, and what had caused her to end up in a place like this? I knew that our meeting was meant for a reason, and I intended to find out what it was.

Once we arrived at the manor, the healer was waiting for us, and we quickly took Alexa inside. As we laid her on the table, I held her hand, feeling the warmth of her skin and the comforting beat of her heart.

The doctor efficiently set up an IV to flush out the toxins from her system. As he rolled up her shirt, we all gasped at the sight of numerous bruises covering her entire torso. It became clear why she had been squirming and struggling in my arms - every touch must have caused her pain. She wasn't trying to escape, she was just trying to cope with the discomfort.

It took several hours, but eventually her vital signs stabilized, and the doctor declared her safe to rest. He warned us of the risks of withdrawals and the possibility of lasting damage, but overall, she had avoided the worst.

I stood by her side, my fingers still locked around hers, while she drifted in and out of consciousness. As she finally fell into a deep sleep, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. I knew that in order to keep her safe, I would have to bring her into my world, a world she had been trying to escape from. But I also knew that I couldn't let her go. She needed me, and I needed her.

Her hands were rough and cracked, with patches of rough, calloused skin from years of hard labor. Her fingers were stained with dirt and grime, and her nails were short and uneven. But despite the rough appearance, there was a certain beauty in the strength and resilience that these hands represented. Her hair was a stark contrast, jet black like a crow's feathers, with bold white streaks framing her face.

I gently picked her up and carried her into the master bedroom. I laid her down as gently as I could on the soft bed, taking care not to jostle her too much. The doctor had warned us about the potential for seizures, and I didn't want to risk it. As I tucked the covers around her, I couldn't help but notice the way her eyelashes fluttered against her cheek.

My eyes locked onto her face, and I traced the curves of her cheekbones and the arch of her eyebrows with my fingers. How I wished I could erase all the pain and suffering she had endured, and give her the life she deserved.

“Stay" she whimpered in her sleep.

I’m certain that my pack has everything in order for tonight, Eliza would probably skin me alive if I left Alexa alone anyways. Normally women aren’t given leadership roles, but she has proven to be an exceptional asset to our pack.

As I laid down next to her on the bed, she rolled over into me. Her breathing was soft and even, and I couldn't help but run my fingers through her hair, marveling at the sensation.

I fell into a deep slumber, holding her close to me as thoughts of the night swirled in my mind. I didn't know much about her besides her first name, but tomorrow I would have to properly introduce myself. After all, she was now technically the Queen.