Claimed By The Alpha Heir

Chapter 10: Caught

This time, it was not the wind.

Darian shoved me behind him and stepped forward, chest bare, eyes glowing gold.

Show yourselves, he growled.

Three wolves stepped out of the trees. Rourke’s men. I recognized the one in front — Kade. He had been in the pack since I was a kid. He never liked me.

Alpha, Kade said, mocking. Running away? That is not very heir like.

Victor moved beside Darian, hands clenched into fists. Back off, Kade. The challenge was void. You know the law.

Kade spat. Law does not matter when the heir is a freak with witch magic.

My stomach dropped.

Darian’s head snapped toward me. Do not move.

Too late.

The two wolves flanking Kade lunged.

Chaos exploded.

Darian shifted mid-step, fur rippling over muscle as he hit the ground as a massive black wolf. Victor shifted a second later, smaller, brown and fast.

I scrambled back against the log, heart pounding.

I could not help. Not like this.

Claws met claws. Teeth snapped. Growls tore through the night.

Darian was fighting both at once, blood already matting his fur. Victor had Kade pinned, but Kade was stronger.

Run, Aria! Victor yelled.

I could not.

My legs would not move.

One of the wolves broke free and turned toward me, yellow eyes locked on my throat.

Time slowed.

I saw the snarl, the drool, the flash of teeth.

And I felt it again.

That heat. That pull in my chest.

It was not coming from Darian this time.

It was coming from me.

Stop, I whispered.

The wolf froze.

Not stopped by fear. Stopped by force.

Light spilled from my hands without me meaning to. Silver white, just like before. It wrapped around the wolf’s legs, holding him in place.

The other wolves froze too.

For three seconds, the forest was silent except for breathing.

Then the light shattered.

The wolf roared and lunged.

Darian hit him mid-air, slamming him into a tree with enough force to crack bone.

But it was too late.

Kade had me.

One arm locked around my waist, the other pressed a blade to my throat. Silver. I could smell it. It burned my skin even without touching.

Call him off, Kade snarled, or I slit her throat.

Darian shifted back to human form instantly, hands up.

Let her go, he said, voice deadly calm.

Not until you surrender, Kade said. The pack needs a real alpha. Not you. Not her.

Victor stepped forward. If you hurt her, he will kill you. And then me. And then the whole pack will turn on you.

Kade laughed. Let them try.

The blade pressed harder.

It broke skin.

Warm blood ran down my neck.

Pain flared, but it was not the worst part.

The worst part was seeing Darian’s face.

He looked like he was being torn apart from the inside.

Do not, he said. Please.

Kade grinned. Say it. Say you surrender, and I will let her live.

Darian’s fists clenched.

I saw him make the choice.

I saw him break.

Okay, he whispered. I surrender.

The words hit me like a punch.

Kade’s grin widened. Good boy.

He shoved me forward.

I stumbled, hand flying to my throat.

Darian caught me before I fell, pulling me against his chest.

It is okay, he murmured against my hair. I have you.

Kade stepped back, satisfied. Bind them. We are taking them to Rourke.

Rope bit into my wrists before I could think.

Victor was next.

We were surrounded.

Darian’s eyes met mine over the top of my head.

I am sorry, he mouthed.

I shook my head.

Do not be.

Kade grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet.

Move, he said.

We started walking.

Darian kept his hand on my lower back, steady and warm even through the rope.

We had not gone ten steps when I felt it.

That heat again.

Stronger this time.

It started in my chest and spread to my fingertips.

My wrists burned where the rope touched.

The rope sizzled.

Kade did not notice. He was too busy talking to the others.

Darian felt it. His eyes widened.

Aria, he whispered. Do not.

But it was too late.

The rope snapped.

Smoke curled from the broken ends.

Kade turned, eyes wide.

What the hell

I did not wait.

I grabbed the silver blade from his belt and drove it into the ground.

It screamed when it hit dirt, a sound only wolves could hear.

Kade howled and clutched his ears.

Run, I said to Darian.

He did not need telling twice.

We ran.

Behind us, the forest erupted in howls.

We were almost to the trees when something hit me from the side.

Pain exploded in my shoulder.

I hit the ground hard, rolling.

Darian was on me in a second, shielding me with his body.

I looked up.

Rourke stood over us, silver dagger in hand, smiling like he had won.

Well, well, he said. Look what I found.

[End of Chapter 10]