Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha

Chapter 7

The Great Hall of the Northern Shadows was a well-known and important place. It was usually a room where warriors shared stories of battle and ate large meals. But tonight, it had been decorated with gold and glass. Long tables were covered in white silk. Thousands of candles hung from the ceiling in iron frames, with wax dripping down them. The air was filled with the smell of roasted stag, expensive wine, and the strong scent of many werewolves gathered together.

I stood in the shadows of the kitchen doorway, clutching a silver tray. My hands were clean, and my hair was pulled back in a tight, neat bun. The servant’s uniform was heavy. The black fabric was rough against my skin, and the white apron felt like a sign that said *I am nothing.*

"Don't just stand there, girl," Borin the cook hissed, shoving a tray of crystal glasses into my hands. "The Alphas are thirsty. If you spill a single drop on an Alpha’s boots, they will have your head. Now, go!"

I took a deep breath. My wolf, Aria, was pacing in my mind. She was showing her teeth, her silver fur standing on end. *We do not serve,* she growled. *We rule.*

*Not tonight,* I whispered back. *Tonight, we survive.*

I stepped into the Great Hall. The noise was like a blow. There was music—violins and drums—and the loud, booming laughter of men who knew they were the masters of the world. I saw Alphas from the Western Plains, their skin tanned from the sun. I saw the Alphas from the Iron Peaks, who looked like they were made of stone.

But then, my eyes found him.

Kael was sitting at the high table in the center of the room. He didn't look like the man who had yelled at me in the laundry. He looked like a king from an old story. He wore a black suit that fit his muscular body perfectly. His dark hair was brushed back, and his blue eyes were sharp, watching every person in the room like a hawk.

Next to him sat a woman I didn't recognize. She was beautiful, with hair the color of spun gold and a dress made of red silk that left little to the imagination. She was Lady Camille, the daughter of a powerful Alpha from the South. She was leaning close to Kael, her hand resting on his arm.

The bond inside me reacted instantly. It felt like a hot iron being pressed into my heart. My blood began to boil with a jealousy so strong I almost dropped the tray. My wolf wanted to jump across the room and tear that woman’s hand off.

*He is mine,* Aria snarled.

*He doesn't want us,* I reminded her, the pain making it hard to breathe.

I moved through the crowd, keeping my eyes on the floor. I held the tray high, weaving between the large bodies of the warriors. I served an Alpha from the Iron Peaks, then a group of high-ranking she-wolves who looked at me with disgust.

"More wine, Omega," one of them said, not even looking at me. She just held out her glass.

I filled it, my hand steady. I was a ghost in the room. I was invisible to them, and that was how I needed it to stay. But the closer I got to the high table, the harder the bond pulled. It was like an invisible rope was tied around my waist, dragging me toward Kael.

Finally, there was no more avoiding it. The high table needed more wine.

I walked up the small steps to the platform where Kael sat. My heart was beating so hard I was sure he could hear it. As I approached, the scent of winter and cedarwood became overwhelming. It was the smell of home, even though I had never truly had one.

Kael was talking to another Alpha, his expression serious. He didn't look at me as I reached for his glass. Lady Camille, however, did.

"Oh, look at this one," Camille said, her voice like honey mixed with poison. She looked at my simple dress and my red, scrubbed hands. "The Northern Pack really does keep its servants in the dark, doesn't it? She looks like she’s about to break in half."

Kael stopped talking. He turned his head slowly, his eyes landing on me. The air between us seemed to snap. For a second, the noise of the party faded away. I saw the gold flicker in his blue eyes. I saw his nostrils flare as he caught my scent.

"She is an Omega," Kael said. His voice was cold, but there was an edge to it that I hadn't heard before. "She is built for work, not for beauty."

Camille laughed and ran a finger down Kael’s arm. "Well, she is certainly not beautiful. Tell me, Alpha, why do you keep such a plain thing in your house? My father would have exiled her years ago. Weakness is contagious."

I felt the sting of her words, but I didn't let my face change. I reached for Kael’s glass to refill it. My hand was inches from his. I could feel the heat radiating from him. My wolf was begging me to touch him, just to feel the spark of the mate bond.

"The Northern Shadows do not fear weakness," Kael said, his gaze never leaving mine. "We crush it."

As I poured the wine, my hand shook—just a tiny bit. A single drop of dark red liquid splashed onto the white silk tablecloth right next to Kael’s hand.

The table went silent. Camille gasped as if I had committed a murder.

"You clumsy little rat!" Camille snapped. She stood up, her eyes flashing. "You ruined the silk! Do you have any idea how much this costs?"

I looked down at the red stain. It looked like a drop of blood on a snowfield. "I... I am sorry, my lady. I will clean it."

"You’ll do more than that," Camille said. She picked up her own glass of wine—a full one—and looked at me with a cruel smile.