Claimed by the Alpha

What the moon demands

I woke up cold. I didn’t even realize when I fell asleep.

I felt like something had been pulled out of me and never put back. My body felt heavy and out of place, even breathing took effort.

I tried to move.

A hand tightened around mine instantly.

“Don’t,” Kael said.

His voice was close. I forced my eyes open and found him sitting beside the bed, one arm resting near me like he’d been there a long time. His hair was loose, dark shadows under his eyes. He looked… worn.

I’d never seen him like that.

“What happened?” I asked. My throat felt dry. My voice barely came out.

“You burned through more energy than your body could handle,” he said. “The moon took a price.”

I swallowed. “Did I hurt anyone?”

“No,” he said quickly. “You stopped the attack. You saved this pack.”

The word pack felt strange. I wasn’t part of it. Not really.

I tried to pull my hand back, but my fingers were weak. Kael noticed and shifted closer, his grip gentle but firm.

“You’re safe,” he said. “I’ve got you.”

That scared me more than the attack had.

My wolf stirred faintly. Too much, she murmured. We gave too much.

Before I could respond, the room felt different. The air changed with an old presence, like we weren’t alone anymore.

Kael’s body went still.

“They’re here,” he said.

The doors opened without a The.

Six elders entered, cloaked in silver and ash. Their steps were slow and measured. Their eyes glowed faintly, all different shades of moonlight.

The Moon Council.

Kael stood immediately, placing himself between me and them.

“You have arrived,” he said.

An old woman at the front tilted her head. Her voice was soft. “Gold summons us.”

Her gaze slid past Kael and landed on me.

I felt exposed. Like my bones were see-through.

“Liora,” another elder said, a man with scars carved into his face. “Daughter of Selene Vale.”

My heart shook. “You knew my mother?”

The elders exchanged looks.

“She was more than a queen,” the woman said. “She was a bearer. Like you.”

Kael turned sharply. “Explain.”

“She vanished because the moon demanded silence,” the elder continued. “Gold wolves are not meant to rule openly. They balance Alphas. They correct them.”

My head spun. “Correct them how?”

The scarred elder smiled, and it wasn’t kind. “By taking power when it goes too far.”

Kael’s hand clenched into a fist.

“You’re saying she can weaken an Alpha,” he said.

“Or strengthen him,” another elder replied. “Depending on the bond.”

My wolf stirred again, stronger now. This is why they fear us.

The woman stepped closer to my bed. Kael moved instantly, blocking her path.

“You’ll keep your distance.”

“She is already bound,” the woman said calmly. “The question is how long before the bond consumes one of you.”

I looked at Kael. His jaw was tight, his eyes dark.

“What aren’t you saying?” I asked.

Silence fell upon the room.

Finally, the scarred elder spoke. “If a Gold bearer bonds to an Alpha who refuses balance… the moon will choose.”

“Choose what?” I whispered.

“Which one survives.”

The words hit hard.

My chest tightened. “That’s not a choice.”

“It isn’t yours,” the woman said. “And it isn’t his.”

Kael turned to me then, his hand coming up to cup my face. His touch was steady and possessive.

“I won’t let them take you,” he said. “I don’t care what the moon wants.”

The elders’ eyes glowed brighter.

“That,” the woman said softly, “is exactly what destroyed your mother.”

My breath caught.

Before either of us could speak, pain flared through my chest. It was sharp and burning. I cried out, arching off the bed.

Kael grabbed me. “Liora!”

Golden light spilled from my skin, uncontrolled and wild. The elders stepped back.

The woman’s voice cut through the chaos. “The bond is awakening.”

My wolf screamed inside me.

He’s pulling too hard.

Kael held me tighter, refusing to let go.

And somewhere above us,

the moon began to change.