Claimed by the Alpha

Chosen by the moon

They didn’t get the chance to lock the east wing.

The order had barely been put to action when everything went wrong.

A scream tore through the halls. Then another. The ground shook like something massive had hit the walls. Dust rained from the ceiling with stones and everywhere was chaotic.

Attack, my wolf said sharply. This one is planned.

The guards outside my door moved fast, trying to fight off the invaders. Blood splattered on the wall as a guard fell to the ground in a loud thud.

The door burst open and two strangers strode in. Their scent hit me first—sour and hungry. One of them smiled when he saw me. ‘’There she is.’’

The other one replied ‘’Worth all the trouble.’’ The look he gave me was disturbing and scary.

My chest tightened and my body froze the way it always did when fear was already deep. My wolf shifted forward, panicking.

Move. Move now.

I stumbled back just as one of them lunged forward. The room was filled with noise and shouting and snarling. Another guard fell down near the doorway, blood spreading fast.

I ran. My bare feet slapped against the floor as I bolted into the corridor. There was a lot of chaos in the hallway, different wolves were fighting aggressively. I tried to make my way carefully to somewhere safe but the thick smoke and dust in the air blurred my vision.

Someone grabbed my arm and I screamed.

The grip was rough and familiar in the worst way. My mind flashed back to other hands, other nights, powerless nights.

‘’No,’’ I choked. ‘’Don’t—‘’

Something broke open inside me, not pain, not fear but something old. The moonlight pouring through the high windows suddenly turned brighter. It flooded the corridor with bright gold lights. The wolf holding me screamed as his skin burned like it had touched fire. He staggered back, grunting.

The light didn’t spread, it focused…on me.

I stood there shaking, golden light wrapping around my skin like it knew me, like it had been waiting. My wolf went still.

You didn’t call it, she whispered in awe. It came on its own.

Kael crashed into the corridor seconds later, he was radiating fury and murder. He looked around and then his eyes focused on me. His breath left him sharply.

‘’Liora,’’ he called.

One of the attackers dropped to his knees. ‘’She’s moon-touched,’’ he said in realization. ‘’She’s gold.’’

The word ripped through the hall like a curse. Gold meant rare. Untouchable. Dangerous. It meant the moon didn’t just see me, it chose me. The invaders tried to back away. One turned to run.

Kael moved but he didn’t chase, he commanded.

‘’None of them leave,’’ he said coldly.

The doors slammed shut on their own, not by hands, but by a force. The moonlight turned a shade lower, sealing the hall. The attackers realized then, they weren’t escaping.

The light faded slowly and slowly until it disappeared completely like it had never been there. My knees buckled and Kael caught me, his arms locking around me tight enough to hurt.

‘’What are you?’’ he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

My head spun, I was already dizzy. ‘’I don’t know.’’

His grip tightened but his next words weren’t for me.

‘’Lock this place down,’’ he ordered. ‘’And summon the Moon council.’’

Because whatever I was…the moon had just made it impossible to hide.