CLAIMED BY THE DARKEST ALPHA

Elara stood before the mirror, staring at the girl reflected back at her. Her green eyes looked restless, her brown hair falling loose over her shoulders. She had tried to braid it twice, but her hands kept shaking. Today was supposed to be the day. Her parents had told her since she was a child that her mate would be special, someone powerful, someone worthy of their family’s name. She was eighteen now, no longer a child. She should have already felt the bond when she came of age months ago, but nothing had happened. No pull or spark, no whisper from the Moon Goddess. Her wolf, Liora, had been quiet too, restless but silent. Everyone in her pack waited, whispering behind her back that perhaps she had no mate at all. Her parents refused to accept that. They had been setting her on dates and tonight, they had arranged for the pack’s Beta to come to dinner at their place in order to pair them up. He was strong, tall, and respected, and her parents were certain this time around that he was destined to be Elara’s mate. They spoke of him with pride, as if the bond was already proven. But Elara’s stomach twisted with unease. She left her room and walked into the hall where her family waited. Her mother, Maren, gave her a sharp look, adjusting the pearl necklace around her own throat before stepping forward to fix Elara’s dress. “Stand tall, Elara,” her mother scolded softly. “You cannot look nervous. The Beta is coming tonight. This is important.” “I know, Mother,” Elara whispered. Her voice cracked, and she swallowed hard. Her father, Lord Kael, stood by the fire, his hands clasped behind his back. He was a stern man who rarely smiled. “You will do your duty,” he said simply. “The Moon Goddess never makes mistakes. If you are meant for the Beta, you will feel it.” Elara nodded, although doubt chewed at her insides. Beside her, her younger sister Anya hummed under her breath as she smoothed down her own gown. Anya was seventeen, just a year younger, but she already carried herself with confidence. She was beautiful, with golden hair and sharp blue eyes that always seemed to sparkle. Everyone adored her. “You look pale, Elara,” Anya teased, touching her arm. “Don’t worry. If it’s meant to be, it will be.” Elara tried to smile, but it came out thin and weak. The sound of footsteps outside drew everyone’s attention. The Beta had arrived. His name was Jareth. When he stepped into the room, Elara felt her chest tighten. He was broad shouldered, his dark hair neatly tied back, his sharp jaw covered in a faint shadow of stubble. His presence filled the hall, commanding respect. “Lord Kael. Lady Maren,” Jareth greeted with a bow. His eyes flicked toward Elara, and a polite smile touched his lips. “Beta Jareth,” her father said, gesturing to the table. “Welcome. Tonight may mark an important bond between our families.” The words sent Elara’s pulse racing. She felt her wolf stir restlessly, but still there was no spark, no invisible string tugging her toward Jareth. Nothing. They sat together, a feast laid out before them. Elara could barely eat. She kept fidgeting her hands, an attempt to calm herself down, waiting for something to happen, for the Moon Goddess to make it clear. Jareth glanced at her often, his expression patient but curious. Finally, after dinner, her mother placed a small velvet box on the table. “This is for the mate bond,” Maren explained. “A necklace, blessed under the moonlight. When Elara and Jareth touch it together, the bond will be revealed.” Elara’s hands trembled as her mother pressed the box into her palms. She opened it slowly. Inside lay a delicate silver chain with a crescent pendant that shimmered faintly. “Go on, child,” her mother urged. “Take his hand.” Elara turned to Jareth, her heart pounding. He reached for her, his warm hand closing over hers as they both touched the necklace. And then Nothing. Elara waited, her breath caught in her throat, but no spark raced through her body. No warmth spread through her chest. Her wolf stayed silent. Jareth frowned slightly, confusion flashing across his face. Then, suddenly, Anya gasped. She clutched her chest, her eyes wide, and stared at Jareth. A golden light shimmered faintly between them, invisible threads pulling tight. “No…” Elara whispered. Jareth’s gaze snapped to Anya, and his eyes darkened. He felt it too. The bond. The room went silent. Her mother’s face paled, then twisted with disbelief. Her father muttered something under his breath, his fists tightening. “It’s her,” Anya breathed. “It’s me.” Maren’s hands shook as she snatched the necklace from Elara’s grip and turned to Anya. “Then it belongs to you,” she said quickly, fastening it around Anya’s neck as if Elara had never existed. Elara’s world shattered. Her chest felt hollow, her breath unsteady. She stared at her sister, who now stood glowing with the mate bond that should have been hers. Everyone looked at Anya with awe, pride, acceptance. No one looked at Elara. Her mother didn’t even glance her way. Her father’s silence cut deeper than words. Elara’s wolf howled inside her, a sound full of sorrow and betrayal. “I…” Elara’s voice cracked. She couldn’t stay here. She couldn’t breathe. Without another word, she turned and fled the hall. “Elara!” her mother’s sharp voice called after her, but she didn’t stop. Her feet pounded the earth as she ran out of the house and into the night. Tears blurred her vision, but she didn’t care. She shifted mid stride, her bones snapped and her fur rippled across her skin until her wolf form took over. Liora, her silver-furred wolf, burst forward with raw speed, carrying her away from the pack she considers as home. Away from her parents, from Anya, from the bond that had been stolen. She didn’t know where she was going. She didn’t care. She only wanted to escape the pain tearing her apart. The forest grew darker as she ran, branches whipping against her fur. Her paws pounded against the earth, carrying her farther and farther from home. She crossed rivers, climbed rocky slopes, and pushed through the dense trees until her lungs burned. The moon hung high above her, watching silently. But then, a new scent hit her nose. Sharp and dangerous. She slowed, her ears twitching. Liora growled low in her throat. This was no ordinary territory. The air here was heavier, marked with dominance and warning. Elara had trespassed. Before she could turn back, shadows moved between the trees. Wolves emerged, large and fierce, their eyes glowing in the dark. Growls rumbled through the night. Elara’s heart stopped. She had crossed into enemy land, Alpha Damon’s pack. The wolves circled her, snapping their teeth. She shifted back to human form, trembling, her dress torn, her body shaking. “I-I didn’t mean to trespass,” she stammered, holding up her hands. One of the guards snarled. “You’re coming with us.” Before she could resist, they seized her arms and dragged her forward. The night closed in around her as they pulled her deeper into Alpha Damon’s territory. She had heard the stories of how ruthless he was, how dangerous. Wolves said he had no mercy or kindness, but only power and blood. Fear curled in her stomach, but beneath it, something else stirred. Something her wolf whispered about, faint and strange. As the guards shoved her into a cold stone cell, Elara clutched her arms around herself. She was trapped, alone, and far from home. “What will Alpha Damon do to me now?” She whispered to herself. She sat there and recalled all the things that brought her to her current situation. She laid there and cried. Not knowing what will happen by daybreak. Is she going to be punished like a rogue?