Claimed By The Alpha’s Rival

Episode 02

Adira's POV

Everything had been decided without me. As I stood in the parlor, my uncle beaming with satisfaction, it became clear—this wasn't a last-minute decision. They had been planning this for a long time. Dread wrapped around me like chains, squeezing the air from my lungs. My fate was sealed, and I had no say in it.

"You should be grateful, girl. My son will treat you like a queen," Beta Draven declared, his rotten teeth making my stomach churn.

If silence was a gift, I wished they would bestow it upon me. Their false reassurance only made the reality of my situation more unbearable. A queen? No, I was being sold like cattle, a pawn for their benefit. My mind couldn't process the depth of my misery fast enough, and I shook as the weight of it settled in.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them see me break. My uncle, standing there with a proud smirk, was enjoying this.

“Are you crying? Really? No! You will not shame this family in front of our guests!” Bailey’s mother shrieked, crossing the room in a fury before grabbing a fistful of my hair. Pain shot through my scalp as she dragged me across the house, throwing me into my room with a hard shove.

“Pack your things. You leave in three hours.”

Three hours. Just like that, my life was being signed away. I should have felt relief. I should have been happy to escape their cruelty. But where they were sending me? It could be far worse.

I had to escape.

As soon as I was alone, my mind raced. My eyes darted to the window. It was now or never. Grabbing a small bag, I stuffed in whatever I could and climbed down carefully. The moment my feet touched the ground, I ran.

The forest was silent at first, but then the howls started. They weren't from wolves—at least, not normal ones.

Oh for f***s sake, I hope that i dont meet my death just when I'm few steps away from escaping it.

I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I had to keep running. Whatever it is, it could only kill me if it caught up to me.

“Well, well,” a voice sneered, stopping me in my tracks and I halted as soon as I could. Heck if I didn't, I would have probably slammed into the man's body.

A rogue.

He eyed me like a predator sizing up his next meal, a wicked grin twisting his face. "What a delicious little runaway."

More rogues emerged from the darkness, surrounding me. My pulse pounded in my ears. I had no way out—until the presence of warriors changed everything.

I turned, my stomach dropping as familiar figures stepped forward.

My uncle. Bailey. And worst of all—Alpha Kai. Of course, why didn't I think of this? Runaways were highly frowned upon at our pack so it was likely that my uncle had reported me being missing to the pack house and the Alpha had sent out scouts including himself to drag me back to my destruction.

Now here we are, so uncool.

I felt my blood run cold as the pack warriors pushed through the trees, their expressions unreadable. My uncle’s face twisted in triumph.

“Your foolishness will be your downfall, Adira,” he spat.

I lifted my chin, anger bubbling up despite my fear. “You may despise me, but at least say my name with respect.”

My words only made his expression darken.

"Your name with respect? Is that how you will talk to your uncle who raised you? A poor orphan girl with no future?" I squeezed my palm at the mention of Orphan and glared up at him.

Either ways, I'll be punished so it's better to seize the opportunity.

"It's funny how at every slightest opportunity, you remind me that I'm an orphan. It's almost like you couldn't wait for my parent's to die."

There! That should anger him. I braced for his rage, but something changed in the air. The warriors stiffened, their heads bowing in unison.

Confused, I turned—and froze.

Alpha Kai’s gaze locked onto me, his stormy eyes filled with something unreadable. The energy in the air shifted, wrapping around me like a force I couldn’t comprehend.

For some reason, it smelt like vanilla and the forest and something—

Then, it hit me.

Mate.

Oh wow, I found my mate in— Alpha? Alpha Kai?

The Alpha of our pack?

I had heard so many rumours about him and now I was standing right in front of him!

I sucked in a sharp breath, my heart slamming against my ribs. After years of loneliness, of suffering, I had found him.

But he didn’t want me.

“No,” Kai muttered, his jaw tightening. “There’s no way.”

The rejection in his tone sliced through me like a blade. He didn’t even need to say it—I could see it in his eyes. He loathed this bond. Loathed me.

“My Lord, are you alright?” one of his warriors asked.

Kai ignored him, his gaze never leaving mine. He was at war with himself, his emotions clashing beneath his hardened exterior. Then, his expression turned cold.

"Mate." He growled as he stared up at me with a devilish look in his eyes. It's almost like he wanted to tear me apart.

“You—what’s your name again?”

"Again? I haven't even told you before." I stressed and he tilted his head.

"What?"

The sound of his voice sent shivers through me, but my throat felt tight.

"Well, it's Adira,” I whispered.

"Adira." He repeated my name, tasting it like it was poison on his tongue. For a fleeting moment, hope flared in my chest. Maybe, just maybe—

“You're an omega?” He questioned and I shrugged while nodding.

“I just wolfed out today so I don't even know the hierarchy yet. Do you have a problem with Omega's? I think I'll be an omega though, my parents were Omega's.”

“Pathetic.” He mumbled and I was about replying that when he opened his mouth.

“I, Alpha Kai of Black Alder, reject you, Adira, as my fated mate. I sever all ties with you.”

The pain came instantly, sharp and unbearable. It ripped through me, shattering every fragile hope I had dared to cling to.

This was supposed to be my salvation.

Instead, it was my ruin.