Claimed by Wolf King

A House Built on Lies

The sound of the convoy disappearing through Alpha Carter's massive iron gates faded, but the howl it left behind still echoed through Ashbourne. Every wolf in the area knew what that sound meant – pure authority. Conversations died down, shopkeepers came out, warriors stood taller, and kids stopped their games.

Everyone except Ava. She was practically glued to the attic window, her hands gripping the old wood so tight she felt like it was the only thing holding her up.

That weird warmth in her chest? It just wouldn't go away. It thumped beneath her ribs with a steady, powerful beat that definitely wasn't hers. For a fleeting second, she'd felt *something* brush against her mind – ancient, calm, and incredibly strong. Then, poof, it was gone, leaving her with a bunch of unanswered questions.

"Ava!"

Charles's booming voice ripped through the house, breaking the spell. She pulled away from the window, scooped up the silver pendant from the floor, and shoved it under her sweater before hightailing it downstairs. Halfway down, she spotted Liana in the hallway, looking unusually pale. Their eyes met for a blink, and then Liana looked away.

So, Liana hadn't told Charles. At least, not yet.

Charles was in the dining room, arms crossed. His sharp charcoal suit was perfectly pressed, making him look every bit the successful businessman he pretended to be. Nobody meeting him for the first time would ever guess that the same hands signing charity checks also left bruises on Ava.

"Where have you been?" he demanded.

"Just fixing the dress," she mumbled.

"You've been up there for almost an hour."

"Almost done," she replied.

He stared at her face, trying to catch her in a lie. Finally, he tossed a small pile of folded linens onto the table.

"The guest rooms need fresh sheets before sundown. After that, shine every window in the east wing and help Vivian get dinner ready. We've got important guests coming through town tonight."

Ava just nodded. "I'll do it."

Charles turned and walked away, dismissing her like she was just another staff member.

She lugged the linens upstairs, creeping down the long hallway. Family photos lined the walls – Charles, Vivian, and Liana grinning at birthdays, graduations, and holidays. Ava was in none of them.

It wasn't always like this. When she was five, there *was* one picture of all four of them under the Moon Festival lanterns. She remembered Charles putting his arm around her, Vivian smiling for the camera. For years, Ava clung to that, thinking it meant they’d loved her once.

Then, on her twelfth birthday, she accidentally overheard Vivian arguing with Charles. "Take it down," Vivian had snapped. "People are already asking too many questions." The photo vanished the next day. No one ever brought it up again.

By late afternoon, the house was a whirlwind of activity. Vivian was directing chefs and fussing over flower arrangements. Liana spent two hours agonizing over which dress would impress the visiting Alphas, loudly complaining about any color suggestions from the servants.

Ava, meanwhile, drifted through the house like a ghost, carrying trays, ironing tablecloths, and scrubbing windows until her arms screamed. As she wiped down the last pane overlooking the front garden, she heard laughter from outside the open gate.

A group of young wolves from the pack had gathered. Marcus. Olivia. Tyler. Liana’s best friends. They spotted Ava right away.

Marcus leaned against the stone fence, a smirk on his face. "Look who they've got cleaning the windows."

Olivia giggled. "Probably don't want her near the guests. Might scare the Wolf King away."

Tyler crossed his arms. "I heard Ethan Knight can smell a wolf from miles away."

Marcus grinned. "Poor guy. Coming all this way only to find out someone doesn't even have one." The group erupted in laughter.

Ava lowered her eyes and kept wiping the glass. She’d heard worse. So much worse. But some things just never stopped hurting.

Marcus sauntered closer, stopping only at the iron fence. "So tell us, Ava," he drawled, his voice dripping with fake sympathy. "Been trying to howl lately? Maybe your wolf just got lost."

More laughter. Olivia chimed in, "Or maybe she's too embarrassed to claim you." Even Tyler let out a chuckle.

Ava dropped the cloth into her bucket and turned towards the door, not saying a word.

"That's right," Marcus called after her. "Walk away. It's pretty much the only thing you're good at."

She slipped inside, closing the door just before tears could spill. Leaning against the quiet hallway wall, she took a shaky breath. "No," she whispered to herself. "Don't give them that." She’d cried enough. Not today. Not again. Straightening her shoulders, Ava picked up the bucket and got back to work.

Miles away, inside Alpha Carter's estate, another conversation was unfolding.

"The whole territory is locked down," Beta Mason reported, placing a folder on the sleek conference table. "Every entry point is covered. Patrols have been doubled since sunrise."

Ethan Knight stood by the massive windows, gazing out at the grounds. The sunset was painting the sky in fiery colors, but his focus was on the distant hills surrounding Ashbourne. Something felt… off. Not dangerous, but familiar. His wolf had been agitated since they crossed into the territory.

*She’s here.*

The voice belonged to Onyx. Ethan frowned.

*Who?*

For the first time in years… his wolf had no answer.