The Alpha’s Claim

Episode 4

Sloane…

I paced about the room, carrying my heart in my hands. The search for me was the least of my problems. What I couldn’t wrap my head around was the idea of a second mate. How?

It was a rare thing to find a second pair. According to stories told by my father, the last he heard of was when he was little. The Luna who found a second mate. He referred to it as a second chance mate. However that story ended, I know it was a tragic one.

I made my way to the window, taking in the cold air of winter. The snow flakes found their way into the room, every drop on my skin reminding me of the dilemma I was in a few hours ago. A cold chill ran down my spine, forcing me away from the window.

Somehow, my savior had snuck me into this cold, lonely room. Along the path, I heard them address him by his name. A few called him Kaelan, while others addressed him by his rank, beta. I didn’t bother to ask any questions after I noticed his dying desire to keep me safe.

That was exactly what was expected from a mate, not torture. I wrapped my hands around my body, breathing out visible frosted air. My clothes weren’t as covered as they were before I was poisoned by Tyra. The gown was shredded, looking more like a rag sewn together.

Footsteps approached the door, then voices followed. I crept to the end of the door, placing my ear to listen to their conversation. It was him—Kaelan. That deep, hoarse but tender voice was distinguishable even from miles away.

“I still haven’t understood why you’re protecting her. What did she say to you?” The voice of the aged man asked.

“She said nothing to me. But father…listen,” his legs struck the floor with speed, racing after his father who had taken a few steps towards the door. He obstructed him with both hands wide open. “You didn’t just save her from the snow only to hand her over,” he stated.

I could see them through a hole in the door. His father looked very eager to send me out. If Kaelan wanted to protect me, he needed to do more than that.

“I am still the alpha of Northsun pack, Kaelan. Step away from the door,” his father ordered. My heart sank as I watched Kaelan step away from the door. I didn’t expect him to give up so early.

I withdrew from the door, my eyes searching for the nearest object around to defend myself. The knob creaked, and the door was about to be pushed open when kaelan’s voice broke the suspense.

“She’s my mate!” He dropped. The door was left to fall back to its lock, and I heard his father returning to him.

“How?” He asked.

But like I expected, Kaelan answered with silence. None of us had an answer as to how it happened. The situation would be worse if I revealed he was my second chance mate.

After what seemed like a lifelong silence, the door opened, and Kaelan walked in, alone. I let out a heavy breath, stretching my neck to confirm his father was gone.

“He’s gone,” Kaelan said, closing the door behind him. Relief coursed through my veins as I made my way back to the window. I didn’t care about how exposed I was. I needed more air to help me think. “But he’ll be back, we need answers,” he added.

“Answers?” I blurted, massaging my skin to soothe the cold. “I didn’t ask to be brought into your pack,” I added, thinking and hoping acting like an actual Decker in a new environment would give me the respect I deserved.

“Then the doors’ open to you, you can leave now which happens to be the perfect time,” he returned, opening the door again. I glanced at him and rolled my eyes away. He was too gorgeous to pick a fight with.

He approached me, stood behind me for a few seconds, then I felt his coat wrap around my shoulders. I clung onto its sleeves, pretending not to have felt the way my wolf leaped in my head. He stood beside me, making me feel like I was suffocating all of a sudden.

I glanced at him again, but his gaze was fixed on the men being addressed by his father downstairs. I recognized them. They weren’t wolves from the Breecera pack. They belonged to another pack, rivals to my family as well, or rather, my father. He was at the center of it all.

“You wouldn’t let them have me even if I wanted to,” I broke the silence between us. He scoffed, corked a brow and gave me a side eye.

“And why’s that?” He asked, sounding like he was actually interested in knowing the reason.

“Cause we…we are mates,” I replied. His smile vanished, and for a second I thought I pissed his wolf off. How sure was I that he felt it—The glaze and the tiny whisper of our wolf’s voice? His hands dropped from where they were locked on his chest and he stepped away from the window.

“Are you really ready for that responsibility?” He asked, a sharp smile crawling up his lips which vanished immediately. “Tell me, Sloane”.

******

I had many questions. How did he know my name?— was the priority. Kaelan left me in the room and almost immediately, some girls dressed like servants came in and led me into the mansion at the center of the land.

I took my time taking in the surroundings, the garden parted into four sections, the lights, and the large black gate protecting the mansion and the other houses within. I was led up a stairs, where I saw Kaelan and his father at the center of a meeting.

Kaelan and I locked eyes for a few seconds before he turned away. Arrogant, that was the only word that popped up in my head after he looked away. The girls took me to a room, large and well decorated.

At first glance, I thought I was mine. But after I took a second glance at the shoes arranged at the corner of the wall, the closet, the wardrobe and the type of design used in the room, it dawned on me that it was owned by a guy.

“We understand how inconvenient it might seem but we weren’t informed of your arrival. Which is why the alpha has asked that you share the room with his son,” a servant who must have picked up my shock said.

“It’s...it’s alright,” I forced a small smile, letting my legs to me to the most attractive piece in the room. It was a blue gem, glittering in its box and tied to a rope. I reached for it but Kaelans’ voice snapped my hands off.

“Touch nothing”.

I hid the fear which crawled up my sleeves and slowly turned to him.

“You’re not dressed. The guests are becoming impatient. What’s holding you all,” he addressed the servants after speaking to me. They jumped into action, taking out a dress from a black bag. Kaelan turned away as they started undressing me.

They were quick with it, wrapped my old clothes in a bag and sat me down before the mirror. They started applying makeup on my face, not giving me a chance to ask what the occasion was. I barely just got here and I’m getting dressed for an occasion.

What happened to asking me questions?

They finished up with it and styled my hair. I almost didn’t recognize the woman staring back at me in the mirror. The makeup and hair was perfect, hiding my large ears beneath its elegance.

“Thanks,” I muttered after the last touch was made on my face. I caught Kaelan staring before he noticed and looked away. I swallowed, unsure of my decision not to have walked out of the door when he asked me to.

Anything but Breecera pack, right?

The door flung open, and his father walked in with strides of emergency. “Quick, they can’t wait any longer,” He said, taking a halt as he appeared behind me. He too was lost in awe, just like Kaelan.

“Did they buy it?” Kaelan asked.

“Yes, but now, you two must perform the mating rites,” his father responded. The look on Kaelans’ face wasn’t good and I was forced to ask.

“Mating rites?”

“You two must present blood-stained sheets from your first night together as mates,” his father answered, looking more amused than when he walked in.

******