The Alpha’s Claim
1171 Words
The rogues lunged.
And the forest exploded into violence.
A deafening snarl tore through the night as King Rowan shifted before my eyes.
Bones cracked.
Muscles twisted.
Dark fur burst across scarred skin.
One second, the ruthless Alpha King stood in front of me.
The next
A monstrous black wolf towered between me and death.
Massive.
Terrifying.
Royal.
His golden eyes flashed once toward me.
Stay back.
Then he launched forward.
The first rogue never stood a chance.
Rowan tore through its throat with savage precision, blood spraying across moonlit leaves. Another leaped for his flank. He twisted, crushing its spine beneath enormous jaws.
But more kept coming.
Five.
Ten.
Too many.
Their snarls echoed through the cursed forest like demons unleashed.
I stumbled backward, dagger in hand, heart slamming against my ribs.
This was madness.
I should run.
Any sane woman would.
But Rowan this arrogant, brutal king who had hunted me only moments ago was bleeding for me.
Protecting me.
Possessive bastard.
A rogue darted past him.
Straight for me.
I barely raised my dagger before its teeth snapped inches from my throat.
I slashed wildly.
Steel cut fur.
The wolf screamed.
Then heavy black fur slammed into it.
Rowan.
He ripped the rogue away and crushed its skull.
His growl shook my bones.
Another came.
And another.
They were targeting me.
Not him.
Me.
Why?
The lead rogue, the scarred one with red eyes, paced through the clearing like a nightmare.
Human intelligence burned inside its stare.
It wasn’t acting like a beast.
It was hunting.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then
It shifted.
My breath caught.
Bones snapped grotesquely.
Fur receded.
A man emerged.
Tall and gaunt, his body covered in scars, silver tattoos twisting across pale skin. His red eyes glowed unnaturally in the dark.
A rogue Alpha.
Impossible.
Rogues didn’t organize.
Didn’t lead.
Didn’t speak.
Yet he smiled.
Cold.
Cruel.
Predatory.
“Well,” he said, voice rough as broken stone. “The lost blood finally breathes.”
Ice poured through me.
“What?”
Rowan shifted back violently into human form, chest heaving, blood streaking down his ribs.
He stepped in front of me again.
Naked.
Scarred.
Deadly.
Protective.
“You will not say her name,” Rowan growled.
The rogue Alpha laughed.
“Oh, but he doesn’t know, does he?”
My pulse hammered.
Know what?
I looked between them.
“What is happening?”
Neither answered.
I hated that.
I stepped around Rowan.
“I asked a question.”
His hand shot out, catching my wrist.
Hard.
Hot.
Commanding.
“Stay behind me.”
My jaw tightened.
“I’m not a helpless pup.”
His golden eyes locked onto mine.
Something fierce moved there.
Possession.
Frustration.
Something darker.
“No,” he said quietly. “You are far worse.”
Heat rushed into my face.
Before I could snap back, the rogue Alpha lunged.
Rowan shoved me aside.
The two Alphas collided like thunder.
Claws.
Teeth.
Blood.
They tore through mud and roots, snarling like gods of war. Rowan was stronger larger, faster but the rogue fought with wild desperation.
I scrambled up, gripping my dagger.
One rogue circled behind Rowan.
Too close.
Without thinking, I ran.
The rogue snapped at me.
I ducked low and drove my dagger into its throat.
Hot blood coated my hands.
The wolf collapsed.
Dead.
Silence hit me for half a breath.
I had killed before.
Bandits.
Hunters.
Men who deserved it.
But this
This felt different.
Primal.
Violent.
Alive.
Another rogue came.
I spun
Too slow.
It slammed into me.
Pain exploded across my shoulder as claws tore fabric and skin. I crashed into damp earth, breath punched from my lungs.
Its jaws lowered.
I screamed
Then power burst through me.
A violent pulse exploded from my chest.
Silver light.
Wild.
Ancient.
The rogue flew backward like it had been struck by lightning.
Trees cracked.
The beast hit bark and didn’t rise.
Everything stopped.
Even Rowan.
His enemy froze.
The remaining rogues backed away, whining.
Afraid.
Of me.
My breathing fractured.
“What… was that?”
The silver light still flickered across my fingertips.
Impossible.
I had no wolf.
No power.
At least… I thought I didn’t.
The rogue Alpha stared.
Then smiled slowly.
“There she is.”
Fear curled deep in my stomach.
Rowan’s voice dropped like a blade.
“Run.”
The rogue Alpha attacked again.
Rowan met him head-on.
Their bodies slammed together.
Claws flashed.
Blood sprayed.
I should have fled.
Instead, I grabbed a fallen branch, shoved myself upright, and scanned the battlefield.
Then I saw it.
A silver spear.
Dropped by a dead hunter near the rocks.
Pure silver.
Lethal to wolves.
The rogue Alpha pinned Rowan down.
Teeth at his throat.
Rowan snarled.
For the first time
He was losing.
Something inside me snapped.
I ran.
Ignoring pain.
Ignoring fear.
Ignoring Rowan shouting my name.
The rogue Alpha turned too late.
I drove the silver spear through his back.
Straight through his chest.
He screamed.
A horrifying, inhuman sound.
Red eyes widened.
Then went dead.
His body collapsed.
The forest fell silent.
One by one, the surviving rogues fled into darkness.
Gone.
Only moonlight.
Blood.
Breath.
And Rowan.
He stood slowly.
Wounded.
Massive.
Terrifying.
Golden eyes fixed on me.
Then on the spear in my trembling hands.
Then back to me.
“You disobeyed me.”
I let out a shaky laugh.
“You’re welcome.”
For one dangerous second, I thought he might roar.
Instead
He stalked toward me.
Slow.
Predatory.
Each step made my pulse pound harder.
My back hit a tree.
Nowhere left to move.
Rowan planted one hand beside my head.
Towering over me.
His body heat wrapped around mine.
Blood and pine and storm.
His scent was intoxicating.
His eyes dropped to my torn shoulder.
The wound.
His expression darkened.
“You’re hurt.”
“I noticed.”
His fingers brushed my skin.
Unexpectedly gentle.
I shivered.
His nostrils flared.
Then his gaze sharpened.
He leaned closer.
Too close.
My breath hitched.
“What are you doing?”
His voice roughened.
“Trying not to do exactly what my wolf wants.”
My throat tightened.
“What does he want?”
His jaw flexed.
Then he whispered
“Mark you.”
My pulse stopped.
A mating mark.
Impossible.
We had just met.
I should hate him.
Fear him.
Fight him.
Instead my body betrayed me.
Heat.
Need.
Confusion.
Danger.
He lowered his face toward my throat.
And then
A horn shattered the silence.
Three sharp blasts.
Royal guards.
Rowan jerked back, snarling.
From the ridge above us, armored wolves burst from the trees.
But they weren’t alone.
At their center stood an older woman in black ceremonial robes.
Her silver eyes landed on me.
And horror crossed her face.
She whispered one trembling sentence.
“The last daughter of Vaelor has returned.”
My blood ran cold.
Rowan’s expression turned lethal.
And every warrior in the clearing dropped to one knee.
Not to him.
To me.
- Writer
