Alpha's Daughter: Surviving The Claim

Game

Catherine stared at her reflection in the mirror, touching the necklace from her father with calm, steady fingers.

She was dressed for the Claim. The thin material of the shift dress did nothing to protect her skin, and she knew she would be open to the elements— and without Tala’s instincts to guide her. Her wolf was much too weak.

Catherine closed her eyes. You can do this, she told herself. You are the daughter of Thomas Conri. You can do this.

Catherine wasn’t sure she believed herself. Everything she had been taught from a young age— honor, dignity, mercy— it all swirled around in her head. She wasn’t sure how any of this had any dignity to it. She’d been raised to stay strong in the face of the enemy her entire life— but her enemy made her knees want to crumple.

Josie had gone before her, and the twins before that. The 30 days they had in the arena had turned into 3 days for Opal, 2 for Jade, and Josie had held out for almost 7 days. All three had been claimed. Information on who claimed them had been shielded from Catherine— none of the pairings would be announced until her own claim was over. She was the last female unclaimed.

In the passing days, her claimant list had dwindled down to just fifty. She wasn’t sure why males had dropped out of her claim at astronomical numbers— but she was sure that the Blood Moon pack members that had been appointed to guard her dormitory were part of it.

She hadn’t seen Killian since the elder had left her with him in the gardens. She’d barely been allowed out of her dorm. Once the claims started, no one moved. Everyone was focused on the current female in the arena.

When the Blood Moon warriors arrived outside of her dorm, she’d tried to question it— but the elders had been silent. Even Luna June was quiet, providing her with no answers and a shrug. She was sure Killian had bargained with the elders to allow it to happen.

And today— Catherine’s knuckles turned white as she clenched the wolf hanging around her throat into a fist— she would enter the arena. She would have twelve hours to work her way through the forest before the males were let in after her. And they would be faster than her. Stronger. And worse— they could shift, and she couldn’t.

Luna June popped her head in, a warm but sympathetic smile on her face. “You ready?”

Catherine took a deep breath. “Not even close. Unless you can sneak me a bow and some arrows.”

The Luna grinned. Catherine was surprisingly very fond of Luna June these days. “I’ll get right on that, darling.”

“Is everyone waiting?” Catherine asked calmly, staring at her white-blue eyes in the mirror.

“They are,” the Luna informed her. “Your claimants are lined up and waiting. The elders are outside of the arena. It’s time to go, I’m afraid.” June gave her a sad smile.

Catherine took one more breath before turning to head towards the door. June stepped in front of her, her kind eyes focused on Catherine’s as she grasped her by the shoulders.

“I know I am not your mother,” she said quietly. “But if I may give you a word of advice?”

Catherine examined her. “You may.”

“If you can’t avoid being marked,” June’s jaw clenched. “Make him earn it.”