Alpha's Daughter: Surviving The Claim

Fight Me

Catherine gave nothing away as she stared at Killian.

They’d just sounded the horn that indicated the spar had begun; and he stalked around her in a full circle, assessing her. His black eyes lingered on her cheek, and Catherine thought she saw a hint of worry in them. She scolded herself— she knew better. Killian worried for no one.

Her muscles coiled, going on defense, despite her body being clammy and weak. Tala rose to the surface, her power emanating through Catherine’s body.

Catherine’s entire body was coiled like a snake, tense— but shaky and unstable. She turned when Killian turned, refusing to turn her back on him. Tala was oddly calm in her head— excited, even, as if this were an enchanting game to her.

It is an enchanting game. We wolves love to chase, Tala said weakly in her head.

The crowd was murmuring and whispering— but Catherine barely noticed. Her eyes were fixated on the huge Alpha stalking her, watching her with calculating eyes. Power radiated off of Killian like no other Alpha she’d ever encountered.

Slowly, Killian smiled a devilish smile at her.

And then he pounced.

He flew towards her quickly, and she barely had time to flip backwards out of the way. Her feet hit the ground with a thud, and she gasped as the jolt of the impact sent pain hammering through her jaw and the wounds on her face.

She barely had time to collect herself before he launched himself at her again.

They danced this way for quite some time. Killian was a work of art in combat; all of his movements calculated and precise— but Catherine was small. Fast. Limber. In the second it took for her to see his next move, she was already out of the way.

But all of the ducking and weaving was exhausting her, and Killian could see it. He watched her knees as they shook as she landed another flip, saw how unstable they were. She wanted to scream in frustration that she wasn’t healing like normal. It had to be the arena— the grounds were cursed.. something. Her teeth still ached badly from Luna Felicity’s strike, her fuzziness in her vision absolutely a concussion that should have healed within minutes.

Killian came for her again, and this time, he made contact.

He lept over her head, and before Catherine could get her shaking legs to balance, he had his front pressed against her back, and his hand was around her throat.

Fire erupted over her skin at his touch; his calloused, warm fingers on her neck sending a shiver down her spine and warmth to her belly. His scent invaded her nostrils, and he smelled like the forest— pine and cedar.

Her body tensed as she felt his breath against her ear. His voice was gentle, almost kind, as he purred to her. . “I can heal you, mate. If you let me.”

Rage took over Catherine at her body’s response to him— at the mate bond she was forced to share with such a monster.

“I’d rather die,” she spat, before sending an elbow towards his ribs with crushing force.

It didn’t hurt him, but it did stun him enough that his grip loosened and she was able to dart out of his hands.

Rage shone in his black eyes, and by the time he ran for her and had her slammed and pinned against the arena floor, she knew he had been letting her win.

He straddled her, his knees pinning her wrists to the ground, one of his palms cupping her face. He leaned in close to her ear.

“Hate me all you want, Conri,” he purred. “You still belong to me. The moon made it so.”

And then his mouth was skimming across her cheek, across the wounds there, and Catherine almost started screaming in disgust.

“Submit,” his wolf was making the commands now, and Catherine began to sweat as she tried to fight the command. “Submit, mate, and let me heal you.”

Something about his voice— before Catherine even knew what she was doing— she was lifting her chin and barring her neck to him.

Yes, Tala encouraged her. This is how it should be. He’s ours. He’s our alpha.

Something burned deep in Killian’s eyes as he stared at her neck, and he leaned down to brush his lips against her cheek.

The pain in her face faded away. Catherine practically sagged with relief as she felt the wounds on her cheek closing, the bruising fading away.

The elders were clapping and singing praise, males were growling— but Killian didn’t let Catherine up. He was staring intently at her face, equal parts enraged and confused, like he felt as if he were missing something important.

The relief and peace she felt with her wounds healed faded quickly, and Catherine found herself snarling angrily up at the Alpha. “Get off of me.”

Killian’s eyes darkened with rage. “A thank you would suffice.”

Her strength back, Catherine bucked her hips suddenly, throwing Killian off balance and causing him to tuck and roll off of her. She snarled at him, her lips curling up around her elongated canines.

Despite the cheering around them, she murmured as she walked away, knowing he would hear her.

“I don’t care who determines fate. I’ll never be yours.”