Alpha's Daughter: Surviving The Claim

Help Me, Goddess

“Tell me a bedtime story, mama! Pretty please?” Six year old Catherine was laying in her bed, her white comforter and pale pink bed sheets pulled tight up under her chin. Her pale golden ringlets framed her tiny, angelic face as she stared up at her mother with wide eyes.

Her mother chuckled. “Okay, but just one, and then it’s off to sleep.”

Catherine bobbed her head excitedly, snuggling deeper under her blankets as her mother tucked her in, the dim golden light from the lamp beside her bed illuminating her mother’s beautiful face as she gave her young daughter a gentle smile.

“Once upon a time,” her mother whispered. “There was a beautiful Goddess named Celeste. Celeste was lonely, you see— she had so much love to give, but was never able to have children. She wanted them so badly that she decided to create her own.

“She called them Night Wolves. She blessed human babies with the gift of one of her beloved children of the moon, and at night, they turned into that moon spirit— beautiful wolves that howled at the moon and basked under its glow, making their human counterpart better, stronger, and kinder. They became what we are today— werewolves.

Her mother’s face became grave. “But as time passed, Celeste saw how they struggled— and she decided to give her children another gift, another challenge to make them stronger. She split one soul into two, and made them into two separate beings—intended to be a gift for one another when they reunited in life. That other person— that other half of your soul— is called your Mate.”

Catherine’s eyes widened. “Do I have a mate, mama?”

Her mother smiled. “Legend has it that everyone worthy of one has a mate. Someone who completes them. I can’t think of anyone more worthy than you, my beautiful child.”

“Your mate will become the strength that matches the weakest parts of you,” she murmured, “they were made to challenge you, to make you question your choices. You would die to keep them safe without a second thought— and they would do the same for you. They become your person for the rest of your life— supporting you in every venture you take and consuming you with an overwhelming love.”

Catherine’s eyes grew heavy as she day dreamt of finding someone who loved her so much one day. “Is daddy your mate, mama?” She murmured with s yawn.

Her mother’s eyes grew foggy, and finally she answered. “He is, but not my goddess destined mate. Not all of us are given one, sweet girl. But your father chose me— and this mark here,” her mother swept her head to the side to reveal a thin white scar of two canine teeth, surrounded by their pack insignia that looked tattooed on her pale skin, “shows that I am his forever, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Young Catherine rested her hand under her cheek, her eyes struggling to stay open as sleep tried to take her over. Her mother switched off her lamp, leaning in to kiss her small forehead.

“I hope I find my mate one day, mama,” she said sleepily. “The one the goddess made for me.”

Her mother brushed her pale hair from her forehead. “Me too, baby.”

Catherine had dreamt of meeting her Goddess given mate since she was a young girl— and as she stared at him now, with his intoxicating scent of sandalwood invading her senses, she felt nothing but hatred.

Hatred and betrayal. Hatred towards the monster with his arms around her, and betrayal towards her Goddess. She couldn’t understand how the Goddess possibly believed that a mass murderer was the other half of her soul.

She hated him.

“I can smell you,” she responded coldly as Killian’s arm snaked possessively around her waist, sending a shiver of l**t up her spine. “And I’ve never smelled anything so repulsive.”

He was everywhere. They were dancing— his grip on her waist was iron tight as he spun them around, the heat from his touch going right to her core. Tala was panting in her head, encouraging her to touch him back. Despite her hand trembling, she kept her hand on his jacket on his shoulder, refusing to touch his skin.

Tala whined. What’s wrong with you? That’s our mate.

Shut up, you babbling i***t, Catherine snapped at her. He’s evil.

“I’d be nice to me if I were you, angel,” Killian’s warm breath was right next to her ear.

He leaned back to look her in the eye, and Catherine had to admit he was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He towered over her in height— and his suit fit him well, hugging his hips. Catherine knew without having to see that he was muscular and well-built. She could practically feel the power and strength emanating off of him, and was, for the first time in her life, resisting the urge to bare her neck. He had beautiful black eyes that she suspected were just a very, very dark blue— midnight blue. His hair was so dark brown it was almost black, and it fell over his forehead in a careless, sexy way. His short scruff of a beard gave him a strong aura that made her want to throw himself into his arms, and the tattoos on his hands and knuckles made her want to see how far up his arms and body they really went.

But she couldn’t and she never would.

“You don’t scare me,” she snapped. “I’ve never been one to fear toxic masculinity.”

His eyes flashed black, and his grip tightened painfully on her. “I want us to come to an understanding, Mate. You will not be leaving that Arena in anyone’s arms but mine— and if you attempt to do so, I’ll invade Silver Moon as soon as the Claim is over.”

Her eyes narrowed, but fear bubbled up inside of her. She was also sweating slightly from trying to restrain herself from touching him. “You’d be an i***t to try to steal my father’s territory. Silver Moon is not weak.”

Killian leaned down as if to dip her in a dance, his hand snaking up to the back of her neck— but Catherine knew immediately that the squeeze he gave her throat was a warning.

“None of the other territories I ruined were weak either, angel,” he challenged dangerously. “But if you want, I can prove Blood Moon’s strength and just go ahead and send troops now.”

Catherine’s eyes darkened angrily. “I’m not your f*****g Angel— and intimidating me won’t work, mate,” she spat. “I know how this goes. You take me to your territory, force me to give you a few heirs for your Alphaship, and then you kill me or leave me for dead— without a second thought,” she told him. “And I have no desire to be anyone’s incubator.”

His hand dug into her back, and he brought her face dangerously close to his as they danced, his eyes bright and dangerous. She also saw a sort of morbid curiosity in his eyes as he stared at her, as if he were trying to understand some complex puzzle. His breath fanned across her face, and she felt her eyes flutter closed as the delicious smell of him took over her thoughts.

“Whether you want to or not,” he whispered, “you will come back with me. The Goddess has decided you are mine— and that is not a gift I’ll give to another man. Alive or dead, the choice is yours.. but you’ll end up in Blood Moon, one way or another.”

Catherine, barely able to speak through the spell of the mate bond, did the only thing she could to stop herself from falling apart in his arms— she shoved herself as far away from him as she could, breaking their contact. She shivered as his warmth disappeared.

She opened her eyes and met his head on.

“I prayed for the Goddess to give me a destined mate my entire life, Alpha Black— but I did not pray for you. I did not pray for a murderer. I did not pray for a monster. And now that I’ve met you, I definitely won’t pray for me to see the good in you. Why would I? I know what men like you do, Alpha, and I have no desire to die. I’d rather let another man mark me than ever be your mate.”

Rage took over Killian’s features, and knowing the elders eyes had fallen on them and Killian couldn’t act, Catherine turned on her heel and made a bee-line for Alpha Thorn.