Alpha's Daughter: Surviving The Claim

Luna

Killian stared down at the photo in front of him with a blank look on his face.

His Beta was waiting patiently for him to say something. He wasn’t sure how Christian had managed to get a photo of the girl— Killian hadn’t asked for it, and he wasn’t supposed to see her until she was introduced that evening. But he had to admit.. she was a radiant beauty.

Beautiful, white-blonde hair that looked as soft as silk hung in gentle waves down to her waist. Her features were soft and delicate, feminine— a small button nose, peach colored lips.. but the most intriguing of all.. the eyes the goddess blessed her with. The color of celestite, the palest shade of crystal blue.

Killian’s black eyes flashed up to his Beta. “And where did you get this?”

Christian smirked. “I did some digging. Strong girl. Good genetics. She’ll bring forth an excellent heir for Blood Moon.”

Killian bristled. As beautiful as she was, she was merely a female. A means to an end. He needed an heir for his pack.. and that was all she would be good for. He would dispose of her after. His only dilemma was having to mark her to claim her— if he marked her as his and then killed her after she gave him a pup, his strength could diminish. But it was a risk he had to take. He wouldn’t have an heir with Beta blood.. he needed the Silver Moon girl to give him pure-bred alpha pups.

Even if it meant playing in this frivolous game.

“How many are in her claim?” He snapped.

“A hundred, right now, but you know how that number dwindles.. disqualifications and such. Twenty five are Alphas, the rest are Betas.”

Killian smirked. Claiming her would be easy. His wolf was pleased at the thought of hunting down the pretty she-wolf in the forest— his instincts loved the chase. “When she’s marked as mine, I will be launching an attack on Silver Moon.”

Unsurprised, Christian nodded. “You plan to absorb her home pack?”

Killian ran a hand across his beard. “When she dies, I will have taken Alpha Conri’s heir, leaving him with only one son. It would be easy enough to absorb them and increase our numbers. And it will keep her bloodline and mine mixed for strong future generations.”

Christian nodded. “You passed your examinations?”

Killian smirked. “The elders have deemed me fit to claim a mate.”

Killian had to admit.. he hadn’t considered they would accept him into The Claim. He thought he would have to fight for it— or illegally sneak into the Arena and claim her against the law. He’d been waiting, biding his time— and then this year he’d heard Alpha Conri’s beautiful, graceful, and strong daughter was of age for The Claim. Silver Moon would be an excellent addition to his blood line. The moon goddess had obviously blessed their pack, judging by her eyes. He had made a good call this year.

The elders had scrutinized him with a fine toothed comb— but they all knew the truth. The Claim was created to promote strong werewolf bloodlines that produced children— female children— to carry on their species. Killian was an excellent specimen. At over six feet tall, with broad shoulders, chiseled muscles.. he was faster and stronger than every other Alpha of his generation.. the elite of the elite. Intimidating with his midnight black eyes, messy dark brown hair, and scruffy beard over classically handsome features— his arms covered in battle scars and tattoos— intimidating? Yes. Strong? Yes. He would pass on excellent genetics and they knew it.

Even if they didn’t agree with his choices.

Some people called him ruthless. A murderer. A thief in the night. Evil. He’s been called the reason your hair stands on edge at night. And he had earned all of those titles.

A familiar face danced behind Killian’s eyelids, and a burning rage filled his body as he stared down at the photo of the she-wolf.

“A shame, really,” Christian shrugged. “She’s a pretty girl.”

Killian stared at the photo, hatred in his eyes. He imagined her birthing his heir, and he imagined silencing her forever— his child could not miss what they did not know. And they would start training as soon as they were able, anyway.

A strange pain sliced into his chest as he stared at the photo, and he couldn’t pinpoint why. It was an odd sensation. He brushed it off, looking back up at his Beta.

“Make sure they have a cell ready for her when we return,” he told Christian. “Not in the prisons— I want one built for her. I’ll send a blueprint.”

Christian laughed. “Expecting trouble out of her, Alpha? She doesn’t look that scary.”

Killian met him with an icy black gaze. “The pretty ones always talk back.”

Killian got up from his chair and parted ways with his Beta. He made his way to his room— the pathetic room provided to him by the elders— and began to get ready to shower and put on his tux.

The males would dine alone this evening while the females dined with the elders— a chance for him to get to know his competition. Not that there was much of one, anyway. He didn’t intend to let anyone walk out of that arena with Catherine Conri other than himself.

Afterwards, he’d get to lay his own eyes on his temporary Luna for the first time— and he’d get to speak to her. He didn’t care much to get to know her, but he did want to give himself a leg up— he wanted to see her weaknesses for in the arena. Not that he saw her escaping him, but the less time he took chasing her around, the better.

After all.. he grinned mischeviously as he stared in the mirror.. the pretty ones always cause trouble.