Alpha's Daughter: Surviving The Claim

Mate

Her scent hit him like a wrecking ball.

It invaded his senses, and Killian gripped the banister next to him for support, almost shattering his drink in his grip as his eyes flashed black. It was subtle, tropical smell— coconut and sunshine, all natural and beautiful. The smell swirled around him like a lethal gas, causing his wolf, Valor, to snarl ferociously in his head.

Mate. Mate. Mate mate mate.

His eyes flashed to the small figure at the top of the stairs, and he heard chips of wood breaking off of the banister in his hand.

A small, fragile looking blonde was gracefully descending down the grand staircase. Her white hair fell in beautiful, silky waves down her back— the top half was pulled away from her delicate face in an intricate braid, accentuating her porcelain-doll like features. She had the face of an angel— a small button nose, round peach-colored lips that were permanently set into a sensitive pout, and a small dimple in her chin. Her eyes sent a thrill of electricity through Killian— they were the palest shade of blue, almost glowing under the light of the chandelier, the color of celestite.

The pale blue silk of her gown only accented her eyes and hair, and the fabric wrapped around her delicious body like it had been made to cradle it. She was short— but thin and willowy. The graceful curve to her neck where it met her shoulder, and transformed over her breasts and down to her flat stomach and narrow waist.

Killian was snarling as he watched her be greeted by Alpha Thorn, her nostrils flaring as she avoided looking in his direction.

What are you doing? Valor demanded. That’s mate. Go get mate. She smells us, too.

Killian barely had time to process. Fated mates were supposed to be long extinct— he’d taken solice in the fact that he’d never have a Goddess given mate. Yet here she was— the supposed other half of his soul— in a wolf’s den, about to be greeted and courted by almost a hundred other Alphas.

“Killian?” Christian growled under his breath. “What’s the matter with you? You look like you’re about to start a war.”

I might, Killian thought, as he watched Alpha Thorn reach for the girls hand.

“It seems,” Killian growled through clenched teeth. “That fated mates aren’t a thing of the past after all, Christian.”

Killian watched her, and he knew she could smell him too. The way her head kept subtly turning in his direction, but her eyes never dared look toward him— the flare in her nostrils, and the way a blush crept up her neck and cheeks, as if the room were much too hot.

Killian’s heated gaze traveled down her body like a predator ready to pounce, and he felt his d**k harden in his pants. It was taking all of his restraint to not go and rip Alpha Thorn’s arm off of his body as he watched him clasp the girl’s hand.

“This..” Christian stared at her, stunned. “This changes everything, doesn’t it?”

Killian snarled, turning to his Beta. “It changes nothing, Christian.”

“But you can’t just get an heir from her and kill her, Alpha,” Christian argued, his eyes flickering from Killian to Catherine. “If she’s your fated, and you mark her, and she dies..”

Yes, Killian knew what he was about to say. His plan to kill her after she was mated to him would only shatter him, too. But that didn’t mean he had to love her. It didn’t mean he had to respect her. She would live— as a prisoner.

“We have to tell the elders,” Christian ranted. “They can’t possibly keep her in the claim when she’s rightfully yours—“

“They can, and they will,” Killian interrupted him. “Mate bonds aren’t valued anymore, Beta. They will treat me like any other claimant here. But I don’t intend to play like one.”

Killian pulled his hand off the banister he was murdering and made a path for the girl.

Her back was to him, but Killian could see the goosebumps rise on the back of her neck as he approached her, her wolf sensing his. Killian watched as Alpha Thorn snaked an arm around her thin waist, pulling her in for a dance.

Killian saw red. Kill him, Valor snarled. Mine. Kill him. He’s got his hands on mate. She’s ours.

“I’ll cut in, Alpha Thorn.” Killian’s voice was cool and deadly as he stood behind Catherine.

His body was trembling with rage. He was only six inches from her now, and her scent of coconut was sending Valor beserk— he wanted to mark her, to sink his teeth into her marking spot and mate with her, to make her his. And he wanted to rip the throat of the Alpha with his arms around her out of his body.

She whirled around to look at him, and for the first time in a century, Killian was left speechless.

Celestite blue eyes met his, and they were full of hatred.

“We’re busy here, Black.” Thorn growled lowly, attempting to move Catherine closer to him.

“Actually, I think I’ll dance with him. You’ve been lovely, though, Alpha— thank you for your time.” The soft voice of his mate sent a shiver down his spine— but despite her formal and polite words, the hatred burning in her eyes was clear. Killian grinned at Alpha Thorn, who slowly backed away with a murderous expression.

Killian wrapped an eager arm around her small waist, and the thrill of touching her sent electricity humming up his arm. She let out a small gasp as he pulled her into his chest and they began dancing.

Killian couldn’t help himself. He breathed her in, he reveled in how small and delicate she felt in his arms as he leaned close to her ear, his c**k throbbing.

“I can smell you,” he murmured darkly in her ear. “And I know you can smell me too.”