Claimed By The Alpha of shadows

Mila learned long ago not to look people in the eye, slaves weren’t supposed to, especially not broken ones. So she kept her gaze low as she scrubbed the stone steps leading to the council hall, the icy morning wind cutting through the thin fabric of her tunic. her fingers were numb, but numbness was a blessing. Feeling made everything worse. “Faster,” a guard snapped behind her, “Guests will be here soon," guests, she already knew who they were, the blackmane Pack, led by Alpha Alexander Kade. A man whose name made even warriors lower their voices, the halls behind her buzzed with preparation, her brother Isaiah wanted everything perfect, he always did when powerful wolves visited, no one could ever suspect that the proud Silvercrest Alpha kept his own sister as a slave. Mila dipped the brush into the bucket, the cold water bit into her raw knuckles, she worked faster, a loud horn echoed across the grounds. The Blackmane Pack had arrived, guards straightened, wolves jogged to positions, servants scurried like shadows. Mila moved aside and knelt by the wall, bowing her head so she wouldn't be noticed. She tried to make herself small. Invisible. Hoofbeats thundered. Boots hit the ground. And then she felt it, a heavy force rolled across the courtyard old, powerful, electric, an aura that pressed against her lungs and crawled over her skin like lightning searching for a target. Alexander, everyone felt it, half the warriors stiffened, some instinctively lowered their heads, he was here. Silvercrest wolves parted as he walked through them, his steps were slow, unhurried, almost bored, but there was no softness in his presence, he moved like a predator who ruled whatever space he walked into. Mila kept her gaze down, she counted her breaths, In, Out, don’t look up, and then the wind shifted, his scent hit her, smoke. Wild earth, Storm charged air. Her breath faltered. Her heartbeat stuttered. Her wolf silent for six long years pressed weakly against the binding spell inside her chest. A faint whine escaped her throat before she could stop it, Alexander’s steps halted, the entire courtyard froze. A slow silence spread. Mila felt his attention turn toward her like a blade, “Who made that sound?” his voice was deep and calm, but edged with something lethal. Isaiah stepped forward, “a slave, nothing more, Pay her no mind, Alpha Alexander, she’s defective.” Mila bowed her head even lower, defective. That was what her brother always called her, What everyone called her, a wolf who killed her own parents didn’t deserve anything else. Alexander didn’t move. His aura thickened, “What is her name?” he asked, Isaiah hesitated, he didn’t like being questioned. “Irrelevant. She’s not...” “What, Is, her, name," this time Alexander’s voice wasn’t calm, Isaiah swallowed, “Mila,” her own name sounded foreign. Alexander took a step toward her, his boots stopped inches from her hands, she didn’t dare lift her head, “Look at me,” he said, her lungs tightened, “I’m forbidden to lift my head, Alpha," “I didn’t ask about your rules," she stiffened, Slowly, Mila raised her chin, their eyes met. Alexander’s dark irises flashed silver for a split second, his jaw clenched, something raw and violent flickered across his expression recognition, confusion, hunger. And Mila felt something inside herself crack, her wolf, bound and muted for years, heaved against the spell like it had been stabbed awake. Pain shot through her chest. She gasped, Alexander’s eyes narrowed, “why is her wolf bound?” Isaiah’s face tightened, “She’s dangerous, she killed...” “that’s a lie,” Alexander said, The courtyard went deadly silent. Mila’s vision blurred. What was he saying? Isaiah tensed. “You don’t know anything about her.” Alexander’s gaze never left Mila. “I know your scent, i know hers I know she’s telling the truth even when she’s silent, and I know you’re lying.” A ripple of murmurs spread among the, warriors, Isaiah growled, “she’s Silvercrest property, stay out of...” “She’s coming with me," Mila’s breath stopped, “No,” Isaiah snapped. “she is part of our pack, And the slave contract...” “I don’t care about your contract,” Alexander said, “I will not leave her here.” Her heart pounded, this wasn’t real. This couldn’t be real, no one had ever spoken for her before. Isaiah stepped closer to Alexander despite the obvious danger, “she murdered our parents, I spared her life, binding her wolf was mercy,” Alexander lifted a brow. “Is that the story you tell people? Interesting," Isaiah’s face went pale. Alexander turned to his beta, “Prepare an amendment to the treaty. Mila is added to Blackmane’s acquisition list.” Acquisition, not rescue, not freedom, not salvation, he was taking her, but why? “for what purpose?” Isaiah hissed. Alexander’s answer was simple, “because she belongs with me," Mila’s pulse stumbled, “I don’t... I am not...” “Quiet,” Isaiah snapped, Alexander’s eyes turned cold, dangerous. “If you raise your voice at her again, I will consider the treaty broken.” The courtyard seemed to shrink, a pack treaty was sacred, breaking one meant war, Isaiah stepped back. Mila’s thoughts spun, why her? why now? What did he want? Alexander reached out, for a second, she thought he would touch her. Instead, he lifted her chin with one finger. “You’re not staying here another day,” he said softly. “I felt your wolf call for me, even bound, it still reached," he blinked, stunned, “My wolf...?” “It woke because I’m the reason it was bound in the first place," her stomach dropped, “what does that mean?” Alexander smiled faintly, but it wasn’t a kind smile, It was the smile of a man who just uncovered a conspiracy and found the first thread to pull. “It means your whole life is a lie,” he said, “and I’m going to tear down the people who hid the truth.” Before she could speak, he turned to his men, “Take her," and Mila’s world shifted again.