Claimed By The Alpha of shadows

chapter: 2

Mila didn’t fight when the Blackmane warriors approached her, fighting would have required a will she didn’t have anymore, all she managed was to stand, shaky and confused, while two of Alexander’s men flanked her, they didn’t grab her, they didn’t shove her, they simply stood close, a quiet reminder that her life had just been rewritten without her permission.

Her brother stalked down the steps of the council hall, fury hidden behind a diplomatic smile. Isaiah was good at that, pretending. Lying, wearing masks until he forgot which one was real.

“Alpha Alexander,” he said, voice smooth and sharp at the same time, “there are formalities to discuss before you take my sister.”

Alexander didn’t even look at him. “I’m not here to debate her custody," custody, the word scraped across her nerves.

Isaiah’s jaw tightened. “You think you can walk into my territory and dictate terms?”

“You mean the territory you barely hold together?” Alexander asked.

A few of the Silvercrest warriors shifted uncomfortably, Mila had never seen anyone talk to Isaiah like that, he wasn’t the strongest alpha, but he ruled with fear and strict punishments, no one ever challenged him.

No one except the man standing in front of her now, “this conversation is finished,” Alexander said, “I’ll finalize the treaty amendments with your council. Mila leaves with me today.”

Isaiah stepped closer until he and Alexander were almost chest to chest, two wolves sizing each other up.

“She’s a burden,” Isaiah said, quietly now, meant only for Alexander’s ears, “a curse, You think you want her now, but she’ll destroy you too.”

Alexander’s voice dropped even lower, “then why bind her wolf instead of killing her?”

Isaiah flinched. barely, but Mila caught it, so did Alexander.

“Your lie is sloppy,” Alexander murmured, “and your guilt stinks," Isaiah’s face reddened, “she murdered our parents. I had no choice.”

“Liar," the single word cracked through the space like a whip, the courtyard fell silent again.

Alexander turned away before Isaiah could respond, “Beta Rowan, escort Mila to our carriage.”

Rowan nodded and gestured for Mila to follow,

she hesitated only once to glance at her brother, Isaiah’s eyes burned into her with a threat she knew too well, come back. or I’ll make you regret it.

But Alexander’s final words echoed louder,Your whole life is a lie, her legs moved.

Rowan steadied her as they walked, his hand hovering at her elbow without touching, he seemed careful not to frighten her.

“You don’t need to look so terrified,” Rowan said, “We’re not here to hurt you," she swallowed, “everyone says that at first.”

Rowan let out a short breath. “Fair enough,"

They reached the carriage, It was reinforced wood and dark steel, more like a traveling fortress than anything used by ordinary wolves, Rowan opened the door for her.

Inside, the space was clean and surprisingly warm, furs lined the benches, a small lantern swung gently from the ceiling, she sat stiffly on the farthest edge.

Rowan didn’t join her. He closed the door to give her privacy, or containment, her hands shook, she curled them into her lap so she wouldn’t see it.

Minutes later, the door opened again,

Alexander stepped in, the space shrank by half, his presence filled the air the way storms filled the sky, wild, heavy, dangerous, but beneath it was something else she couldn’t name, something that made her pulse trip over itself.

He sat across from her, stretching one leg out. His eyes studied her, not unkindly, but intensely, like she was a puzzle he intended to take apart piece by piece.

“Tell me what you remember,” he said, her throat tightened. “about what?” “about the night your parents died.”

Her stomach twisted, she looked down at her hands, “everyone knows what happened,”

“I’m not asking what they know,” he said, “I’m asking you.”

Her chest felt too tight. “I shifted, It was my first time, I lost control, I woke up covered in their blood.”

Alexander didn’t react with disgust or shock, he just watched her, waiting, “It’s true,” she whispered. “Isn’t that enough?”

“No," her head snapped up “what?”

“It’s not true, or at least, not the way you think," his gaze held hers, “Your wolf has been bound for six years, that kind of magic isn’t something an alpha brother can do on a whim.”

She frowned, "he said it was punishment,"

“Punishment spells don’t last this long, binding spells this strong are ancient, Illegal, and they leave scars.”

He lifted a hand, slow enough that she could pull away if she wanted, she didn’t, he touched the center of her chest, right over the place where her wolf should have lived, a faint burn pulsed there.

“You feel that?” he asked, the pain throbbed once. Twice. “Yes.”

“That’s the tether, It shouldn’t exist," her breath felt thin, “What does that mean?”

“It means someone didn’t want you to shift again, ever.”

Mila’s voice cracked, “Why?” Alexander lowered his hand, “to hide something," she shook her head, “what could I possibly be hiding?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out," the carriage began to move, rolling away from the Silvercrest stronghold, Mila felt the distance grow, she felt the separation like a door closing behind her.

“You’re safe with me,” Alexander said, as if reading her tension, her laugh was weak, “You don’t know me.”

“I know enough,” his tone softened slightly. “Your scent, Your energy, the way your wolf reached for me even through the bind, It’s not normal.”

“Nothing about me is normal,” she whispered,

“That’s the point," the lantern swayed overhead, throwing shadows across Alexander’s face, the light caught a faint scar near his jaw, he looked like someone who trusted no one and feared nothing.

“Tell me something,” he said, Mila forced herself to look up, “What?”

“Did you ever question your brother’s version of the story?” she froze, he waited, “no,” she whispered, “I believed him, I… trusted him.”

“Do you trust him now?” her eyes stung, but no tears fell, “I don’t trust anyone.”

Alexander leaned back, “start trusting yourself then, Your instincts are stronger than you think.”

A silence settled between them, not awkward. Not empty, heavy with things unspoken.

Outside, Blackmane warriors rode in formation, escorting their Alpha and the girl who should have belonged nowhere.

“Sleep if you want,” Alexander said “we have hours before we reach the border," she shook her head, “I won’t sleep," “because you’re afraid?”

Because nightmares lived behind her eyelids, Because every dream dragged her back to the night her life ended.

But she only said, “I don’t sleep well,"

Alexander didn’t push, he simply watched her again, those dark eyes memorizing every small detail.

Mila turned her face to the window, watching the land pass, Silvercrest grew smaller in the distance.

She wasn’t free, she wasn’t safe, but she wasn’t trapped there anymore, for the first time in six years, the world ahead of her wasn’t a cage.