The Alpha’s Forbidden Claim

CHAPTER 001

The scent of the roasting meat filled the kitchen atmosphere and its savory aroma made Harper Quinn feel an intense hunger pang. She ate so little during the day that her empty stomach started making loud rumbling noises. Harper hoped she would be able to take some leftovers later if her day worked out in her favor and Garrett stayed occupied.

The vegetable bucket weighed heavily as she put it down on the counter while her arms shook under the strain. Moving that bucket should have been a trivial task for her as a werewolf yet it felt as challenging as shifting an enormous boulder. Her bones ached with the combined effects of malnutrition and exhaustion which slowly weakened her.

Garrett watched her from close by with complete contempt that he did not hide. His mouth twisted into a sneer while his arms crossed over his chest.

He sneered under his breath while disdain filled his voice as he said "Pathetic."

Harper bit her cheek while staring intently at the vegetables before her. Ignoring him was all she could do. The town of Ember Falls offered no tolerance for weakness which Garrett reinforced to her daily.

His abuse combined with starvation and endless chores had used up her energy until she became no more than an empty husk of the werewolf she used to be. Without her wolf, she was vulnerable. Her body could not repair itself adequately while her senses became numb and her bond with her wolf side weakened to nearly nothing. Sometimes, she feared it was fading completely.

Garrett moved closer, his towering presence suffocating. Harper tensed but kept her eyes down. Maybe if she stayed still—

He gripped her flesh by digging his fingers into her backside.

Revulsion crawled up her spine. Instinctively she pulled away from his grip by jerking her body backwards. Her movement caused the bucket to fall over abruptly. All over the ground the spilled carrots and potatoes rolled in every direction.

The slap came before she could react. The force of Garrett’s hit to her face made her lose her balance. A searing white-hot sensation of pain erupted across her cheek. The flavor of blood filled her mouth with its metallic tang.

"You useless b***h!" Garrett’s voice boomed through the kitchen. "Look at this mess!" He seethed, eyes flashing with fury. Ensure that dinner is prepared before our guests arrive. I don't want to see your face near the visitors.

Harper clenched her jaw, nodding slightly. The burning rage in her throat forced her swallow hard while she turned away before her defiant eyes could reveal themselves to him.

She touched the sensitive area on her wrist where his grip had produced a new bruise while breathing unevenly. She knelt down to collect the vegetables that lay scattered across the ground. Her hands shook yet she maintained her focus.

She was used to this. Used to his cruelty. Her allotted living space was the confined storage area which he designated as her "quarters" where she suffered sleepless nights and persistent bruises.

At least he never went further. Not that she understood why. Tormenting her with different methods likely provided him greater pleasure.

Harper forced herself to focus on her task while suppressing the rising bile in her throat. She prepared ingredients by chopping food before stirring dishes and arranging the heavy dining table. Time flew by as she worked with intense efficiency. Roasted meat aromas mixed with buttery potatoes and spiced vegetables filled the air with weighty scents. The silverware shone beautifully under the chandelier's light. Every task had been completed without fault to prevent Garrett from having another reason to hit her.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

A knock at the door. Loud. Demanding.

Harper’s heart pounded.

Guests. That meant Alphas. More men like Garrett. The room was full of guests whose eyes could stay too long on her and whose hands could reach too far.

She exited the dining room with speed and silence, vanishing like a shadow. Her knowledge instructed her to remain hidden whenever important guests came into view. Her situation worsened whenever Garrett discovered yet another reason to discipline her.

Upon entering the storage room she leaned her back against the door and let out a sharp breath. She considered this place her sanctuary although it hardly deserved such a title.

The limited space contained just a thin mattress and a wooden shelf which held the few possessions she had preserved. The confined space belonged to her.

Harper held her cheek with her hand while she winced from its sensitive feeling. She had been foolish once. She had believed in safety, in kindness. Upon her arrival Garrett greeted her with a smile. Garrett extended protection to her which made Ember Falls appear to be a place of refuge.

Lies. Every word had been a lie.

Now she knew the truth. Ember Falls wasn’t a refuge. It was just another prison. No one was coming to save her.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Another knock. The voices beyond the door grew louder.

The Alphas had arrived.

And Harper’s nightmare was far from over.

Each word from Garrett's deep voice echoed through the halls while his typical arrogance flowed through his speech. "Welcome, Alpha Logan. I trust your journey was smooth."

Harper tensed at the name.

Alpha Logan Kane.

She knew of him through rumors that portrayed him as an Alpha with unmatched power and complete control over his domain. Many viewed him as merciless during conflict because he showed no hesitation to take lives. Some people asserted that he possessed an unwavering moral compass which differentiated him from individuals such as Garrett.

But stories meant nothing. Power-holding men only focused on control according to what she discovered long ago.

Curiosity tugged at her thoughts from the depths of her mind.

Logan spoke with a deep commanding tone while expressing appreciation for Alpha Garrett's hospitality along with an unreadable undertone. "I hope our meeting proves productive."

Harper squeezed her eyelids shut as she desperately tried to silence the sound of people talking around her. But the voices only grew louder. The men took their seats while their chairs scraped across the floor. The dining hall resonated with a gentle buzz of conversation as silverware tapped against the porcelain dishes.

She bit her lip. Someone would suffer the consequences if Garrett lost his temper during the meal. Her experiences told her that he always chose her as his preferred target.

Her fingers curled into fists. She needed to stay cautious and ensure she did not draw any unwanted attention.

Throughout the night she stayed curled up inside her storage area while she listened attentively. The outside voices merged into one another yet Logan's voice remained distinctive. The sound contained a unique quality that triggered a faint awakening of her wolf within her thoughts.

She hadn't felt this pull for such a long time.

She shook her head. It didn’t matter.

She would get through tonight. Just as she always had.

She understood on an instinctual level that an upcoming change was imminent.

The scent of the roasting meat filled the kitchen atmosphere and its savory aroma made Harper Quinn feel an intense hunger pang. She ate so little during the day that her empty stomach started making loud rumbling noises. Harper hoped she would be able to take some leftovers later if her day worked out in her favor and Garrett stayed occupied.

The vegetable bucket weighed heavily as she put it down on the counter while her arms shook under the strain. Moving that bucket should have been a trivial task for her as a werewolf yet it felt as challenging as shifting an enormous boulder. Her bones ached with the combined effects of malnutrition and exhaustion which slowly weakened her.

Garrett watched her from close by with complete contempt that he did not hide. His mouth twisted into a sneer while his arms crossed over his chest.

He sneered under his breath while disdain filled his voice as he said "Pathetic."

Harper bit her cheek while staring intently at the vegetables before her. Ignoring him was all she could do. The town of Ember Falls offered no tolerance for weakness which Garrett reinforced to her daily.

His abuse combined with starvation and endless chores had used up her energy until she became no more than an empty husk of the werewolf she used to be. Without her wolf, she was vulnerable. Her body could not repair itself adequately while her senses became numb and her bond with her wolf side weakened to nearly nothing. Sometimes, she feared it was fading completely.

Garrett moved closer, his towering presence suffocating. Harper tensed but kept her eyes down. Maybe if she stayed still—

He gripped her flesh by digging his fingers into her backside.

Revulsion crawled up her spine. Instinctively she pulled away from his grip by jerking her body backwards. Her movement caused the bucket to fall over abruptly. All over the ground the spilled carrots and potatoes rolled in every direction.

The slap came before she could react. The force of Garrett’s hit to her face made her lose her balance. A searing white-hot sensation of pain erupted across her cheek. The flavor of blood filled her mouth with its metallic tang.

"You useless b***h!" Garrett’s voice boomed through the kitchen. "Look at this mess!" He seethed, eyes flashing with fury. Ensure that dinner is prepared before our guests arrive. I don't want to see your face near the visitors.

Harper clenched her jaw, nodding slightly. The burning rage in her throat forced her swallow hard while she turned away before her defiant eyes could reveal themselves to him.

She touched the sensitive area on her wrist where his grip had produced a new bruise while breathing unevenly. She knelt down to collect the vegetables that lay scattered across the ground. Her hands shook yet she maintained her focus.

She was used to this. Used to his cruelty. Her allotted living space was the confined storage area which he designated as her "quarters" where she suffered sleepless nights and persistent bruises.

At least he never went further. Not that she understood why. Tormenting her with different methods likely provided him greater pleasure.

Harper forced herself to focus on her task while suppressing the rising bile in her throat. She prepared ingredients by chopping food before stirring dishes and arranging the heavy dining table. Time flew by as she worked with intense efficiency. Roasted meat aromas mixed with buttery potatoes and spiced vegetables filled the air with weighty scents. The silverware shone beautifully under the chandelier's light. Every task had been completed without fault to prevent Garrett from having another reason to hit her.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

A knock at the door. Loud. Demanding.

Harper’s heart pounded.

Guests. That meant Alphas. More men like Garrett. The room was full of guests whose eyes could stay too long on her and whose hands could reach too far.

She exited the dining room with speed and silence, vanishing like a shadow. Her knowledge instructed her to remain hidden whenever important guests came into view. Her situation worsened whenever Garrett discovered yet another reason to discipline her.

Upon entering the storage room she leaned her back against the door and let out a sharp breath. She considered this place her sanctuary although it hardly deserved such a title.

The limited space contained just a thin mattress and a wooden shelf which held the few possessions she had preserved. The confined space belonged to her.

Harper held her cheek with her hand while she winced from its sensitive feeling. She had been foolish once. She had believed in safety, in kindness. Upon her arrival Garrett greeted her with a smile. Garrett extended protection to her which made Ember Falls appear to be a place of refuge.

Lies. Every word had been a lie.

Now she knew the truth. Ember Falls wasn’t a refuge. It was just another prison. No one was coming to save her.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Another knock. The voices beyond the door grew louder.

The Alphas had arrived.

And Harper’s nightmare was far from over.

Each word from Garrett's deep voice echoed through the halls while his typical arrogance flowed through his speech. "Welcome, Alpha Logan. I trust your journey was smooth."

Harper tensed at the name.

Alpha Logan Kane.

She knew of him through rumors that portrayed him as an Alpha with unmatched power and complete control over his domain. Many viewed him as merciless during conflict because he showed no hesitation to take lives. Some people asserted that he possessed an unwavering moral compass which differentiated him from individuals such as Garrett.

But stories meant nothing. Power-holding men only focused on control according to what she discovered long ago.

Curiosity tugged at her thoughts from the depths of her mind.

Logan spoke with a deep commanding tone while expressing appreciation for Alpha Garrett's hospitality along with an unreadable undertone. "I hope our meeting proves productive."

Harper squeezed her eyelids shut as she desperately tried to silence the sound of people talking around her. But the voices only grew louder. The men took their seats while their chairs scraped across the floor. The dining hall resonated with a gentle buzz of conversation as silverware tapped against the porcelain dishes.

She bit her lip. Someone would suffer the consequences if Garrett lost his temper during the meal. Her experiences told her that he always chose her as his preferred target.

Her fingers curled into fists. She needed to stay cautious and ensure she did not draw any unwanted attention.

Throughout the night she stayed curled up inside her storage area while she listened attentively. The outside voices merged into one another yet Logan's voice remained distinctive. The sound contained a unique quality that triggered a faint awakening of her wolf within her thoughts.

She hadn't felt this pull for such a long time.

She shook her head. It didn’t matter.

She would get through tonight. Just as she always had.

She understood on an instinctual level that an upcoming change was imminent.