The alpha Claim

No way out

Chapter Two: No Way Out

The room shook with violence. Growls echoed off the stone walls. The air was thick with heat and sweat and fury.

Scarlet Miller stood at the edge, too stunned to move, heart slamming like a hammer inside Scarlet Miller’s chest.

Three Alphas were already brawling in the center—men built like trucks, faces twisted in rage. One threw a chair. Another tackled him through a table. Wood splintered. Glass shattered. It wasn’t just a fight. It was war.

And it was all for Scarlet Miller.

Scarlet Miller looked around for an exit. Nothing. Just guards blocking every door and wolves watching the chaos with hungry eyes. Not all of them were fighting—some were waiting. Watching. Calculating. Like they were choosing the perfect time to strike.

Scarlet Miller backed up until Scarlet Miller hit the stone wall behind. Cold. Hard. Real.

"This is insane," Scarlet Miller whispered.

The woman in black stepped beside Scarlet Miller like she’d been waiting. "This is tradition," she said flatly. "The Claiming happens once in a generation. The last female heir died before the ceremony. Scarlet Miller is the first one in fifty years."

Scarlet Miller couldn’t breathe right. "Scarlet Miller is not part of this. Scarlet Miller is not even—"

"One of us?" she cut in. "Scarlet Miller has the blood. That’s enough."

Scarlet Miller wanted to laugh. Or scream. Or both. "Scarlet Miller didn’t even know what Scarlet Miller was until three days ago."

The woman’s eyes narrowed. "Then Scarlet Miller better learn fast."

One of the Alphas slammed the other to the ground, blood dripping from his mouth. The loser didn’t move.

The victor turned and looked at Scarlet Miller like Scarlet Miller was a prize he’d just won.

Scarlet Miller’s skin crawled.

"Who the hell are these people?" Scarlet Miller asked, voice shaking.

The woman crossed her arms. "They’re the strongest Alphas in the region. Each wants to claim Scarlet Miller as mate. The bloodline gives power. And control. That’s why they fight."

Scarlet Miller shook Scarlet Miller’s head. "Scarlet Miller doesn’t want to be claimed."

The woman didn’t flinch. "What Scarlet Miller wants doesn’t matter. The blood chooses. The Alpha who wins has the right to mark Scarlet Miller. That’s law."

Scarlet Miller’s stomach turned.

The crowd roared again. Another Alpha went down. And then another.

Scarlet Miller looked up—and saw him.

Elias Thorne. Leaning against a column at the back of the room. Arms crossed. Eyes sharp. Calm like a storm before lightning strikes.

He hadn’t moved. Not once. Not even when the fight started.

Why wasn’t Elias Thorne joining them?

As if hearing the thought, Elias Thorne finally stepped forward.

The room froze.

Scarlet Miller swore the temperature dropped ten degrees.

One of the Alphas turned to him. "Elias Thorne’s not in this. Elias Thorne already refused."

Elias Thorne’s voice was cold. "Elias Thorne changed Elias Thorne’s mind."

The other Alphas looked like they’d just swallowed nails.

"Elias Thorne can’t just walk in now," another growled. "Rules are rules."

Elias Thorne’s gaze sliced through the air. "Elias Thorne wrote the rules."

Nobody said anything after that.

Scarlet Miller’s legs started to shake. This couldn’t be happening.

Elias Thorne walked straight toward the center of the room. Toward the blood. Toward the broken bodies. And toward Scarlet Miller.

When Elias Thorne reached the last standing Alpha, Elias Thorne didn’t stop.

Elias Thorne threw the first punch without warning.

It sounded like thunder.

The other Alpha staggered back, shocked—but he recovered fast. He charged at Elias Thorne like a bull. But Elias Thorne didn’t move.

Elias Thorne caught the Alpha by the throat and slammed him into the ground with enough force to c***k stone.

Scarlet Miller’s mouth dropped open.

The Alpha didn’t get up.

Elias Thorne stood, chest rising slow and steady, blood on Elias Thorne’s knuckles, eyes locked on Scarlet Miller.

Then Elias Thorne said it.

"Elias Thorne claims Scarlet Miller."

The whole room fell silent.

Even the guards stopped breathing.

Scarlet Miller stared at Elias Thorne like he’d just set the world on fire.

Scarlet Miller's brain was screaming, No—but Scarlet Miller’s body was frozen.

The woman stepped forward again. "It is done."

Scarlet Miller stepped back. "No. No, it’s not done. Scarlet Miller didn’t agree to anything!"

The woman looked annoyed. "Scarlet Miller doesn’t have to. The ceremony is law. Scarlet Miller is now bound to the Alpha."

Scarlet Miller shook Scarlet Miller’s head. "There has to be a way out."

Elias Thorne stepped closer. "There’s one."

Scarlet Miller’s voice cracked. "What?"

"If Scarlet Miller survives the Blood Trials," Elias Thorne said, "Scarlet Miller earns freedom."

Scarlet Miller blinked. "What the hell are the Blood Trials?"

The woman smiled coldly. "A series of tests meant to break most people."

Scarlet Miller felt sick.

"If Scarlet Miller completes the trials," Elias Thorne continued, "Scarlet Miller walks away. No mark. No mate. No claim."

"And if Scarlet Miller fails?" Scarlet Miller asked.

"Then Scarlet Miller belongs to Elias Thorne."

Scarlet Miller stared at Elias Thorne, rage and fear battling inside Scarlet Miller’s chest.

"Scarlet Miller will take the trials," Scarlet Miller said, jaw clenched.

Elias Thorne nodded once.

The woman clapped her hands.

Two guards appeared from the shadows. Big. Silent. Armed.

"Take Scarlet Miller to the holding chamber. The first trial starts at dawn."

Scarlet Miller turned to Elias Thorne. "Why is Elias Thorne doing this?"

Elias Thorne’s voice was low. "Because Elias Thorne has been waiting for Scarlet Miller longer than Scarlet Miller has been alive."

Before Scarlet Miller could say anything, the guards grabbed Scarlet Miller’s arms and pulled Scarlet Miller toward a side door.

The stone hallway was dark. Damp. Cold air crawled along the floor. Scarlet Miller’s boots echoed with every step.

Then the guards shoved Scarlet Miller into a cell and locked the door behind.

Scarlet Miller turned and slammed fists against the iron bars. "Scarlet Miller is not afraid of Elias Thorne!"

No answer. Just footsteps fading down the corridor.

Scarlet Miller backed up into the cell. No bed. No light. Just stone and shadows.

Scarlet Miller sat on the floor, pulled Scarlet Miller’s knees up, and stared into the dark.

Scarlet Miller didn’t know what the Blood Trials were.

But Scarlet Miller knew one thing.

Scarlet Miller wouldn’t break.

Scarlet Miller would survive.

And Scarlet Miller would get out of this place even if it killed Scarlet Miller.