Claimed By An Alpha

Chapter 5: Screaming In The Dark

Lila dreamed of Tyler again.

She always did on full moons.

In the dream she was 18. Standing in the middle of River Pack’s circle. 200 wolves watching.

Tyler in front of her, beautiful and cruel.

“I, Alpha Tyler, reject you, Lila Carter, as my mate,” he’d said. His voice echoed.

“You are weak. You are nothing. You will never belong.”

The bond snapping felt like her ribs breaking.

She woke up screaming.

The sound tore out of her throat before she could stop it. Raw. Broken.

Her door slammed open 2 seconds later.

Damon. Bare chest. Sweatpants. Hair wild. Silver eyes panicked.

“Lila!” He was across the room in 3 steps. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

She was shaking. Sweat on her skin. Tears on her face.

“Nightmare,” she choked out. “I’m okay.”

Damon didn’t believe her. He scanned her, hands hovering like he wanted to touch her but didn’t.

“You were screaming,” he said quietly.

“I know. I’m sorry. I woke you—”

“I wasn’t sleeping.” He sat on the edge of her bed. Far enough to give her space. Close enough that she could feel his heat.

The room was dark except for moonlight through the window.

“Was it him?” Damon asked.

Lila nodded. She couldn’t speak.

Damon exhaled. He looked exhausted. Not just tired. Worn down.

“My mate used to have nightmares too,” he said suddenly.

Lila looked up.

“After the rogues attacked. She’d wake up screaming. I’d hold her until she stopped.” His voice was flat. Like he was reporting facts. “She said the only thing that helped was someone staying.”

Lila’s chest hurt.

“I don’t need you to stay,” she whispered.

“I know,” Damon said. But he didn’t move.

For a long time they just sat there in silence. The moonlight made everything silver.

Finally Lila’s breathing evened out.

“Go back to sleep,” Damon said. He stood up.

“Wait,” Lila said before she could stop herself.

Damon turned.

“Can you... can you just sit here? For 5 minutes? Until I fall asleep?”

Damon stared at her. His jaw worked.

Then he sat back down.

He didn’t touch her. But he stayed.

Lila closed her eyes. The smell of cedar and snow filled the room. Safe.

She fell asleep to the sound of his breathing.

The next morning she woke up alone. The bed next to her was empty. Cold.

But there was a glass of water and painkillers on the nightstand.

And a note in messy handwriting:

_Pack meeting at noon. Be in the dining hall. -D_

Lila touched the note. Her fingers shook.

He’d stayed.

---

At noon the dining hall was full.

50 wolves. All the important pack members. Elders. Betas. Warriors.

And at the head of the table: Damon.

Lila walked in and every head turned.

Whispers started immediately.

“That’s the human.”

“He brought her to a pack meeting?”

“Is she his new...?”

Lila kept her eyes down and took a seat in the back.

Damon stood.

The room went silent.

“Thank you all for coming,” he said. His voice carried. Alpha command. “I have an announcement.”

He paused. His silver eyes found Lila in the back.

“This is Lila Carter,” he said. “She is under Blackthorn protection. Effective immediately.”

The room exploded in murmurs.

“Alpha, she’s human—”

“With all due respect—”

Damon held up a hand. Silence again.

“I don’t care what she is,” Damon said. “What I care about is that anyone who touches her answers to me. Anyone who speaks against her answers to me. Is that clear?”

No one answered.

“Is. That. Clear?”

“Yes, Alpha,” the room said in unison.

Damon’s eyes never left Lila.

“Good. Meeting adjourned.”

As people filed out, Kade stopped next to Lila’s chair.

He didn’t say anything. Just smiled. Then whispered: “Tyler says hi.”

Lila’s blood ran cold.

That night, Damon found her in the kitchen at 2AM.

He looked furious.

“Did Kade say something to you?” he asked.

Lila shook her head. “Just... pack stuff.”

Damon stepped closer. “Don’t lie to me, Lila.”

She flinched.

Damon’s expression softened. “Hey.” He reached out and, for the first time, brushed his thumb under her eye. Wiping away a tear she didn’t know she’d cried.

His touch was warm. Gentle.

“Tyler texted me too,” Damon said quietly. “He said you’d betray me.”

Lila’s heart stopped. “What did you say back?”

“I didn’t,” Damon said. “Because I don’t know you well enough to know if he’s right.”

The honesty hurt more than a lie would have.

“But I do know this,” Damon continued. His hand dropped. “No one hurts you while you’re in my house. Not Kade. Not Tyler. Not even me.”

He turned to leave.

“Damon?” Lila called.

He stopped but didn’t turn around.

“Thank you. For tonight. For staying.”

A long pause.

“You’re welcome,” he said. Then he was gone.

Lila leaned against the counter.

The bond between them pulled tight.

And for the first time, she wasn’t sure if 3 months would be enough. Or if it would be too much.