The Alpha’s claimed obsession

Éline’s pov

The sun barely peeked through the dusty blinds of my window, but I was already awake. The night was extremely long and Sleep had been restless, filled with whispers of unease that I couldn’t shake off. Maybe it was nothing, just another morning in this town where I never truly felt like I belonged. Or maybe it was something else I didn’t know.

I pulled the sheets off and stretched, staring at my reflection in the small mirror across my room. My pale silver hair, messy from sleep, stood out against my golden-toned skin. My eyes, an eerie shade of icy blue, held a strange glow under the dim light. I had learned long ago to avoid staring too long. The longer I looked, the more I saw the things that made me different—the things I was supposed to hide.

Downstairs, the familiar sound of plates clinking and the faint scent of freshly baked bread filled the air. Mom was always up before dawn, preparing breakfast. Dad usually followed soon after, grumbling about town gossip while sipping his black coffee. It was a routine I had come to love— one that made me feel normal, even if I knew deep down that I never would be.

I threw on a simple hoodie and skirt before heading down.

“Morning, sweetheart,” Mom greeted, setting a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of me. She brushed a strand of hair from my face, her warm brown eyes searching mine. “You okay? You look a little off.”

I forced a smile. “Didn’t sleep well. Probably just stress.”

Dad snorted from his seat, flipping the pages of the morning paper. “Probably the damn kids at school. Always got something to say, don’t they?”

That wasn’t entirely untrue. Most of them avoided me. Some whispered behind my back.

But none of them really mattered. There was only one person in that entire school who made it worth showing up—Griffin.

As if on cue, there was a knock at the front door.

“That’s probably him,” I muttered, pushing my chair back.

“Tell him to come in,” Mom called after me.

I opened the door to find Griffin leaning casually against the wooden frame, his arms crossed. His dark brown hair was tousled, and his deep green eyes studied me with a knowing look.

“You didn’t sleep, did you?” he asked.

I sighed. “Since when do you read minds?”

“Don’t need to. You look like you just fought off a nightmare and lost.”

I shoved him lightly. “Shut up and come in.”

He followed me to the kitchen, greeting my parents with his usual charm. My mom adored him. My dad tolerated him. And me? I had no idea what I would do without him.

“Had breakfast?” My mom asked griffin as he made himself comfortable at the dining.

“Yes Mrs Cora. Although I’d like some fruits” Griffin said as he stretched his hands to take an apple from the fruit basket on the table.

“You look stunning this morning Mrs Cora” Griffin winked at my mom as he took a bite of the apple. He had a habit of complementing my mom or flirting with her—I don’t know.

Mom chuckled, giving him a humorous smirk in response. She absolutely loves him.

My parents has always wanted a male child but couldn’t have one of their own sadly.

I quickly finished with my meal and gave my mom a peck on the cheek.

We grabbed our bags and headed out, the cool morning air waking me up slightly as we walked toward school. The streets were mostly empty, the small shops just starting to open. It was peaceful in a way that made me uneasy, like the quiet before a storm.

“You ever wonder if there’s more than this?” I asked, staring up at the sky.

Griffin glanced at me. “More than what?”

“This town. This life. It feels… small.”

He was quiet for a moment. Then, “Yeah. But sometimes small is safe.” He patted my head as if I were a child.

I wasn’t sure if that was true.

Griffin was by far taller than me. I was small and petite, more reason why the students at my school think they can bully me. Well jokes on them because the last person who tried ended up at the hospital.

I hate it when people think I’m weak because I don’t have my wolf and I look small.

The sky was cloudy it seemed like it was going to rain, giving the weather an eerie look.

And as we neared the school, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming. Something bigger than this town. Bigger than me.

I just didn’t know what it was yet but I could feel it.

Just as we reached the school gates, someone called out from across the street. I looked up to see a tall guy waving in our direction. Griffin grinned. “Hey! That’s Caleb,” he said, jogging over without waiting.

I followed behind, slower, giving them space while they caught up. That’s when it happened.

A sudden chill crawled up my spine, and I felt it—like someone was watching me.

I turned my head toward the woods. At first, nothing. Just trees and shadows and the soft rustle of leaves. But then I saw it. A figure covered in hoods. Standing still, half-concealed behind a tree.

They didn’t move. Didn’t speak. But I knew they were looking right at me.

I couldn’t see their face, but something about them felt… familiar. Deeply familiar, like a name I should know or a dream I’d forgotten. My chest tightened.

I stepped forward, squinting. “Hello?”

But before I could get any closer, the figure vanished.

No footsteps. No sound. Just… gone.

I blinked, stunned, my heart hammering in my chest.

“El?” Griffin called, snapping me out of the moment.

I turned to him slowly. “You okay?” He asked looking concerned.

“Yes, I’m fine. Thought I saw someone standing there” I pointed to the place I had seen the person. Griffin turned to see where I was pointing at.

“Probably someone passing by” he said. “ come let’s go, class starts in a bit”

“Yeah probably” I replied but I knew within me that there was more to that person than just a passerby and as we walked to class I could still feel their gaze on me making the hairs on my neck stand and my skin crawl. But when I looked back there was no one there—what a creepy morning.

******five days later

I glanced at the clock on my nightstand for what had to be the hundredth time.

4:42 p.m.

Griffin was late.

Not “a few minutes” kind of late. Not even “I lost track of time” late. Just… not here.

I shifted on my bed and tugged the edge of the hoodie sleeves down over my hands.

The popcorn I’d made was still warm, sitting untouched in the bowl next to me. The movie was already queued up. Our favorite, one we’d watched a dozen times before but always came back to. The lights in my room were dimmed to that soft, cozy glow we both liked, the curtains pulled half-shut so the setting sun spilled golden streaks across my floor.

It was perfect.

Except he wasn’t here.

I reached for my phone and checked it again. No new messages. No “Be there in five” or “Sorry, running late.” Just the same screen lighting up my face with quiet disappointment.

Griffin and I have been Best friends since I was little Always looking out for me and my mischievous ways. Griffin and his mom ran a coffee shop in the neighborhood.

For most of my life I saw Griffin as just a friend. It was last year that I realized that there was something more behind the scenes. I turned 18 two years ago. A mile marker for werewolves. Most werewolves found their mates on that day but with me being wordless things were different. And griffin also hadn't found his mate yet which means there is a possibility……

I couldn't deny that Griffin and I wouldn't fit Nicely. Griffin has been effortless and enjoyable although he hasn't made any move yet apart from soft touches.

Another glance at the clock.

4:46 p.m.

I sighed and fell back against the pillows, hugging a cushion to my chest. The ceiling stared back at me, blank and boring and way too quiet. I hated waiting. Especially when it was for someone who always made the waiting feel like forever even when he didn’t mean to.

My phone buzzed suddenly, vibrating against the bed.

I snatched it up.

Griffin

Relief rushed through me faster than I wanted to admit. I answered quickly, trying to sound casual.

“Hey.”

“Hey, El,” his voice came through, slightly breathless and layered with background noise—people talking, dishes clinking, music playing faintly.

“I’m so, so sorry,” he said. “I didn’t forget, I swear. My parents asked me to cover the café. Last-minute emergency. My mom double-booked, and I couldn’t get out of it.”

I didn’t say anything right away. My silence was intentional.

“I really wanted to come,” he added after a beat. “I feel awful.”

“Well,” I said, dragging the word out, “you better be glad I like your mom.”

He laughed softly. “She likes you too. She thinks you’re the only one who keeps me from setting things on fire.”

“She’s not wrong,” I muttered, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth despite everything.

There was a pause. I could hear someone in the background calling his name, probably a customer.

“I’ll make it up to you,” he promised. “Tomorrow. I won’t mess it up again.”

“You’d better not,” I warned, rolling onto my side. “If you forget about tomorrow, I’ll never forgive you.”

“Never? That’s harsh,” he teased.

“I mean it,” I said, but my tone was playful. “No cupcakes. No forgiveness.”

He groaned dramatically. “Okay, now you’re hitting below the belt.”

“Good.”

He chuckled again, a sound that never failed to make my heart skip just a little. “Have fun tonight, okay? Even without me.”

“I’ll try,” I said softly.

“Talk later?”

“Yeah. Later.”

He hung up, and the call ended with a soft beep that somehow made the room feel ten times quieter.

I stared at my phone for a second longer, then set it back down and grabbed the remote. Fine. I didn’t need him to enjoy a good movie. I wrapped myself tighter in my blanket, grabbed the popcorn, and hit play.

The familiar opening credits rolled across the screen. For a while, I forgot that I was alone. I laughed at the same stupid jokes we always laughed at. I said the lines before the characters did. I even rolled my eyes when the over-the-top romantic subplot kicked in, even though secretly, I kind of loved it.

About halfway through, I heard gunshots, followed by screams of agony. I instantly tensed up, wondering where it could have come from. My heart started racing as immense fear gripped me. That’s definitely wasn’t from my mom right?… No

I instinctively ran down downstairs just in time to see my mom get shot.

No! I screamed at the top of my lungs. I want to go and hold her in my arms but I ran.

Without looking back.