The Injured Luna

The Alpha's Claim

Chapter 5 – The Alpha’s Claim

Anna

I stood at the edge of the platform, heart racing. Alpha Richard’s hand rested lightly on my lower back, an unspoken gesture of support. His voice still echoed in my ears, "She is mine—if she chooses to be."

The Blue Moon Pack was watching, their eyes a sea of curiosity, uncertainty, and judgment. They weren’t used to a new member—especially not one with a past as broken as mine.

But I wasn’t that girl anymore. Or was I?

“I—” My voice wavered, but I pushed forward. “Thank you for welcoming me.”

Alpha Richard’s gaze met mine, steady and unwavering. I didn’t dare look at him for too long, not yet. But the steady warmth of his presence comforted me.

“I’m Anna,” I said again, stronger this time. “I was born into the Blood Ash Pack, but I was never truly one of them. I’m here now, and… I’m still trying to figure out what I am.”

A ripple of surprise ran through the pack. I could feel their eyes on me, assessing, curious. But no disgust. Not one pair of eyes held contempt.

Richard stepped forward, his presence overwhelming. "Anna will have full protection under my mark," he declared, his voice like a storm rolling through the trees. "Anyone who dares challenge her, dares challenge me."

The pack erupted in approval. Paws thudded against the earth, howls echoed, and I felt my heart swell, just a little.

Richard leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Let me show you the territory," he murmured.

I followed him down the steps of the platform, my feet barely touching the ground, unsure if this was real or just a dream I hadn’t woken from.

Richard

When Anna spoke, I felt something shift deep within me. She was raw, uncertain, but her voice carried a power she didn’t know yet. My wolf stirred with approval. She wasn’t broken. Not yet. Not ever.

I slowed my pace to match hers, sensing the weight of her past in every careful step. She moved like someone expecting the world to drop out beneath her at any moment.

"You did well," I told her once we were far enough from the crowd. "They’ve accepted you."

She muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with doubt. "I don’t know about that. Some of them looked like they wanted to skin me alive."

I chuckled, the sound low and knowing. "They’d have to get through me first."

She glanced at me, the corner of her lips twitching in what could’ve been a smile. “Why are you so sure about me?”

I wanted to tell her everything—that I knew she was mine the moment I scented her, that the bond between us had been forged by the moon itself. But the words caught in my throat.

"Because I trust my instincts," I said instead. "And I trust you."

She laughed—a soft, genuine sound that made my chest tighten in ways I didn’t understand.

We reached a ridge overlooking the western woods. The sky had started to turn amber, the sun slipping away beneath the horizon. I pointed out the key paths that bordered the southern territory.

"This is the southern border," I explained. "It’s well-guarded, but rogues occasionally test our boundaries. You’ll be safe here."

Anna wrapped her arms around herself, her shoulders drawn in like she was bracing for something. "That’s hard to believe."

"You will," I said firmly. "In time."

She didn’t say anything for a moment, just looked at me with those wide, vulnerable eyes. Then she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, "Why did you say it like that? ‘She is mine, if she chooses to be.’"

I hesitated. My wolf growled, eager to claim her, but I wouldn’t force her. Not after everything she’d been through.

"Because the bond is real for me," I said, my voice softer than I’d intended. "But I won’t force you. Not after everything you’ve already endured."

Her breath caught in her throat, and I saw the battle inside her—fear and longing tangled together.

"I want to be yours," she whispered. "But I don’t know how."

I stepped closer to her, giving her space to pull away if she needed to. She didn’t.

"You don’t have to know yet," I said, my voice steady. "We’ll learn together."

Her eyes searched mine, and I saw it—the spark, the potential she didn’t even know she had. The storm inside her began to settle, just a little, and for the first time, she leaned into me.

Anna

His scent was a mix of cedar, smoke, and rain—something deep and primal. His warmth seeped through me, a shield against the chill of my past.

No one had ever made me feel safe and seen at the same time. But with Richard, it was like I could finally stop bracing for the next hit.

A low growl vibrated from his chest when I leaned against him, and the sound made something inside me stir.

"I’m sorry," I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "For not being strong. For not shifting yet. For being afraid."

He tensed, his tone sharp. "Don’t apologize for surviving, Anna."

His words hit me harder than I expected. My eyes stung, but I held back the tears. I nodded, not trusting my voice.

We stood there for a long time, watching as the stars began to blink into the sky. The air was still, but there was a tension that I couldn’t shake. I should’ve been terrified. I still didn’t fully trust myself, let alone the world around me.

"I should take you back," Richard said, his voice rough. "The guest house is ready for you."

But I didn’t move. I didn’t want to go. Not yet.

"Do you want to stay here a little longer?" he asked, his voice softer now.

I looked up at him, my heart pounding. "No," I whispered. "But I want to stay with you."

Our eyes locked, and something shifted between us—something undeniable. Something magnetic.

Then, a howl echoed through the trees—urgent and desperate. Richard’s head snapped up, his body going rigid.

"Stay behind me," he growled, his voice hard and commanding. "Don’t move unless I say."

My stomach dropped, my breath catching.

"What is it?" I asked, fear creeping into my voice.

"Trouble at the northern ridge," he said, his voice dark with anger. "Someone’s breached the ward."

Without another word, he took off running, his powerful strides eating up the ground. I followed him, heart in my throat, my instincts screaming to stop.

But I couldn’t stop. Not when I knew who was out there.

Someone from my past—someone who knew the truth about me.