Claimed by the Alpha

Dreams and Danger

Ryleigh sat on the edge of her small bed, her hands buried in her lap, fingers tangled like roots unsure of where to grow. Her thoughts churned, not with fear this time, but confusion. Derek.

D is Derek.

The realization hit her like a cold slap, followed by a thousand questions that refused to be silenced. Derek—the same man who'd shown her kindness in the shadows, whose voice had offered her a sliver of comfort during her captivity. He was the one who’d left the notes. Why would he do that? Why play both sides—kind stranger and captor?

Her eyes flicked to the ceiling as though the answer would be carved into the wood above her. None of this made sense. She had been kidnapped, dragged from her life without explanation. For what? To be a slave? To scrub floors and carry linens? If they were just looking for workers, why all the secrecy? Why not simply hire someone?

A wolf pack. She still wasn’t used to the idea. Creatures out of bedtime stories and nightmares, walking and talking like humans. And now she was in the middle of it, a human girl surrounded by predators. But Derek—he didn’t feel like a predator. He felt like something else entirely.

She curled onto her side, staring out the small window as the moon rose higher. Her thoughts swirled until they became a soft fog, pulling her under.

---

She stood in a forest, barefoot, the air warm and sweet with pine and wildflowers. Moonlight bathed the clearing in silver. A figure stepped through the trees. Derek.

His dark hair curled slightly at the edges, tousled as if he’d been running. His shirt was unbuttoned, exposing the smooth, sculpted lines of his chest. His eyes found hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.

“You came,” he said, voice rich and low, like a promise.

“I didn’t mean to,” she whispered, though her feet moved toward him.

He smiled. “But you did. You always find your way back to me.”

He reached for her hand, warm and strong, pulling her gently into his arms. The moment she touched him, the air changed. It shimmered with heat and desire and something else—something older, deeper. A connection neither of them could explain.

He bent his head to hers. “You’re mine, Ryleigh,” he murmured against her lips.

And then he kissed her. Slow, deliberate, full of longing and possession all at once. It was like falling, floating, and burning all at once. The kiss deepened, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt, holding on like he was the only thing keeping her grounded.

---

A sharp knock at her door jolted her awake.

Her eyes flew open, her heart racing. The dream lingered, vivid and pulsing beneath her skin. Her lips still tingled, her body warm as if Derek’s arms had only just released her.

She sat up with a gasp and blinked at the light streaming through the window. Oh no.

She was late.

Panic clawed at her throat as she scrambled to her feet, tugging on her clothes with frantic hands. Another knock came, sharper this time.

“Ryleigh!” Natalia’s voice carried through the door. “You’re late. Again.”

“I—I’m sorry!” she called, pulling her hair into a messy braid as she yanked the door open.

Natalia raised a brow, arms crossed. “You’ve been sleeping in a lot lately. We’ve got chores piling up, and no one’s seen Margaret this morning.”

“What?” Ryleigh frowned. “She’s not here?”

“No. And no one knows where she’s gone. So guess who’s got double the work?”

Ryleigh winced. “Got it. I’ll get started right away.”

“All linens need to be changed, floors swept, common room dusted. Don’t slack today.” Natalia’s tone was clipped, but her eyes softened a little. “Try not to let it happen again.”

Ryleigh nodded, already rushing toward the laundry room.

As the day wore on, the dream stayed with her. Every time her hands stilled or her mind wandered, it took her back to the moonlit forest and Derek’s lips on hers. Her heart fluttered just thinking about it. She had no idea what it meant. Was it just a dream? Or had her subconscious seen something her waking mind couldn’t yet grasp?

Why him?

Why would her heart cling to someone she barely knew? Someone who may have played a part in her kidnapping?

But then there was his note… the way he said her name… the way she felt around him.

She shook her head and scrubbed harder at the floor.

“Ryleigh!” a sharp voice called from down the hall.

She turned to see Margaret striding toward her, her expression sour. “Where have you been?”

“I—I’ve been cleaning all morning,” Ryleigh said, wiping her hands on her apron.

“Well, you’re needed upstairs. The Alpha is returning and his suite needs fresh linens. Now.”

Her stomach dropped. “The Alpha?”

“Yes,” Margaret snapped. “Do you need a map?”

Ryleigh bit back a retort and nodded. “No, ma’am. I’ll take care of it.”

She gathered the clean sheets and towels and started up the grand staircase that led to the private quarters. Her heart pounded harder with every step. She’d never been this high in the house before.

The Alpha’s suite loomed at the end of the hallway. She paused, steeling herself, then stepped inside.

It was a large, opulent room—dark wood furniture, a stone fireplace, and a massive bed that looked like it belonged in a medieval castle. Everything smelled like pine and something more masculine—cedar, musk, earth.

She began stripping the old sheets from the bed, careful not to wrinkle anything. She moved quickly, efficiently, wanting to get in and out before the Alpha arrived.

But then she felt it.

A presence behind her.

And a strong hand closed around her shoulder.

She froze.

Slowly, she turned her head.

A tall man stood behind her, broad-shouldered and bare-chested, wearing nothing but a towel slung low around his hips. His dark hair was wet, dripping slightly onto his collarbone. Beads of water clung to his chest, tracing the carved muscles of his abdomen.

His eyes—dark and wild—raked over her from head to toe.

Ryleigh’s breath caught in her throat. Her feet tangled beneath her and she stumbled backward, landing with a soft thump on the bed.

The man took a slow step forward, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Well now,” he said in a deep voice that vibrated through her chest. “Didn’t expect company.”

“I—I’m sorry,” Ryleigh stammered, scrambling to her feet. Her cheeks burned as she avoided looking directly at him. “I didn’t know you were here—I was just—just changing the sheets—”

He chuckled, the sound rich and predatory. He reached out and gently took her arm, helping her steady herself. His hand was warm—too warm. And his touch sent an electric jolt down her spine.

“You smell…” he paused, leaning closer. “Incredible.”

Her eyes widened. “I—what?”

His face was only inches from hers now, his nose brushing her hair as he inhaled. “Like lavender and sunshine. You’re not from around here, are you?”

She shook her head, tongue tied.

He smiled. It wasn’t kind. It was hungry.

“You’re the new one,” he said softly. “The girl.”

Her heart thundered in her chest. She didn’t know whether to run or melt.

“I should go,” she whispered.

But his hand remained on her arm. “What’s your name?”

“Ryleigh.”

He said her name slowly, as if tasting it. Then, just as suddenly, he released her.

“You may go.”

She didn’t need to be told twice. She turned and bolted from the room, nearly tripping over herself in her rush.

As she raced down the stairs, she heard it—his low, amused laughter echoing after her.

She flew past Natalia in the hallway, who blinked in surprise. “Ryleigh? Are you okay?”

But Ryleigh didn’t answer.

She didn’t stop until she reached her room, slamming the door shut behind her.

She pressed her back to it, chest heaving, heart in her throat.

The Alpha.

That had been Damien.

She closed her eyes, trying to banish the image of his dripping muscles, the heat in his eyes, the sound of his voice as he said her name.

He was everything she’d feared—powerful, alluring, dangerous.

And yet, even as she tried to calm her racing heart, she couldn’t ignore the truth that settled in her chest like a burning coal.

He was dangerous.

But he was also…dreamy.