The Alpha's Claim
***
ing against my cheek with a strength that forced my head up. Blood r
s his stare. "We're not monsters. Just do your job, a
even known myself until now. I wanted the life that had b
't have imagined. And now? Now he has sold me off. Sold me
ree
ry part of me for the one I believed would be my true mate, the one I would meet under a full m
es before him. "I'll be anything else-a maid, a servant, I'll work for you my whole li
me with indifference, and it made me feel small, unworthy.
er owes," I added, my voice cracking.
tone sharp, biting. "You could work until your last br
of them might show some sign of compassion. But they all stood s
Xavier, clutching at his leg. "Please," I whispered, my
locking eyes with him for the briefest moment, and a chill ran through me
room stood open, just a few feet away. A gl
oor, a desperate attempt to escape. I didn't care where I wou
rowing me down with a force that knocked the breath
, my voice raw with panic.
"Did you really think you could ru
he could end my life right here and n
remained expressionless, unmoved. "Take her to my room," Alpha
hesitant, though his face remained unreadable. "The
ting my stomach into knots. What did they
o come together, forming a picture I didn't want to see. I wasn't chosen by chance. They
horrifying truth. My bloodline, unique and ancient, was valuable to them, something they wanted to exploit. They saw me as a breedin
I had dreamed of. I was nothing more than a tool to
ing figure cast a shadow over me. His ey
er's voice was firm, emotionless. "Ac
t his side, a warning. The message was clear: try to ees. This was my reality now-bound to Alpha
." The Alpha's voice was cold as h
g in my eyes. "But what if I refuse?" My voice trem
me. But slowly, he turned, fixing me with a dark, intense stare
ciless as he knelt down, bringing his face close to mine, his gaze unyielding. I f
ne far from the others." His voice was barely a
sweat dotted my forehead. There was no escape from him, no
age I had left. I straightened, looking up to meet his gaze, refusing
sion softened ever so slightly, and he looked away, his voice a strange mixture of calm and cold
fading as he walked away, leaving me a