THE ALPHA'S CLAIM

AH'

hock to my system. Her touch lingered in my mind, warm and electr

," she said, her tone

tion. But I let it slide for now. Instead, I found myself staring at her, my gaze lingering on her sharp cheek

explain. My wolf was pacing impatiently in my mind,

. She wasn't ready,

my voice low but firm, "

ed, meeting my gaze with a defiance that made my wolf growl in appreciation. "An outcast. It's i

t. Most wolves would have been overjoyed to find their mate, especially the

I said after a moment,

her surprise. "You should," she said, her voice a

cent of her hair. It was intoxicating, and my wolf pushed fo

isper. "Despite everything, this pack is t

ression unreadable. "I have things to

nding all my attention. My wolf growled in di

ic

me. She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

on, I asked, "What

ing smirk crossed her face. "You've been staring at her since I got here

and led

-

ssion-a mysterious author whose books had taken the werewolf worl

full set of her books?" she exclaimed, pulling one out. "These are out of print! She'

snapping back to her. "I

hy not? You don'

ou an autograph. Just

m between the pages-a burnt, slightly damaged picture of a young woman. Her face was familiar, hauntingly so. I had saved it fro

n the phot

tlessly. "She's our

ewolf poked his head in. "Alpha, I just heard that Elara was b

ll. But she never fought back. Instead, she let them hurt her and carried the

from my chair. "I'l

-

red. Elara sat on a bench nearby, her head bowed as she dabbed at a cut on her ar

of her injuries. My wolf raged

Dorian and his sidekicks. I found them laughi

ny, don't you?" I gro

ion vanished when he

pha

connected with Dorian's jaw, se

to hurt her?" I demand

, shaking his he

The sickening crack echoed through the clearing.

rest of the gr

hook their heads, st

ou fell down the stairs. That's the story you'll stic

g in the dirt, my wo