HIS ALPHA'S CLAIM

Leviana Carter

She ran through the dark hallways, sweat running down her face like tears. Her body was shaking badly and she could feel the skin underneath her feet being ripped apart by sharp stones.

Why were there stones in that hallway? Where exactly was she ? She had no idea.

But she was feeling so scared and she could feel the darkness running after her in an attempt to take over completely.

She wasn't going to let it, she was never. Only the sound of her feet's and her deep breaths were being heard in the hall way and the sinister silence of the darkness that was slowly gaining its momentum.

She looked back for the uptenth time but all she could see was her fear and her footprints left behind in the fast, scary race.

Suddenly she appeared in the light forest she loved, a forest she visited every time whenever she felt sad and lonely. The same forest that offers consolation to her was here again and she could feel a little does of peace rush down her body as she breathed out falling to her knees.

She smiled happily as she took her time to regain her energy but she suddenly heard some noises behind her and she stood up again sharply, ready to sprint as she turned back.

Her eyes widened and a sharp gasp escaped from her lips as fear took over her body once again.

A dead girl was lying in front of her and a group of people were laughing sinisterly as they looked at shaking self. It was like a conspiracy, they conspired to kill this girl, they killed her! She couldn't recognize their faces but she could definitely see the face of the young girl who lied in a pool of her own blood, a hole made by a knife stab in her stomach.

Judging from her look, she was stabbed at least four times. Who was so evil to have done this? Hot tears rushed out of her eyes as she stared at the dead girl.

"Who did it?" She suddenly shot, anger rising through her nerves, her blood boiling hot for vengeance.

But there was no reply, instead one of the laughing statues just raised its hands pointing at her and Leviana slowly looked down at herself.

Her hands were looking very bloody, no, they were very bloody, same with her clothes and now she could feel the blood on her face. Her eyes widened again as she suddenly realized she was holding the sharp knife that was dripping of thick red blood.

"What?" She muttered, throwing the knife down in fear and slowly touched her body. She felt very hot upon the realization that she might have been the killer.

She had killed this girl!

She had!!!

"Nooo!!!!!!!" She suddenly screamed, breathing hotly as her eyes opened sharply and her gaze landed on the white ceiling.

"Leviana." She heard her mother's voice call calmly and she slowly moved her eyes to the side, her gaze ending on her mother, Daisy.

"Mom.." She whispered as she breathed sharply, trying to regain her breaths and calm down at the same time. It was just a dream, a dream that had felt so real.

Daisy sighed as she sat beside Leviana and hugged her slowly, patting her back calmly.

"It's all just a dream. It's just a dream." She muttered and Leviana nodded, listening to her mother's soothing words.

"It's all good, I'm here with you." She said, further reassuring Leviana.

The door suddenly opened and Jupiter, Leviana's younger sister peeped in.

"Leviana, you are not yet ready? We are gonna be late for school." She said grumpily staring at the mother and daughter loving hug, then she sneered.

"So I'm not invited?" She asked and Daisy smiled, widening her arms, Jupiter rushed in immediately, giving a big teddy hug.

"Leviana can come later, Jupiter. Leave with Noel so you won't be late." Her father peeked in through the open door.

"Fine." Jupiter said grumpily and left immediately, hugging her father shortly before leaving.

"Goodbye dad, Goodbye mom." Their older brother, Noel, shouted below the stairs.

"Goodbye!!" The parents replied and Carter slowly walked into Leviana's room after making sure that Jupiter and Noel got out.

He sighed as he sat down beside both of them on the bed.

"Still the same thing?" He asked, placing his hands on Leviana's own.

"Yes, dad. I'm so scared. I can't seem to get used to the same dream. It's so scary." She muttered and Carter squeezed her hand affectionately.

"You'll be fine. If only your memories could come back..." He sighed.

"They'll soon come back. All of them. Maybe when you get your wolf, your memories would be triggered." Daisy said.

"I think so too. When you get your memories back, we can find a solution to the dream." Carter said and Leviana nodded slowly. She had finally calmed down but her breathing was still unsteady and she also felt eyes were watching her.

"Come on, get ready and come down for breakfast." Daisy smiled.

"Okay mum." She muttered.

"Let's go." Carter nudged Daisy, pursing his lips and she stood up slowly, both of them leaving the room.

Leviana took a deep breath as she bit her lips tightly, folding her hand.

She was going to get through this. She was.

The thought resounded in her head several times as she took her bath and got ready for school.

**

"You are so late again. You are not even punished because it looks so regular for you."

Leviana gave a short smile as she listened to her best and only friend, Beetle rant on and on and on, about her always being late to school.

But it was also so for Leviana, she had not remembered in any of her records, ever coming early to school. Most times, she was the last, other times, she came few minutes before other late comers.

What Beetle didn't know was that her mother had spoken to the principal on why she was usually late and so teachers had stopped punishing her as per the principal's orders.

Everyone thought it was favoritism and so hated her because of that, but only the principal really understood what was going on.

"Come on, we have few minutes to get to class. We'll still meet up before the teacher comes in." Beetle said and dragged Leviana swiftly to class.

"Actually, I want to use the restroom." Leviana smiled and Beetle sighed.

"Okay, I'll follow you then." She shrugged.

"You'll be late for class, who will explain to Mr Hugdes why I missed class?" Leviana muttered.

"You want me to cover up for you, don't ya?" Beetle said, squinting her brows and Leviana nodded slowly.

"Okay fine. Promising you'll give me half of your meat for lunch." Beetle chuckled.

"No, not again. Every wolf needs meat, Beetle. You'll make me retarded." Leviana refused.

"Okay then. I'll see how you cover up for yourself then." Beetle shrugged and started walking away.

"Fine!!" Leviana said behind her and turned, going towards the direction of the restroom.

"Your bag?" Beetle asked and she turned back, handing her bag to Beetle before leaving and Beetle chuckled.

"She's funny in a special way." She muttered and went ahead to class.

***

Leviana spent a lot of time in the bathroom, staring at herself right in the mirror. Eyes were on her, she could feel it. It was there everyday, the cold open eyes of the girl laying in her own pool of blood were always on her, chaining her to shackles of doubt and self distrust.

What if she was the killer? Would that mean she was a murderer? She killed someone?

As far as she could remember, she had lost her memories at the age of fourteen and had not recovered them since then. They were a lot of therapy and brain scan sessions that her parents had organized for her but all the same, none of them had worked and she had refused any other treatment from anybody, planning to just wait it out but the wait got longer and the days scarier and tougher without her memories.

She sighed slowly as she brought her phone out of her pocket, checking the time. She was ten minutes late for class already. She turned it off and left the bathroom, heading to her class.

Though she was aloof, she was actually the best in her class and no one had ever been able to beat her. She could prove that by the records of awards lined up in the living room of her house from all her competitions, even some she couldn't remember.

She was about to step into the class when she suddenly heard a loud noise and she turned back. It had come from the direction of the light forest. She looked at her classroom first before rushing out of the school compound and into the demarcated forest.

Following the direction of the noises, she found herself going deeper and deeper into the forest where it was getting thick, then suddenly the noises stopped and Leviana did too, calmly waiting to grasp any other sound.

After some moments, she could hear the someone groan loudly in pain and she rushed there immediately. It was part of her job. She had applied for the Search and Rescue Team when being asked what she wanted to study if she furthered her education.

It was the part of the forest where the trees formed a canopy blocking the sunlight and only rays could pass through. She squinted her eyes, trying to follow the sound of the groaning but then it stopped again and she sighed in frustration.

"Why can't I figure what part this is coming from?" She muttered, taking her phone and putting the flash light on. Almost immediately, a hand hit the phone from her hand and it fell into the gully.

"What the..." Her voice was interrupted by the same hand as the perpetrator grabbed her neck tightly, raising her up as he slammed her back against the tree.

"Hmmmm." Leviana tried hard to breath as she held the hand with one of hers and continually his arm with the other side.

"Let....me .....go.." She struggled for air as her eyes were already giving up and in that moment she saw the eyes which had always watched her.

The Perpetrator

Just as her eyes were about to succumb to unconsciousness, she felt herself being lowered unto the ground and she opened her mouth immediately, gasping for air as much as she could.

Kylan's red eyes slowly went back to the normal brown eyes as fell to the ground weakly, his head reverberating.

His eyes finally closed as he gave in to the clouding darkness.

Leviana calmed down after a while and she stood up immediately, staring at the guy who had almost strangled her to death about a minute ago.

"What is wrong with you!" She shot angrily but went mute when she saw that he wasn't moving or anything.

"Hey." She kicked his legs lightly, but there was no response.

"Hey, are you okay?" She asked again and knelt down beside him, opening his lids slowly.

"Shit." She muttered, seeing all the wounds on his body. She could see they were scratches from other wolves fingers and she knew immediately that the rogues were at it again. Probably, they ran away when they sensed someone else was coming, but if they did, she knew she wasn't safe also and she had to leave quickly, before they came back.

But she couldn't just leave this guy here and she bit her lips slowly, contemplating on what to do.

She groaned slightly as she moved closer to the gully, making sure her feet was strongly rooted to the ground or else she might fall and hit her head or something. After making sure one foot was strongly placed, she moved the other one slowly and carefully, stretching her hand at the same time to pick her phone.

"If you hadn't hit my hand, this wouldn't have happened." She muttered, stretching her hand forward. She successfully got the phone and her lips stretched into a smile. But her foot suddenly got misplaced and she tripped, rolling right into the gully. She immediately positioned herself in a way that she wouldn't hit her head and thankfully she didn't, instead she her knee had a huge gash and blood rushed out of it immediately, she also felt pain and she realized she had dislocated her ankle.

"Fvck, I should never have come here." She muttered and turned the phone on, immediately calling her brother.

"Noel, please get the school team to rush over here." She said, hissing as the pain hit her afresh again.

"What'd you mean? Where are you?" Noel asked and Leviana bit her lips slowly. If things were under control, she wouldn't disclose her location since everyone was warned not to go close to the forest because the rogues were on a rampage but Leviana hadn't listened to instructions and here she was, in danger.

"Where are you, Ana?" Noel asked again.

"In the forest?" She muttered and he sighed.

"What exactly is going on?" He asked calmly.

"I dislocated my ankle and I can't walk, there's also an unconscious guy here." She said slowly.

"You went to the forest with a guy?" Noel gasped and ended the call immediately. Leviana clicked her tongue, twitching her lips slowly as she waited patiently for them to come take her. She was sure Noel was going to rush down here any moment from now. She had disobeyed by going into the forest and also she went in with a guy. The would be the thought driving him right there but she was going to explain that she only tried to help the guy after hearing the noises. She was going to prove her point, even though she knew no one would believe her. She had broken enough rules about the forest a lot of times.

She heard the noises of the pack and she sighed in relieve when they found her.

"Ana!" Noel gasped as he rushed into the gully without thinking and took her up, placing her on his back immediately.

"Drop me. Just lend me a hand, I can walk with a leg." She muttered but he was adamant till he got to the ambulance and placed her on the bed.

"This should be for the unconscious guy." Leviana muttered and Noel rolled his eyes.

"You don't have your wolf yet, how can you run into the forest blindly when rogues attacks have been spotted severally, Ana?" He asked sharply and authoritatively.

"I'm sorry. I actually heard noises and I decided to go in, that was when I found out rogues dealt with that guy."

"You met the rogues?" Noel gasped.

"That's not the point." Leviana muttered under her breath slowly and Noel sighed.

"Whatever. Just get treated. I and others are going to handle this." He said and she nodded slowly. Noel was a year older than her, both in age and also in her school. He was a part of the special students committee and handled some dangerous stuffs concerning the school with some of the teachers. Leviana always envied him and wished she could also join but the committee was mostly made of boys and only few girls. And those girls never go on missions like this, they were always in class, in the office or being the brainbox back at the school which was a little bit boring for Leviana since she loved rescue mission like this.

She felt a sense of respect when everyone stared at her like a savior when the ambulance rode into the school. Obviously, the news had gotten the them and had spread like wild fire.

But there was something wrong, no one knew the injured boy and it could easily be concluded that he was a rogue as well.

"He isn't a rogue. I really heard the last bit. He was groaning in pain and the rogues had left." Leviana explained but the principal and Mr Hugdes just stared at her.

"We get your point, Leviana. But until we confirm who he is, he would be in probation. We are going to treat him and watch his movements." The principal said.

"He looks like he has a wolf, just give him some meat and nutrients and he'll heal up, then you can let him go. I'm serious, I saw the look of fear in his eyes when he choked me." She slipped.

"He choked you?" Noel asked, behind her and she sighed, shrugging.

"Yeah, he thought I was a rogue and was there to attack him."

"How do you know that, Leviana? According to you, he fainted immediately. So how do you know what he thought at that moment?" Mr Hugdes asked.

"But...."

"Leviana, that's enough." The principal interrupted her and she sighed lowly.

"You are also going to get a punishment for leaving the school during school hours and breaking the rule of the pack, no entry into the forest."

"But I heard a noise." She pointed out.

"Then why didn't you report that to your brother or the school authorities instead of rushing in there. You were in immense danger, don't you know that?!" The principal fired and Leviana sighed, looking down slowly, her shoulders falling.

"I'm sorry." She muttered.

"Sorry won't solve this. You are to be in detention till the school hours are over. That's after you get your treatment." Them principal said and Leviana nodded, giving her brother a blank look.

"I'll meet you in detention." Noel mouthed to her and she rolled her eyes, leaving the office slowly.

"Hey. Are you fine?" Beetle asked immediately she got out. She had been waiting there all these while.

"I guess so." Leviana shrugged slightly and Beetle gave her a slap on the arm.

"How could you run into danger like that without telling me first?" She shot, sniffling already as she stared at Leviana's standing figure due to her broken ankle.

"Are you crying?" Leviana asked and suddenly Beetle burst into laughter, admist her tears.

"Why are you standing that way?" She laughed-cried and Leviana chuckled.

"Sis!!!" Jupiter screamed, standing at the end of the hallway and Leviana could imagine fire on her junior sister's head.

"I'm just hearing the news. How could you run blindly into the forest after all the warnings? Do you want to be attacked by rogues? Don't you know how mum and dad would be so depressed? You wanted to die after giving a teddy bear hug this morning? Is this how heartless you are? What do you ..."

"Jupiter! I'm fine!" Leviana shouted and Jupiter suddenly stopped talking, her nose flaring.

"I'm not going anywhere. Look I wasn't hurt." She muttered.

"But you are standing like that." Jupiter whispered.

"And blood is rushing down your knee." She said and that was when Leviana felt the pain again.

"Can you help me to the infirmary?" She asked instead.

**

"You'll have to rest for a bit. I heard you'll be on detention. I'll speak to the principal for you so you can do your detention here." The school nurse said gently and Leviana nodded slowly.

"Just think of it as a rest and take some time to sleep too. You look sleep deprived." She said finally as she covered the blue cottons, leaving Leviana alone in the improvised room.

Of course she was sleep deprived, she always slept very late at night to shorten the length of her dream but she still woke up every morning screaming. Sometimes, she didn't even sleep and read all through the night and sometimes, she tried to take sleeping pills but they weren't working.

Her mind went back to incident in the forest and she sighed slowly, twitching her lips.

"Was that how wolves were?" She thought. His red eyes were so scary at that moment and he looked like he had no control of himself when he was choking her. She wondered what made him stop and also wondered if he would have really killed her if something didn't stop him.

Red eyes, sharp fangs, long nails. So strong but yet too weak to take his wolf form and she was glad. If he had taken his wolf form, he might have crushed her immediately without even thinking and torn her apart, only the birds would be able to enjoy her flesh.

She heard the familiar groan again and she stood up sharply, coming down from her bed. The moment her leg touched the ground, she hissed in pain but she walked towards the bed where she heard his groan from and opened it.

Looking at him more clearly and under light, he looked very handsome and sharp. Clean, too. Leviana was sure he couldn't be a rogue, what made the principal say that?

She saw his wounds were closing very slowly and confirmed he was in a lot of pain, his eyes were also too heavy for him to open, she figured and sighed.

"You are safe now." She muttered. All that was left was confirming his identity and she hoped earnestly that he remembered where he came from.

"Kayla..." He muttered slowly and Leviana furrowed her brows.

"Kayla?" She whispered and immediately she felt a sharp pain in her head and she held it tightly.

"Ahh.."

Kylan Smith

"Leviana!" Noel gasped as he rushed to her quickly, catching her before she could fall.

"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly and she sighed slowly, as the pain dissipated.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I don't know, Noel. I suddenly felt this sharp pain in my head and..."

"That's because you are here. You heard the principal. This guy could be a rogue wolf, he's dangerous." He said sternly and Leviana pursed her lips.

"I just wanted to check on him..." She muttered and he sighed slowly, squeezing her hand.

"I also don't want you to be in danger. You are my younger sister afterall." He said and she nodded, sighing slowly. She knew Noel loved her dearly even though he was just her step brother. His mother had died the moment she gave birth to him and Daisy took the pain of taking care of him. During the course of that, she had fallen in love with Carter and they had gotten married few months later. At the time, Daisy was already pregnant with Leviana.

But all the same, the three siblings loved each other dearly and would risk their life to protect the other. It was a deep bond they shared.

"Let's get you home. I've spoken to the principal and you have been pardoned,.you need a lot of rest too." Noel said and Leviana nodded, giving the sleeping guy one last look before leaving with Noel.

**

Kylan groaned slowly as his eyes opened. He closed it back immediately due to the sharp light hanging from the ceiling.

"Fvck!!" He muttered as he looked around when he opened it back again.

"Where am I?" He muttered and tried to stand up but he was handcuffed to the bed.

"What's this?" He said lightly and dragged his hands forcefully, breaking the cuffs. The nurse rushed towards him due to the noise and stopped some feet's away when she saw the handcuffs were broken.

"Are you fully awake?" She asked slowly, making sure to note every of his movement Incase he decides to attack her.

"Who are you? Where am I?" He asked immediately and she furrowed her brows.

"Don't you know where you are?" She asked back and he scoffed lightly.

"If I did, I wouldn't be asking you." He replied curtly and the nurse looked shocked.

"Mind your words, kid." She snapped and Kylan pursed his lips.

"What's your name?" She asked.

"Kylan." He replied curtly.

"Where are you from?" She asked again, slowly and calmly. Kylan looked at her for a long time and sighed.

"Why can't I remember anything?" He muttered to himself, clicking his tongue. She sighed as she heard him and she took a step closer.

"Are you a rogue?"

"What the hell do you mean?" Kylan shot again and sighed, remembering he was talking to someone older.

"Why do you think I'm a rogue?" He asked.

"You were found in the forest badly beaten and you also tried to strangle one of our students to death." She pointed out, a deadpan look on her face.

"This is a school?" Kylan asked instead. The realization he was inside a school infirmary hit him hard.

"In few minutes, the students will be present." She said, checking her time.

"I had to stay awake all night to watch you heal and I'll say you heal very fast for a rogue wolf." She commented and Kylan snarled angrily, making her take a step back.

"I am not a rogue." He shot.

"That's all you needed to say." She said, drawing the curtains close as she walked away. Kylan sighed slowly and rested back on the bed, trying so hard to bring back his memories.

He couldn't remember a single thing no matter how he tried and that made him angrier than ever.

"What the hell happened, K?" He spoke to himself and sighed, jumping off the bed as he walked out of the infirmary. He didn't see the nurse and so he presumed she had gone to notify the others that he was awake. He had better escaped before they came for him, considering the fact that they thought he was a rogue wolf.

He had to remember everything that happened and go back to his real origin. For some reason, he didn't feel scared about being in a strange pack and losing his memories. Instead he felt some sort of superiority as he walked round the school, watching every single thing.

"Hey." He had a voice at his back and immediately turned to look at its owner.

"You are awake." Leviana smirked and Kylan gasped, as the memory of him strangling her flickered through his memory. He could see the prints of his own hands still on her neck.

"Who are you?" He asked curtly, giving her a sharp look.

"I saved you yesterday, don't you remember?" She asked and he shook his head slowly, signifying 'no'.

"Alright." Leviana muttered.

"I only wanted to check up on you. Since you are awake, it's all good. I'm sure you lost your memories due to a lot of shock, it'll come back soon." She said. Kylan just stared at her while she talked and then slowly turned, walking out on her leaving Leviana shocked. She scoffed as she blinked her eyes severally staring at his retreating back.

"Very arrogant for someone who's lost." She muttered and sneered, turning back only to bump into Beetle.

"Oh my God, you scared me." She gasped in shock.

"Who were you talking to?" Beetle asked, standing on her toes but she could see no one. Leviana turned back sharply and sighed when she saw he had disappeared. She would be in trouble if Noel found out she had spoken to him.

"No one." She shrugged and turned back to Beetle.

"You are very early today. I've never seen you this early. What's up?" Beetle asked and Leviana shrugged again.

"I don't know." She muttered under her breath, twitching the side of her lips. Of course she knew, she had spent the whole night awake just to prepare for school early and check up on him before anyone could notice.

"Don't tell me you didn't sleep all through the night?" Beetle asked, noticing the dark circles under her eyes.

"Of course I did." Leviana chuckled slowly and Beetle scoffed lightly, knowing she was lying but she didn't push further.

They heard the bell rang and Beetle held her arm tightly.

"There's an assembly today, concerning the guy you saved, I'm pretty sure that was why you came early." Beetle said, dragging her towards the assembly space. Leviana blinked slowly, she had no idea there was a sudden assembly to discuss the matter, Noel or Jupiter had not informed her at all. She clicked her tongue, knowing Noel would be the one to influence Jupiter. Her eyes clocked with Noel's own while he stood on the pavement and he furrowed his brows slowly.

It was like he was saying to her ' how come you are this early?'

And Leviana replied with her face too. ' So you thought you could out do me?'

He sighed slowly in response and shook his head as the principal started making her speech.

"As you all have heard, I know the word spread like wild fire yesterday, a person was rescued in the forest yesterday. This is why I keep on resounding the rules, stay away from the forest till the rogue attacks are all over. This is for your safety and mine, none else." She said the last part, staring keenly at Leviana as if warning her.

"We have yet to confirm if the said student is a rogue or a decent wolf as no one knows his background and he seems to have a lost his memories for now due to shock. However, that will be for just a few days as we will try to locate his pack immediately and return him, I'm sure you know that's only if he is not a rogue." The principal said again, looking at Leviana and Leviana lifted her shoulders in a question mark.

"His name is Kylan and currently he is roaming round the school aimlessly having broken the cuffs." The principal announced.

"He broke the cuffs?"

"He's a strong one."

"How'd he do that?"

"For now, he's still under investigation so please if you notice anything suspicious about his attitude, make sure to report to the appropriate authority. Especially you... Leviana."

Leviana pursed her lips slowly as everyone turned to look at her.

"You should stop breaking rules, Leviana." Beetle said and she rolled her eyes slowly.

***

Kylan stood at the back of a building watching the assembly go on. It was obvious everyone was cautious of him but he wondered why they haven't tried to catch him yet if they were scared.

He sighed folding his hands slowly as he rested the wall, thinking deeply. What exactly happened? He felt the difference, he knew he didn't fit into this place, this was not his pack but exactly was where he was from?

"K?" He called slowly but there was no response.

"K!" He called again, stifling his lips.

"K!!!"

"Are you calling your wolf?" Leviana suddenly spoke and he jumped, shocked as he had not seen her coming.

"It's probably still weak. I'm pretty sure you ingested a lot of wolf bane, you weren't able to transform into your wolf when you strangled me yesterday." She folded her hands slowly and Kylan smirked.

"I'm pretty sure if I had transformed into my wolf, your head will be off by now."

"And you be tagged a rogue all your life. I mean, this isn't even your territory and you don't even know where you came from." She raised a brow and Kylan scoffed.

"Why do you following me around?" He asked instead and Leviana smirked.

"I'm not following you around. Why would think that?" She asked.

"Then why exactly are you here?"

"This is the way to the library. Did your forget we were in a school?" She muttered.

"Weren't you just at the assembly...." He stopped talking when he looked and saw that the assembly ground was already empty.

"We finished the assembly ages ago." Leviana scoffed and walked past him, going into the library a few feet's away.

"That girl..." Kylan clenched his teeth angrily.