The Alpha's Claim

*************

"In a few days, she'll be out of our lives for good."

I gripped the plate tightly, my knuckles whitening as I scrubbed it under the lukewarm water. The voice in the hall was unmistakable: my stepmother, Lycril, discussing something in hushed tones. Her words cut through the air, and an odd chill traveled down my spine.

With each passing day, my body felt weaker, the bruises multiplying, as though my skin had become a canvas for the fury of those I called family. My mother's love had shielded me once, but her death had left me defenseless. Now, in my own father's house, I worked day and night as if I were less than human, scraping by to earn even a roof over my head.

The murmur of voices drew me closer, curiosity pulling me despite my fear. Setting the plate down, I dried my hands, tiptoeing to hear more. I needed to know-needed some understanding of why my life felt more like a punishment.

"Think he'll take her right away?" Lycril's voice dripped with satisfaction. "It's about time we made something of her."

My breath hitched. Made something of me?

Then, Richard, my father's deep, gruff tone: "Once he sees her, it's his call. And then we'll have enough to clear the debts."

Debts? And him? Who was he talking about? A sick dread twisted in my stomach. My pulse quickened, and I pressed myself against the wall to stay hidden.

But I wasn't alone.

"Well, well, sneaking around again, are we?" Enzo's voice slid through the silence, his gaze heavy with that unsettling, possessive gleam.

I tried to pull away as he cornered me, my body recoiling instinctively. "Enzo, please-"

But he grabbed my wrist, his grip strong, pulling me closer until his breath was hot against my cheek. "Just look at you," he whispered, his hand tracing the edge of my jaw. "Maybe I should be the one to take you off their hands."

My skin crawled. His eyes roved over me, igniting a disgust so deep I wanted to scream.

I yanked myself free, fury sparking in me just long enough to land a hard slap across his face. The sting in my palm was worth it as shock flashed across his face, but it vanished quickly, replaced by a snarl.

"Such a little wolf without claws." He spat at me, eyes blazing, and I could see it-the revenge glinting in his gaze. He would make me pay for that.

As though summoned by the noise, Lycril stormed out, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene. "And you," she snapped at me. "Didn't I tell you to stay in the kitchen?"

I tried to explain, but she was faster. Her hand struck my face, a slap that left my cheek burning and my head spinning.

"She was eavesdropping," Enzo said, his smirk returning. "Maybe you should teach her what happens to snoops."

Without warning, Lycril grabbed the edge of my hair, yanking me to the floor. "It's time you learned to stay out of things that don't concern you," she hissed, reaching for her favorite horsewhip. I could see Enzo's smirk deepening, and even Amanda lingered nearby, a cold satisfaction in her eyes. They all wanted me to suffer.

I struggled, desperate to break free, but they held me down. I couldn't breathe, could hardly see past the pain as she brought down the whip across my back. I bit my lip, determined not to give them the satisfaction of my screams, even as tears stung my eyes.

Then, my father's voice cut through the haze of pain. "Enough," he commanded, his presence looming in the doorway, his eyes cold and calculating. But the relief I felt was short-lived.

"Lie her flat on the floor," he said, his tone almost bored. "We don't want her to look too bruised. We're sending her to the NorthRidge pack in a few hours."

I froze, the words chilling me to the bone. NorthRidge pack?

I'd heard of it, of the infamous Alpha Xavier. Stories of his brutal conquests, his ruthlessness toward enemies, the chilling fate of those who crossed him-all of it was legend. And they were sending me to him?

My father crouched down beside me, his hand clamping onto my chin as he forced me to look into his cold, unfeeling eyes. "You're going to serve him, Freya. This is your chance to be worth something."

The horror settled in, its weight suffocating me. I choked out a plea, my words trembling. "Please, don't send me there. I'll do anything... anything, just don't make me go-"

But my words were futile. Lycril's laugh cut through, high-pitched and mocking. "You'll leave tonight, Freya. The Alpha is paying handsomely, and we'll be free of you."

My father released his grip, shoving me back. I crumpled onto the floor, the broken pieces of myself lying in their shadows. My head spun, the realization sinking deeper. This was my fate-to be handed off, traded like an object.

As I lay there, my cheek pressed against the cold floor, I could hear them, their voices fading as they left me alone.

But just before they disappeared completely, Lycril's words echoed: "Let's hope she lasts the night. They say he doesn't go easy on his new servants."

The darkness closed in, my pulse a slow, terrified beat. And somewhere, deep in that darkness, a whisper of resolve stirred.

Somehow, I would survive. And when I did, I would make them pay.

*****

In the dark, a creak broke the silence...

The old kitchen door opened slowly, its loud creak echoing in the darkness. I froze, lying completely still, holding my breath. My heart raced, thumping so hard I could almost hear it in the quiet. Someone was there. Someone was sneaking in.

"Who's there?" I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. I felt around for something-anything-that I could use to defend myself. But before I could grab anything, rough hands found me first, pinning my wrists down hard. A cloth was shoved into my mouth, silencing me. I tried to scream, but it came out as a muffled sound.

"Stay quiet, Freya, and I won't hurt you," said a cold voice in the dark.

Chills ran down my spine as I recognized the voice. It was Enzo. He was Lycril's son, and the sight of him alone was enough to make people nervous. But this-this was something far worse than I could have imagined. Panic seized me, and I struggled, trying to pull away from his grip. I twisted, kicked, and tried to scream, but he was too strong, and the cloth kept my cries locked inside.

In the corner of my eye, I spotted an old bottle on the shelf above me. Desperately, I stretched my arm, my fingers brushing the glass until I managed to grab it. With all the strength I had, I swung the bottle at him. It smashed against his head with a loud crack, and he stumbled back, blood dripping down his face.

"Freya," he hissed, fury filling his eyes as he stepped forward, looking ready to lash out. But just as he moved toward me, we both heard footsteps down the hall.

It was Lycril.

Relief flooded me at the sound of another person, but I quickly remembered who Lycril really was. She wasn't coming to save me.

The door burst open, and Lycril entered, taking in the broken glass, Enzo's blood, and me on the floor, terrified. Her face was stone-cold, unreadable.

"What is going on here?" she demanded, her voice hard and filled with authority.

I tried to explain, to tell her what Enzo had done, my voice shaking with fear and anger. "He... he tried to-" But before I could finish, Lycril's hand lashed out and slapped me across the face.

"How dare you accuse my son?" she spat, her voice icy and full of contempt.

"But it's true!" I cried, my cheek burning from the slap, hoping she would believe me. But she just turned and gave Enzo a sharp, disappointed look.

"You know better, Enzo," she said, her tone cold. "We don't want her... damaged. The Alpha's expecting her."

Her words hit me like a punch. She didn't care about what he'd done to me, only that I was still useful to her. I wasn't a person to her, just a thing to be given away to someone else. That "someone" was the Alpha.

Enzo gave me one last, angry glare before leaving the room, muttering curses under his breath. Lycril grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet, her grip bruising. "Clean yourself up," she ordered, her voice as harsh as ever. "The Alpha won't want to see you looking like this."

Her words stung. It didn't matter what had happened to me; all that mattered to her was that I was "presentable." She didn't care how I felt, only that I looked the part.

With a shaky breath, I stumbled outside. I grabbed a bucket of cold water, scrubbing my skin as hard as I could, trying to wash away the awful feeling left from Enzo's touch, from Lycril's slap. Tears blurred my vision, but I forced myself to stay quiet. Crying wouldn't help. They would only laugh if they saw me like this.

---

Hours must have passed because the next thing I knew, I was jolted awake by freezing water splashed over my face. I gasped, shivering from the shock, as I looked up to see Amanda, Lycril's daughter, standing over me, smirking. She looked amused, as if waking me this way was her favorite game.

"Mother wants you ready in ten minutes," she said, sounding utterly bored. "The Alpha will be here soon."

The Alpha. The very thought made my stomach twist with dread. I had known this day would come, but I still wasn't ready for it.

I hurried to the bathroom, washing myself with a kind of desperation, as if I could scrub away the fear that clung to me. I thought about the dress I had sewn for myself. I had made it in hopes of wearing it for someone special, a true mate who would love me and care for me. But now, as I put it on, it felt like nothing more than a cruel reminder of a life I would never have.

I glanced in the mirror. The girl staring back was pale, tired, bruised. Today was supposed to be my eighteenth birthday, a day I had once thought would be full of happiness and freedom. But now, it felt like anything but a celebration.

---

The first light of dawn crept into the room as heavy footsteps echoed through the house. I heard Lycril barking orders in her sharp, demanding voice. Then I heard a new voice-low, deep, and calm. The Alpha had arrived.

My heart hammered as I heard him approaching. The door opened, and he stepped inside. He was tall, his figure filling the doorway. His gaze was cold and assessing, as though he were looking at something he was about to buy.

"This is her?" he asked, his voice smooth but with a chilling edge.

Lycril nodded eagerly. "Yes, Alpha. She's strong and obedient," she said with a smile, as if she were presenting a prized animal. "No trouble at all."

The Alpha's eyes stayed on me, piercing and hard. He took a step closer, his gaze moving over me in a way that made my skin prickle with unease. He reached out, brushing his fingers lightly over the fabric of my dress. His touch was soft, but it made my stomach twist with dread. A small smile played at the corner of his mouth, dark and unsettling.

"Happy birthday, Freya," he murmured, his voice dripping with mockery. "Welcome to your new life."

His words felt like a heavy weight, settling over me. This was it-the future that Lycril, Enzo, and Amanda had shaped for me, a future I could feel closing around me like a cage. I wanted to scream, to rip off the dress and run far away from them all. But I was trapped, my fate sealed.

And yet, deep inside, a tiny spark of defiance burned. They had tried to crush me, to break my spirit. But I held on to that small, stubborn part of myself, the part that refused to give in. They hadn't taken everything from me-not yet.

*******

As I stepped out into the hallway, Enzo and Amanda were waiting, their faces twisted in sneering amusement.

"Look who's off to join the NorthRidge pack today!" Amanda mocked, grabbing a strand of my hair and tugging it harshly. "I hope it's the last I'll ever have to see of you." Her voice dripped with contempt, each word like a dagger to my chest.

I swallowed, struggling to keep my composure. I couldn't let them see how much they affected me. But then Enzo leaned in, his gaze sliding over me with that same sickening smirk he always wore. "Got a nice ass, Freya," he sneered, smacking me hard enough to make me stumble forward. His laughter, along with Amanda's shrill giggles, echoed behind me as my cheeks flushed with anger and shame.

I fought back the tears that threatened to spill over. Rage boiled within me, fierce and wild, clawing to break free. In my mind, I imagined scratching that grin right off Enzo's face, making him feel every ounce of the humiliation he'd forced on me. But I knew I couldn't-not here, not now. Too many eyes were on me, waiting to pounce at the slightest misstep.

"Move!" Enzo barked, shoving me from behind so hard I nearly fell. I took a deep, shaky breath, forcing my legs to keep walking as hot tears slipped down my cheeks.

They'll pay for this, I promised myself in a silent, fierce whisper. Somehow, someday, I'll make them pay.

"Hey!" Enzo reached out again, his hand darting toward me for another slap. I whirled around, glaring at him, voice trembling but sharp. "Don't you dare touch me again, Enzo. Just don't."

But my voice betrayed my fear, cracking under the weight of everything I wanted to scream but couldn't. He laughed, a dark sound that sent a chill down my spine, and stepped toward me, his eyes glinting with a predator's hunger. "Who do you think you are, telling me what to do?" he hissed, his hand reaching out to grab me.

Desperation took over, and I found myself backing away, my feet carrying me down the stairs toward my father and stepmother, who were deep in conversation with a tall, dark-haired man dressed in a black blazer. I didn't recognize him, but his sharp, assessing gaze flickered to me, watching the commotion with interest.

Just as I reached them, Enzo caught up, his hand yanking me back, fingers digging painfully into my shoulder. His other hand roamed to my waist, pressing me against him, and I felt a surge of disgust twist my stomach.

"Enzo, let me go!" I managed, struggling against his grip. I shoved him as hard as I could, sending him stumbling back a few steps. I knew I'd ignited his anger, but as he advanced again, the stranger cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

My stepmother, Lycril, turned to me with a cold smile. "Freya, this is Xavier, the Beta of the NorthRidge pack." She motioned to the man, who stepped forward, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Look up," he commanded, his tone firm, unyielding.

Reluctantly, I raised my gaze, meeting his sharp, brown eyes. He was studying me, his stare hard and unflinching. After a moment, he reached out, lifting my chin gently but firmly.

"She doesn't look like someone who's been 'well taken care of,'" he said, his voice a low growl as his gaze moved to Lycril, suspicion etched in his features.

"Oh, come now, Freya knows how well we've cared for her, don't you?" Lycril's nails dug into my arm as she nudged me sharply, her tone sweet but laced with threat.

"Yes... they've taken good care of me, sir," I managed, keeping my eyes downcast. I pulled my sleeve over the bruises on my wrist, and my hair hid the mottled skin on my neck.

But Xavier noticed. His hand reached out, brushing my hair aside to reveal the bruises. His expression darkened, and his gaze shifted back to my stepmother, hard and accusing.

Without looking away, he snapped his fingers. "Seize him," he ordered.

Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, two of Xavier's men pinned Enzo to the ground. I stared in shock, my mind reeling as Xavier approached, his footsteps slow and deliberate.

"You dare touch her?" His voice, low and cold, made my stomach twist with both dread and an odd, dark satisfaction. For once, Enzo was the one in pain.

Lycril's face paled, her carefully crafted smile faltering. "N-no, Beta Xavier! Enzo would never harm her, right, Freya?" She looked at me, desperation in her eyes. But I hesitated, my gaze shifting to Enzo, who lay pinned and trembling on the floor.

"Right, Freya?" Lycril's tone grew sharper, but I felt a surge of defiance rise within me. For once, I didn't want to let him off. I wanted him to feel the fear and helplessness he'd forced on me.

Xavier turned to her with a steely glare. "Stay out of this. I'm speaking to him." He crouched down, grabbing a fistful of Enzo's hair and yanking his head back.

"It was... a mistake," Enzo stammered, his usual smugness replaced by terror. "I didn't mean it, please, Beta, spare me."

Xavier gave a curt nod to his guards. "Strip the skin from his fingers," he said, his voice chillingly calm.

Lycril gasped, falling to her knees. "Please, Beta Xavier, show mercy!" She clawed at my father's arm, her once-perfect demeanor shattered. My father, however, remained silent, his face expressionless as if none of this concerned him.

My heart ached as Enzo's screams filled the room. I had wanted him to pay, but this... I wasn't sure I could stomach it. Despite all he'd done to me, I felt a pang of guilt.

"Beta Xavier, please..." I managed, my voice shaking. "Please let him go."

But he barely glanced at me. "Not until my orders are fulfilled," he said, his face unreadable.

As Enzo's screams faded to pitiful whimpers, Lycril turned on me, her eyes blazing with hatred. "You little wretch! You seduced my son, and now this!" She lunged, nails poised to strike, but Xavier's men blocked her, dragging her away as she hurled insults at me.

My father finally turned to Xavier, his face a mask of indifference. "Thank you, Beta Xavier. She's... untouched. I give you my word."

I swallowed hard, betrayal cutting through me. He was selling me off, denying everything I'd suffered in his home.

Xavier's gaze shifted back to me, intense and piercing. "Have you packed?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, sir," I murmured, my heart pounding as he led me outside. The house I'd grown up in loomed behind me, cold and unwelcoming, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that leaving would only lead to something worse.

Xavier opened the car door for me, and as I slid in beside him, I felt the weight of my fate settle over me. This man, powerful and unpredictable, had rescued me from one hell, but his world might be a darker one altogether.

The car started moving, and I couldn't help but glance back, a shiver running down my spine. If I survive this, I thought, maybe there's hope for me yet.

But as I met Xavier's hard gaze, a new fear unfurled within me. What awaited me at the NorthRidge pack? And who was this man, really?

The questions haunted me as we drove into the night, my heart pounding with dread.