CHAPTER 3: CLAIM

“She is truly artful, possessing an intelligence that demands admiration. Alpha Leo will have to look at the dark side of werewolf life and choose whether to ignore it or change it, just as she suggested.” – Alpha Frank.

== JANET’S POV ===

"You dare slap me?" Lea clutched her cheek, fuming with rage.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"My husband is Alpha Emmett! We can have you exiled!"

I truly didn't expect much from women who could only survive by clinging to their husbands' reputations.

"And I am Alpha Leo’s secretary. As long as I fulfill my duties, your husband has no right to fire me."

“You're just a bitch who'll be tossed aside eventually anyway!” Lea sneered, crossing her arms and tilting her chin high. "You must apologize to my son immediately, or Emmett will tell the Alpha to kick you out!"

I slapped her again. "Watch your mouth. Who gave you permission to insult Alpha Leo?"

Lea growled, baring her sharp teeth, and lunged at me. I let out a roar, shoving her so hard she flew back and crashed onto the ground.

"Alpha Leo isn't an unreasonable tyrant like you!"

Suddenly, a wolf burst from the woods. It was Eli, and he was absolutely livid.

He slammed me into the wall with such force that I let out a pained groan. Dazed, I could only hear Rachel shouting, "You madman! You can't mark her!"

When I regained my focus, I saw Rachel desperately grabbing onto Eli’s head. His face was inches from mine, his saliva dripping onto my cheek.

I released my wolf, shoving Eli aside. Rachel tumbled to the ground.

Eli and I faced off, his roar echoing through the area. Then, he lunged at me with his jaws wide open.

My body instinctively recoiled from the fear of being marked against my will. In a moment of pure cowardice, I turned and ran.

Suddenly, another massive wolf charged in, ramming Eli aside. It was Ray! I exhaled in relief.

"Oh my god, Eli!" Lea gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

Eli stubbornly tried to pursue me, but Ray bit into his leg and hurled him into a thicket of thorns. Eli’s wolf whimpered in pain.

Lea helped Eli out of the thorns while Ray and I shifted back into human form. Rachel quickly wrapped a cloak around me.

"Are you okay?" she asked. I nodded.

"Here, give this to Ray!" Ava brought out another cloak for him.

He took it and wrapped it around his waist. His chest was still heaving, though I couldn't tell if it was from exhaustion or fury.

"Explain yourself, Eli. Why did you attack Beta Janet?" Ray growled. Beside me, Rachel shrank back into my arm.

“She… she hit my mother.” Eli leaned on his mother to stand up.

"He intended to mark me. Rachel can testify to that!"

Rachel nodded. "Yes, I saw it. Marking someone without their consent is wrong."

"No, there is no such law! My son is an Alpha; he has the right to mark whomever he likes," Lea argued, puffing out her chest.

She glared at Ray. "And my son is right—that brat hit me twice."

"Mrs. Jackson, what exactly were you doing here at six in the morning?" Rachel stepped forward and demanded.

"She came to slap me because I exposed Eli's cowardly nature," I answered sternly. "And she insulted our Alpha Leo."

"I did not—"

"Then how exactly do you plan to get Alpha Leo to fire me? Will you abuse your husband's power, or will you try to bribe the Alpha and think he has any need for your spare change?"

Lea fell into a pensive silence for a moment before speaking again. “I will say this was my fault, and my son was only protecting his mother. Accusing him of other crimes is unfair.”

“And then, I will show you what real justice looks like. Get out, now—before the other Alphas realize just how much you’ve insulted them with your foul behavior,” I said, pointing directly at their faces.

Ray growled, ”If I catch you bothering her again, I will kill you, Eli. I’m not joking.”

I noticed Eli limping away, his body already beginning to heal the wounds Ray had inflicted.

Once they had finally disappeared, our group headed inside. Rachel and Ava hurried to get water for Ray and me.

Ray and I sat down next to each other. He began observing my neck with an awkward, clumsy intensity.

“Do they know?” Ray whispered.

I shook my head. “I haven't told anyone.”

“Damn it,” Ray cursed.

As I took the glass from Rachel, I suddenly recalled Lea’s words. I said, “We are going to have to change the structure of this pack.”

“Now, you’re overstepping, Janet,” Ray reminded me. “Even though we are... well, if you betray the pack, I won't show mercy.”

“No, of course not,” I rolled my eyes. “I just don't want people like Eli living in peace—at least not in this pack.”

Ray sighed in relief. “Fine. Then I’ll just find them and beat them up.”

“Good god, no. We can’t just fight all the time.”

“We’re werewolves; the gods allow us to do that.”

“Rachel? Ava?” I looked for allies.

“I prefer things the way they are. I don’t want to mess with the Jacksons too much,” Ava said with a sad smile.

“Agreed. I hate the Jacksons, but Ava is right. I don’t have Alpha friends like you do, Janet.” Rachel looked from me to Ray, clearly having deduced a part of our relationship.

The doorbell rang. Ava went to open it, letting out a soft "Oh!" as her face flushed. “Oh my... Rachel, I think we should probably go.”

That was when I realized the rest of my "default" mates were at the door. Their presence made my two Omega friends shy away and hurry out.

“I thought you were alone; I didn't mean to scare them.” Frank walked in, carrying a large gift package.

“There’s no reason for them to fear me. I am always friendly with every pack member,” Alpha Leo grumbled. He came to a dead stop when he realized Ray and I were both wrapped in cloaks. “Did you two fight?”

“We just finished having sex,” Ray said, and I slapped his bicep.

“Then whose torn Pokemon pajamas are those?” Bill asked, immediately heading into the kitchen with Neville, my ever-silent guy.

“Eli nearly marked me,” I stated.

I heard low growls vibrating from the Alphas' throats. Bill took a sip of tea while Neville remained focused on the eggs frying in the pan.

“Obviously, I didn't let it happen, so drop it,” I reminded them.

“Was there a reason for such reckless behavior?” Alpha Leo sat beside me. It made me remember the feel of his touch on my hip.

“The reason stems from the fact that the pack doesn't forbid marking without consent,” I said.

“And if it were forbidden?” Bill asked seriously. “A mark is a mark. Punishing the marker or the marked only causes loss for the pair.”

“Exactly. So, how do we deter people in the pack from marking based on one-sided whims and protect the Omegas in our group? I’ll give you that big laugh if you can pull that off,” I proposed seriously.

Alpha Leo’s pupils flared. “You’re interfering in pack politics.”

“Yes, because I am a member of the pack. And... if you’re lucky, I’ll be the one helping you restructure it while in your bed.”

“That is a tempting promise. I’ll make things happen. It’ll be easier than punching Eli every time I see him to threaten the rest of the pack,” Ray said, crossing his arms with a proud look.

“You always rely on your fists,” Frank groaned.

“Come on, I like fighting. I’m a Warrior!”

“Is it a deal? If not, there won't be anything for me to laugh about in a few hours. I’m certain of that.” I glanced around at my men.

“It looks like I’m going to win this game, aren't I?” Alpha Leo flashed a smile that sent a chill down my spine. I hated how much this handsome, seductive man affected me whenever we were in the same room.

In that moment, I realized my heart felt complete. A warm home with my mates...

And then, I was lost.

I saw my mother's face appearing dimly before me. I realized I had drifted back to a moment in the past. I was lying on her lap, listening to her warnings.

“As soon as your mates appear, the curse will activate. If you bound with them, you will have to make them suffer, or you will die.”

“Do I have to make them suffer, or kill them, Mother?”

“You must make them suffer; death is just a natural consequence of that,” my mother whispered. “Do not try to evade the curse, or everyone in Mystic Vale will face the consequences.”