The claiming

I have seen many wolves beg for their lives. I have seen warriors cry. I have seen traitors swear loyalty when a blade touched their throat. You know what fear smells like? It is sharp. It is bitter. It is easy to read.

The Omega lying on my land did not smell like fear. He smelled tired. Not just his body,. His soul.

I mind-linked the warriors who were approaching. They went back to wherever they were coming from.

“Austin Gray,” I said quietly, repeating his name as he lay on the ground before me.

His chest was going up and down unevenly. Blood stained his shirt. His eyes were open. They looked empty like he had already accepted that he was going to die.

“You think you are already dead “ I told him.

“Yes,” he whispered.

There was no drama in his voice. No anger. Just the truth.

That unsettled me.

I had planned to hand him back. That would have been the choice. My brother’s mess did not need to become mine. The law of the Blood Kingdom was clear about bonds like this. The elders were merciless when it came to bloodlines.

Something about him made me pause.

“Stand him up “ I ordered my men.

One of my warriors helped him to his feet. He swayed, weak. He did not resist.

I stepped closer.

At first, I only saw an Omega who had caused chaos in my brother’s pack. That was all. A problem. A threat to order.

When I stood right in front of him and truly looked into his eyes everything changed.

He looked up at me slowly.

Our gazes locked.

The world shifted.

It was not soft. It was not gentle. It was fire.

The bond slammed into me without warning. It was strong. It was violent. It wrapped around my chest. Squeezed until I could not breathe. My wolf surged forward inside me roaring with a force I had not felt in years.

Impossible.

I staggered back a step.

My warriors noticed. “Alpha?”

I ignored them.

My eyes stayed on Austin.

His expression changed too. Shock replaced the emptiness. His lips parted slightly. His fingers trembled.

“No “ he breathed.

I felt it again. It was clear. It was bright. It was alive.

A mate bond.

I had not believed in fate since my first mate died years ago. When she was taken from me something in me shut down. I told myself the Moon Goddess made mistakes. I told myself bonds were nothing but tricks.

I never expected to feel that fire

This was not a small spark.

This was stronger than before.

Deeper.

Overwhelming.

My wolf pressed against my skin demanding Claim him.

I clenched my jaw.

“This is not possible “ I muttered.

Austin stared at me like he was seeing a ghost. “You feel it too.”

His voice was above a whisper but it cut through the air.

One of my men shifted nervously. “Alpha, what’s wrong?”

I did not answer.

I stepped forward again this time. I reached out without thinking. Grabbed Austin’s wrist.

The moment our skin touched fully the bond flared hotter.

He gasped.

So did I.

My heart pounded like it was trying to break free from my chest. I could feel his emotions through the bond. Fear. Confusion. Pain.. Beneath all of it something fragile that he did not dare to hope for.

“No,” he said again, shaking his head. “This can’t be happening.”

I almost laughed at the irony.

I had stood minutes ago deciding whether to execute him.

Now fate was laughing at me.

“A chance “ I murmured to myself.

“What?” he asked weakly.

I looked into his eyes.

“You are my mate.”

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

The clearing went silent.

My warriors froze.

Austin went still.

His lips trembled. “Don’t say that.”

“It is the truth.”

He shook his head. “Your brother rejected me. The bond snapped. I felt it break.”

“It broke with him “ I said firmly. “Not with me.”

He stared at me like I was mad.

One of my warriors stepped forward carefully. “Alpha… think about this. He is the one Blood Moon tried to kill. If this is another same-sex bond—”

“It is,” I cut in.

They all stiffened.

“That is forbidden “ another said quietly.

I turned to them slowly.

“By who?”

“The elders “ he replied.

I held his gaze until he looked away.

The bond pulsed again steady now. Certain.

Austin’s knees. I pulled him closer without thinking. My arm wrapped around his waist to keep him upright. His body was warm despite the blood and exhaustion.

He stiffened at first as if expecting pain.

I tightened my hold slightly not to hurt him but to steady him.

He looked up at me disbelief written across his face.

“You would ruin yourself for this?” he asked softly.

“For you “ I corrected.

The words surprised me.

My wolf growled in approval.

I took a breath. The decision was fully formed in my mind.

Before anyone could protest, before doubt could creep in I did what an Alpha does when he chooses.

I let my aura rise.

Power rolled off me in waves. The ground seemed to be still. My warriors immediately lowered their heads.

Austin sucked in a breath.

I tilted his chin up gently.

“Look at me “ I told him.

He did.

I leaned down. Brushed my nose against the side of his neck right over the faint mark left by the broken bond.

The connection between us exploded brighter.

Gasps sounded around us.

“Alpha Derek!” one of my men said sharply.

I ignored him.

In a steady voice, I spoke loud enough for everyone present to hear.

“I, Derek Foster claim Austin Gray as my mate.” The words rang through the clearing.

Austin’s eyes widened.

My wolf surged with pride.

“As my life partner, “ I continued, my voice even stronger now. “He stands at my side from this moment forward.”

Shock rippled through my warriors.

One of them stepped forward again panic in his voice. “Alpha the elders will not accept this.”

“They will “ I replied calmly.

“. If they don’t?”

I looked at him.

“Then they will learn.”

Silence followed.

Austin was trembling in my arms. Not from fear of death this time.

From disbelief.

“You don’t even know me “ he said, almost accusing.

“I know enough “ I answered.

“You just met me.”

“. Yet the bond is stronger than anything I have ever felt before.”

He swallowed. “I’m an Omega.”

“I can see that.”

“I was rejected.”

“I can see that too.”

His voice cracked slightly. “I was ordered to be killed.”

I brushed my thumb over his cheek without thinking. “Not anymore.”

His eyes filled,. He blinked the tears back quickly as if he did not trust the moment.

“I don’t understand “ he whispered.

“Neither do I “ I admitted.

That was the truth.

I had not planned this. I had not asked for it. I had convinced myself a long time ago that fate had nothing left to give me.

Here I was, holding the very thing I thought I lost forever.

I turned to my warriors.

“Prepare the horses “ I ordered. “We are returning to the palace.”

They hesitated.

“With him?” one asked.

“With my mate “ I corrected firmly.

No one argued again.

They moved quickly.

Austin looked up at me as if he was still waiting for me to change my mind.

I mounted behind him steadying him with one arm around his waist. The bond hummed, calm and sure now.

As we rode toward the palace I felt the weight of what I had done.

I knew the Blood Kingdom would talk to the elders. My brother would not stay silent.

None of that mattered more, than the truth burning in my chest.

When the palace gates came into view guards straightened immediately. They bowed as we approached.

Their eyes shifted to Austin.

Confusion flickered across their faces.

We rode into the main courtyard.

Servants paused mid-step. The warriors training with swords froze. Conversations died instantly.

I dismounted first and helped Austin down carefully. He stumbled slightly and I kept my hand firmly at his waist.

The courtyard was silent.

I could see the shock spreading from face to face.

One of the guards stepped forward. “Alpha, is this—”

“Yes,” I said before he could finish.

I stepped up onto the stone platform in the center of the courtyard. I gently pulled Austin with me.

He didn’t want to move at first. “Derek—”

“Come stand with me “ I said softly.

He looked around at all the people. I could see him getting scared again.

I squeezed his hand to calm him down.

He slowly stood up straight.

I spoke loudly so everyone could hear.

“From now on, Austin Gray will stand with me as my life partner.”

People gasped loudly.

“He is my chosen partner in life “

I said. “He is under my protection. If you disrespect him you are disrespecting me.”

The crowd was quiet for a moment.

Austin’s fingers gripped mine tightly.

I looked at him for a second.

He looked like he couldn’t believe where he was.

He looked around at all the people, seeing the shock on their faces.