All Chapters of Claimed Without a Scent: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

Chapter 1 — The GauntletRhea's povThe locker door slams into my shoulder before I see her coming."Oops." Britney's voice drips with fake sweetness. "Didn't see you there, Rhea."I steady myself against the metal, books clutched to my chest. My heart pounds hard enough that I feel it in my throat. Around us, the hallway goes quiet. Not the kind of quiet that means people are minding their business. The kind that means they're watching.Stay calm, Sable whispers inside me. Don't give her what she wants.I don't. I straighten up, meet Britney's eyes for just a second, then turn back to my locker. My hands shake as I reach for my chemistry textbook. I hate that they shake. I hate that she can see it."What's wrong?" Britney leans against the locker next to mine. Her perfume is too strong. It makes my nose itch. "Cat got your tongue? Oh wait—you don't have a wolf, so I guess nothing's got your tongue."The girls behind her laugh. High-pitched. Cruel. The sound scrapes against my skull.

Chapter 3 — The HuntRyker's pov "You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?"I stand in front of my father's desk. The office is cold. It's always cold. Big windows. Stone walls. Everything designed to remind you who holds the power here.King Nico doesn't look up from the papers in front of him. "Sit."I sit. Colt stands behind me. Silent. Alert. Always watching.My father finally raises his eyes. "I have an assignment for you.""I'm listening.""The Howlers Pack." He slides a folder across the desk. "Ten years ago, they were wiped out completely. Every wolf. Every building. No survivors."I open the folder. Photos spill out. Burned homes. Shattered bodies. Blood-soaked ground.My stomach turns. "What happened?""That's what I need you to find out." My father leans back in his chair. "There was no warning. No distress call. No survivors to tell the story. The pack simply... vanished.""And you want me to investigate this now? Ten years later?""Before you take the throne, you need to unde

Chapter 5 — The TrapRhea's POV"Rhea, you've barely touched your food."Mom's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I look down at my plate. She's right. I've been pushing the same piece of chicken around for ten minutes."Sorry." I force myself to take a bite. It tastes like nothing. "Just tired."Dad sets down his fork. "Long day at school?""Yeah.""Anything happen?" Mom asks. Her eyes are sharp. Concerned.I think about Ryker standing at the front of my classroom. About the way King—I mean, his Lycan—seemed to focus on me even though I never looked up. About Lila being dragged out screaming."Nothing important," I lie.They exchange a look. The kind that says they don't believe me but won't push."The prince seems to be spending a lot of time at the school," Dad says carefully. "That's unusual."My heart skips. "Is it?""Royalty doesn't usually concern themselves with pack schools." Dad leans back in his chair. "Makes me wonder what he's really looking for.""Maybe he cares about th