Claimed by the Alpha

"Kayla, I need to talk to you. Come with me."My heart freezes at my Alpha's tone. Whatever this is, I know it can't be good.Brock, our Alpha, walks quickly through the camp, and I struggle to keep up with him. I look at his grim expression, and it confirms my worst fears. It is serious.In the distance, I see Lucius, the Alpha of our neighboring pack, watching us. I shudder. Lucius is here to tour our camp and choose a mate.I pray that it isn't me.Please, don't be me.Brock turns to me."I'm sorry, Kayla," he says. "But he chose you."My heart drops in despair.I think of Sebastian. My one and only true love. My secret love.I know Sebastian is my mate.How I can accept Lucius?I am already secretly promised to Sebastian.This is a nightmare."You can't be serious," I say."Why would he choose me?""That doesn't matter," he says. "Don't waste your time with these thoughts.""But… what about love?" I ask.He shakes his head."That's not important," he says. "Love

I wake the next morning filled with dread.I have barely slept.My eyes are sore from crying.I can't believe my parents won't help me.I can't believe I am being forced to marry Lucius.There is a knock at the door. It is my mother."Are you ready?" she asks."I'll never be ready."She comes in and sits down on the bed next to me.She is calm, but I can tell she is trying to hold it together for my sake.She takes my hands in hers."Your father and Lucius will be here soon," she says. "We need to get ready.""I don't want to get ready," I say. "I don't want to do this.""I know," she says. "I know.""I'm scared.""I know," she says. "I am too. But it will be fine. It will be fine. We will get through this. We are strong. We are strong.""I'm not strong," I say. "I'm not strong at all.""Yes, you are," she says. "You are very strong. I know you are. You'll see.""What's going to happen to me?" I ask."You'll be all right," she says. "I'm sure you will.""How can you

Lucius follows me out of the carriage.I see the way he looks at me, his eyes hungry. It makes my skin crawl.I can tell Tanner hates it too. His jaw is clenched with revulsion. It looks like he is holding back the urge to punch Lucius in the face. Part of me wishes he would."This is your new home," Lucius says with a grin.I already hate that grin. It is arrogant. Domineering. It makes me shudder.I take a step away from him.But he grabs my hand, tight."You are mine now, Kayla," he says.Tanner steps forward. He is clearly angry and fighting himself to hold back."Perhaps we should show Kayla to her room?" he says, stiffly. "It has been a long journey."Lucius regards him for a moment. Then he drops my hand. "Yes. Okay."I am grateful for Tanner's intervention.We begin to walk toward the doors of the mansion.I have never seen a place so foreboding. My old pack lived humble lives. This seems so extravagant.Inside, the hall is elegant. Marble floors. A sweeping stair

"Hello?"A voice wakes me. Wakes me from my dream of Tanner.I open my eyes.I am lying curled up on the cold, hard ground of the prison cell."Hello?" a voice says again.I sit up. Look around.I realize I am not alone.There is another girl here.A young girl.She is sitting on the dirt next to me, resting against the back wall of the cell.She holds a bowl in her hands.She is offering me some food."Hello," I say.She looks at me with her big eyes. There's an empty bowl beside her. And another, for me.From the smell of it, it's made of vegetables."Are you hungry?" she asks."Yes."She hands me the bowl.I look in the bowl.It's a stew of some kind.I take a spoonful of stew and eat it.It's gritty and bland.But it's food."Where did you get this?" I ask her."The servants brought it this morning," she says, gazing at me with wide eyes."Where did you come from?" I ask.She pauses."I'm... I'm not sure," she says.I look at her more closely."What's y

Trudy picks up a basket and leads me down the corridor.We walk out the doors, into the sunlight.The sun is bright.I squint against the glare.Trudy guides me, firmly, leading me to the riverbank. To my destination.There are wooden steps leading down to the water's edge.The water looks inviting.It looks like freedom.I know it is not.The water is only a mirage.Blinding me.Luring me.Trudy puts down the basket. There is a white towel and some clothe inside. She pulls them back to reveal a knife hidden underneath the towel.I gasp. My heart beats harder."What is that for?" I ask.She smiles at me. "I have my instructions.""Instructions?" I ask."Yes," she says. "If you try to run, I am to kill you."I am too shocked to speak.She takes out a knife and holds it to my throat."See?" she trills. "Just like this."She is crazy, I realize.As crazy as Lucius.Perhaps everyone in the mansion is.I try not to show any fear.Then Trudy removes the knife.She