The Rogue Alpha’s Claim

Kane had just come back from a scouting meeting with his beta, and he was dead beat. The pack had been increasing rapidly to the point that the packhouse could no longer contain them, and he had to come up with a solution. Fast.

They were a rogue pack; hence, their pack was in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by thick forest, and isolated from the main pack.

But Kane wanted a change.

The isolation had been affecting a lot of his packmates, especially in the area of finding their mates, and he wanted to do better. He was their alpha, and it came with a lot of responsibilities.

He had heard of a better land just east of the former moonlight pack, and he had gone there to inquire. He had already written to the alpha king about his decision, and with or without his approval, he was going to take the land.

Kane collapsed on his sofa, resting his head on the armrest, his eyes slowly closing as he tried to take a quick nap, but all he could think of was Ariel.

It was a little cliche, but he was happy that she knew the truth about himself and that he no longer had to hide his nature from her.

‘You know there is still a lot you are holding back.’ Max reminded him, but Kane chose to ignore his words.

‘Stop bothering me, Max; what she doesn’t know won’t kill her.’

‘Alright, if you say so, but when it comes back to bite you, I will be sure to tell you that I told you so.’

‘I don’t care. Just let me be.’

“Fine.” Max huffed, and he was breaking the connection.

Kane shifted on the sofa, stretching his long limbs so he could have enough room. His eyes were already blinking, and he was trying but failing to keep himself awake.

He finally succumbed to his flesh, closing his eyes for a few minutes before he resumed his duty, but even in a state of rest, all he could see was Ariel.

In his dream, she was wearing a sundress and running in the meadow, looking as radiant as the sun, and his smile grew wide as he saw her.

Kane opened his arms wide, waiting for her embrace, but the sun got eaten up by darkness, and she stumbled on a stone, falling to her feet.

“Kane.” Ariel cried out, and he was abandoning everything and racing towards her. He was about to reach her when he woke up from his sleep.

“Ariel?” Kane called out as he raised his head. He was having difficulty separating reality from dreamland-the dream had been so vivid, and the way she cried out his name had him seeking her out.

They had no bond because she had lost her wolf, but there was a certain unease he was feeling, and no matter what he did, he couldn’t shake off that feeling.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“It is fine; it is just a dream; I was worrying over nothing.” He tried to reassure himself as he stood up, dragging himself to his desk.

But the feeling rested on his head like a cloud, and when he couldn’t bear it, he picked up his phone.

Kane looked at the screen as he tried reaching Ariel’s phone, but as the previous time, there was no response, and his worry only seemed to climb.

He tried the second option.

Toby had been her unofficial guide, and he should know where she is. But Toby’s vague response was all he needed to get him out of the chair and running out of his room.

“I think something is wrong.” Max said, prancing around his cage, and Kane fought the urge to roll his eyes.

‘You don’t say.’ He held his hands in front of Ariel’s door and knocked twice. He tried again when he got no response, and he was opening the door.

A quick survey let him know that she wasn’t in her room and that there was only one place he could think of, yet why did he have a sinking feeling that something was wrong?

Kane was racing downstairs, barely acknowledging the greetings from his packmates. He only had one focus, and until he had seen her, he couldn’t afford to rest.

He got to the ground floor where the training room was located, and the first thing that greeted him was the metallic smell of blood that cut through his nose, so much so that he could almost taste it.

However, that was not the reason he was running to the training room and almost knocking the door down.

It was the fact that he could perceive his mate’s blood intertwined with it, and he couldn’t think. His searching eyes were all over the place, seeking his mate, and his mind went blank as he saw her lying on the floor, a crumbled mess.

Kane had never felt such anger coursing through his blood-anger so much that it fueled his animalistic side. He didn’t even know when he was on them, one hand wrapping the woman’s neck.

She had dared put her hands on his mate, and there was nothing more honorable than her death.

“Kane.” The voice of his angel called to him weakly, and he was abandoning everything-throwing the lady like a rag doll on the floor-and rushing to her.

“Ariel?” He could barely hear her heartbeat; the usual fierce lub dub sound was now a slow, mournful drumbeat. He couldn’t even move past how bloodied she was. Her cheeks were an ugly mess of battered skin, and he was almost dropping everything to deal with who had dared to hurt his mate like this.

“Hmm.” Ariel’s whines of discomfort had him pulling her closer, all thought of revenge vanishing from his mind.

“I am here, Ariel. I am here.” He cradled her like he would a baby. It was the only thing holding his anger that was barely holding on to a thread.

Kane took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself before he looked up to meet the culprit’s face. A gasp ran through the crowd as they met his eyes, and he inhaled, perceiving their fear-a pleasant aphrodisiac.

Yes, they should be scared. Very sacred.

Kane ate their fear like food; their quivering lips and their shaky pupils were a delight for him.

“Who did this to her?” He thundered in a voice that had everyone in the room falling down just from the sheer magnitude of it. “I said who did this.”

The pathetic lady came towards him, dragging herself forward on her knees, and Kane was fighting the urge to wrap his hands around her neck, tightening it gradually until she lost her lifeline.

But the door pushed open, and Mason and Toby entered the room, their sights on their alpha. “Kane, don’t do it.”

They had both felt their murderous intent in the bond, and they knew how dangerous Kane could be in that moment, and that was the reason they were racing to where his strength was the strongest.

“Focus on Ariel; she needs you now.” Toby begged, trying to avoid as much bloodshed as possible. He took one look at Ariel, and he was almost barfing.

She was in a very horrible state; she was barely breathing, and he felt sympathy for whoever had caused her this.

Kane was never going to let it go.

“Come on, you need to get her to the clinic; she is losing consciousness.” Mason said, placing his hands on his shoulder to comfort him.

It seemed to have registered in his head that with the more time he delayed, his mate was seconds away from her ancestors, and he stood up gently so as not to hurt her.

“Take them all to the dungeons; I will decide their punishment according to the gravity of their offense.” Kane barked in a voice that left no argument, and he was walking out of the door before he could get a response.

“Denise, be at the clinic; I am bringing my mate.” Kane said in the mindlink, and he was marching towards the clinic.

His aura was so strong that anyone who met him had no choice but to lower their head, acknowledging the power within.

In fact, everyone made it a point to keep away from him, or else they would incur his wrath.

Kane kicked down the door as he got to the clinic, and Denise was already here, her white lab coat covering her clothes.

“Oh my!” Denise exclaimed as she saw the lifeless bundle in his arms. “What happened to her?” The look Kane shot her was enough to make her shut up. “This way, please.”

“Please, I need her to be fine.” Kane pleaded as he placed her down, his voice a few seconds from breaking.

“I will suggest you excuse us, Alpha, so I can…”

“Don’t even think of it; I am staying here, and that is the end of the conversation. I suggest you start saving her because if she goes, I will make sure you follow her.”