Page 4 of Alpha's Claim

To one side, a stone fireplace stood ready to be lit when the cool Texas night fell. Across the room, floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors opened onto a private balcony, offering a panoramic view of the rolling hills, grazing pastures, and distant mountains beyond. The balcony was furnished with comfortable lounge chairs, making it an ideal spot for morning coffee or a nightcap under the stars.

Colt had remodeled the ensuite bath to include an enormous, freestanding soaking tub positioned near another large window for uninterrupted views of the open sky. Marble countertops, double vanities, and a huge walk-in rain shower with various body sprays completed the serene, spa-like retreat. Everydetail of the space reflected sophisticated simplicity, creating a seamless connection between the elegance of modern design and the rugged beauty of the surrounding landscape.

Removing his jeans, he tossed them, along with the rest of his clothes, into his laundry basket and stepped into the shower. Colt turned the knob, sighing as the hot water pounded against his sore muscles. He leaned forward, letting the steam rise around him, trying to relax—but his mind refused to quiet. Something felt different tonight. Not just because he was going to ask for help finding a mate—a monumental decision he hadn’t taken lightly—but because the air itself seemed charged, as if something inevitable was about to happen.

Colt scrubbed the dirt from his skin, the tension that coiled in his chest refusing to unravel. The idea of making his request public unsettled him more than he cared to admit. He was an alpha—used to solving problems on his own. Asking for help, especially in something as personal as choosing a mate, felt like standing on shaky ground. What if it made him seem weak? What if the women the elders brought forward didn’t feel right? What if he couldn't form a bond with any of them?

The anxiety nipped at him, relentless and sharp. What if he was making a mistake?

Shoving his thoughts aside, Colt finished his shower and dried off. Tonight’s dinner would be a communal affair, and although he wasn’t one for vanity, he took more care than usual in getting dressed. A black button-down shirt, dark jeans, a championship buckle from his rodeo days, and his best boots. He gave his reflection in the mirror a quick once over, adjusting the collar of his shirt and running a hand through his thick hair.

“Not bad,” he muttered to himself, though his reflection didn’t offer much comfort. He wasn’t used to feeling out of control, and it gnawed at him. But tonight, things would change. He had a plan, and it was time to act on it.

The dining hall was already filled with the smells of grilled meat, baked bread, and hearty side dishes by the time Colt entered. The warm hum of laughter and conversation filled the air, along with the clink of plates and silverware. The dining area was rustic but welcoming, long wooden tables set beneath dim lights that flickered slightly as the wind picked up and began to howl outside.

A fire crackled in the stone hearth at the far end of the room, battling against the storm that raged beyond the walls. The atmosphere inside was warm and celebratory, as if the storm couldn’t touch them here. Laughter bounced off the walls, and the pack's easy camaraderie lifted Colt's spirits—at least a little.

Colt slid into his usual seat at the head of the main table, flanked by Landon on one side and Bryce on the other. Platters of food were passed around, and the familiar sounds of friendly banter swirled around him.

“Think Jake will mess up the wedding?” Bryce teased, stabbing a piece of roast with his fork. “Or will Sarah be dragging him down the aisle by his ear?”

The table erupted into laughter, and even Colt found himself chuckling. This was his family—not just his brothers, but the entire pack. They’d bled together, fought together, survived together. Nights like this reminded him why the ranch mattered so much, why the pack came first.

But tonight wasn’t just another meal. Tonight, he had an announcement to make. This was important to him. He was willing to put his pride aside to ask for their help. His wolf stirred uneasily, sensing some kind of shift was coming. The pack’s trust was everything, and the decision he was about to make could change everything—would it change their perception of him? Would they still have their unshakable faith in his ability to lead them?

As the meal drew to a close, Colt set down his fork and reached for his longneck bottle of beer and took a sip, setting it back down. He rose to his feet, the scrape of his chair against the wooden floor drawing everyone’s attention. Conversations around the room fell silent, curious gazes turning toward him.

Colt’s throat felt dry, and the storm outside seemed to intensify, as if nature itself were leaning in to listen. He cleared his throat; this wasn’t easy, but if things were going to change, it had to be done.

“Can I get everybody’s attention?” he began, his voice steady. “I thought about doing this a bit more privately, but I’ve always believed in transparency. I’ve got something to say.”

Several heads tilted with curiosity, but all eyes were focused on him as whispers rippled through the crowd. Colt gripped the edge of the table with both hands, grounding himself. “As you all know, I’ve been running this ranch and leading the pack for a while now, and it’s been my honor to do so.”

A few murmurs of agreement rumbled around the room.

“But it’s time I start thinking about what’s best for the future.” He paused, feeling the importance of his words as he spoke them. “The pack needs a strong alpha pair. I think it’s time I found a mate, maybe someone from outside the pack.”

The room erupted in gasps and murmurs, several men letting out hoots and hollers of approval. A few of the women exchanged glances, some whispering behind cupped hands.

“’Bout damn time, Colt!” someone shouted from across the room, earning a round of laughter.

But not everyone was on board. One of the women, a tall blonde named Elle, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with the women in this pack, Colt?”

A few other women murmured their agreement, nodding. “Yeah, what makes you think you need to look outside the pack for a mate?”

Colt held up a hand, silencing the questions before they could spiral out of control. “It’s not about what’s wrong with anyone,” he said calmly. “It’s about strengthening the pack. Fresh blood brings new alliances. We’ve been on our own for a long time, but the world’s changing. Having other packs we can turn to if we need to wouldn’t be a bad thing. It’s what’s best for everyone.”

Elle huffed, clearly not satisfied with his answer, but she kept her mouth shut. Elle had been trying to make a connection with Colt for as far back as anyone could remember. Her mother had raised her with an eye to being mistress of the pack. Colt hadn’t been interested and had never pursued any kind of relationship with her, even after he’d found her lying naked in his bed one night.

Colt was just about to continue, to explain further, when the double doors of the dining hall burst open with a loud crack, slamming against the walls. The wind howled through the opening, bringing with it a burst of cold rain that sprayed across the wooden floor.

The entire room turned toward the entrance, startled by the sudden intrusion. The fire in the hearth sputtered and hissed as the gust hit it, casting flickering shadows across the walls.

In the doorway stood a figure—a young woman, drenched from head to toe, her clothes clinging to her body as the rain poured down around her. Her red curls hung in tangled, wet coils, and her emerald eyes shimmered with exhaustion and pain.

But as the pack stared in stunned silence, it became clear she wasn’t just wet and weary. She’d been battered. Bruises marred her pale skin, and blood trickled from a gash on her temple. She swayed on her feet, clutching the doorframe for support, her chest rising and falling with labored breaths. Her wild and desperate eyes were riveted to Colt.

For a moment, time seemed to stop. The storm raged behind her, but inside the dining hall, everything fell deathly silent.

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