Page 1 of Claimed By the Alpha Wolves

ONE

Faye

The moonlight filters through the trees, just barely lighting my path as I race along, breathing hard. I'm focused, knowing I can’t go home, no matter what. I need to put as much distance between myself and my cabin as possible.

Behind me is only danger. The path ahead is my only chance at escape.

A chill rolls down my spine, and I stiffen, alert as silence spreads around me in every direction. The forest seems to be holding its breath, waiting. But waiting for what?

I don’t think I want to find out.

The feeling makes me pick up my pace, although I’m still hyper-aware of where I step. I’ve never been the most graceful person. Actually, my brother, Miles, always used to say I could hurt myself on air, while grinning down at me and ruffling my hair.

And he was right.

For half a second I smile at the memory, and then my smile freezes.Miles.Pain sears through my chest, but I push the thought of him away and focus on putting one foot in front of the other. I just pray a root doesn’t trip me as I hurry through thewoods, my backpack bouncing heavily on my shoulder. I can’t afford to get hurt.

Not tonight.

Any other night, I would be wandering around without a care in the world, breathing deeply, taking in the sweet scent of pine and the usual soft animal noises filtering through the trees. I’d be letting the moonlight wash over my face, reveling in the floral notes of night blooming jasmine and petrichor.Because the forest has always been kind of magical.

I think about the mushrooms, berries, and food I’ve been able to gather in these woods. Of my brother and I searching for mushrooms, bringing enough back for Grandma to make a stew. I was younger then and new to the freedom of not always having an adult at my side. I remember being afraid of every little noise, only for it to turn out to be completely harmless. A bunny or cicada would have my heart racing, but my brother would point out to me that fear of the woods is usually unwarranted.

“It’s usually a safe place for us wolves. We’re the hunters. Everything else is the prey,” he’d say.

But not tonight.Tonight, I’m the prey. I can feel it.I guess as much as I’ve shut out my pack bonds, they still figured out a way to find me.

The silence around me continues to stretch in all directions. Even without seeing them or smelling them, I know they’re out there. Theforestknows they’re out there.

Somehow, they figured out I was going to make a run for it.I curse under my breath, wishing I’d had the forethought to leave sooner, before they came looking for me. Before they started to think about how I would handle being taken, knowing that there’s no way I’d go willingly.

As I run, I try to determine how many of them are after me, but it’s impossible. They’re not yet close enough for that. I just sense them all around me, like they’re trying to box me in.

I know I can’t outrun them.They’re stronger, faster, and there’s more of them.My mind races, trying to find a way out.There has to be a way. I can’t let them take me. I can't let them destroy my life.

I leap over a fallen log and land heavily, tweaking my ankle, which is so fucking stupid that I want to scream. Slapping a hand over my mouth to keep from making a noise, I grit my teeth.I might be a weak omega, but I’m stronger than they think.

Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I keep going, but I’m slower now, trying not to limp. Suddenly, their scents drift to me, hot and sharp like sweat, through the flowers and vines, the scent permeating from all around me.They’re close enough for me to smell them. This isn’t good. I need to be faster.

I speed up and push through the dense foliage. And then I’m coming to a rapid stop, staring at two gray wolves as they bare their teeth at me.No, no this can’t be happening! I still had time! I still had a chance!It’s like they came out of nowhere, materializing from between the trees. Their eyes glow in the low light, and my eyes lock onto their teeth, long and lethal.

What the hell do I do now?

They take a step forward, forcing me back. Then when I keep taking steps backward, gaining a little distance, they let out a low warning growl which makes me stop. My heart pounds, filling my ears, as my mind works slowly to consider my options.If I start running again, they'll just catch me. And I sure as hell can’t fight them. So, what?I know I’m out of options, but I don’t seem to have it in me to give up when I know the consequences if they catch me.

I put my hands up, continuing to step back.Maybe they’re like dinosaurs, and if I move slowly enough, they won’t realize I’m escaping.Okay, now I’ve officially lost my mind.

There’s the sound of a twig snapping behind me, and I whirl around. My stomach sinks. There are several more wolves in a semi-circle behind me.

There is no way I’m getting out now.As the realization begins to sink into me, one of the wolves shifts into a tall, familiar man with dark hair, dark eyes, and an air of importance. My alpha’s face is stern, as it always is when he looks at me. Like no matter what I do, I’m just a problem to him.

It’s strange–I remember his face so clearly. I remember it when I told him that the son of the leader of Pack Obsidian had murdered my brother. It was just as cold and harsh that day as it is now. Probably because even if he believed me, he wouldn’t go against such a powerful pack, especially not for an omega.

My eyes only meet Charles’ for a split second before dropping to the ground. It’s instinct, a survival code buried deep inside my body that I can’t control. He is an alpha. I’m an omega. We both have our places in the pack: his at the top, and mine at the bottom.

“Faye,” he says in a disappointed voice, and I swallow.

“That’s me,” I joke, even though nothing about this is funny.

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