CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA'S HEIR

Chapter 1

The first thing Lyria Moonhart noticed about Blackfang territory was the silence, n ot the peaceful kind, but a tense, watching kind as if the forest itself was holding its breath,it was as if something ancient and wild lurked just beneath the surface, waiting......

The carriage wheels crunched over gravel as the thick pines closed in around her, casting long shadows across the narrow road.

Her heart beat a little faster.

She clutched the herbal bag at her side like a lifeline, her fingers brushing over the worn leather. Inside were her tools, dried wolfsbane, moonleaf, a salve she'd brewed herself to calm nerves. None of them could soothe her now. They were taking her straight to the heart of Blackfang territory. To the home of Kael Draven, the heir to the most powerful, most ruthless werewolf pack in the North, and her fated mate.

Not that he knew it yet!!!

The Council had called it a peace arrangement, a show of goodwill between her tiny border village and the dominant Blackfang Pack. But Lyria knew better. She was a token, an offering, and if the rumors about Kael Draven were true, she'd just walked into a cage with a starving wolf.

The gates loomed ahead black iron twisted ,into snarling wolves. Soldiers stood guard, their eyes sharp and assessing, as the carriage rolled to a halt, one of them stepped forward.

"You're the Moonhart girl?" he asked, voice clipped, Lyria nodded. "Yes."

He opened the door but didn't offer a hand. "Alpha Kael is expecting you!!" Of course he is.

She stepped down, her spine straight despite the weight of a thousand warnings pressing on her shoulders. They led her up a long stone path to the estate a towering structure of obsidian brick and silver paneled windows, half-swallowed by ivy. The front doors groaned as they opened, revealing a grand hall filled with gleam torches and watching eyes...... Kael was already waiting.

He stood at the end of the hall, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in a black shirt and dark trousers that clung to him like armor. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his presence hit her like a thunderclap powerful, intense, consuming.

She'd never seen him before, but the moment their eyes locked, the world tilted, the bond flared, heat shot through her spine, Her wolf stirred.

But Kael's expression didn't change. No surprise, No recognition, Just a cold, assessing stare like she was something to be catalogued, Judged, and Discarded.

"So," he said, voice low, rough. "You're the peace offering."

Lyria's jaw clenched. "I prefer guest."

A flicker of something passed through his eyes, amusement? Annoyance? , but it vanished very quick. He stepped closer, and the scent of pine and storm surrounded her.

"You're not what I expected."

"Neither are you," she said evenly.

He studied her, and for a moment, Lyria thought hope he felt it too, that invisible pull, the soul deep knowing, but then he turned away, dismissive.

"You'll stay in the east wing, Someone will bring your things."

She blinked. "That's it? No questions? No welcome?"

Kael didn't even look at her. "This isn't a tea party, Moonhart ,Stay out of my way, and you'll be fine."

And just like that, he was gone.

Her room was large but neutral,a grand canopy bed draped in black velvet, cold stone floors, a window that looked out onto the forest, there were no flowers, no warmth, Just walls.

Lyria paced, heart still racing, She'd imagined this moment a thousand times, meeting her mate!! , Feeling the bond awaken, She hadn't expected fairy tales, but this? A flat dismissal?

She rubbed at her chest, where the mating mark hadn't yet appeared. It would, eventually if Kael accepted her, If he didn't... the bond would drive her mad.

A knock at the door broke her thoughts.

An older woman stepped in, carrying a tray of tea and bread, Her eyes were kind, but wary.

"Eat," she said softly, "You'll need your strength."

"Do they treat all guests like prisoners here?"

The woman hesitated, "Not guests, just threats."

Lyria stared, "I'm not a threat."

"Maybe not yet," the woman said, "but you're his mate, That makes you dangerous."

The next day passed in a blur of isolation, no one spoke to her, Kael didn't summon her, She wasn't allowed beyond the east wing, But Lyria was a healer and a seer and her gifts thrived in silence.

That night, she had the first vision.

The moon bled crimson overhead, Wolves howled, not in unity, but in chaos, fire spread through a battlefield where Kael stood at the center, wounded, roaring as his pack fell around him.

And then her bound in silver chains, Screaming his name.

She woke with a gasp, drenched in sweat.

The mark on her chest burned faintly.

On the third night, she found him in the training yard shirtless, sparring with three wolves at once. His movements were lethal, fluid. He didn't just fight, he dominated!!!

But Lyria didn't care about the show of strength.

"What are you so afraid of?" she asked from the shadows.

Kael didn't look at her, he wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his arm, "I'm not afraid of anything."

"Then why are you pretending the bond doesn't exist?"

That got his attention, He turned slowly, eyes glowing faintly gold in the moonlight.

"You think I don't feel it?" he said, voice low and dangerous, "I do. Every second you're near me, it claws at me, But I don't want a mate, I don't need one!!!! "

"You don't get to choose," she said, stepping forward, "The moon already did."

He bared his teeth, "You don't know me, Moonhart, you don't know what I've done, I'm not a hero in some fate spun tale, I'm the villain that keeps the monsters in line."

She met his gaze, unflinching. "Then maybe I'm here to tame the villain."

Kael's eyes darkened, For one wild moment, the air between them sparked heat, fury, desire all tangled into something dangerous, but then he turned away.

"I warned you," he said. "Stay out of my way."

Later that night, the forest stirred.

A scream tore through the silence.

Lyria was already halfway down the corridor when soldiers stormed the main hall. The scent of blood was sharp and fresh, a scout had been attacked near the northern border, a message carved into his chest with claws:

"Return the girl or lose the heir."

Kael stood over the scout's broken body, rage pouring off him in waves.

Lyria stepped beside him, her voice steady. "They're after me."

Kael didn't look at her, "Of course they are."

"Then use me," she said. "Let me help."

His gaze snapped to hers, "You think I'll use my mate as bait?"

"You already are," she said quietly,"At least let me choose how."

They stared at each other, a beat of silence, And then unexpectedly Kael stepped back.

"Fine," he said. "One chance, But cross me, and I'll end you myself."

Lyria nodded. "Deal."

The night ended with fire on the borders and a wolf's howl echoing through the trees a warning. A promise, Something had been set into motion.

And neither of them could stop it now.