Alpha's Claim

i

urned the knob to enter the kitchen. I stood there for a heartbeat lo

Did you forget how to walk faster, or are

stepped into the kitchen lik

erfectly manicured hand on her hip, the other pointing to

e. Besides her, my half-sister sat at the counter scrolling on her

Clean that up." Talia's voi

So I dropped my school bag by the door and crouched, carefully picking up each piece of p

mock sweetness. "We wouldn't want you ble

n't r

ilence; it made the

car they left only built t

headed to the sink to

I turned on the water.

lurry flashes of my mum, a storm, a scream, a shadow in the woods, and

ne years ag

id I ki

ike a splinter under the skin. Some pain di

school, don't even think of coming straight home. The car shop called. Their cl

ed my

u're already eating free food under

my part-time jobs last week. The one they

Just before I left, I heard her whisper to

nd me before I let th

cruelty to it-like even the weather knew how to bruise. I kept my hood up and headphones

ever c

hasn't

still not wolf

ed. Something about

My body moved on autopilot until I r

the same sto

locker, laughter ec

re," Aria sang, flickering her perfect hair. Nel

t. I'd learnt not to flinch. That only

't sprouted

be your daddy should have mated

didn't hur

But because pain only mattere

ed expecting

I didn't return. I worked two hours after school, scrubbin

as dark. No dinner, of course. Just

cked bathroom mirror starin

kin. Grey eyes are too big for her face. I looked

he hair or eyes

wolf. No strength. No shift. Nothing. Li

rolled back the s

yone see. A soft crescent on the inside of my back- faint , glowing

en there since th

t sometimes ... it s

blankets tucked around me like armor . Somewhe

fo

sc

bl

es staring th

d low-whispering words

For the first time, the voice

oo

sping, clutc