Claimed by the Alpha

Chapter 5

"I think this guy wants to kidnap me," I whispered to Jace, half-hiding behind his back.

The Alpha growled when he noticed my movements, narrowing his eyes at Jace with a glare.

"I was going to tell you yesterday, but now seems like a good time as well. Leila wants to join the pack," Jace said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.

"Actually, I'm leaving later this afternoon," I said, trying to step around Jace and avoid the Alpha’s eyes.

"The hell you are!" The Alpha roared, cutting me off before Jace could speak.

"What? Why?" Jace asked, his eyes searching mine as he reached for my hands. Before I could answer, the Alpha stormed between us, yanking my hands from Jace’s grasp.

"Mine!" The Alpha snapped, his tone possessive, his fingers digging into my wrist.

Jace looked between us, confusion clouding his expression. "Dylan, she's your mate?" he asked slowly, his gaze flicking to me, then back to the Alpha.

"Yes," Dylan growled, his tone commanding, "and I will not allow you, or any other male, to touch her."

"Understood, Alpha," Jace replied quietly, nodding and stepping back, his shoulders sagging as he looked at me one last time, a sense of defeat in his eyes.

Dylan grabbed my hand with a firm grip and began walking away. I yanked my hand from his hold, catching him off guard, and stood my ground.

"I came here with Jace, and I’m leaving with him," I said, my arms crossed, a defiant look etched across my face.

Jace shook his head, a look of disapproval written across his face. Dylan raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Feisty. I like it," he said, but his voice was still filled with authority. "But you're still coming with me." He reached for my hand again, but I stepped back, putting more distance between us.

"No, I’m not. And whatever you're selling, I’m not interested," I shot back, determination in my eyes as I turned on my heel and walked away.

I made it out of the mall and into the parking lot without them stopping me. I could feel their presence behind me, but I refused to look back.

I took my first step onto the road, and then a hand shot around my waist, pulling me to a stop.

"As entertaining as that was," Dylan's voice came from behind me, smooth and unwavering, "I won’t allow it anymore."

His grip wasn't harsh, but it was strong enough to keep me in place.

"I wasn’t aiming to entertain," I bit back, my voice cold. "I was just passing through, and now that I see there’s nothing here that interests me, I’ll be leaving."

"No, you won’t. You're staying here, with me—where you belong," Dylan said, his voice carrying the weight of his Alpha status. He began dragging me toward his car, but I fought back, my heels digging into the ground.

"Stop it," he warned, his voice firm. "Either you come with me willingly, or I’ll carry you. Either way, you’ll end up in my car."

I stopped resisting, my body tensing as I walked by his side, my mind racing. I could feel my pulse quicken, but I refused to show fear. The only thing I had with me was my wallet, safely tucked into my back pocket, secured by a chain.

Dylan started talking to Jace, and I seized the opportunity. I bolted toward the main road, my legs pumping faster than I thought possible.

It took them a moment to react, but when they did, they were chasing me.

I ran faster than I ever had in my life. I thought about shifting into my wolf, but two things held me back: One, it would expose me too much, and there were too many people around. Two, my wolf seemed to be drawn to Dylan’s presence, as if following him was an instinct she couldn't resist.

Even with Dylan being an Alpha and Jace a Beta, it took them time to catch up to me. My training helped, and my smaller size made me more agile.

I felt Dylan closing in on me just as I neared the woods, my heart pounding in my chest. I pushed harder, trying to get there before they could catch me. But just before I could make it into the trees, someone tackled me, and I barely had time to brace for impact.

I threw my hands out in front of me to protect my face, but Dylan swiftly switched our positions. He took the full force of the fall, and I landed on top of him. Our faces were inches apart, his hands on my waist, mine on his chest.

"Are you okay?" Dylan asked, his tone soft but still filled with authority.

I nodded, too stunned to respond.

"Good," he said, his expression hardening. "We're going home to my pack. One more act of defiance, and I’ll tie you up."

He stood, pulling me to my feet, his grip tight around my elbow as he led me back to the parking lot. Jace followed in his car, not saying a word, not even looking in my direction.

Dylan shoved me into the passenger seat of his car and drove off. The silence was suffocating, and my mind was racing with every possible escape plan.

After a while, Dylan broke the silence. "When did you get here?" he asked casually.

I didn’t answer. The scenery outside the car window was more interesting than looking at him. I was mad, frustrated, and honestly, a little afraid.

I could feel my wolf’s reaction to him—the pull was undeniable, and it embarrassed me.

"Answer me," Dylan’s voice came again, sharper this time. His Alpha tone was impossible to ignore.

I smirked but kept my eyes on the road. "Your attitude might slip through now, but I dare you to act like this in front of our pack."

The mention of "our pack" made my wolf stir, but I laughed at his threat, defiant to the end.

Dylan growled, his hands tightening on the steering wheel as he brought the car to a screeching halt. He threw it in park, the car jerking to a stop.

Before I could react, he got out of the car, moved around to my side, and yanked me out with force.

"I dare you to behave like you just did," he challenged, his eyes dark with intent.

I stayed silent, glaring at him, refusing to back down.

"Dylan, calm down, man. What are you doing?" Jace called from the car, his voice filled with concern.

I turned toward Jace, flashing him a fake smile. "It’s fine, Jace. We had a misunderstanding. It’s all cleared up now."

Jace didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t press further. Dylan helped me back into the car, but his grip was unyielding, his gaze on me unrelenting.

The rest of the drive was silent. No words were spoken, but the tension between us was thick.

Finally, we arrived at his house. Dylan pointed toward the woods. "I live alone. My parents’ place is a little further down the road."

We pulled up to a stunning two-story house, surrounded by trees. The architecture was modern and sleek, a stark contrast to the natural surroundings. It was clear that money wasn’t an issue for Dylan. Alphas and Betas often had wealth, but this place felt different—purposeful, powerful.

"I want to leave," I said, leaning back against his black car, my voice cold.

The car was sleek, expensive, just like everything about him.

Dylan’s voice was unwavering. "You wouldn’t get far. Either I or someone from my pack will stop you before you leave my land."

He walked up to me, placing his hands on the hood of the car, caging me in.

"You’re aware this is k********g, right? I don’t want to be here with you," I snapped, trying to push him away, but he slammed me back against the car, his presence overwhelming.

"It’s not k********g if no one finds out," he smirked, his eyes glinting with challenge.

"Stop disrespecting me," he growled, his voice dropping low. "As of right now, you officially belong to this pack."

I could feel his wolf—he was close, dominant. My own wolf responded, unwillingly.

"I don’t belong to anyone’s pack," I said defiantly, despite the shiver that ran down my spine.

Dylan's eyes darkened, and his smirk turned into something more dangerous. "See, that’s where you’re wrong."

He caressed my cheek softly, and for a moment, I almost forgot myself.

He turned and walked toward the door to his house, but I didn’t follow.

"Don’t even think about it," Dylan warned, glancing back at me. But I stood my ground, my feet heavy with the weight of what was to come.

With a deep breath, I made my way toward the door.