Claimed by the Alpha

Chapter 1

The past two weeks had been a whirlwind. The pack was abuzz with preparation, and life was anything but calm. Every day, I was pampered and polished, dressed up like a doll to please Alpha Nicolas.

Not that any of it truly mattered to him. Three weeks ago, he had laid his claim on me, declaring I’d become his wife. The wedding was in just two days.

Every moment we spent together was wrapped in gentle caresses and sweet, practiced compliments. He treated me as if I were precious, but I knew better. Deep down, none of it was meant for me. Every gift, every soft word was for *her*. Isabelle. His lost mate, killed by a rogue six years ago. I was nothing more than a ghostly replacement in his eyes.

I couldn’t bear it. So, early this morning, I ran away. Now, hours later, the moon hung high, casting a silver glow over the empty roads I walked.

A backpack was all I had, stuffed with three changes of clothes, my few valuables, and some money I’d managed to save. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. Life in the pack had given me everything, but out here, I was on my own.

After crossing into a new state—three states away from home, to be exact—I finally stumbled into a quiet town. The clock was creeping towards midnight, and only the occasional car disrupted the stillness of the roads. I had traveled all day, stopping only when absolutely necessary, pushing myself to cover as much distance as possible.

The hotel I found in the center of town was modest, too quaint to be considered a real hotel but far too clean to be a typical roadside motel. Soft, warm lights illuminated the lobby, pushing away the chill that had wrapped around me outside. There was a light fog settling over the streets, giving everything an eerie, dreamlike quality. Only a gas station and a 24-hour diner kept the town from slipping into complete quiet.

I stepped inside and was greeted by a middle-aged woman behind the front desk. Her warm smile was motherly, and her eyes softened when she saw me.

“Hi, sweetie. How can I help you?” she asked, her voice gentle and comforting.

The memory of my parents and the home I’d left behind made my chest tighten. I swallowed back the pain and managed a weak smile.

“I’d like a room, please,” I replied, my voice sounding smaller than I wanted.

“Of course, dear. We have plenty of vacancies. You can choose from the first or second floor,” she offered kindly.

“Second floor, please,” I decided, and she nodded, sliding a form and a pen across the counter.

“I’ll need you to fill this out and provide some ID,” she said, her tone professional yet still kind.

My heart skipped a beat. I should have known this would come up, but leaving a trace of where I’d been was the last thing I wanted. Desperation made my hands shake.

“Is there any way I could… leave some parts blank? And not give my ID?” I asked, my voice wavering. “It’s really important.”

The woman’s eyes widened slightly, and she leaned in, concern etched on her face. “Honey, are you in some sort of trouble?” she asked softly, her hand reaching out to gently cover mine.

I struggled to find the right words. “I’m trying to hide from my family. My dad, he…” My voice cracked, and I couldn’t bring myself to say more. Being married to Alpha Nicolas might not seem terrible to others, but for me, it was a life sentence.

The woman’s face softened further, and she squeezed my hand. “Don’t say another word, sweetie. I understand,” she said, her voice full of empathy. “Just fill in as much as you can, and we’ll pretend some paperwork got misplaced, alright?”

Tears of gratitude welled up in my eyes. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me,” I whispered. “I’m Leila.”

Her smile was warm and reassuring. “I’m Marie. If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask. I own this place, so I’m here most of the time. If you can’t find me, here’s my house number.” She handed me a business card, scribbling on the back.

I nodded, clutching the card like a lifeline. I filled out the form with shaky hands, leaving out as much information as I dared. Once done, I reassured Marie that I’d be fine on my own and made my way to my room.

The room was simple but cozy, with a queen-sized bed covered in light teal sheets. A beige couch sat in front of a small TV, and a shelf beneath it held a few outdated magazines. It was nothing fancy, but it was perfect.

The first thing I did was shower. The warm water washed away the grime of the day, soothing my tired muscles. After drying off, I slipped into bed, the soft sheets a small comfort against the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

Staring at the ceiling, I couldn’t help but think of what lay ahead. I was a rogue now, a lone she-wolf. The reality of it was suffocating, and fear and uncertainty battled within me.

But I had made my choice. Now, I had to live with it.