The Rogue Alpha’s Claim

“Ariel?”

A voice echoed from the figment of her imagination, and Ariel shook her head, adjusting herself to sleep well.

She had been thinking of Kane so much that she was imagining his voice.

She had made a promise to herself that she was never going to let him go when she next saw him, if she saw him.

“Ariel?” The voice was a lot closer than before, and Ariel turned her head in time to see her mate running towards her.

She didn’t give it any thought as she flung the cup of coffee she had been cradling, and she was running towards him.

“Kane.” Ariel cried out as she collided into him, wrapping her legs around him. The force of her jump made him stagger a little, but Kane was quick to regain his momentum, and he held her tight.

“Ariel.”

“Kane.” Her voice croaked as she called his name, and she wrapped her hands around his neck tight enough to dispel every doubt she had. He was real and in the flesh.”You are back.” She sighed into his neck, and she angled her face to his neck, taking a long sniff of his scent just to convince herself that it was truly him.

Staying with werewolves had rubbed off on her because she was sniffing him everywhere and she could perceive the stale blood on his skin, the sweat and grime, but underneath those layers she could perceive him, his musk that was solely him, and it comforted a little part of her.

“Ariel.” Kane was doing the same, his cold nose rubbing the skin of her neck and taking in her scent while his hands rubbed circles on her back.

She couldn’t help the tears that fell down her eyes; it was a natural reaction, and she closed her eyes, resting her face on the crook of his neck.

Ariel wasn’t sure how long they stayed in that position, just inhaling each other’s scent and breathing each other in.

Ariel could pretty much remain in his hold forever, and she would be satisfied, but the loud slap of slippers on the stairs distracted them, and they both turned their heads to see Liza running towards them and holding her bouncing boobs in her hand.

“The m-men have arrived.” She said it in one breath, her head bent low as she tried to catch her breath. “Alpha.” Liza whipped up her head so fast as she caught the familiar scent, and Ariel could see her body sag in relief.

“Liza.”

“Alpha, you are back.” Ariel reluctantly tangled herself from her mate, and she watched as Kane motioned to her and Liza came closer to him.

She didn’t know what she was expecting, but she didn’t expect Kane to nuzzle her in his arms as you would a little child.

The lid containing her jealousy rattled, and her fingers balled into a fist as she looked at their interactions closely.

Liza’s eyes were closed, and Kane was talking in her ears in low tunes.

Then it clicked in her head.

She could remember that he had said something like she was an omega, and they don’t do well alone. They need an alpha to guide them, and she couldn’t imagine how she must have been feeling.

“I am so selfish.” Ariel whispered under her breath. She had never considered how the others were doing without their alphas and mates.

She should have done a better job as Luna; hell, Kane had left her in charge, but she only managed to whine like a weak bitch.

The goosebumps on her arms told her that she was being watched, and she looked up, her eyes connecting with Kane, and he shook his hair.

“Don’t.”

Their little show was disrupted by the various sounds of footsteps coming towards them in all directions.

The warriors ran into the room just as the women came down from the stairs; screams accompanied their arrivals.

It was an excitement galore as everyone hugged, mates holding themselves so tight that Ariel was afraid they would risk strangulation.

Even the beta wasn’t left out.

A small smile left her lips as she saw the couple. Maddie had extended her hand for a handshake, but Toby had rejected it and pulled her into his arms, crushing her with his body.

She didn’t seem to mind, though, given the huge smile on her face.

Ariel looked at the people she had come to know as family, love swelling in her heart, and she sniffed, the tears slowly leaving her eyes.

She shivered as she felt a familiar touch on her hand, and she looked up as Kane squeezed her hand.

“It is alright; I am here now.”

His words were enough to calm the raging storm in her mind, and she leaned towards him, standing on her tiptoes and pressing a kiss on his lips.

“I love you.”

“I love you, baby.”

***NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

The warriors had quickly settled in, although no one had said anything about what had happened. Instead, they had all gone to freshen up while the women that had been around prepared food for the feast.

The warriors had brought back some games from their hunt, and they were currently cooking. It was a literal meat party.

Some of the game had been boiled, some roasted, microwaved, and made into soups. Anything that could be done to meat was done, and the aroma filled the kitchen, making her stomach rumble.

There wasn’t much for her to do, and as other women had pretty much taken charge of everything, she only helped set the table and transport the drinks and alcohol.

They all gathered around the table and sat down for their meal, with Kane sitting in the center and Ariel and Toby taking their seats on his right and left, respectively, while the rest followed suit according to hierarchy.

The table was filled with the clangs of cutlery and small talks. For the first time in a while, they were all smiling as they ate, and the warriors recounted their fun adventures.

They had finished their meal, and everyone had a bottle or a glass in their hands, taking little sips of their drinks. Kane tapped his glass with the fork, and everyone turned to meet him.

“Care to explain why there are dead men in front of my pack and a gaping hole where the door used to be?” A cold shiver ran down her spine as she heard the anger in his words, but Ariel knew better; his anger wasn’t directed towards them but towards the action and the perpetrators.

“We were attacked.” Kane glanced at his mate, and Ariel gulped. “I think Maddie would be in a better position to explain it.”

“Maddie?” Maddie’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Ariel, angry that she had been out on the spot but had no choice but to talk.

“It happened that…” Maddie began to recount everything that happened, not failing to describe gruesomely how she killed their leader and hung his remains along with his men outside.

Kane listened with rapt attention, his jaw clenched and his veins on his neck clearly visible, and every once in a while he nodded to himself, but he never interrupted her until she finished.

“What do you suggest we do?” Ariel asked, angling his neck, to watch him closely. She wanted to reach out and hold his hand, smoothing it, but she wasn’t sure he would appreciate it in this moment.

“We need to leave.”

“W-what?” Ariel’s eyes widened as she tried to process what she had just heard.

“We need to leave.”