He’s My Alpha by Cassandra M (Jake & Clair)
Chapter 76: THE CLAIMING
Clair
As tears continued to fall from my eyes, I silently cursed myself for being stupid and reckless. I
should have never left Beta Gavin’s side that day, or I should have just let Jake come with me to the city.
My legs kept running while I tried to be careful so as to not make any noise. I knew it didn’t help since werewolves have a strong sense of hearing and smell, and the fact that it was an Alpha trying to stake a claim on me wasn’t helping at all. But still, I tried to focus and made my way deeper into the forest.
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There should be a way out. I had no idea if Arthur was lying or not. But maybe I just needed to get to the other end where the rest were waiting – then it would all be over.
I would be willing to take all the consequences just to avoid getting claimed and marked tonight. I knew Dad would forgive me if anything happened to him because of me. It would be my burden to carry, but I could just not throw my life away like this. I was sure he would not approve of this!
I made up my mind. I wiped the tears with the back of my hand and held on to my goal.
Just reach the end.
Out of the forest, out of the claiming arena. I needed to stay focused, I wasn’t a good fighter, but I could run pretty well.
My legs followed my thoughts and focused on reaching the other end. I and my wolf had never worked well together until tonight.
One goal, Rain. Get the hell out of here.
A smile curved on my lips at the first sight of the tall lamp post ahead of me. It was many meters away but it looked possible to reach now. The forest line ends here and then the arena, and after that, the stage. I just needed to get there.
I looked around the arena from behind the tree I was hiding behind. No one was there. I had no idea how far this could go, but it looked bigger than a football field.
But I could do this!
I slipped off the Trojan sandals I had on and stretched my legs, preparing to run. This would be embarra*s*sing to do, especially since I had a long gown, but it didn’t matter. I guessed all the training I went through all led to this, preparing me for this day.
Game on! One, two, three!
I launched myself as Rain nodded at the same time in my head, telling me she would give me her strength for this run!
And I’ve never run this fast in my whole life!
I saw the stage!
Faces were visible now and I could see amusement in most of the faces, but I couldn’t deny there were scowls as well. A coy grin slipped off my lips.
Don’t look at them! They could scowl and be annoyed all they wanted. I don’t care, I only have..
Then it happened – a hand snaked tightly around my waist, grabbing me out of my sprint.
“Aaaah!!!” I screamed, and at the same time, I heard a growl beside me. I closed my eyes as I felt my body being hoisted up before it fell to the ground. A hard body pressed against mine as we rolled over the gra*s*s of the arena.
I felt a shiver of fear course through me as his smell registered in my senses. I tried to push him away even before I could open my eyes. But he was too strong.
I struggled to raise myself and kick him, hitting him on his manhood. Not that I intended to, but I couldn’t control where my feet landed. As soon as he pulled away, I saw pain and displeasure in his eyes.
I put my hands up in front of me while I scrambled backward in my bum to get some breathing room away from him. My eyes begged and my lips quivered as I spoke my truth.
“Alpha Aeon, please don’t. This is a mistake. I don’t want to be claimed. Let me go.” I pleaded.
I snapped my head towards the direction of the stage where the rest awaited us, before returning my gaze to him to gauge his movement. I needed to outrun him. I knew I couldn’t, but I had to try.
Alpha Aeon took a step forward in my direction while he brushed off the earth and gra*s*s on his pants, a smirk etched on his face now.
“Don’t think about it. You can’t run away. I know I’ m not the one you expect to claim you tonight, but this is how the Claiming works, my love.”
I looked at him and confusion swirled in my head. I couldn’t comprehend what he just said aside from the fact he wanted to claim me.
He would have been a perfect mate – perfectly sculpted nose, lips thick enough to crush yours, and he had never treated me badly. He always knew the right words to say. If we had met under different circumstances, maybe I would have given him a chance. But he wasn’t my Alpha. He’s not the one I want. And I would not go down without a fight. Not yet.
He stopped in his tracks and folded his arms across his chest, still looking at me with amusement. “ Please, Clair. Don’t make a fool out of us, just give me a chance. You know, I could have easily marked you within the forest grounds, but I took my time. I want everyone to see when I claimed my Luna, hence I waited until you appeared here.”
My eyes started to water again, but before I could make another move, a voice echoed around us.
“Wrong move then, Alpha Aeon. You just gave me my chance with her. I challenge you for Lady Clair Montrell.” My eyes widened in shock. I knew this voice and I never thought I would hear it tonight, inside this arena.
Beta Gavin stepped out of the forest towards the Arena, taking off his coat and throwing it on the ground.
What the f*uc*k was going on? This couldn’t be right!
Alpha Aeon c*oc*ked his head to the side, smirking, but his eyes showed something else I could not fathom. “I knew it was you. But then feel free to be challenged, Beta. You know I’m of Alpha blood, I can easily take you down.”
“You might be an Alpha, but I was trained by a great Alpha. I’m not going down as easily as you think.” He answered c*oc*kily, a devilish grin on his lips.
“Fine! Let’s get started!” Aeon smirked while he scrunched up the sleeves of his shirt.
“No!” I stood up from the ground and was about to launch myself between them.
They both snapped their heads in my direction and shouted. “Stepback!”
I ignored them and looked at Beta Gavin. “What the f*uc*k are you doing?” I glared at him.
“I’m taking you home, Clair. Now behave and stay back!” He said in his casual calm voice before facing Alpha Aeon again.
I stepped back from them, still confused.
What the f*uc*k was this? Why Gavin was here and not Jake? It only showed that he didn’t want me at all or he would be the one facing Alpha Aeon.
But Gavin? Even if he won this duel and took me out of here, how could Gavin think of claiming me? Did he really think I would live with him as a Beta
Female under Jake’s pack?
My head kept swirling in confusion as I shifted my gaze between the two men. What did I get myself into? Whoever I ended up with would be a catastrophe.
This was all wrong! All wrong! I couldn’t be with Gavin. But what choice do I have?
I could barely watch as Beta Gavin stumbled into his wolf feet. Before he could straighten himself up, Alpha Aeon’s wolf fangs sank into his shoulder from behind him. Teeth ripped through his shoulder blade, and red liquid trailed down on the side of his shoulder as I gasped in my own breath. Alpha Aeon’s wolf shook his head and flung Gavin’s wolf. A loud thudding sound accompanied by a howl of agony was heard as Gavin hit the ground.
Badly hurt, Gavin was forced to shift to his human form. He was clutching his broken shoulder with an indistinguishable growl rumbling from his chest as he lay on the ground.
I stood frozen in fear as Alpha Aeon’s wolf hovered over Gavin’s naked form. Saliva dripped down from his mouth to Gavin’s neck, his front paws holding his neck down, threatening to claw out his throat. “Yield, Gavin! Please!” I screamed at him, dropping my knees to the ground, my hands clutched at my chest.
With a fierce look fixated on the wolf holding him, Gavin shook his head. Aeon’s wolf let out a loud growl and pushed his paws harder into Gavin’s throat.
I wasn’t thinking anymore. All I wanted was to stop the Beta from losing his life. I wasn’t worth it.
Without a second thought, I rose from my knees and sprang forward, flinging my arms around Aeon’ s wolf. My arms were wrapped around his wolf’s neck as I rested my cheek on his fur. “Please don’t! “ I begged him.
A growl vibrated from his chest as my eyes darted towards the Beta lying below us. My eyes pleaded with him.
“I can’t. I promised him that I’d keep you safe until he arrived.” His voice croaked.
Because I was crying, the last part of what he said didn’t register at all. All I understood was he promised, and I knew up to this moment he was holding on to his promise to protect me at all cost. “Enough Gavin. Yield now. Your Luna ordered you to do so.” I said softly enough for him to hear.