The Alpha's Claimed Mate

Ash didn't react at first.

She just stared at the paper blankly, as if processing things. A few seconds later, she started trembling. Out of anger or fear, I did not know, as I couldn't smell anything but her faint lure scent. I wanted to know why, but it was not the time for such trivial things.

I needed to find out what that Alpha Heir brat had planned. The last thing I wanted was a war with a bunch of lupine shifters who couldn't even hold their own against my Lycans. A complete waste of resources and time, not to mention the death of innocents.

My easiest solution was to find out everything this woman knew, which I had just discovered was nothing. Maybe explaining things to her would get me some answers. I didn't have to worry about her revealing anything, as a simple mage oath would seal her loyalty.

"Do you still not want to take a seat?" I asked patiently. It must have been hard for her if she had finally closed her snarky mouth. Was this what pity felt like?

"Are you going to hold me ransom or something? If you are, then I'll have you know that the guy doesn't give two shits about me," she said in a small voice.

"We are not going to harm you, Miss Diamante. We simply want your cooperation, and I will explain everything if you take a seat."

She hesitated for a moment but sat down quietly. I may have known her only for a few moments, but seeing her silent was...not pleasant. I brushed those thoughts away. I needed to focus on the matter at hand.

"Your Alpha Heir has been pushing for a war with Eternal Frost and its allies for the past six months."

Ash inhaled sharply.

"There's been an increase in attacks around the border, but we were told they were feral attacks! Were those people..." She trailed off. I nodded.

"They were sent by one of my allies in the south. I did not approve of it as I didn't want a war, but they went and did it anyway. Your Alpha's brat retaliated by killing the Luna of Flame Heart." I looked into her golden eyes.

"After that, they announced a bounty in the south for the head of Jared Liandre's chosen Luna." Her eyes widened, as if realizing how she was implicated in all of this.

"When did this happen? Does that mean there are people out to kill me?" That was the problem now.

"No. Nobody is out to kill you." Ash tilted her head in confusion but patiently looked at me, her eyes asking for an answer.

"Everyone thinks that the Beta's daughter is the chosen one. We are the only ones who know the truth, as I managed to get my hands on the Luna Candidate List," I said.

"So there's a bounty on Sierra's head instead of mine? But I told you! The guy really does hate me."

"Alpha, is he really doing this for her? Or is it something else?" Darren asked.

"It's definitely something else," Ash replied.

"It's both." All three of them looked at me in confusion.

"The Beta and the Alpha are the ones opposing him in the choice of war. Getting the Beta's daughter killed by his enemies might get him on Jared's side, and it would also ensure that no danger comes to you." Her eyes widened at this.

"Oh my god," she muttered.

'Did she finally figure out something?'

"Oh god. If you all don't get out of here and save Sierra, I'll disembowel you! You're all fucking idiots." Ash shook her head at us.

"What do you mean?" Ryker asked in confusion. I looked at her with questions in my eyes.

"You all managed to get your hands on an extra confidential list, but you don't know that Sierra's going to be the next Beta?"

She yelled and let out a groan of frustration. Ash paced around nervously while mumbling something about being surrounded by idiots. Strangely, I did not mind as long as she was talking again. As in, as long as she was giving me information. Definitely that.

"Look here, Sierra is the next in line to be Beta. Most people don't approve of it, so the Alpha decided it was wise to keep it a secret until the ceremony, which is in three days' time. Jared's best friend is Sierra's younger brother, Shawn."

Ash took a deep breath and continued.

"Jared has been pushing for Shawn to become his Beta for a year now. I thought it was weird that he wanted Sierra to become Luna so that Shawn could be the beta, but it makes sense now. If Sierra gets killed, Shawn will ascend alongside him. By the way, Jared's ceremony is tomorrow."

The words rushed out of her mouth, and it took me a moment to make sense of them. It clicked. Darren gasped as he realized what this would mean. I immediately started to mindlink people.

'Ryker, go and get the Beta's daughter to safety. She must not leave your sight, no matter what happens. Darren, inform the Wolfsbane's Beta of the situation. I don't trust the Alpha to be level-headed with his son. Make sure the game is nowhere around you.'

'Yes, Alpha!' They both simultaneously replied and got into action. Ash looked at them in surprise as they left.

"Why are they leaving?"

"To take care of things. They wouldn't allow me to bring anybody else as we are on thin ice with this pack."

"Wait, does that mean you left your territory with no ranked wolves to handle it?" She asked, baffled.

"I have many Alphas under me. I'm an Alpha Superior," I stated.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot that for a moment."

'Why?' Why was she so hellbent on trying to rile me up?

"So I can go now, right?" She asked hesitantly. Oh yes. She couldn't really go yet. I had no intention of letting her out of my sight until everything was over. And I still had to know how she knew all that confidential information.

"No," I replied icily. This omega was not at all what she seemed.