Page 43 of Alpha's Claim

Elle stood waiting at the edge of the clearing, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. There was no sign of the haughty confidence Briar had come to expect. Instead, Elle looked… small. Defeated.

“Thank you for coming,” Elle said softly, her voice laced with emotion.

Briar nodded, though unease prickled at the back of her mind. “I hope you meant what you said.”

Before Elle could respond, shadows moved at the edge of the clearing, and Briar’s stomach dropped.

Members of her former coven stepped out from the trees, their faces cold and determined.

“No,” Briar whispered, her heart seizing with panic. She whirled on Elle, her voice sharp with betrayal. “You led them here. You set me up. You don’t need to worry about Cameron Nichols; Colt will kill you for this.”

Elle’s expression twisted with regret, but there was something wild in her eyes—something that spoke of desperation and fear. “I didn’t have a choice,” she whispered. “They said they could make the pack take me back and that I could have Colt if I helped them get you.”

“You’re a fool Elle,” Briar snarled as her magic surged to the surface, crackling through her veins like lightning. The coven advanced, their hands raised, power shimmering in the air around them.

Briar raised her arms, summoning her magic in a desperate attempt to fend them off. Light flared from her hands, sending a wave of force toward the coven members, but they were prepared. They deflected her attack with practiced ease, closing in on her from all sides.

A sharp burst of magic sent Briar stumbling backward, and before she could recover, cold iron shackles clamped around her wrists. Pain lanced through her body as her magic was cut off, the iron burning against her skin like fire.

“No!” Briar struggled against the bonds, panic flooding her as the coven closed in. She thrashed wildly, kicking and twisting, but there were too many of them.

Elle stepped forward, her eyes wide with guilt and fear. “I’m sorry, Briar,” she whispered.

“Poor, stupid she-wolf,” Mark said malevolently as he unleashed one last flash of wild and untethered magic—a barely controlled surge of energy that lashed out, striking Elle.

The woman let out a sharp cry and crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Briar’s heart pounded in her chest as the coven members hauled her to her feet, their grips vice-like in their strength. She fought against them, rage and fear swirling in her chest, but the iron cuffs kept her magic locked away, leaving her helpless.

Tears stung Briar’s eyes as they dragged her toward the woods. She had trusted Elle’s plea—believed, for just a moment, that there could be redemption. Now she knew differently, and the taste of betrayal was bitter in her mouth.

She was a prisoner, and the coven had her in their grasp.

Chapter

Seventeen

COLT

The late afternoon sun cast a warm golden glow across the Copper Canyon Ranch as Colt and his brothers entered the house, their laughter filling the hallway. They were riding the high of a productive day—the herd was moved, the patrols were running smoothly, and everything seemed to be settling into place. For the first time in a while, things felt like they were heading in the right direction.

Bryce, still grinning, clapped Colt on the back. “You were really graceful out there today, big brother. That mare almost bucked you into the next county.”

Colt shot him a dry look. “She was just testing me.”

Landon chuckled, hanging his hat on a hook by the door. “Testing you? Is that what you’re calling getting launched like a rag doll?”

“Next time you can ride her,” Colt grumbled, though the hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Bryce grinned wider, clearly enjoying himself. “I’ll pass. I like my ribs unbroken, thanks.”

The easy banter between them was a welcome shift from the tension that had hung over the ranch in recent days. Colt felt lighter somehow, like the pieces of his life were finally starting tofit together. Briar was his mate, the pack was settling into their new routine, and even the trouble with Elle seemed to be behind them—at least for now.

Just as he started to shrug out of his jacket, the sound of quick footsteps drew his attention. Etta, her expression uncharacteristically worried, rounded the corner and made a beeline for him.

“Colt,” Etta said, her voice low but urgent. “Have you seen Briar?”

Colt’s heart gave a sudden, hard thump in his chest. “She said she planned to work in the garden earlier,” he said, his brow furrowing. “Why?”