Page 47 of Alpha's Claim

She glanced around the clearing, her heart racing. Only one guard stood watch—a tall man she recognized as one of her mother’s enforcers, a loyal follower. His arms were crossed over his chest, his expression one of boredom as he leaned lazily against a smaller tree. He looked relaxed, unconcerned.They don’t think I’m a threat anymore.

Her fingers twitched, testing the ropes again with subtle, careful movements. Every small shift sent fresh waves of pain through her wrists, but she didn’t stop. She needed to be free, and she needed to be free now.

As she adjusted her posture against the bark, a cold and unsettling realization washed over her—a gown, she was wearing a gown and not just any gown, but a ceremonial one. They’d changed her clothes, which all by itself made her want to gag. The practical jeans and shirt she had worn earlier were gone, replaced by a soft, almost transparent gown that clung softly to her body. The gown was simple yet elegant, the white fabric embroidered with delicate golden threads, as if she were being prepared for a ritual.

Briar’s breath hitched.They’re going to perform the binding—over my dead body.She was already bound to the onlyman she wanted. Her mother’s plan was still in motion. They intended to bind her to the warlock from the neighboring coven, joining the two covens and their magic in a union they thought could not be undone. But were they right? Could the bonding even be completed if she was bound to another?

Had they seen Colt’s mark?She moved her arms from the elbow up to shift the gown’s neckline slightly, her fingers brushing against the prominent scar close to the hollow of her throat where Colt’s claiming mark lay hidden. It was a bite—a brand—marking her as his mate.

Surely, they wouldn’t go through with this if they knew.A witch bound to a shifter was considered impure, tainted by what they considered to be an inferior species. It was forbidden—a scandal that would cast both covens into disgrace.

They hadn’t noticed the mark. If they had, this gown would never have touched her skin.

A bitter laugh bubbled up in her throat, but she swallowed it down.Idiots.But the knowledge did little to calm her rising fear. The covens wouldn’t stop. They had invested too much in this union, and Briar knew firsthand how ruthless they could be.

Her mind raced.Both covens must be convening soon,she realized. If not the entire coven, then at least representatives from each—enough to make the union official. There wasn’t much time.

Her gaze flickered to the lone guard again, her fingers still working quietly at the ropes. They had underestimated her, and if she was successful, it would be the last of their mistakes.

She focused on her breathing, forcing herself to stay calm. Panic wouldn’t help her now. She had to think—had to use every skill, every ounce of magic she could muster to get free. Her magic stirred sluggishly, still dulled by the enchanted ropes, but she could feel it there beneath the surface, waiting.

I just need to stall long enough for Colt to find me.The thought of him—his strength, his unwavering presence—steadied her. She knew he was coming. He wouldn’t stop until he found her.

But she had to give him time. She had to stay ahead of whatever ritual they were planning.

Carefully, Briar shifted her wrists again, biting down on the inside of her cheek to keep from wincing. The ropes were tight, but there was a slight give—just enough that she might be able to work them loose if she kept at it.

The guard yawned, stretching lazily. He didn’t seem to suspect anything.Good. Stay complacent,Briar thought, her heart pounding. She needed every second she could get.

Magic hummed faintly beneath her skin, slow and heavy, but it was there. If she could just loosen the ropes enough to summon a small spell—a diversion—she might be able to break free. She focused her mind, drawing the threads of magic toward her, coaxing it to the surface.

It wasn’t easy. The ropes sapped her strength, and every time she tried to pull the magic forward, it slipped just out of reach. Sweat beaded on her brow as she fought against the enchantment, her teeth clenched in determination.

Come on, come on...

Her fingers brushed against the bark of the tree, and she felt a tiny shift in the ropes. They were loosening, slowly but surely. A spark of hope ignited in her chest, and she redoubled her efforts, working the ropes inch by inch.

The guard shifted again, his gaze drifting lazily toward her. Briar stilled, her heart pounding in her throat. She forced herself to relax, her expression carefully blank.

The guard muttered something under his breath, then returned to scanning the perimeter. He hadn’t noticed. Not yet.He thought the threat would come from somewhere beyond the forest. He was wrong.

Briar exhaled slowly, the tension in her chest easing slightly. She would get out of this. She would find a way. And when Colt arrived—and he would arrive—there would be no stopping them.

The ropes slipped a fraction more, and Briar felt the first stirrings of her magic begin to rise.

Just a little more,she thought, her heart racing. She could feel the magic thrumming beneath her skin now, stronger, sharper. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. Enough to create a spark. Enough to fight back.

Her gaze flickered to the guard one last time. He still wasn’t paying attention.

Good.

Briar closed her eyes, gathering the threads of magic into a tight knot within her chest. When the time came—when she made her move—it would have to be quick. She couldn’t afford to miss her chance.

Because this was her life they were playing with. And she wasn’t about to let them take it from her.

Briar’s heart hammered in her chest as she worked the ropes, her breathing shallow and ragged. Fear coiled within her, cold and unforgiving, but she forced it aside. Panic would only slow her down, and she needed her wits about her. With her wrists aching and magic beginning to pulse faintly beneath her skin, she knew she couldn’t rely on brute strength alone. She needed to reach Colt—needed him to know where she was.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to focus. Her mind reached out, searching along the delicate bond that had formed between her and Colt when he’d marked her. The connection shimmered just out of reach, a gossamer thread stretched thin over the distance between them, but it was there. Faint, yet unmistakable.