Chapter 14: The Alpha’s Claim

(Theron's POV)Theron hadn't planned to touch him.

Not like this. Not yet.

But watching Aiden curled up against him—raw, trembling, trying to hold himself together as his first real heat tore through him—something shifted.

It wasn't desire. It was instinct. A drive so ancient, so carved into the bones of every Alpha that it thrummed beneath his skin like a second heartbeat.

Protect.

Provide.

Anchor.

Aiden was trying to stay strong. Theron could see it in the way his fists clenched the sheets, in the way he held his breath when the heat spiked, refusing to let it break him.

But this wasn't something strength could out-stubborn.

Aiden needed grounding. So Theron gave it to him—his scent, his warmth, his calm. It was the only thing that seemed to ease the tremors.

He didn't mark him.

He didn't cross that line.

But he could feel the bond stirring—dormant threads tugging, aching to reach out. And for the first time, Aiden wasn't pulling away from it.

In fact… he leaned closer.

Theron's breath caught as Aiden pressed his forehead to his chest, murmuring something too soft to hear. Theron moved a hand to the back of Aiden's neck, letting his touch remain firm but gentle.

"You're doing well," he said. "Just breathe."

Aiden made a soft sound—half whimper, half sigh—and melted against him.

For a moment, it felt right.

Until a knock shattered it all. Three loud raps on the den door.

Theron's head snapped up, instincts flaring red-hot. Aiden let out a distressed growl, curling tighter into him.

Another knock. Then a voice. "Alpha King—emergency at the border. A rogue came through."

Theron's jaw tensed.

Perfect timing.

He looked down at Aiden. His cheeks were flushed, lips parted, breathing shallow. But his eyes—gods, his eyes—were clearer than before. Just enough.

"I'll be back," Theron said, gently disentangling himself, even as Aiden instinctively reached for him.

"No…" It was barely a whisper. "Stay…"

Theron's heart cracked. But he leaned in, brushing his lips against Aiden's temple. "I'll come back. I swear it. Lock the door. Don't open it for anyone else. No one touches you. Not while you're like this."

He waited until Aiden nodded, even if reluctantly.

And then he left—with every cell in his body screaming at him not to.

Because his omega was in heat. And the whole pack could smell it.

(Aiden pov)

The door clicked shut.

Aiden flinched at the sound—too loud, too final. Without Theron's presence beside him, the room suddenly felt wrong. Too big. Too quiet. Too cold.

The heat still throbbed through his veins like fire, but it was the absence that hurt more. Theron had taken his scent with him, and without it, everything felt unbearable.

Aiden curled deeper into the nest of blankets that the Alpha had dragged onto the bed during the worst of the heat. His mind swam. He couldn't remember crawling into Theron's arms, couldn't explain why he'd pressed his face to the Alpha King's scent gland like it was air.

He just… had to.

Was this what an omega felt like?

His chest ached at the thought. No. No, I'm a beta. Just a strong beta going through something weird. This isn't…

But the tremble in his legs, the aching in his belly, the way his instincts cried out for him—

No beta ever felt like this.

And they never would.

Aiden gritted his teeth. He refused to fall apart again. Not while Theron was out fighting who-knows-what. Not when the pack already whispered behind his back. He had to stay sharp, had to stay—

A sound cut through the air.

Scratch.Scratch.Tap.

The door.

Aiden sat up, every muscle going rigid.

Theron?

No. No knock. No voice. Just that scraping again. Then silence.

Aiden crept off the bed, limbs shaky. He barely made it to the door before another soft tap echoed.

He sniffed the air.

His heat made it harder to separate smells, but something was off. The scent on the other side was sharp. Bitter. Male. Wrong. Definitely not Theron.

His lips curled in a warning growl.

Then—the doorknob turned.

Locked. Thank the stars. Just like Theron said.

But someone was trying to get in.

"Alpha King sent me," came a voice, smooth and low. Too smooth. Too calm. "Said you needed help."

Aiden stepped back, heartbeat thundering.

Lies. Theron would never send someone.

He turned quickly, grabbing the small dagger hidden beneath a pillow—Theron had given it to him after the second threat to Evelyn, saying Aiden should always have something just in case.

Now was definitely the case.

"Go away," Aiden snapped, trying to sound stronger than he felt.

No answer. Then—BANG. The entire door shook. Another BANG—harder.

Aiden backed up fast, breathing ragged. His body still weak from the heat, instincts in chaos. The door wouldn't last forever.

Where are you, Theron?

He had one option.

Run.

Aiden didn't wait for the door to break.

He lunged toward the window, pushing it open with shaking hands. Cold air rushed in, sharp and biting. His heat-fogged body screamed at the chill, but fear burned hotter.

Don't think. Move.

He slipped out onto the ledge, barefoot and trembling. The ground wasn't far — a short drop. He landed hard, knees buckling, but he forced himself up and sprinted into the trees.

Branches tore at his skin. Leaves slapped his face. But he didn't stop.

Behind him, the den loomed — and inside it, danger.

The bond inside him whimpered. Theron. Need Theron.But the other voice, the one that had always helped him survive, screamed louder: RUN.

His heat pulsed through his body with every step, clouding his mind with instinct, desire, need. The trees blurred. His senses betrayed him, every scent turning to him. Theron.

He stumbled.

Caught himself.

And kept going.

Somewhere deeper in the forest, he found a hollow under the roots of a large, ancient tree — hidden, dark, safe. He dropped to his knees and crawled inside, the cold earth clinging to his skin.

He curled up, breathing hard, every nerve on fire.

His body wanted to call. To howl. To beg.

But his mind refused.

He shoved a fist against his mouth, biting down to keep himself silent.

You're not an omega.You're not—

A whimper slipped out anyway. Soft. Pitiful.

Then came a rustle in the trees.

His heart stopped.

Footsteps. Heavy. Slow. Tracking.

Not Theron.

Not friend.

Aiden's fingers dug into the dirt, nails scraping soil, as the scent of male and alpha drifted closer.

He didn't recognize it. It wasn't pack.

A rogue?

No. Worse. A rival pack. Someone who had smelled him and followed his trail.

His heat had turned him into bait.

Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes as he tried to shift — just enough to fight — but the effort nearly tore him apart. His body was too far gone, instincts too strong. The omega in him screamed for help.

Then—

A growl.

Low.

Vicious.

And familiar.

Aiden barely had time to lift his head before white fur crashed into the trees just beyond his hiding spot.

Theron.

Not in human form. No. This was Alpha King form — fur glowing like moonlight, eyes blazing gold, jaws bared with rage.

The rogue never stood a chance.

Aiden didn't watch. He couldn't.

He closed his eyes and curled tighter into the dirt, the world spinning, heat and fear and shame clawing at his chest.

Then the fight was over.

Heavy footsteps padded toward him.

Theron's voice, rough and shaking, broke through the night.

"…Aiden."

Aiden whimpered. He didn't want to — but he did — curling toward the voice like it was the only thing he had left.

Theron knelt beside the roots, scent pouring over him like balm and fire.

"You ran," the Alpha whispered. Not angry. Just broken. "Why?"

Aiden sobbed softly. "I—I didn't know. I was scared… I didn't mean to…"

Theron reached for him.

And this time, Aiden didn't pull away.

He collapsed into the Alpha's arms — trembling, burning, his.