Alpha's Claim
Amelia Hutchins
Alpha’s Claim
By: Amelia Hutchins
Copyright ©April 2021 Amelia Hutchins
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book in its entirety and in portions is the sole property of Amelia Hutchins.
Alpha’s Claim Copyright©2021 by Amelia Hutchins. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic, paperback or mechanical without the express written permission of the author. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.
This eBook/Paperback is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the place of purchase and buy your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Authored By: Amelia Hutchins
Cover Art Design:
Copy edited by: Melissa Burg
Edited by: Melissa Burg
Published by: Amelia Hutchins
Published in (United States of America)
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Warning
This book is dark. It’s sexy, hot, and intense. The author is human, as are you. Is the book perfect? It’s as perfect as I could make it. Are there mistakes? Probably, then again, even New York Times top published books have minimal errors because, like me, they have human editors. There are words in this book that are not in the standard dictionary because they were created to set the stage for a paranormal-urban fantasy world. Words in this novel are common in paranormal books and give better descriptions of the story's action than other words found in standard dictionaries. They are intentional and not mistakes.
About the hero: chances are you may not fall instantly in love with him, that’s because I don’t write men you instantly love; you grow to love them. I don’t believe in instant love. I write flawed, raw, caveman-like assholes that eventually let you see their redeeming qualities. They are aggressive assholes, one step above a caveman when we meet them. You may not even like him by the time you finish this book, but I promise you will love him by the end of this series.
About the heroine: There is a chance you might think she’s a bit naïve or weak, but then again, who starts out as a badass? Badass women are a product of growth, and I am going to put her through hell, and you get to watch her come up swinging every time I knock her on her ass. That’s just how I do things. How she reacts to the set of circumstances she is put through may not be how you, as the reader, or I, as the author, would respond to that same situation. Everyone reacts differently to circumstances, and how she responds to her challenges is how I see her as a character and as a person.
I don’t write love stories: I write fast-paced, knock you on your ass, make you sit on the edge of your seat, wondering what is going to happen next in the books. If you’re looking for cookie-cutter romance, this isn’t for you. If you can’t handle the ride, unbuckle your seatbelt and get out of the roller-coaster car now. If not, you’ve been warned. If nothing outlined above bothers you, carry on and enjoy the ride!
FYI, this is not a romance novel. These characters are going to kick the shit out of each other, and if they end up together, well, that’s their choice. If you are going into this blind, and you complain about abuse between two creatures that are NOT human, well, that’s on you. I have done my job and have given you a warning.
Dedication
This one is for the tribe and my girls. You know who you are. Without you cheering me on, I’d be lost. For Asher, who only got 12 days on earth and is missed. You are loved. For my darling aunt, may you sing in heaven and smile and laugh as you did here on earth. And to those who hate me but will read this book anyway and then complain about something. I hope you get all the karma this world loves to give people like you. For Texas, who worked through COVID, kicking its ass while managing to finish the edits, you’re a badass.
Books by Amelia Hutchins along with reading order for series
Legacy of the Nine Realms
Flames of Chaos
Ashes of Chaos
Ruins of Chaos
Crown of Chaos - 2021
The Fae Chronicles
Fighting Destiny
Taunting Destiny
Escaping Destiny
Seducing Destiny
Unraveling Destiny
Embracing Destiny
Crowning Destiny
Finished Series
The Elite Guards
A Demon’s Dark Embrace
Claiming the Dragon King
The Winter Court
A Demon’s Plaything
A Guardian’s Diary
Darkest Before Dawn
Death before Dawn
Midnight Rising -TBA
Playing with Monsters series
Playing with Monsters
Sleeping with Monsters
Becoming his Monster
Revealing the Monster 2021
Wicked Knights
Oh, Holy Knight
If She’s Wicked
Book Three -TBA
Midnight Coven Books
Forever Immortal
Immortal Hexes
Midnight Coven
Finished Serial Series
Kingdom of Wolves: A world where Alphas rule.
Enter the Kingdom of Wolves, a shared universe created by a set of fantastic authors that feature psychotic and possessive wolf alphas, intoxicating relationships, fated mates, and strong, badass heroines. Kingdom of Wolves will keep you up all night, addicted for more.
Make sure to leave your manners at the door. These wolves don't play nice when it comes to the women they want.
These stories are all set in the same world and can be read in any order. Some books are standalones, and some are the start of a series.
This shared-world will bring you books by the following authors:
Wild Moon by C.R. Jane & Mila Young
Lost by M. Sinclair
Torn to Bits by Katie May
Crossed Fates by Lexi C. Foss & Elle Christensen
Shift of Morals by K Webster
Rabid by Ivy Asher & Raven Kennedy
Alpha’s Claim by Amelia Hutchins
Lunacy by Lanie Olson
Check out all the books in the Kingdom of Wolves collection!
If you’re following the series for the Fae Chronicles, Elite Guards, and Monsters, reading order is as follows.
Fighting Destiny
Taunting Destiny
Escaping Destiny
Seducing Destiny
A Demon’s Dark Embrace
Playing with Monsters
Unraveling Destiny<
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Sleeping with Monsters
Claiming the Dragon King
Oh, Holy Knight
Becoming his Monster
A Demon’s Plaything
The Winter Court
If She’s Wicked
Embracing Destiny
Crowning Destiny
Chapter One
People from different regions and packs gathered in our territory tonight, at the very top of our mountain, to celebrate and witness a mating. The Harold Haralson pack was uniting with the Carlson Jorgensen pack through my arranged mating, procured by my father. Carlson was known to be a cruel alpha, but that hadn’t stopped my father from gifting me to him like a prized pig. Tonight, I was supposed to walk out of this room, lie down, and let the brutish prick mount me in a pergola in front of our packs and guests.
I could think of a thousand other things I’d rather do, one of which was to swallow razor blades and shit them out. If everything unfolded correctly, by this time tomorrow, Carlson and my father would both be dead. They deserved what was coming to them. My concern was that I hadn’t been allowed outside of the room in the last twenty-four hours and could not ensure everything was happening according to plan.
My gaze slid to Toralei’s, meeting it briefly in the mirror where I sat preparing for the mating. The dress Carlson gave me to wear was flimsy with sheer material, allowing all the guests to see what would belong to Carlson tonight. The only comfort I had was the lace bralette he allowed me to wear, which, thankfully, covered both breasts. My panties had enough material barely to cover my rump, but at least my sex was shielded.
The mating ritual was an ancient rite that allowed those who had traveled to witness the mating couple, ensuring they had honored the age-old tradition between packs. I’d begged my father to prevent the public spectacle from occurring, but those pleas had fallen on deaf ears. I’d known he wouldn’t stop it, but it had been worth a shot.
“It’s time,” one of Carlson’s betas who had been left in charge of my care, informed.
I stood from the stool, stealing one last glance at myself in the mirror. My eyes were covered in smoky eyeshadow and dark eyeliner meant to make my soft blue eyes pop, yet it couldn't make them sparkle. My lips were slathered in a deep red lipstick that I wouldn't have ever chosen to wear on my own, and I fought the urge to wipe it from my mouth. It was more makeup than I preferred, but Carlson's harem was charged with preparing me for their alpha and appeared to take pleasure in my distress.
Tonight wasn’t a celebration. It was a tragedy. I already had a mate, one I’d pushed away and rejected to keep safe from my father and my demons. Saint Kingsley had been a shock to my senses and the last person I’d ever predicted the wolf god, Fenrir, to choose for my soul mate. The one summer we’d had together had been the first time I’d ever felt alive.
Saint was rough around the edges and older than me. His group of misfits had driven me crazy with their antics to fit in and become part of the pack, which my father had unfortunately noticed. Saint was an orphan, and I was considered untouchable since my father was our pack’s alpha. Saint was the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, yet I’d wanted him with every single part of my soul. Saint brought me to life, and in the same breath, he’d made me crave things I’d never wanted or even thought possible.
It was amazing, right until my father found us spending time together and threatened Saint’s life. The deal? Make Saint believe I hated him and force him to leave the pack or watch him die by my father’s hand. There had been no world where that boy didn’t exist, not for me. So I betrayed Saint in the worst way possible to save his life.
I’d stood in front of the entire pack and accused him of forcing me to believe that what we had was a true mating call instead of merely the lust between two teenagers. I’d rejected him, and that was the one thing you never did to your soul mate. After all, true soul mates were rare, and if you were lucky to have found one, it only happened once in a lifetime, and I had just banished mine from our pack.
A scream tore from beyond the door, forcing my mind back to the present. Everyone inside of the room went still, staring at the door as if it would burst open. My slipper-covered feet padded silently across the floor, a sinister smile playing on my lips as the idea of my coup starting earlier than planned entered my thoughts.
When I opened the door, the power went out, and whispers filled the room as Tora moved into position behind me. Her hand touched my shoulder, assuming it was likely our allies within the pack starting the coup, filling us both with relief and hope.
My sight adjusted, allowing me to see in the dark as we floated down the hallway. There was no way in hell I was missing out on the fighting that was undoubtedly unfolding. The scent of blood made my nostrils flare, and my chest tightened with the reality that everything was on the line for my pack and me. A body came into view, and my feet faltered as air refused to leave my lungs.
“Lars?” I whispered, kneeling beside him.
“Run, Braelyn,” he replied, blood trailing from his lips. “It isn’t us. Someone else is attacking. Run!” he choked out as veins of silver moved up his face.
I lifted my eyes toward the darkened room that lay ahead of us. My heart clenched while my mind spun at the thought of the silver rushing through Lars. Toralei grabbed my hand from him, knowing that silver would poison me, even from touch. Standing, I turned, watching Carlson’s betas rush toward the shadow-filled room we’d just left.
“Hunters?” I asked no one in particular as I turned and rose. “No, this can’t be happening. Not now. They’ve probably closed off all the mountain passes, preventing my crews and reinforcements from reaching us,” I muttered, moving toward where the sounds of fighting grew louder.
I paused before the enormous doors that led into the lodge, throwing them open to stand in the large courtyard. My eyes slid over the hunters fighting against the pack, and air escaped my lungs on a cry of disbelief as I watched men slaughtering the guards. Five more steps into the mayhem, and it was undeniable that my pack hadn’t begun the coup against my father and Carlson.
Hunters fought against mine and Carlson’s packs using guns and silver blades. Women were crouching on the ground, crying over dead men or trying to escape being trampled. My stomach churned, searching the crowd for anyone familiar. Tora’s hand yanked on my arm, but I couldn’t look away from the pandemonium unfolding.
Gunshots and blades hitting one another drowned out the screaming and cries of death filling the air. My attention slowly moved over my people as I noted the tang of blood painting the dead and flowing through the large courtyard.
I paused upon seeing the largest male with the hunters, covered in blood and tattoos, swinging his swords effortlessly. He fought in pants, with nothing else covering his flesh to prevent damage. I drank in the sight of him, watching the way he fought off three men at once with dual blades, easily taking down anyone stupid enough to cross his path.
He turned, and the air escaped my lungs as the world went silent. Greenish-blue eyes held mine prisoner, causing an array of emotions to slam into my chest. I whimpered, ignoring the burning tears that escaped as I stared into the last pair of eyes I’d ever thought to see again. His scent floated to me, washing away the copper of the blood, replaced by soothing sage and bergamot.
“Saint,” I whispered breathlessly.
The look in his eyes turned murderous, even as he started toward me. Men closed in around him, and reality came crushing back into me with the force of gale winds. The last words Saint had shouted at me ten years ago replayed through my mind.
“I will come back here, Braelyn Haralson. I will return, destroying you and everything you love,” he’d whispered, silent tears pooling in his eyes, but he’d never let them fall. Saint hadn’t shown weakness at any point during my rejection of his mating claim. Only pure hatred had burned in his stare, and the scent that once soothed like a balm had become a curse that turned bitter.
“Fuck! Run!” I shrieked, watching as more faces from my past became visible.
Saint hadn’t returned alone. He’d brought his pack of misfits with him, and the scent of these alphas inside the yard was smothering. Tora still held my arm, even as both of us rushed back inside, closing the door and placing a bar across it. My heart thundered against my ribs, and breathing past the pain from seeing my true soul mate again was difficult, forcing short pants of air to escape my lungs.
“Holy shit! They’re back!” Tora exclaimed.
“They brought hunters and monsters with them!” I seethed.
In the short time I’d been able to look out onto the battlefield, I’d not only spotted hunters, but I’d also seen demons and a variety of wolves forming a make-shift pack. Saint hadn’t come back to be accepted. No, he’d returned to do what he’d promised when he and his misfits were banished. Saint had returned to destroy us all. The door cracked, and I yelped, turning to watch as an ax cut through the wood.
“Hide,” I demanded, and Tora shook her head. “Tora, get the children out of here. Saint will follow me, and his men will follow him because he’s their leader. You must get the children out. Tell me you will do it. Find Chaos, and get him the fuck out of here, now!”
“Not without you, Brae,” she started, but the ax slammed into the door once more, making us both jump.
“Get my child out of here, now,” I ordered, starting toward a dark hallway that led to a dead-end.
My eyes slid to Toralei, watching as she rushed off to the playroom where the pack omegas were entertaining the children. I exhaled past my fear as the ax continued tearing into the thick wood of the door, moving deeper into the mansion that Saint and his misfits had once considered home.
