Claimed by the Disguised Alpha King

Elara Vance POV: I woke to the smell of coffee and frying bacon. For a moment, I was disoriented, the unfamiliar feeling of a soft mattress beneath me and the golden morning light slanting through the cracks in the cabin walls. I pushed myself up and walked into the main living area. Kaelan stood with his back to me, his broad shoulders filling the small cooking space by the hearth. On the floor, where he had slept, a neat pile of blankets was already folded in the corner. His discipline was unnerving. He must have heard me stir, because he turned. "You're awake. Breakfast is ready." His voice was even, as if this was a routine we'd shared for years. A wave of unreality washed over me. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I had woken up to the smell of a hot meal instead of the cold leftovers of my brother's family. "I... I should have made it," I stammered. He simply handed me a plate piled high with eggs and bacon. "We're mates. We share the work." His words, so simple and yet so profound, settled something deep inside me. After we ate in a comfortable silence, a sudden, sinking realization struck me. In the blur of leaving the Vance house, I had forgotten the one other thing that truly mattered—my mother's silver locket, still hidden in the drawer of my old room. It was the only keepsake I had of her, apart from the book. "I need to go back," I said, my voice quiet but firm. "I left my mother's locket behind. I have to get it." Kaelan nodded, already reaching for the keys to his truck. "I'll take you. I don't want you going back there alone." The protective instinct in his voice was a shield I'd never had before. The drive back to the Vance house was heavy with unspoken tension. I was returning to the place that had been my prison, but this time, it was strictly on my own terms. Faye and Clara were in the living room, their faces etched with smug satisfaction. "Well, back so soon?" Clara said, her voice dripping with acid. "Couldn't stand the squalor, or did you just come crawling back to collect scraps?" I ignored them, my eyes fixed on the hallway. "I'm here for what's mine," I said flatly. "Orion. I need to speak with you." He emerged from his study, his face a mess of guilt and relief. I led him out to the back garden, away from prying ears. "I came for Mother's locket," I told him, my voice steady. "Then I'll be gone for good." "Elara, I'm sorry," he whispered, the words sounding hollow and late. "I failed you. I wasn't strong enough to protect you." I looked at my brother, at the weakness that had cost me so much. "It's too late for apologies, Orion. I just want what's mine." He nodded, but instead of moving toward the house, he reached into his pocket. "Wait. Before you go…" He pressed a small, soft pouch into my hand. Our moment was shattered by Clara's grating voice from the doorway. "Are you done yet? I'd like to know when we can expect that dowry from the Blackwoods." Ice filled my veins. Of course. That's all this was ever about. I turned to leave, but Orion caught my wrist, lowering his voice so only I could hear. "It's all I have. The Moonstone will help soothe Lyra when you feel anxious. Think of it as… a brother's last apology." I opened the pouch. Inside lay a smooth, polished moonstone, glowing with a soft, milky light. It was a common charm among our people, used to calm a restless inner wolf. A lump formed in my throat. It was too little, too late, but it was something. A flicker of the brother I once had. "Thank you, Orion." I walked back through the house without another word, the locket temporarily forgotten, the moonstone clutched tightly in my fist. Orion called my name, but Faye's sharp voice cut him off, telling him to let me go. Kaelan was leaning against his truck, waiting for me, a silent, steady presence. Seeing him there, I felt a profound sense of relief, like a ship spotting a lighthouse in a storm. Just as I reached for the door handle, I glanced back and saw Orion standing on the porch, his silhouette small and defeated. Kaelan's stormy eyes followed my gaze, then dropped to the pouch in my hand. His expression was unreadable, but I saw his jaw tighten for just a second. My mate, needing a trinket from another male to find peace. The truck rumbled to life, and we drove away, leaving my past behind for good. I clutched the cool stone in my palm, unaware that my brother's small gift of guilt had just dropped a pebble of jealousy into the calm waters of my new life.