Escaping the Alpha, Claimed in the End novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Found Mate

Ryder’s POV

Three days ago, I got ambushed while visiting the Blackthorn Pack. It was supposed to be a quick trip–check their defenses, talk trade, get out. But some rogue wolves thought they could take me down. Big mistake.

I tore through them, but not without a few scratches. The place was a mess, and I wasn’t about to stick around for roun two. My Beta, Lucas, and I hightailed it out of there before more trouble showed up. That’s how I ended up on that darn train, covered in blood, hiding like some fugitive. Not my proudest moment, but it got me to her.

Fast forward to now, I was stuck in a stuffy meeting room in my packhouse, the air thick with the elders‘ nagging. Same song and dance. They were droning on about how I still hadn’t found my Fated Mate. Look, I got it. I was Alpha Ryder, leader of the Pawmoon Pack, and yeah, I’d been banged up pretty bad in that border war years ago. Scars/crisscrossed body, and the pain never really went away. Didn’t stop me from being stronger than anyone else in the room, though. Stil the elders were freaking out. They wanted a Luna, an heir, something to “secure the Pack’s future.” Blah, blah, blah. “You grow weaker by the year,” Elder Miriam said, not unkindly. “And still, you deny the Pack a Luna. You’ve left no heir, Alpha. No bloodline.”

I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed, trying not to roll my eyes. “I hear you, Miriam. But I’m not just gonna pick some random woman and call it a day.”

Elder Thomas coughed, his beard twitching. “We know you’ve been… considering options. The breeder deal with Silverlic

“Nope,” I cut him off, my voice flat. “That’s off the table.”

The room went quiet. They all stared at me like I’d grown a second head. Yeah, I’d been ready to buy a breeder from Silverlight. Harsh, maybe, but it was for the Pack. An heir would shut everyone up and keep things steady. But then I met her on that train. Emily.

Something about her flipped a switch in me, and I wasn’t about to ignore it.

Her touch… it did something. I’d been bleeding, ribs screaming from the fight, but when she grabbed me, scared out of he mind, it was like warmth flooded through me. The pain dulled. My wounds started closing up, faster than they ever had. I‘ been injured for years, my body a roadmap of scars that never fully healed, but she… she fixed me. Just like that.

And it wasn’t just the healing. Her scent–sweet, like spring flowers after rain–hit me like a freight train. My wolf stirred, pacing in my head, growling low. I hadn’t felt him that alive in years.

Could she be… my mate? The thought wouldn’t leave me alone.

“Ryder?” Miriam’s voice snapped me back. “You’re distracted.”

I shrugged, leaning forward. “Just thinking. Meeting’s over, right? I’ve got stuff to do.”

They grumbled but didn’t push. Good. I wasn’t in the mood.

As the elders shuffled out, Lucas slipped into the room, his usual smirk plastered on his face. “You look like you’re about tc punch a wall, boss. What’s up?”

I snorted, rubbing the back of my neck. “Just the usual. Old folks whining about my love life.”

He laughed, dropping into a chair across from me. “Yeah, well, they’re not wrong. Pack’s antsy. But I got news. Marcus showed up while you were in there.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What does he want?”

“Says his daughter ran off a few days ago,” Lucas said, leaning back. “He’s freaking out, wants our help tracking her down. Sounds like she’s in trouble.”

I nodded, thinking it over. Silverlight was a shady pack–always pulling dirty deals. I didn’t know Marcus well, just some low- ranking guy who’d done business with us before. If his kid was missing, it was probably their fault. “What’s the story with the girl?” I asked.

Lucas shrugged. “He didn’t say much. Just that she took off after some family fight. Wants us to keep an eye out for her.”

“Fine,” I said. “Tell him we’ll help. Get whatever info he’s got–where she might be, what she looks like.”

Lucas nodded, jotting it down on his phone. I didn’t care much about Marcus, but a missing wolf was trouble, and I didn’t want Silverlight’s mess spilling into my territory.

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