Escaping the Alpha, Claimed in the End novel Chapter 4

Chapter 4: I’m Not Your Slave

Amelia’s POV

I swore to myself I’d never let the Silverlight Pack get their hands on me again. After I slipped away from the train station in Brimwatch, my heart was pounding so hard I thought it’d burst.

I had a plan–get to the docks, hop on a boat, and disappear for good. Anywhere was better than going back to that nightmare. But every step I took, I kept checking behind me, terrified I’d see one of their soldiers coming for me. A few strangers helped me out along the way. An old lady at a market stall gave me a loaf of bread when she saw how hungry I looked. A dockworker pointed me toward a cheap ferry leaving that night. For a moment, I thought I might actually make it.

Then it all fell apart.

I was so close to the boat, the salty air hitting my face, when Silverlight’s soldiers grabbed me. I screamed, kicked, ever tried to bite one of them, but it was no use. They were huge, and I was just… me. No wolf, no strength, nothing to fight back with.

Their hands clamped around my arms, bruising my skin, and they dragged me to a van. My stomach churned as we sped back toward Silverlight territory. All I could think was, This is it. I’m done..

They didn’t take me to the packhouse like I expected. Instead, they dumped me in some gross safehouse near the border The place was falling apart–peeling paint, moldy walls, and a smell like something died in there. My heart was racing as they shoved me through a heavy door into a dimly lit room. And there he was. Jasper. My stepbrother.

He was lounging on a ratty couch, one arm slung around a female wolf who was practically in his lap. She had sharp cheekbones, dark hair pulled tight, and a smirk that made my skin crawl. Jasper’s eyes locked on me, and his grin was pure poison. “Well, look who’s back,” he said, his voice dripping with smugness. “You’re gonna pay for running, Amelia.” The woman–Estrella, I heard one of the soldiers mutter–glared at me like I was trash. She leaned closer to Jasper, her nails digging into his arm. “Don’t even think about trying to seduce Alpha Jasper,” she hissed. “He’s mine, you little rat.” I almost laughed, even though my hands were shaking. “Trust me, you can have him. He’s gross.”

Her face turned bright red, and she jumped up, raising her hand to slap me. “You worthless servant!” she screamed. “You’re not even a wolf! You’re nothing!”

Before her hand could connect, Jasper grabbed her wrist, yanking her back. “Chill, Estrella,” he said, his voice cold but calm. Then he stood up, his eyes narrowing as he stalked toward me. Before I could move, his hand shot out, wrapping around my throat. I gasped, clawing at his fingers as he squeezed, lifting me until my toes barely touched the ground.

“Why’d you run from me, huh?” he roared, his face so close I could feel his hot breath. “You think you can just leave? You’re my servant, Amelia!”

I choked out a scream, my voice scratchy. “Somebody, help! Please!”

Jasper laughed, a nasty, cruel sound that made my stomach twist. “Scream all you want, little sister. There’s nowhere to go. You belong to me.”

“I’m not your slave!” I yelled, my voice shaking but loud. “I’m not anyone’s!”

He shoved me back, and I stumbled, slamming into the wall. Pain shot through my shoulder, but I stayed on my feet.

Jasper smirked, pointing at my arm. “That brand says otherwise. You’re mine, Amelia. Always will be.”

I froze, my eyes dropping to the ugly scar on my arm. It was a jagged, burned mark, red and raw even after all this time. The memory hit me like a punch–Jasper holding me down, the red–hot iron searing my skin, my screams echoing while he laughed. I’d begged him to stop, but he just kept going, saying it was to “mark his property.” My knees wobbled, but I forced myself to stand tall. I wasn’t going to let him see me break again.

Jasper lowered his hand, still glaring at me like he wanted to rip me apart. “Just teaching this runaway a lesson,” he snapped. “What do you want?”

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