Escaping the Alpha, Claimed in the End novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Let’s Play a Game

Chapter 8: Let’s Play a Game

Amelia’s POV

I stared at Ryder, my heart doing weird things in my chest. No one had ever helped me like this before. Growing up, I’d always been alone–beaten, ignored, treated like garbage. And here was this Alpha, this guy everyone said was a monster, promising to protect me.

It didn’t make sense. Nothing about this made sense.

“I don’t get it,” I said, my voice shaky. “Everyone says you’re… you’re supposed to be…. Why are you being nice to me?”

Ryder’s expression softened, and he took another step closer. “Because you’re special to me.”

My stomach flipped. Me? Special to him? How laughable. Did he even know what he was saying? I didn’t even have a wolf.

What was he trying to do–flatter me?

I gave him a wry smile. “I appreciate you being nice. As a breeder, I know-”

“You’re going to be my Luna,” he said, cutting me off.

I blinked, sure I’d heard him wrong. “What?”

“I want you to come back to my pack with me. Not as a breeder. As my Luna. My equal.”

The words hit me like a truck. Luna? First it was special, now it was Luna? Was he high, or was I? I almost laughed, but the serious look in his eyes stopped me. He wasn’t joking.

“That’s crazy,” I whispered, shaking my head. “I can’t be a Luna. I’m nobody. I don’t even have a wolf. What will the pack do with a Luna who has no wolf? This is…”

“The right thing to do.” He finished for me, staring at me with a soft expression.

I met his gaze with my heart beating hard. This was so unexpected.

“I… I need to think about it,” I said finally, my voice shaky. Trusting him felt like jumping off a cliff.

Ryder nodded, like he’d expected that answer. “Take all the time you need. I’ll wait for your answer.”

He turned and walked toward the door, then paused. “But Amelia? Whatever you decide, you don’t belong here. You deserve better than this.”

Then he was gone, leaving me alone with my spinning thoughts.

The next afternoon, I had to drag myself to work. The safehouse was bad enough, but I still had to clean houses in town to earn money for my father. It started pouring rain as I headed back, the cold soaking my thin sweater. I ran, my shoes slipping in the mud, panic rising. If I was late, even by a second, my father would flip.

My heart pounded with each step- praying time will somehow slow for me.

I burst through the door, water dripping from my hair, and rushed to find my father.

He was in the main room with Grace.

“Here,” I panted, pulling the crumpled bills from my pocket. “From today’s work.”

Dad snatched the money, his eyes cold. “You’re late.”

I glanced at the clock–one minute late. I was doomed.

“You useless girl!” he yelled after counting the money I gave him, and before I could move, his fist slammed into my arm. I stumbled, pain shooting through me. “You can’t even get this right!”

“I tried!” I cried, clutching my arm. “It was raining, I-”

“Shut up!” he roared. “Did you think no one would find out about your little affair?”

My stomach dropped. Affair?

“What are you talking about? I’ve been working the whole time-”

Pa!

My father slapped me across my left cheek.

“Enough with the lies! Are you trying to call me and Estrella blind? We saw you with that delivery boy. Are you still going to deny it?”

Oh, it all made sense now. Of course. How could I have not guessed it?

Earlier, while I was mopping one of the pack soldier’s houses, a guy came over to hand me a stack of boxes to place down

Chapter 8: Let’s Play a Game

for the owner. But the box was so heavy, and in order to help me adjust, the guy had to come forward to support my hold on it. Accidentally, his leg kicked the mop bucket, spilling the soapy water across the floor the minute he let go. In the next second, I obviously slipped and he caught me–together with the boxes.

They must have found that exact moment to walk by, catching my alleged affair, and that random, kind guy was probably one of Estrella’s spawns.

Understanding the situation now, I tried to explain to my dad.

“It wasn’t like that,” I said quickly. “I didn’t even know the guy. He was just helping me hold the box because it was heavy, and I slipped. He caught me so I wouldn’t fall. That’s it. Nothing happened. Please, you have to believe me.”

My father didn’t even blink. “You’re a liar,” he snapped. “Jasper, you deal with her.”

He grabbed my arm and dragged me to Jasper, who was sprawled on the couch, a smirk already on his face, and together with Grace, walked out.

Jasper stood, his eyes glinting with something dark and sick, like he’d been waiting for this moment. “You just can’t behave can you?” he said, stepping closer. “You think you can sleep with Ryder and get away with it?”

My heart stopped. “What? I didn’t-” I started, but he cut me off.

“Don’t lie to me!” he roared. “I know all about that cozy conversation you were having with him, little slave. Did you think you could get away with it if I wasn’t there? I have eyes and ears everywhere, hun.” He laughed deliriously.

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