Claimed by the Alpha Prince - Chapter #4 - Free To Read

Mira slipped into her seat quietly, hoping to be as inconspicuous as possible. The hall buzzed with excitement, and all eyes were back on the Alpha and her sister, Liana, who sat proudly near her father, smiling and whispering with him as they awaited the official announcement.

But Mira’s mind was still reeling from what had just happened. She couldn’t shake off the encounter with her cousin.

If she hadn’t managed to escape, she knew he wouldn’t have kept it quiet. No, he would have spread rumors to humiliate her, maybe even to assert some twisted form of dominance.

She knew he longed for power, and her bloodline still meant something, even if everyone thought her weak. Bonding with him could elevate him in status, and Mira shuddered at the thought.

Just as she sank deeper into her worries, a sudden, piercing howl echoed through the hall. It was a call that commanded every head to turn, every gaze to sharpen. Startled, Mira looked up and found herself locked in the Alpha’s stare.

The intensity in his gaze made her heartbeat quicken. He was looking directly at her, as if he could see everything she’d tried to hide, every part of her that she’d kept quiet. His eyes were sharp, questioning, and unreadable, sending a shiver down her spine.

“Everyone,” her father’s voice broke the silence, filled with pride and a certain urgency as he turned his gaze to the Alpha, oblivious to the look passing between Mira and him. “I am honored, truly honored, that you have chosen our family to share in your legacy. It would be our greatest joy to give you my eldest daughter, Liana, as your mate.”

Mira’s breath caught. Her father’s words dragged her attention back, even as she struggled to pull her gaze away from the Alpha. Her father was beaming, already speaking to the Alpha as if the match had been made.

“It would be a union that would bring strength and unity,” her father continued his chest swelling with pride. “The entire pack is ready to celebrate this bond. I assure you, Alpha, Liana has been raised to be the perfect mate.”

Liana, who had been seated beside her father, preened at the praise, nodding along with a smug smile. She reached up to smooth her hair, tilting her head just so, casting flirtatious glances in the Alpha’s direction.

Mira’s stomach churned as her father went on, each word digging deeper into her sense of smallness, her sense of unworthiness. Of course, she thought. Of course, it was always going to be Liana. Strong, capable, beautiful Liana—no one would even consider Mira. She’d been a shadow in the background, a quiet ghost.

The Alpha rose abruptly from his seat, his eyes still fixed on Mira. The shift in his posture sent a ripple through the hall, capturing everyone’s attention. Every whispered conversation stilled as heads turned to follow his movement. Liana looked up in surprise, her smile faltering, and her father seemed momentarily frozen, his mouth half-open in mid-sentence.

Ignoring the stares, the Alpha stepped forward, his gaze never wavering from Mira. The crowd murmured, confusion spreading like wildfire. Mira’s heart raced as he walked steadily in her direction, his eyes never leaving hers, his expression growing more intense with each step.

“Alpha…” her father called out, a hint of desperation now in his voice. He stood, trying to regain control of the moment, his brow furrowing in bewilderment. “Alpha, perhaps you’re mistaken. Your mate—she is Liana, not Mira.”

The Alpha paused, glancing briefly at Mira’s father. A silence settled over the room, thick and tense. The Alpha’s lips twitched in a faint smirk as he turned back to Mira.

“No,” he said, his voice low but carrying an undeniable authority. He took another step forward, and Mira felt her pulse hammering. “There is no mistake.”

“But… Alpha,” her father tried again, his face turning red with embarrassment and confusion. “We’ve all prepared for Liana. She has been trained, she is ready, she is strong.” He stumbled over his words, casting a desperate look at Liana, who was now frozen in shock.

The Alpha didn’t flinch. His eyes remained firmly on Mira as he spoke with certainty, as if declaring his very soul. “I have no interest in a perfect mate on paper.” His voice dropped, soft yet commanding. “I want my true mate. And she is right here.”

He reached out, his hand coming to rest gently on Mira’s shoulder, a touch that sent a spark shooting through her. She sucked in a breath, her cheeks warming as the Alpha’s gaze. The connection she felt with him, so profound and so unexpected, overwhelmed her.

Turning toward the crowd, he lifted Mira’s hand, his voice ringing out. “This is my mate.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd, and Mira’s father stood speechless. Liana’s face went pale, her mouth opening and closing without a sound.