Chapter 10 TRISTAN'S CLAIM
CHAPTER TEN
TRISTAN'S CLAIM
OLIVIA'S POV
I lay on my bed, looking at the ceiling. My mind went back to Ryder every hour. I saw his strong jaw, his dark eyes, his good build. I kept feeling him, his presence. His low, familiar voice lingered in me for longer than it should.
I turned to my side, pressed my face into my pillow, and was annoyed with myself. But the image of Ryder leaning against a wall watching me didn't go away. He seemed to see beyond the title, duties, chains: only me. And that thought turned my stomach. Wanting him was dangerous, especially because I was the property of a different person. Yet my body only cared for his touch
A knock broke the silence.
“Come in,” I said, sitting up.
One maid entered, hands held tightly together in front of her. She avoided my eyes. "My lady, you are needed in the main hall."
I frowned. “For what?”
"There is a meeting," she softly replied.
“With who?” I asked.
She hesitated. “The elders. Your parents. Alpha Tristan.”
My chest tightened. “When?”
“Now.”
I nodded once. “You may go.”
She bowed and left. I waited longer, still sitting down looking at the door, for I already knew this wasn't going to end well. Meetings never did if they had him involved.
The walk to the hall seemed to be taking longer than usual. Every step echoed too loudly. The necklace grew warm again as if feeling where I was going. When the doors were opened, the silence within the hall was a hard pressure to me.
Everyone was already there.
My father stood out near the elders, looking hard and unreadable. My mother stood next to him, hands clasped and eyes full of worry. Guards lined the walls. In the centre was Alpha Tristan Hamilton, relaxed, confident, looking at me as if I had come just when he wanted.
“You are late,” Tristan said.
"I was not told there was a meeting," I replied.
My father turned sharply on me. "This is not the time of arguments. Come forward.”
I did as he commanded and halted a few steps away from Tristan.
Tristan smiled. “You look well, Olivia.”
“Why am I here?” I asked.
One of the elders cleared his throat. "This meeting is to finalize the alliance between Redcreek and Bluemoon."
Tristan didn’t wait. "The wedding date has been set," he clearly said.
My heart dropped. “What?”
"Two weeks from today," he continued.
“That’s not possible,” I said. “I was never told.”
My father spoke before Tristan could. “This decision was necessary.”
“You agreed to this without me?” I asked him.
"You are in no position to refuse," he replied.
I turned to my mother. “Did you know?”
She looked away. “Yes.”
Tristan stepped closer. “You should be grateful. This union benefits both packs."
“I did not agree to this,” I said.
"You don't have to," he replied calmly.
One of the guards stepped forward with a small box, and my stomach sunk.
“No,” I said quietly.
Tristan opened the box. Inside it lay a necklace of silver, with a dark red stone. “This marks my claim.”
“I refuse,” I said.
My father’s voice hardened. “Do not shame us.”
“I am not property,” I said.
Tristan’s eyes darkened. “Kneel.”
“I won’t,” I replied.
My mother reached for my hand. “Please, Olivia.”
I looked at her. “You’re letting him do this.”
Her voice shook. “We have no choice.”
Slowly, I dropped down to the floor.
Tristan put the necklace around my neck. The second it touched my skin, pain shot through me. Sharp and burning, I cried out and had my hands shake as tears brimmed my eyes.
Tristan looked at him and said firmly, "Do not touch it."
I remained motionless, my body quivering as the heat was sinking deep beneath my skin.
“Stand,” he ordered.
I did, my legs weak.
"The claim is complete," Tristan announced.
There was a hall full of approving silence.
I turned and walked out.
My mother followed me to my room. "With time, it will get better," she said.
“It burns,” I replied.
She sighed. “This was the only way.”
“You chose power over me,” I said.
She left without answering.
I lay back on my bed, the necklace burning, Ryder's face filling my mind again. I wondered if he felt it, too.
RYDER'S POV
A sudden pain struck with a warning, as I walked the eastern corridor, and caused me to stop and cling to the cold stone wall. My chest tightened as if something heavy had dropped inside and I knew immediately that it was not my pain - it was Olivia's.
The burning bond went through me, sharp and raw, with fear, shame, and helpless anger. The intensity made my vision blurred for a second, so I took a strong breath and forced myself to remain calm, falling apart in the palace was not an option.
"Prince Ryder," said one of the guards bowing. "The court gathering has begun." His Majesty expects you."
I straightened slowly, rolling my shoulders back, letting the royal bracelet rest on my wrist - a reminder of who I was supposed to be in moments like this. Tough. Untouchable.
"I'm coming," I said.
As I was walking towards the court hall, the bond was throbbing again, and sent another wave of pain. My jaw was clenched with anger. I knew someone had hurt her; the pain resounded with every breath my wolf would get restless, pacing inside me, growling low.
The hall was already full. Nobles stood in small groups laughing and talking pretending allegiance and watching each other closely. My father was seated on the raised platform, his posture straight, his face hard and his presence filling the room like a threat no one dared to challenge. Elder Veyra stood near him; with her sharp eyes she missed nothing.
I sat down with the other royals, with my face blank, even though the pain within me refused to abate.
"They get bolder every year," a noble said loudly standing a few steps away. These werewolves forget who rules these lands."
Another laughed. "They should be reminded. Harshly."
My wolf snarled.
"They are beasts," the first noble continued. "Fit only for fetters and for borders; Allowing alliances with them was a mistake."
Something snapped inside me.
I turned to face him. "Watch your mouth."
The noble looked surprised and amused. "Or what, Prince Ryder?"
"Or you answer for your words," I said, getting closer, voice low.
He scoffed. "Touched a nerve? I thought Lycans prided control."
The bond flared again, fierce and painful and all I could see for a moment was Olivia's fear, her helplessness and the rage drowning out the reason.
I took him by the front of his coat and slammed him back against a pillar, the sound reverberating through the hall as there followed shocked gasps.
"Ryder!" someone shouted.
The noble struggled. "Have you lost your mind?"
"You won't speak of werewolves like that," I said, grip tight, body tense as my wolf pushed closer to the surface.
Guards charged forwards, half- drawn weapons.
"Enough," my father's voice cut through the chaos, cold and commanding. "Release him."
Chest heaving I hesitated, made my hand loosen and took a step back. The noble staggered forward and straightened his clothes with shaking hands.
King Magnus rose to his feet and walked toward me, look sharp, filled with warning. "You forget yourself," he said. "This is my court."
"He insulted an entire race," I responded. "Publicly."
"That is not an excuse for violence," he said. "Especially not from the future king."
Elder Veyra's eyes went back and forth between us, the look of interest glimmering in his eyes for a moment before it was masked. "This loss of control is worrying," he said.
I clenched my jaw and said nothing.
My father studied me for a long time. "You will never leave my watch," he said. "Every step. Every breath. Do not test my patience again."
"Yes, Father," I said.
As the gathering resumed I could hear whispers following me about as I walked back into the shadows, the body tense, thoughts far from the hall, locked onto the bond that still burned inside me.
Whatever had been done to Olivia I felt it, and it seemed to me that I knew one thing with painful clarity: If this pain continued, if she continued to suffer, then no watch, no crown, no ancient law would stop me from breaking everything standing between us.