Claimed by the Alpha and the Vampire Prince: Masquerading as a Man

Clare POV:

I took a steadying breath and forced my shoulders to relax. The next wolf approaching had the makings of a hunter—tall, lean, eyes like polished bronze. He moved with that predatory confidence I’d seen in every pack alpha, every rogue warrior, every monster dripping power. Perfect.

I pressed my back against the cage bars as he came into view, crossing his arms and giving me a slow once-over that made my skin crawl. My heart pounded—part fear, part adrenaline, part something eerily close to excitement.

"Hey there," he rumbled, voice low and amused. "Didn’t expect you to last this long without crying."

I let a small, mocking laugh slip out. "Why would I cry? I’m too busy wondering who’s going to pick me next." I lifted one shoulder, trying to look bored, detached—like I had options.

He stepped closer, until his breath warmed the metal between us. "You’re a lot braver than most. Or maybe just crazy." He tilted his head, amber eyes boring into mine. "Either way, you’re interesting."

I swallowed hard and leaned forward until my chest pressed against the bars, letting my hair fall forward so it brushed his arm. My voice dropped to a whisper. "Maybe I like crazy."

The edge of his lip quirked. I could see the shift: curiosity, amusement... desire. Good. Exactly what I needed.

"I’m Larken," he said. "You are?"

I let the playful smile curl on my lips. "Clare." I met his gaze, slow and steady. "Help me out, Larken. Just this once. Let me feel safe." I dropped my voice softer, vulnerable: "Let me know how it feels."

His breath hitched. "You want me to let you go?"

I bit my lip. "I want a promise. That if I give you what you want... you’ll—" I let my words trail off, soft and suggestive.

He leaned even closer. His fingers brushed my hair. My pulse slammed so loud I swear the other captives could hear it. I closed my eyes for a second, letting the fantasy unfurl: he’d unlock the cage, lead me out... I’d slip away into the shadows...

Except when I opened them again, Larken’s face had gone dark. Cold. His amber eyes narrowed.

"You really think I’d let you walk free just because you were nice to me?" His hand flashed out, grabbing the cage bar inches from my throat. "Don’t be a fool."

My stomach dropped. The sudden shift—betrayal—hit me like a blow.

I stumbled back, heart hammering, but set my chin. I’d baited him, dangled hope—and now I’d pay the price. But I refused to melt. "I didn’t think... I just—"

He laughed, low and humorless. "You thought you were smart. That you could out-fox a wolf."

He straightened and turned away, and I braced for the anger, the violence I knew was coming.

But instead, he walked off... and then paused.

He glanced back at me, lips twitching into a half-smile. "Good try, Clare."

Then he called over his shoulder to the guard at the end of the hallway, speaking in the guttural dialect of the Huntsmen that I’d only just begun to piece together. The guard nodded—and as he strode off, I realized with a sinking heart that Larken hadn’t unlocked my cage. He’d only marked me.

My skin crawled as I watched him vanish around the corner. No help was coming. My plan had cost me nothing but a glimpse of possibility—and earned me a scarlet brand of his making: a painted rune on my cage door that I suddenly understood signified "no mercy."

I sank to the floor, fingers tracing the rune’s jagged lines.

I closed my eyes, heart thundering.

Another round.

I bit back a sob—and though I knew the next move might be worse than any I’d yet faced, something bitter and fierce ignited deep in my chest.

They wanted a game.

I was ready to play.

I sat back on my heels and let the thought roll through my mind again, slow and chilling:

Okay, Clare, play the part. Pretend you’re scared, but seductive. Speak soft. Laugh when he laughs. Make him think he’s already won.

My skin prickled at the notion—the humiliation, the filth—but what did I have to lose? Waiting to be torn apart like rabbit guts felt worse. If I could distract one wolf, maybe I could drug him, knock him out, slip free... maybe even get his keys or the lock codes.

I pressed my forehead against the cold iron bars. I tasted the musty air, felt the hitch in my breath. If I failed, I would die screaming. If I succeeded... well, I’d still be in this dungeon. But at least I’d be free.

A shuffle in the corridor jolted me upright. I smoothed the front of my dirty shirt, swallowed once for courage, and licked my chapped lips.

"Hey there."

The wolf—young, lean, dark-haired—stood in front of my cage, shoulders loose, arms folded. His amber eyes glinted. He looked bored, like a kid deciding if a toy was worth his time.

"Hey," I smiled, my voice softer than I felt. "I didn’t expect another... suitor so soon."

He smiled, slow and wolfish. "Word gets around."

My pulse hammered. "Did you see what happened? They took that other girl."

He shrugged, leaning forward until his breath fogged the bars. "Girls sell out fast. But I’m not looking for a quick thrill."

My chest tightened. "Really?"

He cocked his head, evaluating. "You’re different. You’re afraid, but not..." He hesitated, eyes flicking down at my trembling fingers then back to my face. "Not broken."

I leaned in, as if sharing a secret. "That’s because I know something no other girl here does."

His gaze sharpened. "Oh? And what’s that?"

I licked my lips again, heart pounding. "That I’m smarter than you think."

He chuckled, folding his arms. "I like smart."

I let my hand slide up the cage bars, fingertips brushing against his coat. The coarse fur sent a jolt through me—like touching lightning. I closed my eyes and whispered, "Maybe smarter than you."

His breath caught. I opened my eyes. He was studying me—hungry, curious, conflicted. Perfect.

I pressed my hand harder, watching his pupils dilate. "I could make it worth your while," I murmured, voice husky. "I could be everything you want."

He swallowed. "Everything?"

I nodded, letting my hair tumble over my shoulder. "You could open the lock."

His brow rose. "You’re bold."

I exhaled, letting the lie slip. "Bold enough to beg."

The corridor was silent except for our breathing. Behind me, other cages pressed closer, but I didn’t care. All I saw was him.

He took a step forward, eyes locked on mine. "Open the lock, you mean."

I forced a laugh. "If you want me to."

He closed the distance to the bars. "What do I get if I do?"

I brushed a strand of hair from my face, feigning a shy smile. "You’ll find out. If I’m still alive."

He shifted, leaning so close our breaths mingled. My body tensed. My plan teetered on the edge—was I about to be exposed? Betrayed? He chuckled softly, dark and low.

"Tell you what." He reached into a pocket of his vest, producing a small, glinting ring of keys. My pulse hammered so loud I thought he’d hear it. He tested each one on the padlock that held my cage. "If you want out, you’ve got to trust me."

I stared at those keys like they were a lifeline. My hand hovered above his, trembling.

"You think I’ll run?" he asked, voice surprisingly gentle.

I closed my eyes. "I have to."

He clicked one key. The lock slid open with a metallic clink. My lungs seized.

I yanked the cage door open, heart slamming my ribs so hard it hurt. He held out a hand—inviting.

"Come on then."

I hesitated. One wrong move, and he’d kill me for the amusement. But behind me, the other humans shifted, hopeful, terrified. This was my moment. If I froze, I would die here.

I stepped through the bars, hand in his.

And then everything changed.

His eyes glowed—not with kindness, but with triumph. A second later, he pivoted, yanking me into the shadows where torchlight didn’t reach.

He pressed me against the damp wall, hot breath on my neck. "You want to know how this ends?" he whispered, amused.

I tried to twist away, but his grip was iron.

I forced a laugh, voice shaking. "Better than being hunted, right?"

He chuckled, and the corridor around us seemed to close in—cages, shadows, torches, stone walls. "Maybe," he said. "But not better than this."

"Wait—" I began, but he silenced me with a finger to my lips. My breath hitched.

He tilted my chin up; his amber eyes glowed with triumph. "Welcome to my hunt."

The torchlight flickered once, twice, and in that blink the corridor seemed to close in—the cages, the distant drip, the stone walls pulsing with magic. I closed my eyes, bracing for what came next...

...and waited for the twist that would decide if I lived or died.