All Chapters of A Single Night, A Lasting Claim: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Flora’s POV"Another round, please," I muttered, tapping my glass against the bar. The bartender raised an eyebrow but obliged, sliding another shot of whiskey toward me. I downed it in one gulp, the fiery burn spreading through my chest like a fleeting distraction from the storm brewing inside me.I needed this. The liquid courage. The numbness. Anything to drown the nervous knot in my stomach.“I didn’t think you’d be this strong with your drinks,” teased the man sitting beside me.I glanced at him, trying to muster a demure smile while keeping my emotions in check. “You’d be surprised,” I replied, tilting my glass slightly toward him before turning my focus back to the room.At first, I had kept to myself, lingering in the shadowed corner of the bar, pretending not to notice the occasional glances sent my way. I wasn’t used to attention, let alone seeking it out. For years, I’d been invisible—the girl no one remembered, the outsider in the pack. But tonight, I had to stand out.Som

Alaric’s POV "Are you going to Bella's wolf party, brother?" My sister Viki asked, her tone steady as the door to my office swung open. I dropped my glasses onto the desk with a sigh, already bracing myself for what was coming. "No. Why?" I asked, trying to keep the frustration from slipping out. I knew exactly where this was going."Because you need to get out of this rut," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "It’s been five years, Alaric. You can’t keep hiding away."I clenched my fists, the memories of her still fresh and raw. "I’m not interested in meeting anyone," I muttered, my voice thick with unresolved emotions.Viki’s expression softened, "I get it, Vanessa hurt you. But you need to relax a bit. You’re not going to heal in isolation."The mention of her name hit me like a punch to the gut, but I forced my face into neutrality. I wasn’t going to show weakness, not now. "I’m fine," I replied, though the words felt hollow in my mouth.Viki wasn’t convinced. "Mom’s alr

Flora’s POV“Why are you stopping me now? Huh? What do you want?!”Instead of answering my question, the man started lecturing me like I was some kind of child.“There are dangerous men out there who would take advantage of someone like you—especially when you're drunk.”I scoffed, “That’s none of your business.”I tried to push him away, but he didn’t budge. Instead, I gasped when he suddenly grabbed my wrist, his grip firm but not painful. I glared at him, feeling a surge of frustration.“It's very much my business because I’m the-” He blurted it out but suddenly stopped. I wanted to yell at him. To scream. To tell him that he had no right to interfere. But more than that—I wanted to tell him the truth. That I didn’t have a choice. That I needed to be marked before my 18th birthday, or else I wouldn’t survive.But I knew he wouldn’t believe me.“You have no right to tell me what I should do. Haven’t you had a one-night stand?”His eyes narrowed slightly, and to my surprise, he shoo

Alaric’s POV“Thank you for everything. Goodbye.”I couldn't stop myself from crumpling the note in my hand. My jaw tightened as I woke up alone and saw the crisp five hundred dollars left beneath the nightstand. A wave of amusement and annoyance surged through me.How dare she do this to me?!As the Alpha of the pack, no one had ever treated me this way. No one should have dared. Yet, here I was—alone in bed, the lingering scent of last night’s encounter still clinging to the sheets. The hybrid woman I had spent the night with had disappeared without a trace. I never even got to know her damn name. She wouldn't tell me, and it stung more than I cared to admit.I let out a sharp exhale. It happened, and that was all there was to it. But no matter how much I tried to push it away, her presence was still burned into my mind, lingering like a shadow I couldn’t escape.Her face.The way she moaned.The way her body moved beneath mine.Every intoxicating detail was seared into my memory,

Alaric’s POVMy phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence of the night.It was my mother, Harley. Without hesitation, I answered."Hello, Mom?"Mom's voice was smooth, yet carried the weight of authority. “Did you forget? It’s already past six. We were supposed to have dinner at seven.”I straightened at her tone and glanced at the time. I hadn’t realized I was working late again.“I’m finishing up, Mom,” I said quickly, already gathering my things. “I’ll be home soon.”There was a brief pause before she spoke again, “Okay, see you later.”I ended the call, exhaling as I placed my phone back into my pocket.As I reached for my coat, Jacob suddenly entered the office. His face was tight, the tension in his posture was obvious. I could tell he was about to deliver the news I’d been waiting for.“Alpha, I know who she is.”His words hit me like a cold splash of water, snapping me into full attention. I straightened, my eyes locking on him.“Speak.”Jacob took a breath, his tone steady bu