LOGINShare
CHAPTER FORTY: THE SHADOW'S BOND
publish date:
2026-06-25 05:06:41The training grounds of Asheville were quiet under the moonlight, a vast open space ringed by wooden posts and practice dummies. Ryke moved through the forms with precision, his sword cutting clean arcs through the cool night air. Sweat glistened on his bare chest. He had stripped down to loose training pants hours ago, preferring the freedom of movement over the weight of his usual armor.
The journey
Latest chapter
Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: UNSPOKEN VOWS
The news spread through the packhouse like wildfire.“The Alpha has returned.”Seraphine heard it from a passing servant while she was reviewing old scrolls in the archives. Her heart gave a single, sharp lurch. Not for Kaelan, but for what his return meant. The alliance with Asheville was secured. The political game had shifted. And her reason for staying in Ravencrest was rapidly dissolving.She didn’t hesitate.She left the scrolls scattered on the table and ran.Her feet carried her through the familiar corridors, her short hair whipping against her cheeks. Her mind was fixed on one person.
Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: THE DAGGER AND THE SILENCE
The ride back from Asheville felt endless.Kaelan urged his stallion harder than necessary, the powerful beast eating up the miles through neutral territory with steady, thunderous strides. Ryke and the small contingent rode behind him, trying to keep up, but Kaelan barely registered their presence. His mind was fixed on one thing only.Celeste.He had to get to her as fast as possible. The bond in his chest had been pulling at him the entire journey. A warm, golden, and insistent tug. Every league closer to Ravencrest made it stronger, like a living thread tugging him home. He had felt her distress during that strange moment on the road. The sharp pain like needles in his heart, the distant echo of her scream. Something had happened while he was gone. He needed to see
Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha CHAPTER FORTY: THE SHADOW'S BOND
The training grounds of Asheville were quiet under the moonlight, a vast open space ringed by wooden posts and practice dummies. Ryke moved through the forms with precision, his sword cutting clean arcs through the cool night air. Sweat glistened on his bare chest. He had stripped down to loose training pants hours ago, preferring the freedom of movement over the weight of his usual armor.The journey to Asheville had been successful, but Ryke’s mind was restless. Kaelan had secured the alliance, yet the Alpha’s thoughts remained fixed on Ravencrest. On her. Celeste. The bond between them had grown stronger with every passing day, and Ryke could see the conflict in his leader’s eyes. Duty and desire. The old ways versus whatever new path the Moon Goddess seemed to be carving.Ryke swung the blade in a wide overhead
Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: AWAKENING THREADS
Celeste’s throat burned raw as the sound finally died, leaving only the echo ringing in her ears and the heavy silence of the library pressing down on her. Her body trembled violently, silver energy still crackling faintly at her fingertips like dying embers. Books lay scattered across the floor where they had flown off the shelves. One lantern had shattered, glass shards glittering on the stone.She couldn’t breathe.Her chest heaved, lungs longing for air, but the vision clung to her. And then the shift to Ravencrest’s halls, Kaelan’s regretful eyes as the markings beneath the mountain pulsed with corrupt hunger.It felt so real. Too real.“Celeste.” Seraphine’s voice cut
Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: THE PRICE OF ALLEGIANCE
The hall was still in silence awaiting Kaelan's answer. Leira was still offering a polite smile. She was beautiful, strong, clearly trained in leadership and combat. Under different circumstances, Kaelan might have considered the political advantage.But there was only one woman who occupied his thoughts now.He rose slowly, bowing his head with genuine respect. “Luna Elara, your daughter Liera is a lovely woman. Strong, poised, and clearly worthy of any alliance. I am honored by the offer. However, I already have a mate. The Moon Goddess has bound me to Celeste Ashveil. I cannot, and will not, take another.”A ripple of surprise moved through the gathered Asheville nobles. Liera’s expression remained composed, though a flicker of disappointment crossed her
Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: THE DISTANT ACHE
The road to Asheville stretched long and winding through the neutral territories, the road is a place packed earth flanked by dense forest on one side and rocky outcrops on the other. Kaelan rode at the head of a small, carefully chosen contingent, Ryke at his right, two trusted warriors behind them, and no banners to announce their presence. Diplomacy demanded subtlety, especially with tensions rising after the recent raids.His black stallion moved with steady power beneath him, but Kaelan’s mind was miles away, back in Ravencrest. Back in the garden.Celeste.The memory of her pressed against the stone wall refused to fade. The way her soft body had melted into his, the sweet, needy moan that had escaped her lips when he had deepened the kiss, the way her hips
Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: THE COWARD’S CROWN
The cave smelled of blood, smoke, and his failure.Thorne sat on a cold rock near the dying fire, staring into the embers as if they could burn away the images seared into his mind. The raid had been a sla
Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: DON'T HOLD BACK
Kaelan didn’t think.The moment Celeste turned away from him in the garden, something primal and desperate snapped inside his chest. The bond still blooming warmly from their previous kiss flared wit
Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha CHAPTER THIRTY: THE WEIGHT OF GHOSTS
The wine burned a slow, familiar path down Kaelan’s throat.He stood alone on the shadowed terrace overlooking the eastern gardens, a half-empty cup dangling from his fingers. The night air was crisp
Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: FRACTURED BLOOM
The garden felt smaller today, as if the stone walls had crept closer overnight, determined to trap her inside her own conflicted heart.Celeste sat on the familiar stone bench where Kaelan had once given
You may also like
Alpha Brock
C.J. Primer574.8K viewsAlpha Jax
C.J. Primer798.3K viewsSeducing My Ex's Father In Law
Caroline Above Story4.2M viewsHis Dark Obsession
Moonlight Muse611.6K viewsThe Eclipse of the Unbroken Luna
Ifunanya 88 viewsMarked by the Lycan King
Hayford A. Elizabeth42 viewsFated To The Werewolf Dragon King
Midnight Summer 313 viewsThe Wrong Hockey Brother Slipped Inside Her: Alpha's Craving
Demiah13784 views
