All Chapters of Claimed by the Ruthless Wolf Slayer: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

ALEXANDERFor a reason I couldn’t explain why watching Claude with Alina pissed me the fuck. It was till there no matter how many times I tried to rationalize it.She wasn’t in his arms or anything dramatic like that. But she was standing beside him, close enough to touch, and her cheeks were flushed with amusement at something he’d said. The way her lips parted into a small smile, barely there, and yet just enough to make something snap inside me.It was irrational. Stupid. Unfounded.But I wanted to punch him. Hard. Maybe knock a few teeth out so he’d stop smiling like that. Especially to her.I usually didn’t give a damn who Claude flirted with. If anything, I encouraged it. He had a habit of bedding anyone I discarded, and it never once bothered me. Most of the women didn’t matter beyond the moment. The only exception was Keisha, and even that was my own mistake.So why the hell was this any different?Maybe it was because he looked too at ease beside Alina. Too confident. His sm

ALINA I think if Alexander hadn’t said “no pressure,” I wouldn’t have felt pressured at all. But the moment those words left his mouth, I completely unraveled. Even more than usual. The second he parked outside the massive stone building, my hands started to shake. My legs felt like jelly. I could barely breathe, let alone move. He glanced at me with clear amusement before stepping out of the car. He didn’t say anything—just nodded at me to follow. Standing on my own feet felt harder than it should have. I wobbled immediately, like I’d forgotten how legs were supposed to work. My teeth were chattering. He definitely said that just to mess with me. You could tell from the way he walked, like he was proud of being cruel. I wasn’t going to let him win, though. “Don’t make me wait up for you,” he called over his shoulder, his pace already increasing. Of course he wouldn’t make it easy. Why would he? I didn’t stand a chance of catching up. His legs were twice the length of m

ALEXANDERWatching Alina fall apart like that did something to me.For the first time, I truly saw her, not just the woman fate tied me to, but the fragile, frightened girl life had chewed up and spit out. She wasn’t just hurting. She was surviving. And though I didn’t understand why she was mine, one thing was clear as day: I’d burn the world to keep her safe. She’d been given scraps by life; I could at least make sure no one else took from her.When I found out about the council, I hadn’t been planning to act immediately. I was in my office, sorting through reports, when the whispers turned concrete. That they were considering putting a bounty on her head.Liam had mentioned it first, brushing it off like gossip. But the shift in his tone made my jaw clench. They wouldn’t dare, I’d told myself. They couldn’t possibly be that stupid.Every werewolf and lycan was born with a mate. One fated, destined. Sometimes a second-chance mate appeared, but it was rare enough that people dismisse

ALINA“Since when did you become best friends?” he asked, settling at the edge of the bed.I felt the mattress shift beneath his weight, and every part of me tensed. Not visibly. I kept my expression neutral. But I wasn’t calm. I froze, trapped in the same panic I hadn’t yet learned to hide. I didn’t know how to act around him.He was my mate. But he was also the man who had killed my parents.So I stood somewhere in the middle of those truths, trying to navigate the fear twisting in my gut. He killed easily. People disappeared around him without explanation. Who’s to say I wouldn’t be next?Especially when he found out what I really was.That voice in my head stirred, whispering again. I shook it away like dust, unwilling to entertain it.Alexander was watching me. His gaze was unreadable, something swirling in those dark eyes.“How are you feeling?” he asked.It took a second to register his voice. He’d been studying me, eyes flicking over my face like he was searching for something

ALINA“You bring out Alexander’s gentle side.” I turned sharply at his words.“What?” The shock was evident in my voice and Claude laughed.That was his gentle side? I wouldn’t want to see what he looked like when he wasn’t being gentle. Well, I had seen a glimpse of it, and I didn’t like it. I actually hoped I would never have to see it again.“You’re surprised.”“It is surprising,” I replied.I really couldn’t understand why it was so easy to talk to Claude, but when it came to Alexander, I became mute. Maybe it had something to do with all the people who told me he didn’t like it when people were quiet. They unknowingly put pressure on me, and now, even if I wanted to talk, I couldn’t. I’d be too busy in my head, trying to guess if I was saying the right thing. Doing the right thing. So much more.“You shouldn’t worry too much about what he thinks. He may act all tough, but he’s a big softie.”“I don’t think he’s acting,” I muttered under my breath, kicking a small stone on the gro