All Chapters of Claimed By The Alpha: Chapter 41 - Chapter 48

Damien paced the foyer like a caged animal, his bare feet thudding softly against the polished marble floor. His hands moved in sharp, agitated gestures—clenching, then raking through his sweat-dampened hair. His chest rose and fell with each ragged breath, the muscular planes of his torso still slick from training.Ryleigh remained rooted to the edge of the foyer, her legs numb, her mind hollow with disbelief. She couldn’t process what was happening. Derek—missing. The words echoed over and over in her head, but still felt unreal, like some cruel mistake that would be cleared up with a phone call or a knock at the door.Damien stopped abruptly and pulled his cell phone from the pocket of his joggers. He pressed a number on speed dial, then brought the phone to his ear. His tone was sharp and commanding, no room for questions.“Something’s happened. Get to the mansion—now.” He hung up without another word.For a moment, he stood frozen, his breathing harsh. Then his eyes flicked down

Morning sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains, soft and golden, casting a warm glow across the luxurious suite. Ryleigh stirred, her cheek pressed to the cool, silky pillowcase. For a moment, she forgot where she was. The bed beneath her was too large, the sheets too smooth, the quiet too peaceful.Then it came rushing back—Derek was missing. She was in Damien’s suite.Her eyes opened fully, adjusting to the opulence around her. The rich black and gold décor seemed less intimidating in the daylight, but the ache in her chest reminded her nothing was truly fine. She sat up slowly, surprised to find a neatly folded set of clothes resting at the end of the bed: a pair of soft gray joggers, a plain white shirt, white bra and matching panties—hers.Beside them, a small envelope sat with her name written in Damien’s bold handwriting.She hesitated before picking it up, her heart thudding softly. Ryleigh,You’ve been through enough. Stay here and rest. The suite is yours for the next

The days passed like a blur of gray clouds, each one heavier than the last.Ryleigh remained in the Alpha’s suite, the black and gold walls beginning to feel more like a prison than a sanctuary. The bed, once so soft and inviting, now seemed too big, too cold. The meals that were brought up to her arrived like clockwork—warm, aromatic, perfectly prepared—but they tasted like ash in her mouth. The delicate clothes laid out for her each morning were exchanged again that evening, as if she were some precious doll being kept on display, too broken to move.But no amount of comfort could fill the void that was growing inside her.Damien was gone.No updates. No messages. Not even a rumor of Derek.And that was the worst part.Not knowing.The silence was louder than any scream.By Wednesday, Ryleigh had stopped pretending to read the worn romance novel on Damien’s nightstand. She turned off the TV on Thursday and didn’t bother turning it back on. Natalia came by once or twice a day, checki

Morning came slowly, creeping into the corners of Ryleigh’s room like a thief in the night.Her eyes opened to a dull ache pulsing behind them. Her body didn’t feel like her own—it felt heavier, slower, bruised in ways that went deeper than the skin. She didn’t move right away. She couldn’t. Her neck throbbed where the guard’s hand had crushed her throat, and her ribs screamed every time she inhaled too sharply.The memory hit like a slap.Margaret’s voice.The guard’s grip.The wall.The floor.And then the silence afterward. Cold. Final.She shifted slightly and winced, curling her arms around her aching ribs. The plain wool blanket barely offered warmth. The thin mattress beneath her was no comfort at all. She lay there, staring at the faded ceiling, and thought about how easy it would be to stay. To rot here. To give in to whatever fate had planned for her.But something deeper—something stronger—burned beneath the bruises.No. Not like this.She wouldn’t stay here to be broken.S