All Chapters of BETRAYED BY MY MATE CLAIMED BY HIS STEPBROTHER : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

ARIELLA….The trial had ended, and to my surprise, the elders hadn’t scoffed or argued with my judgment. Instead, there had been murmurs of approval, nods of respect, even a flicker of pride in Zach’s grandfather’s eyes.By the time Zach and I left their Pack, the weight pressing on my chest had lightened. For the first time, I felt like I’d truly proven myself, not just to them, but to me.The road stretched long and quiet as we drove through the forested edges of Green Jade territory. I leaned back against the seat, exhaustion washing over me, when suddenly…Clunk. Rattle. Silence.The car shuddered, then came to a complete halt.I sat up straight. “What just happened?”Zach tried the ignition again, his jaw tightening. Nothing. “The engine’s dead.”I blinked at him. “Seriously? You’re the Alpha of one of the most powerful packs and you can’t even keep a car running?”He shot me a look, one corner of his lips twitching. “I wasn’t planning for it to break down in the middle of nowher

ARIELLA DAVENPORT….When I woke up in the morning I didn't feel the warmth I felt every morning. I opened my eyes and found the other side of the bed empty. I touched the mattress only to find it cold. Zach had gone long ago. But why?I looked across the wall at the clock hanging there and found it was six-fifteen in the morning. He never left the bed before me. He always woke up after me, even if he woke up before me, he never left the bed until I woke up and saw his face the first thing in the morning.He said, his day goes well seeing my face in the morning and he wants me to see his face the moment I open my eyes. Then what changed today. Did he sense something?I went to the bathroom to freshen up then wore my leggings and sports bra then went to the training field. I trained hard this morning but the heaviness in my chest hadn’t lifted. If anything, it pressed harder with each hour that passed.Zach was the same as always, calm, steady, protective. He poured me coffee at break

ZACH WINCHESTER…….For a long time, I could only stare at her. I’d laid myself bare, every ugly scar, every truth I’d buried and I had been ready for her to recoil, to walk away, to look at me with the same disgust I saw in my own reflection.But she hadn’t.She’d touched the locket. She’d called me strong. She’d chosen me. Something inside me cracked wide open, something I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding together with iron and silence.Before I could stop myself, I pulled her against me, crushing her to my chest. My arms wrapped around her like I could anchor myself in her warmth, like she was the only thing tethering me to sanity.“You have no idea what you’ve just done to me,” I whispered into her hair, my voice shaking despite every effort to steady it.She didn’t push me away. She clung to me, her hands fisting in the fabric of my shirt. “I just told you the truth,” she murmured.I leaned back just enough to look at her. Her eyes shimmered, not with fear, but with something

ARIELLA DAVENPORT…..The morning sun beat down on the training grounds, heat radiating off the packed dirt. Warriors circled the ring, murmuring among themselves as Zach barked orders, his commanding presence filling the space as always.I stood with my arms crossed, watching him put the younger fighters through their paces. His gaze swept over the pack then lingered on me. A smirk tugged at his lips.“Care to join us, my Queen?” he called out, voice loud enough for all to hear.I arched a brow, stepping forward. “Only if you’re ready to be embarrassed in front of your own warriors.”A ripple of laughter spread through the circle. Zach’s smirk deepened. “Bold words. Let’s see if you can back them up.”The crowd parted as I stepped into the ring. Zach circled me like a predator, slow and deliberate. I mirrored his steps, my pulse quickening.The first clash came fast. He lunged; I ducked, twisting away with a grin. “You’re slower than I remember,” I taunted.He growled low in his throa

ARIELLA DAVENPORT…..I stood in front of the mirror, my breath catching for a moment as I took in the reflection staring back at me. The golden gown hugged me perfectly, the soft shimmer of its fabric catching every flicker of light like it held tiny stars within. The neckline was elegant, not too daring but enough to draw the eye, while the fitted bodice traced the lines of my frame before spilling into a graceful flow that kissed the floor.I smoothed a hand down the skirt, the silk gliding under my palm, warm and weightless. The sleeves, delicate and sheer, almost looked like they’d been woven from sunlight itself. I tilted my head slightly, watching the way the gown’s subtle embroidery, glinting patterns shifted and danced with every movement.For a moment, I almost didn’t recognize myself. The golden tones wrapped me in a glow I wasn’t used to, making me look softer, brighter, almost otherworldly. And as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, I whispered to my reflection