All Chapters of The Alpha's Claim, The Biker's Desire : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The morning after Maddox’s apology felt like stepping into someone else’s life. I walked across campus under a washed denim sky, no clouds or rain, just the soft winter sun that made the frost on the grass glitter like broken glass. My breath fogged in front of me, but for the first time in months it didn’t feel like I was breathing through a straw. The stares were still there, of course, but they were different. It was now out of curiosity instead of cruelty. Some people even nodded at me when I actually greeted them good morning. A girl from my psych discussion group actually smiled and said, “Hey, you okay?” like she meant it.I didn’t know how to answer, so I just smiled back and kept walking.The whispers had changed too, what began as Kianna did this, Kianna did that turned into; “Heard Maddox cried in front of the whole hallway.” “Trent’s been hiding in the library like a kicked puppy.” “Anonymous hasn’t posted since the rain video and the account's gone.” Gone, t

Kianna's pov:The driveway to Maddox’s house was a chaotic sprawl of luxury cars and beat-up sedans with headlights cutting through the dusk like mismatched eyes. Music thumped from inside—deep bass that vibrated through the ground, spilling out into the cool evening air along with laughter and the sharp tang of spilled beer. Lesley linked her arm through mine as we navigated the gravel, her eyes wide and sparkling under the string lights draped from the trees. “This is insane,” she whispered, squeezing my elbow. “Maddox Bianchi’s after-party? We’re basically celebrities now.”I forced a laugh, but my stomach twisted like it had all day. The invitation had come via text midway through the game, and I’d said yes out of some twisted curiosity. What if there was a clue here? What if that coward Kylie will finally show her face here? Or maybe I just wanted to see if Maddox’s apology held water when the spotlight wasn’t on him. Lesley had been all in, her first real smile since the ki

The hallway pulsed with muffled bass from the party below, but the air up here felt thick, stagnant, like the room itself was holding its breath. Lesley's frantic eyes met mine from the doorway, her hand still clutching Jessica's as if afraid to let go. Jessica trembled beside her, face streaked with tears, but there was a flicker of gratitude in her glance toward me—a silent thank you that cut through the chaos. The text from the unknown number felt like a confession.It wasn't just words; it was a revelation, a crack in the foundation I'd built my trust on. The room spun slightly, the edges blurring with the weight of it all. I wanted to question him, show him the text and demand answers on the spot but that wouldn't be necessary, the last thing I'd ever do is to make our enemies see our weakness.And so I turned to face Luke, letting whatever I'm about to say hung in the air like a final warning.“ You shouldn't compare yourself to him, you're worse.” Then faced Maddox. “And to

Kianna’s POVThe morning light seeped through the blinds like an unwelcome intruder, casting thin stripes across my rumpled sheets. I woke up with a start, my heart racing as if I'd been running in my dreams. But it wasn't a dream that had me bolting upright—it was the weight of last night pressing down on me like a lead blanket. Lysander's face haunted me, his once-gentle eyes now cold and accusing on that rooftop with cigarette smoke curling around him like a shroud. The boy who'd sketched me with such care, who'd taken a bullet for me without hesitation, reduced to this—bullying some poor freshman girl just for looking at him too long. It didn't make sense. Lysander hated bullies; he'd told me stories of how he'd been tormented in middle school for being the "artsy kid." And now he was one of them? The change was too sudden, too complete. And Maddox's words kept echoing in my mind too, “People break, Kianna. Heartbreak breaks them ugly.”If that was the case, then it means ag

Kianna’s POV:The ride back was nothing but the low hum of the engine and the sound of my own sobs echoing inside the car. Maddox kept one hand on the wheel, the other hovering like he wanted to reach for me but didn’t dare. Streetlights strobed across his face, catching the shine in his own eyes.“I’m sorry,” he said, voice hoarse. “I never should’ve taken you there. I thought… I thought showing you would be better than letting you wonder. But I just broke you worse.”I pressed my forehead to the cold window, tears sliding sideways into my hair. “It’s not you,” I whispered. “It’s me, It’s my terrible fate. Every time I let myself believe I can be happy… this happens. It gets ruined very fast…I ruined everything.”“That’s not true.” His knuckles went white on the steering wheel. “I’m the one who started this chain reaction. I hurt you first and made you scared to trust. And now the one guy you finally let in… I helped rip him away from you.” His voice cracked. “I hate myself for it,