Semua Bab Rejected By My Mate, Claimed By Contract: Bab 51 - Bab 60

Derek’s POV Pain shot up my leg like a bolt of electricity tearing through my bones as I hauled myself upright, gripping Zeal’s shoulder with one hand and the head of my cane with the other. Every muscle in my body screamed to be set free, but I ignored the searing pain and hobbled toward the stables as fast as my injured legs would allow. “Alpha, you’ll open your wounds if you keep moving at this rate. Please, let me handle it for you,” Zeal cried out, but I shoved his words aside and kept leaping towards the stables. We reached the stable in no time, and the thick smell of hay mixed with the musky scents from the horses filtered into my nose, making it twitch involuntarily. Fiona’s piercing, high-pitched voice that was tangled with Xira’s grumpiness stirred the air with a chaos that the frantic neighs of the restless horses only worsened. “Fiona!” My voice came out harsher than I intended, but I couldn’t blame myself for sounding like an irritated granny, as my fear a

Kael’s POV“I know you’ve avoided talking about him since that night,” Zeal continued in a low but firm voice, after letting a taunting silence stretch between us. “But I think it is time we revisit that discussion again.”“No,” I said sharply, pushing back from the table. “We don’t need to because whatever is dead and buried stays buried.”“Kael…”“This conversation is over,” I cut him off with a tone that left no room for argument.I rose to my feet, ignoring his burning gaze as I turned and walked out of the council hall. I have so much on my plate right now to start dwelling on the past and opening old wounds. There were two things on my mind as I made my way back to the pack house—clearing my head and speaking to Laila.The former was the top on my list because she was doing everything but playing the role of the Luna that she fought so hard to become. She was supposed to stand by me during these trying times, offer counsel, and help steer the pack through this storm. But no, s

Derek’s POVI tried to go after her, but my damned leg wouldn’t let me. Each step I managed to take sent a sharp bolt of pain up my thigh, and before I could make it halfway down the corridor, Fiona’s scent had already faded and was now replaced with the damp air that filled the corridor. “Damn it!”I slammed my fist into the wall beside me, my clenched knuckles meeting the rough stone with a thud that sent an electrifying wave of pain up my arm, but I didn’t flinch, as it was nothing compared to the ache burning in my chest.“Let her cool off,” Xira’s voice, which was annoyingly too calm for a situation like this, came from behind. “She’s emotional right now and obviously not thinking clearly. You know how women get when…”“Don’t.”My word cut through hers as I turned toward her. “Don’t finish that sentence, Xira,” I continued with a voice sharp enough to flay. She drew closer to me as she went on to say, “I’m just saying she’s reacting emotionally to a strategic situation. Once sh

Xira’s POVI found Derek in his study, nursing an almost empty glass of whiskey even though the sun had barely climbed past noon. The smell of oak, old books, and alcohol clung to the air like oil on white cloth.He didn’t look up when I stepped in. He just sat there behind the heavy mahogany desk, shoulders slumped with his cane leaning beside him. Closing the door quietly, I leaned against it, watching him for a moment. He looked tired—like a man fighting too many battles at once and losing the most important one, which was himself.He needed his space; I knew that. He didn’t need my voice or anyone else’s right now, but I couldn’t stay away. Not when everything inside me was screaming to reach him, even if he didn’t want me to.“She’s not going to forgive you easily,” I said, pushing away from the door and crossing to the decanter on the table with long strides.I poured myself a glass, trying to steady my hand despite how anxious I had been feeling with everything that has been

Fiona’s POVI was tightening the saddle straps on my horse when I heard slow, uneven steps marching in from behind me. I didn’t need to turn to know it was him, as the air always seemed to shift into something I couldn’t quite explain whenever he was around.“I would have you arrested if you try to leave,” he said, his voice low but stern enough to silence the murmurs of the warriors around.My hands froze on the leather straps. Around us, the stable hands and warriors stood still, unsure whether to step in or stay out of it. But of course, they weren’t stupid—no one wanted to get caught between their Alpha and Luna. So one by one, they quietly dropped what they were doing and slipped out, until only Derek, Zeal, and I were left.I didn’t bother turning around to him as I asked, “On what charges?” In a flat tone. “Wanting to save my people? Trying to end a war you’ve been dragging out to feed your personal vendetta?”“On the charges of stupidity,” Derek said, his voice bubbling with