All Chapters of Claimed By The Biker Alpha: Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

Ryder "You're right." I step closer carefully. "I was trying to control the situation. Control what you knew, when you knew it, how much you had to deal with. And that's not fair to you.""No." Her voice cracks. "It's not.""I'm sorry." The words feel inadequate. "I fucked up. I kept things from you because I thought I was protecting you, but really I was just being a coward.""A coward?" She frowns."I was afraid." The admission costs me. "Afraid that if you knew about Seraphina, you'd see a version of me I'm not proud of. The angry, violent, toxic bastard I used to be. I wanted to keep being the man you see me as, not the man I actually was."Jolie is quiet for a long moment. Then she crosses the room and takes my hands."I don't need you to be perfect." Her eyes search mine. "I need you to be honest. Even when it's ugly. Even when it makes you look bad.""I know." I squeeze her hands. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm so fucking sorry.""Why does she want revenge?" Jolie asks. "What did you d

Jolie POVSeraphina doesn't leave.I find this out two days later when I see her sitting in the common area, talking quietly with Phoenix as my stomach drops."I thought she was leaving." I pull Ryder aside."She was supposed to." His jaw tightens. "But Phoenix asked her to stay. Said she's family, and we don't turn away family.""Even family that was hired to destroy us?" My voice is sharper than intended."He doesn't believe that." Ryder runs a hand through his hair. "He thinks we misunderstood her intentions.""Or she's manipulating him too." I watch Phoenix laugh at something she says. "She's his cousin, she knows exactly which buttons to push.""I know." Ryder's frustration bleeds through the bond. "But I can't force her out without proof. Not when a pack member is vouching for her."The unfairness of it burns. She admitted to being hired, but only to us. In private, without witnesses.Now she's playing the victim, and Phoenix—sweet, traumatized Phoenix who still grieves his mur

Jolie pov "As long as it takes." Ryder kisses my forehead. "And I'll be here every step of the way, reminding you when you forget.""Promise?" My voice is small."Promise." He pulls me back against his chest. "Now rest. Actual rest, not just lying here worrying about everything.""I don't know if I can." The anxiety is still humming under my skin. "My brain won't shut off.""Then let me help." Ryder starts running his fingers through my hair, the gentle repetitive motion soothing. "Close your eyes. Focus on breathing and let everything else go."I try to follow his instructions, focusing on the rhythm of his heartbeat, the warmth of his body, the safety of his arms.Slowly, the anxiety begins to fade. The light around me stabilizes, glowing softly instead of flickering erratically."That's it." Ryder's voice is low and soothing. "Just rest, baby. I've got you."Ryder’s fingers keep combing through my hair, slow and steady, but the calm he’s trying to give me twists into something hot

Jolie pov The words hit me. "You're lying.""Am I?" Seraphina's eyes are hard. "Ask him. Ask him about the pup he refused to claim. The child he forced me to raise alone because he was too selfish to accept responsibility.""If that's true, where's the child now?" I demand.Something flickers in Seraphina's expression. "Stillborn. Six months into the pregnancy. The stress of him leaving, of being abandoned by my mate—it killed my pup.""Ryder's not your mate." I'm say my voice wavering slightly. "He told me Aria was the only mate he had before me.""Chosen mate." Seraphina clarifies. "We never completed the bond ceremony, but we chose each other. And he destroyed that choice when he abandoned us.""I don't believe you." "You don't have to." Seraphina moves toward the door. "But ask yourself this—if he kept secrets about knowing me, what other secrets is he keeping? If he lied about the nature of our relationship, what else has he lied about?"She's gone before I can form a response.

Jolie POVThe wedding has been postponed to 2 weeks, and I still haven't decided what I'm going to wear.It's a stupid thing to focus on, but it feels safer than thinking about walking back into Nightshade territory. Safer than wondering what my father's planning with his emotionless new bride.I'm sorting through clothes in our bedroom when my phone buzzes. Gio's name flashes on the screen.I answer immediately. "What's wrong?""I need to show you something." His voice is tight. "Can you video call? Privately?""Hold on." I move to Ryder's office and lock the door behind me. "Okay. I'm alone."The video connects, and Gio's face appears. He looks worse than the last time we talked. Dark circles under his eyes, jaw tight with tension."I'm sending you a file." He glances over his shoulder. "Watch it after we hang up. Don't let anyone else see it until you've decided what to do."My stomach drops. "Gio, what's going on?""Father is planning something. I don't know what exactly, but Cele