Semua Bab Claimed By The Biker Alpha: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Ryder POVI wake with my back against Jolie's door and every muscle in my body screaming. Three days of sitting in the same position will do that. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.The room's quiet now. Her scent has faded from that overwhelming heat to something softer, though it still makes my wolf pace restlessly.I push to my feet, joints popping, and look at the bed. She's asleep finally, curled into a tight ball under the blankets. Her face is pale, dark circles under her eyes, hair tangled on the pillow.She looks destroyed. And beautiful. And mine in a way that has nothing to do with claiming and everything to do with trust.I should leave. Let her rest. But my wolf won't let me walk away, so I compromise. I move to the chair in the corner, as far from the bed as I can get, and settle in to keep watch a little longer.She wakes an hour later. I see the exact moment consciousness returns—her body goes tense, her breathing changes, and her eyes snap open.I keep my voice soft.

Ryder povI'm lost. The moment her lips touch mine, every shred of control I've been holding onto for weeks shatters.I kiss her back, gentle at first, letting her set the pace. But she makes a small sound in the back of her throat and presses closer, and gently becomes desperate.I grip her hips, lifting her onto the workbench. She wraps her legs around my waist, her fingers tangling in my hair.We break apart, both breathing hard. I rest my forehead against hers. "Are you sure?" I have to ask one more time. "We can stop. We can wait."She shakes her head. "I don't want to wait." She pulls back to look at me. "I want you. I choose you."Those words break the last of my restraint.I kiss her again, deeper this time, and she responds with an enthusiasm that makes my blood burn. My hands slide under her shirt, finding warm skin.She gasps against my mouth. "Ryder"I pull back immediately. "Is it too much?"She shakes her head quickly. "Not enough." She tugs at my shirt. "Please."I help

Ryder POVTwenty-four hours.That's all we have to turn Jolie into something resembling a fighter. Twenty-four hours to prepare her for a challenge that should've never happened.I watch Knox demonstrate a blocking technique for the third time. Jolie mirrors his movements, her footwork improving but still hesitant."Faster." I cross my arms. "Mara won't give you time to think."Jolie wipes sweat from her forehead. "I'm trying.""Try harder." The words come out harsh, but I can't help it. Every second that passes brings us closer to tomorrow night, closer to watching her get torn apart in front of the entire pack.Knox shoots me a warning look. "Take a break, Ryder. You're making her nervous.""She should be nervous." I pace the length of the training ring. "Mara's going to come at her with everything she's got. This isn't some friendly sparring match.""I know that." Jolie straightens her shoulders. "Can we go again?"Luna appears with water bottles. "She needs rest, not a drill serge

Ryder POV I find her curled against the compound wall, arms wrapped around her knees. She's not crying. Just staring at nothing, her eyes empty. "Jolie." I crouch beside her slowly. "Talk to me." "I wanted to hurt her." Her voice is hollow. "At the end, when she was coming at me, I wanted her to hit that wall. Wanted her to feel pain like I've felt." "That's natural." I settle beside her, my shoulder touching hers. "She's been cruel to you since day one." "But I'm not supposed to be like that." She finally looks at me. "I'm supposed to be better. Kinder. Not someone who wants revenge." "You're supposed to be human." I brush hair from her face. "And humans feel anger. Feel the need to fight back. That doesn't make you a monster." "Then what does it make me?" The question breaks on the way out. I consider my answer carefully. "Strong. It makes you strong." She shakes her head. "Strong people don't shake like this. Don't feel sick over winning a fair fight." "Yes, they

Jolie POV The supply run turns into a regular thing. Three days a week, a small crew heads into the neutral zone to stock up on food, medical supplies, and whatever else the compound needs. I go along every time, grateful for the excuse to leave and the chance to feel useful. Today it's me, Knox, Phoenix, and two other pack members—Jax and Reese. The ride takes about an hour, winding through back roads and highways that blur together in a meditation of speed and wind. The autumn air bites at my exposed skin, but I don't mind. Out here, with the engine rumbling beneath me and the open road stretching ahead, I can almost forget the whispers that follow me around the compound. Almost forget the weight of being different, of being watched. Knox leads our small convoy his massive frame hunched over his bike like a scary man in motion. Phoenix rides beside me, occasionally glancing over with that easy smile that makes him seem younger than his twenty-four years. Jax and Reese bring up the