Todos os capítulos de Claimed by the Alpha, Desired by His Blood: Capítulo 21 - Capítulo 30

I had been sitting in this corner for longer than I meant to. The upstairs alcove overlooked the training grounds through a wide window. It was one of those quiet, semi-public spaces where anyone could walk in but rarely did. I had come here to think. To process what had happened at the atelier and the silence in the car afterward. Instead, I had ended up watching him. Zane moved across the training grounds with a precision that was almost violent. Every strike that he took, deliberate, and every shift of his weight, controlled. Sweat soaked through his shirt, clinging to the lines of his back and shoulders. And mapping out the muscular-toned body of my mate, the man I should share intimate moments with but had barely touched. Sharing intimacy with Zane was quickly finding space in my bucket list as one of the things I should do before my contract expires, two years from any day I give him his heir. Back to while I had been sitting here… I told myself I was just ob

Madam Celeste, whom I was only knowing for the first time, stood in the middle of the drawing room like a carved statue, every bone in her spine aligned in a perfect, terrifying line. The sunlight from the tall windows cut across her silver hair, making it look like a halo, which was ironic because nothing about her felt heavenly. She clapped her hands once, the sound cracking through the air like a whip. “Stand straight, Luna.” I straightened immediately, even though my back was already stiff. My shoulders rolled back, chin lifted, with my arms at my sides like she’d shown me. It was only my third hour with her, and I already felt like I was failing a final exam. The final exam being the etiquette practice for the Luna convergence ball which was only in a few hours time. “The Lunar Convergence,” she said, pacing slowly in front of me, “is not just a gathering of pack leaders. It is theater. Politics. A performance of unity in a display of our woven traditions.” I n

If I was still the fourteen-year-old girl who’d first entered this pack eight years ago, my heart would have burst from the way Zane held me. But I knew better now. It did not change that I was grateful for the experience of royalty that I was receiving, even if it was only for two years. Or was it three? Depending on when I could carry his heir. This was for the cameras and the royal wolves watching. Still, his arm felt solid under my hand. And I hated how much comfort I took from that. We walked forward along the deep crimson carpet, plush enough that my heels sank slightly with each step. It stretched from the entrance all the way to the grand doors, lined on either side by young wolves holding baskets of white petals. As we passed, they tossed handfuls into the air. Petals rained down around us, soft and fragrant, catching in my hair and brushing against my shoulders. It felt surreal. Like something out of a dream I’d never dared to have. I heard from Madam Cele

He did not. Alpha Marcos still held my hand. “How are you finding your new role as the Luna of the most sought after Alpha? It must be quite the adjustment.” “It is,” I admitted. “But I’m learning.” “I’m sure you are.” His eyes crinkled at the corners. “And with a mate as attentive as Zane, I imagine you’re in excellent hands.” Something in his tone felt off. Like the words meant more than they said. Before I could respond, I felt it. Zane’s hand on my thigh. Firm. Possessive. His fingers pressing into the fabric of my gown hard enough that I felt the heat of his palm through the silk. My breath caught and my expression shifted, visible enough that Alpha Marcos noticed. His smile faltered slightly. “Well,” he said, finally releasing my hand. “I should let you both enjoy the evening. We’ll speak more later, I’m sure.” He nodded to Zane, then disappeared back into the crowd. Zane’s hand remained on my thigh. I turned to look at him. “Alpha, I’m sorry but was

Zane After Kaius disappeared somewhere in the hall and I did not care where, I loosened my grip on Tiana and walked out of the convergence ballroom. I had walked halfway across the hall before Ezra caught up to me. “Alpha.” I turned on him, my jaw so tight that I could feel my teeth grinding. “What?” “You need to go back inside.” “I need,” I said, each word clipped, “to not be in that hall right now.” Ezra didn’t flinch. He had served as my Beta long enough to know when to push and when to retreat. This, apparently, was a pushing moment, for him. “I understand you’re angry—” “Do you?” “—but leaving now will have consequences. For the pack and did her.” The mention of Tiana made a tightness twist in my chest, but I didn’t let it show. “She made her choice,” I announced. “She chose to dance with him.” “Alpha, I believe she chose to avoid causing a scene. I can see reasons with her.” I wanted to argue and tell him that he was wrong, that Tiana had looked com