All Chapters of Claimed by the Alpha, Desired by His Blood: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Tiana Kaius’s eyes slowly moved between us, like he was trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces. The corridor suddenly felt too small, and the air grew too thick to breathe properly. “What was it you wanted to tell me?” My mouth opened. Then closed. No sound came out. Zane stood there, hands still in his pockets, expression perfectly neutral. Waiting. Like he had all the time in the world to watch me squirm. “I…” My voice cracked. “It’s nothing. Nothing important.” “Are you sure? It does not sound like nothing,” Kaius said, his brow furrowing slightly. “Tiana, is there a problem?” He turned to Zane. “Uncle, is there something I should know?” Zane lifted his chin slightly at me, and even as he had uttered no additional words, I could tell he meant ‘look at her, ask her.’ Heat flooded my face. Embarrassment, anger, betrayal all tangled together until I couldn’t tell which was which. Zane had put me on the spot. And now Kaius was looking at me with those kin

Zane “Your nephew,” Elder Tobias said. “Kaius is of age. A strategic marriage alliance could strengthen our position while we wait for your heir. Also—” “No.” The words left my lips before I even thought of it. All five elders stared at me. “No?” Marius repeated carefully. “Kaius makes his own choices regarding marriage.” My voice was firm. “I won’t force him into a political arrangement.” “Even if it benefits the pack?” Cora challenged. “Even then.” Silence fell across the table. I could feel their judgment. Their confusion. It was obvious they had expected me to agree immediately, to see the strategic value in using Kaius as a backup plan. But I could not. Not after seeing the look on Tiana’s face when I had asked her to do exactly that. Not after hearing the defeat in her voice when she had accused me of twisting everything. And maybe I had suggested it to her as an excuse to send Kaius away from the pack, but the elders wanting it could put him under some

Tiana I had not even affirmed to his motion before he continued. “I would like to emphasize that I refused you working on the border project because the borders are not stable. Sending you to a potential conflict zone unguarded is not a wise decision.” I raised my left hand slightly, indicating to him that I wanted to speak and when he moved his head from up to down, my voice rang out. “Alpha, but your nephew already mentioned that there are patrols stationed at the border. I was excited about this idea because I thought, I could… umm… gather a bit of construction knowledge that could be useful to me, especially when I’m settled and sent out of the pack. It was only a second but I noticed how Zane’s gaze shifted downwards before he replied. “You have a point. But there are other ways and times to learn all of those. Your primary focus now should be on your treatment and birthing a pup.” I said nothing, only nodding my head in response. “Do you understand?” “Yes

Tiana After attending to Kaius, I spent the rest of my afternoon in the supply wing. There was so much to learn, and I did not think much of the time as I enjoyed being in there. Gamma Rowan had walked me through distribution protocols, and shown me how to track inventory across multiple storage halls. He also gave me the freedom to express my idea by letting me arrange an entire section of medical supplies after I pointed out a system that I believed was more effective. And the compliments he constantly gave me whenever I did something right? Zane won by recommending him as an alternative for the construction project. As much as being at the border felt good too. Now, as I made my way back through the pack house corridors, I carried a leather-bound ledger Gamma Rowan had asked me to deliver to the Alpha. Apparently, there was a discrepancy in the monthly grain shipment that needed Zane’s approval to resolve. “Just leave it on his desk if he’s busy,” Rowan had said. “He

Tiana As soon as I returned, I stripped off the clothes I was wearing and, without showering, changed into the first nightgown I stumbled on. It was a thin cotton fabric, barely reaching me mid-thigh, with delicate straps that kept slipping off my shoulders. I collapsed face-first onto the bed, too exhausted to even pull back the covers. My body sank into the mattress, and I let out a breath that felt like it had been trapped in my chest for hours. My face pressed into the pillow and my legs sprawled apart, one knee bent slightly because that’s just how I landed. I should move. Should at least cover myself properly. But I was so tired. Tired from moving those steps. Tired of pretending and trying to fit into a role no one actually wanted me to fill. Tired of being looked at like I was an imposter. The room was quiet. Blessedly quiet and I closed my eyes. Maybe if I just stayed here, my mind would find peace from all the chaos that filled it. But heyyy, talk abou