Lahat ng Kabanata ng Claimed by the Alpha Beast: Kabanata 171 - Kabanata 180

Marissa POVI don't know why I almost let myself forget that whatever Caden does is probably an act of rebellion against Alpha Gareth.He made me dance with him for the same reason.At least, that's exactly how it seems when I was leaving the dinner hall.While his arms were around me, moving me across that dance floor with everyone watching, it hadn't mattered that his future Luna was somewhere in that crowd.For those few minutes, I'd let myself forget. I'd told myself I was dancing with him because the Queen ordered it. That I had no choice but to obey.But that was far from the truth.It had felt like a dream when he held out his hand to me. And now I hate myself for enjoying it so much.Caden hadn't danced with me because he wanted to be close to me. He'd danced with me because he wanted to spite Gareth. To make a point in front of all those high-borns and Alphas.And it worked.I remember the look on Alpha Gareth's face when I left the hall. Unmistakable annoyance.Now I'm hurry

Caden POVMy time in the hole has come to a pause.Zach tells me this before he sneaks out of the party with his mate.A pause. Not an end.I know he means it as a warning. Which is why I don't insist on going after Marissa to make sure she gets inside her cottage without lingering outside with that Gamma.Milo Hastings can't do or say much with Nadia there. Can he? I would trust Marissa's Gamma to do her job.After the King's brief speech of congratulations and thanks, the party truly begins. Some of it spills outside, where the newly titled Alphas make out with the girls willing to entertain them. Some of them do much more than make out.Glancing around, I decide now is the time to take care of my business.I slowly end the dance with Miss Caine, the Beta female who has been sticking close. She raises an eyebrow.“What is it, Alpha Caden? Tired already? Or...” Her gaze drifts past me. “Worried your girl will complain?”I follow her eyes to find Mom chatting with Gwen Harding while

Marissa POVWhen I climb out of the van, the Gamma who rode with me comes around to collect the bag containing my clothes.Nadia is already moving toward the much too elegant door. She motions for me to follow her as I look up at the building in front of us.This is no cottage.It's a rather luxurious two-storey fourplex, with wide balconies and enough space around it to make my former cottage look like a mouse's hole. It's somewhat similar to the mansion I'd run from in River Howl.I stare at it.Is this where I'll be on house arrest?But why? Or has my sentence been cut short? Nah. Alpha Gareth mentioned something like this when he came to visit. Only now am I recalling what he told me. Is this where I'll be expected to perform my... duty?“You look sleepy, Miss Blue,” Nadia says, pulling my attention from the building.“The Queen is giving you the day off. Considering you worked a double shift yesterday.”That still doesn't explain why a prisoner has just been brought to such a fa

Caden POVGareth did this. It was his special request to move Marissa. He'd told me he was going to relocate her whether I like it or not, and apparently he'd gone to his brother and gotten him to agree. I look at the van disappearing down the road, then back at Zach and Kerris watching me from the edge of the woods. I could make a scene. I could demand to know where they're taking her and insist on following. But that would be stupid.Whatever arrangement they've made, it's not like I'm being denied access to her. In fact, she's being moved to a bigger, more comfortable house where I'll supposedly be able to see her as much as possible.There is no cause for concern.I retreat, and Beta Justin gives me a small nod, as though he's pleased that I'm finally behaving reasonably. I don't care what he thinks. I just want to know why Zach agreed to this without saying a damn word to me. When I look around again, Kerris is gone, and Zach is approaching alone. Good. Maybe now he'll expla

Gareth (Third-Person POV)Linda is just stepping out of Marissa Blue's new residence when Gareth sees her.At dawn, he'd called Riley to ask, and the Gamma had told him that the mother of his son was still in Royal City. Gareth had been deeply pleased when he'd heard that. He refused to carefully examine why. Instead he told himself it was because her presence made it easier to keep an eye on her. Because his instincts have been stirring since the eve of the Alpha Blessing ceremony.Linda is hiding something. He's certain of it.But he's determined to keep pretending he believes everything she's told him about Gwen. It's his best chance of getting her to lower her guard. If Linda thinks he's satisfied with the explanation, she'll eventually stop being careful around him.These past two days have been unlike anything they've shared since Caden was born. Somehow, the bitterness Linda has carried toward him for more than two decades seems to have dissipate. She laughed around him. She