Lahat ng Kabanata ng Claimed by the Lycan King : Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 60

Vera's POVI pounded on the door with both fists, ignoring the searing pain as the hot wood burned my palms. "Sofia! Let me out! Please!"I got no reply. Just the roar of flames growing louder behind me.I grabbed the door handle again, trying to force it to turn despite the heat that made my skin blister. It wouldn't budge. Sofia had locked it tight.Panic clawed at my throat. Smoke filled my lungs with each breath, making me cough violently. My eyes watered until I could barely see. The heat was becoming unbearable, sweat pouring down my face.I had to get out. I had to find another way.The back door. There had to be a back door.I stumbled through the smoke-filled hallway, one hand on the wall to guide me. My vision was blurring, my head spinning from lack of oxygen but I kept moving.The back door came into view through the haze. I lunged for it, grabbing the handle.It was sealed tight just like the front."No, no, no." I pulled uselessly at the handle, tears streaming down my

Vera's POVI felt Dante's eyes on me as the pack waited for more direction. He'd given them hope, but they needed more than that. .They needed a concrete plan, a vision they could hold onto.I stepped forward before I could second-guess myself."Everyone, listen," I called out, my voice carrying across the crowd. "I know you're scared. I know you're tired. Our home is in ruins and we're facing an uncertain future."Faces turned toward me, some curious, others skeptical."Moving again means finding another pack willing to take us in," I continued. "And that's not going to be easy. Not every wolf out there is nice and accommodating. Most packs barely have enough resources for themselves, let alone seventy extra mouths to feed. We could be rejected, turned away, forced to split up."Murmurs of worry rippled through the crowd."But I have a suggestion." I straightened my shoulders, channeling every ounce of confidence I could find. "We return to your original compound and rebuild it ours

Vera's POVI didn't want to make Elena's mood worse by arguing about Sofia's true nature, so I squeezed her hand gently."I promise I'll find out the truth," I said. "Real soon. And I'll bring Sofia back so we can get answers directly from her."Part of me wanted to believe Elena was right. That Sofia had been manipulated or threatened into betraying us. It would be easier to accept than the alternative, that someone we'd trusted completely had chosen to destroy everything we'd built.Elena's face brightened with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thank you, Vera. And thank you for being exactly what this pack needs. We're so lucky to have you as our Luna."Her words made my throat tight with emotion. I pulled her into a hug, holding her close for a moment before releasing her."We'll get through this," I promised. "All of us, together."Elena nodded, wiping at her eyes before returning her attention to the children playing nearby.I made my way back to where Dante stood surve

Vera's POVI stood outside the bus for a moment longer. My heart still racing from Marcus's unexpected kiss on my hand. The feeling of his lips on my skin lingered uncomfortably. It made me want to scrub the spot until the sensation disappeared completely.I needed to get away from him. I needed to clear my head and figure out what had just happened.After checking one more time that the children were sleeping peacefully in the bus, I stepped away from Marcus without another word. I couldn't bring myself to look at him and see the expression in his eyes again.My feet carried me toward the main house, toward where I knew Dante would be working. I needed him right now. I needed to hold him and feel the safety I felt whenever he was around. The moment I stepped inside, I was struck by how much had been accomplished in such a short time. The interior that had been a disaster zone just hours ago now looked almost livable. The floors had been cleaned and repaired, the walls reinforced,

Vera's POV"Let me go or I'll scream," I said, my voice shaking. "I swear I'll scream and wake up everyone in this compound."Marcus just smiled. He didn't look worried at all."Go ahead," he said calmly. "Scream. But by the time anyone gets here, I'll be gone. And who do you think Dante will believe? His best friend from training? Or his mate who's been acting strange all day?"My blood ran cold. He was right. He'd position it as me overreacting or being paranoid and Dante might believe him."Listen to me," Marcus said, his voice taking on a softer tone. "I'm offering you something good here. Something most women would kill for.""I don't want anything from you," I spat."Be my concubine," he continued as if I hadn't spoken. "I'll give you everything in the world. Jewels, clothes, money, power. Whatever you want, it's yours."I stared at him in disgust. "Are you insane?""I'll take care of you perfectly," he pressed on. "Better than Dante ever could. And you don't even have to leave