All Chapters of Broken: Claiming her place: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Ariana’s POVI paced the scuffed linoleum outside the private room they’d turned into a makeshift ICU, boots echoing too loud in the quiet hallway. The air stank of bleach, motor oil, and the copper tang of fear no one would admit out loud.Dad’s been in there twenty minutes with Dr. Ramirez, the only doctor the club trusts. Because “whatever happens in the club stays in the club,” right? That stupid fucking code. The same code that means we can’t fly Dad to a real hospital in the city where they might actually know what this poison is. The same code that means we’re letting him die slowly in this shithole because some prospect might talk to the feds if we go outside.I mouth the words I’ve heard since I could walk.Blood in, blood out.Loyalty above life.Whatever happens in the club stays in the club.I hate it tonight. I hate every word.Finally, Doc Ramirez pushed through the door. He didn’t bow; nobody bowed to me anymore, not really, but he did dip his chin the old-school way, o

Ariana’s POVI sat in the President’s office, surrounded by the council of elders. They were all pushing me to announce my position as President, to keep the club from falling into chaos.“Ariana, you must accept your role,” one of the council members urged. “The club needs a leader, and you are the rightful one.”I sighed, my mind racing with doubts and fear. “I’m not ready,” I said, voice small. “I don’t know if I can do this.”“Ariana, you must," another council member strictly told me. "And when you do, you will need to announce your chosen Vice.”My heart skipped at the word Vice. I already knew who I wanted standing at my right hand, Liam.We had been together for three incredible years, and he had proven himself to be a worthy partner in every way. His kind heart, compassionate nature, and chivalrous ways made him the epitome of a perfect mate. And let's not forget his dashing good looks ,his flaxen hair, piercing green eyes, straight nose, and tall, strong build made him a cat

Ariana’s POVDays bled into weeks. Weeks bled into months. My life became a never-ending cycle of torment and humiliation.Once I was the Valenti-moon club princess, the old ladies kissed my cheek and the patched brothers bowed their heads when I walked past.
Now I’m the clubhouse rat.I scrub the bar until my knuckles split, cook for hang-arounds who spit in my food, haul cases of beer while they laugh and call me “Prez-killer.” If I slow down, a prospect’s belt finds my back. If I talk back, Victoire signs off worse.Every night I fall onto a cot in the storage room that smells like oil and old cum, and every morning I wake up to the sound of Liam’s bike roaring in with Elena on the back, her arms around his waist, her lips on his neck, the whole club cheering like they’re already King and Queen.Elena, with her sweet smile and pretentious charming ways, had won them over. She would soon be crowned, and I would be left with nothing.They announced it last week: Elena will be crown

Ariana’s POVWhat I had just found out greatly unsettled me.My mother was alive.I sat on the cold storage-room floor, knees pulled to my chest, staring at the cracked concretelike it might give me answers. My heart wouldn’t slow down.“She’s dead,” I whispered. “She has to be.” now muttering in an attempt to convince myselfBut the pendant burned against my skin, heavy with truth. That picture hadn’t lied. And Fernando—he’d known my name without asking. He had looked at me like he knew things which I didn't.I scrubbed my face with shaking hands. “Get it together, Ariana. Cry later.”The storage-room door creaked open.“Lazy fool, why are you idle? Still expecting princess treatment?” Victorie laughed mockingly“Up.” she commanded while tossing a mop at my feet. “Kitchen. Now.”I followed her down the hall, head bowed, but my eyes were wide open. Watching. Counting.Two guards at the east exit. Only one at the back. Cameras? Three in the main hall—one flickering, another angled too

Ariana’s POVWe finally came to a halt.His words are now ringing in my ears. I finally took a minute to try and take in his words.“No!”The word tears out of me before I can stop it. Raw. clearly desperate.“My father wouldn’t do that,” I say, shaking my head hard enough to make my vision blur. “He loved her. He loved us dearly."Fernando watches me quietly, rain dripping from his hair, eyes steady and merciless in their honesty. He doesn’t interrupt. That somehow makes it worse.“Say something!” I scream, my eyes now filled with tears and rain unable to tell both apart.“You’re wrong,” I continue, my voice breaking. “He searched for her. I saw him. Night after night. That couldn't have all been an act. He wouldn’t trade his mate like property. That would be cruel”Hope claws its way up my chest, stubborn and aching. If I let go of that belief, then everything I survived was built on a lie. I don’t think I could stand that. My entire world would crumble right before me.Fernando fi