All Chapters of AFTER THE DIVORCE, THE ALPHAS MADE THEIR CLAIMS ON ME. : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

AFTERSHOCKSNina’s POV“Again.”Kaiden didn’t give me time to think.He never did.I lunged. He countered.I adjusted mid-step this time, twisting before he could hook my ankle as he had on the first day. My shoulder slammed into his chest instead.His eyes flickered with approval.“Better,” he said.“Stop saying that like it’s a consolation prize,” I shot back.“It’s not.”He came at me harder.I barely got my guard up in time. The force of his strike reverberated down my arms, rattling bone and muscle.“Focus,” he ordered.“I am focused.”“No,” he said sharply. “You’re distracted.”“I’m not...”He swept my legs out from under me. I hit the ground with a grunt, breath punched from my lungs.Kaiden stood over me again, expression unreadable.“Don’t psychoanalyze me,” I muttered.“I don’t need to,” Kaiden replied. “You telegraph everything.”I attacked again, faster this time, more aggressive. I didn’t wait for him to dictate the rhythm.He blocked twice, stepped back once.When I twis

WHEN THE GROUND GIVES WAYNina’s POVFor the first time in days, my body didn’t feel like it was waging war against itself.Training that morning had ended without tension. Axel had stayed. Kaiden had pushed. Neither of them had torn into each other. It almost felt normal.By late afternoon, I needed air. So I left the estate without an escort.I told myself it was deliberate. Controlled independence. I wasn’t slipping off unnoticed. The guards knew I was heading into town.But I didn’t take anyone with me. I didn’t want to feel managed.The café sat at the corner of a narrow street lined with old brick buildings and faded signs. It had been my favorite long before I stepped fully into Alpha responsibilities.The bell above the door chimed when I stepped inside.Warmth wrapped around me immediately, coffee, cinnamon, and low music humming through hidden speakers.Imani, my favorite barista, was behind the counter.She looked up and smiled.“Look who’s alive,” she teased. “You disappea

BROTHER’S WRATHNina’s POVI woke up to the sound of boots.The door to the healer’s quarters slammed open hard enough to rattle the shelves.“Nina.”Ryan.I didn’t have to open my eyes to know what expression he was wearing.“I’m alive,” I croaked before he could speak again.Silence followed. When I finally forced my eyes open, Ryan was standing at the foot of the bed.He looked like he’d ridden straight through the night.His gaze moved over me in quick, brutal assessment.“Tell me,” he said quietly.“It was three rogues,” I replied. “Alley behind the café.”His nostrils flared.“Three,” he repeated.“Yes.”“And you were alone.”“Ryan...”“And you were alone,” he repeated, louder this time.Maris, who had been grinding herbs at the table, shot him a glare.“She has a concussion,” she snapped. “Lower your voice.”Ryan didn’t take his eyes off me. “Who were they?” he demanded.“I don’t know them. They didn't look familiar.”His jaw flexed.“Axel caught one,” I added quickly.Ryan’s e

THE WAITNina’s POV“This isn’t over.”Axel’s words followed me long after we left the cell block.“You’re going back to bed,” Ryan said firmly beside me.“I’m going back to the healer’s quarters,” I corrected.“Same difference.”“No, it’s not.”“It is when you’re injured.”I shot him a look. “You’re not the boss of me.”“I’m your brother.”“Exactly. Which means you don’t get to boss me around.”Kaiden snorted behind us, but I ignored him.Axel walked on my other side, close enough that our arms brushed occasionally. He was hovering.“I can walk on my own,” I muttered.“Congratulations,” he replied evenly. “You’re still not doing it alone.”“You’re insufferable.”“You’re reckless.”“Stubborn,” Ryan added.“Protective,” Kieran muttered.“That too,” Axel said quietly.I stopped walking. All four of them halted immediately.“I am not fragile,” I said carefully, looking at each of them in turn.“No one said you were,” Axel replied.“You’re acting like it.”Ryan ran a hand through his hair

SPY IN THE RANKSNina’s POVTrust wasn’t something you noticed when it was whole. You only noticed it once it started breaking.The morning after the council meeting felt wrong in a way I couldn’t explain. Nothing was different on the surface. Patrol rotations had doubled. Guards moved more frequently. Conversations quieted when I walked past, not out of fear, but awareness.Everyone was watching everything. And somehow, that made me feel less safe.I stood near the window of my office, arms folded loosely, watching two patrol guards switch posts outside.“You’ve been staring at that same spot for ten minutes.”Ryan’s voice broke through my thoughts.I didn’t turn. “Just thinking.”“That’s dangerous.”I snorted softly. “You’re hilarious.”He walked further into the room, boots heavy against the wooden floor.“You’re worried.”It wasn’t a question.“Yes.”“About the rogue?”“About everything.”He leaned against the edge of the desk. “The council backed you.”“For now.”“That’s enough.”