All Chapters of AFTER THE DIVORCE, THE ALPHAS MADE THEIR CLAIMS ON ME. : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

PRESSURE POINTSNina’s POVThe silence after Axel left didn't feel like peace. It felt like something hollow, like the room had been emptied of more than just his presence.I stood there for a long moment, staring at the closed door, my chest rising and falling too fast for someone who hadn’t moved.I dragged a hand down my face and turned away, forcing myself back toward the desk.Work. That’s what I needed. Not feelings.Not confusion. Not Axel. Just something I could control.I grabbed a stack of reports and flipped through them, scanning patrol rotations, supply logs, guard assignments, anything to anchor my thoughts. It didn’t work.Because every few seconds, my mind drifted back to him.To the way he looked at me. To the way he said my name. To the way he... A sharp knock interrupted my thoughts.“What?”The door opened anyway.Ryan leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, studying me like I was a problem he hadn’t figured out yet.“You done pretending to read those?” he aske

THE WEIGHT OF WHAT’S COMINGNina’s POVThe warning echoed in my head with every step I took down the corridor.I pushed open the doors leading out into the courtyard, letting the cool air hit my face. It helped just a little. Grounded me. Slowed the sharp edge of my thoughts.Ryan was leaning against the fountain when I stepped out, like he’d been waiting.“You done getting lectured?” he asked.I walked past him. “I wasn’t getting lectured.”“Right,” he said, falling into step beside me. “You were just getting told everything you didn’t want to hear.”I shot him a look. “You’re very insightful today.”“I try.”We walked in silence for a few seconds.“She’s right, you know.”I stopped. “I don’t need you to agree with her.”“I’m not agreeing with her,” Ryan said. “I’m agreeing with reality.”I turned to face him.“I’m not falling apart.”“You’re cracking.”“I’m not.”“You are,” he said, not raising his voice. “And you’re pretending you’re not.”I looked away. Because arguing felt pointl

BREAKING POINTNina’s POVI should have left after that.That was the logical thing to do. Walk away, call it a one-time decision, pretend the training session didn’t mean anything.But logic had never been the strongest voice in my head.“Again.”Axel’s voice cut through the quiet morning air, steady and unyielding.I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders back. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”“I’m doing my job.”“You’re not my trainer.”“I am now.”I shot him a look. “That wasn’t an agreement.”“You’re still here.”Ryan snorted from where he stood leaning against the fence. “He’s got you there.”I pointed at him without looking. “Stay out of it.”“Gladly,” Ryan said, clearly not meaning it at all.I lunged forward again, faster this time, sharper, more controlled.Axel met me head-on. Our movements collided, force meeting precision as we circled each other.“Better,” he said.“I wasn’t trying to impress you.”“You don’t have to.”I pushed harder. Every move I made, he matched.It

BEFORE DAWN BREAKSNina’s POVThe forest was quieter now, the sharp edge of the night softening as the first hint of dawn crept into the sky. A pale gray filtered through the trees, brushing against the leaves, catching in the spaces between branches.Axel stood a few feet away, not too close, not too far. Like he was giving me space.But not leaving.“You’re thinking too loudly,” he said after a moment.I huffed softly.“I didn’t say anything.”“You didn’t have to.”I crossed my arms.“Maybe I just like the sound of my own thoughts.”“Unlikely.”I shot him a look. “You’re getting bold.”“You’re getting predictable.”“That’s not the same thing.”“It is when you’re trying to pretend you’re fine.”I rolled my eyes. “Not this again.”“Yes, this again.”“I told you, I’m fine.”“You had a nightmare where everyone died.”“It was just a dream.”“It didn’t feel like one to you.”“I’m not shaken.”“You went for a run in the middle of the night.”“I needed air.”“You needed control.”I exhaled

THE DISCIPLINE OF CONTROLNina’s POVTraining with Kaiden was different from the earlier sessions we used to have.There were no immediate sparring matches. No aggressive drills.No pushing until I collapsed.It was slow. Frustratingly so.I exhaled through my nose, closing my eyes as he instructed.“Kaiden”“Again.”“I’ve been breathing for the past ten minutes.”“And you’re still not doing it right.”I opened one eye.“That doesn’t even make sense.”“It does.”“No, it doesn’t.”“Yes, it does.”I groaned softly and dropped my head back. “This is torture.”Kaiden didn’t react.“Control isn’t exciting,” he said. “That’s why most people ignore it.”“I’m not most people.”“Exactly,” he replied. “Which is why you need it more.”I frowned. “That doesn’t make me feel better.”“It’s not supposed to.”I rolled my shoulders, trying to shake off the tension. “This feels like I’m doing nothing.”“You’re doing everything.”“That’s not helpful.”“It’s accurate.”I shot him a look. “You and Axel wo