All Chapters of Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha: Chapter 81 - Chapter 87

Liera sat by the open window in her room, the letter held carefully in both hands. The morning light in Asheville was soft and gold. It fell across the wooden floor and across the bed where she had slept poorly the night before. She had read the letter so many times that the edges of the paper were already soft. Ryke’s handwriting was plain and strong. He did not waste words. That was one of the things she liked about him. He wrote the way he fought, direct,  and without decoration. She read the last lines again. Come to the festival. I will be waiting. 

Celeste opened her eyes slowly.The room was still dark. Soft morning light came through the closed window. She was warm. A strong arm was around her waist. It was Kaelan’s arm. His body was behind her and his chest touching her back. His slow breathing moved against her neck.She stayed still for a long time. She did not want to wake him up. He looked peaceful when he slept. The usually hard lines on his face were softer. He was very relaxed and she liked seeing him like this.Celeste moved a little. Kaelan’s arm tightened around her right away. Even in sleep he held her close.She waited until his arm loosened again. Then she carefully moved his hand and sat up. Kaelan did not wake up. He only turned his face into the pillow. Celeste looked at him for one more moment. She felt something soft and full in her heart. Then she stood up.She put on a simple dress and a shawl. She left the room without making noise. The corridors of the packhouse were empty and quiet. Her bare feet made a

 Kaelan opened his eyes when he felt light coming into the room. The bed was warm, but empty. He reached out with his hand. The space beside him was cold. Celeste was not there. He sat up slowly. Last night came rushing back to him. He had called her to his room. And when she came he had called her name softly in the dark. She had come to him. They had held each other. They had fallen asleep with his arms around her. Her head had rested on his chest. The bond between them felt settled. He barely felt it like he did before. Before it felt like tugging and urgent and now.. it's just settled. Now she was gone. Maybe she had gone back to her room.

Kaelan closed the door behind him. The council room felt colder than usual. The stone walls seemed to hold the chill of the mountain. Lucien stood near the long table with his hands behind his back. Seraphine stood a few steps away. Her posture was straight and calm. She did not look nervous. She looked decided. Kaelan walked closer. “You asked for me,” he said to his father. Lucien nodded once. “Seraphine has something to say. I thought you should hear it directly.”