Semua Bab Alpha's Rejected Bride: Claimed by the Ruthless King: Bab 11 - Bab 20

Chapter 12The walls of the corridor seemed to breathe, closing in on Nora as the golden light of the ballroom smeared into ugly, jagged lines. Her head felt like it was filled with lead, and every breath was a struggle against the sweet, metallic poison clawing at her throat."Going somewhere, little omega?"Valencia’s voice was a sharp needle in the fog. She didn't help Nora. She stood back, her white silk dress shimmering like a shroud."What... what did you give me?" Nora whispered, her knees buckling."Just a little something to show everyone your true colors," Valencia sneered, her eyes dancing with cold triumph. "The 'pure' mate of the Alpha, stumbling around like a common street mutt. It’s poetic, really."Nora tried to shove past her, but her limbs were useless. She tripped over the hem of her gown, her body tilting toward the hard marble floor.Two strong arms caught her, but the scent wasn't pine. It was bourbon and expensive leather."Woah, slow down there, Luna," George wh

Chapter 14The fire in the hearth popped, a small explosion of sparks.Deluca didn't move. He stood over Nora, his body a literal wall of muscle and ink shielding her from the man in the chair. His breathing was shallow, his shoulders hunched like he was seconds away from snapping."Carla," Deluca said. The name came out like a curse, spat onto the floor. "I should have known you were the one feeding Sanchez those forged documents. You always did have a talent for lies."The man in the chair, Carla, let out a dry, rattling chuckle. He looked like a nightmare version of Deluca. Where Deluca was all raw, youthful power, Carla was lean and weathered, his skin covered in the same jagged pack tattoos, but his golden eyes held a cruel, ancient wisdom."Lies? I only tell the truths people aren't ready to hear, nephew," Carla said, swirling his whiskey. He looked at Nora, his gaze crawling over her emerald dress until it rested on her stomach. "And right now, the truth is sitting in the middl

Chapter 16The crystal tumbler hit the table with a sharp, crack."You aren't listening to a word I’m saying, Kashton."Kashton slowly dragged his gaze away from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the boardroom. He leaned back in his leather chair, the dark, jagged ink of his pack tattoos spilling out from the rolled-up sleeves of his black dress shirt. He looked ready to rip someone's throat out."I heard you, Zelda," Kashton drawled, his voice a low, lethal gravel that made the temperature in the room drop."I just don't give a damn about your port taxes."Zelda tightened her jaw, glancing nervously at the other investors around the table.P"Alpha, this isn't just about taxes. It’s about the Northern territories. Deluca is monopolizing the entire freight line. His wealth is entirely untouchable at this point. If we don't secure a treaty, the Blood Moon pack is going to bleed money by winter."At the mention of Deluca’s name, Kashton’s wolf violently slammed against the inside of his rib

Chapter 18The smell of burning oil and old canvas filled the air, thick and suffocating. Deluca didn't say a word as he watched the flames lick the faces of the women who looked exactly like Nora. He looked like a man purging a demon, his jaw set in a hard, uncompromising line."Deluca, stop," Nora whispered, clutching her stomach as the heat intensified. "We have to go. We have to go home right now."Deluca turned, his silver eyes reflecting the orange glow of the fire. He looked exhausted, yet wired with an adrenaline that made his muscles twitch. "I’m not finished yet.""The ball, Deluca. The preparation," she pleaded, reaching out to touch his arm. "If we aren't back before the stylists arrive, the Council will have more reason to hunt us. Please."He let out a low, frustrated groan, sounding more like a territorial beast than a billionaire Alpha. He caught her hand, his fingers lacing through hers with a grip that was almost bruising."I wanted more time," he rasped, pulling her

Chapter 20The diamond-encrusted gown felt like a weight of armor as Nora stood in front of the mirror. It was more modest than the silver silk, but it was infinitely more expensive, dripping in gems that caught every flicker of light. Deluca stood behind her, his fingers cold as he snapped the family heirloom necklace around her throat."There," Deluca muttered, his reflection looking at her with a mixture of pride and something that looked like possession."Now they’ll know exactly who you belong to.""You didn't have to rip the other one, Deluca," Nora whispered, her hand instinctively hovering over the place on her neck where the black mark was hidden under layers of cakey makeup."I did," he snapped, his voice rough. "I'm not sharing you. Not even with their eyes."He turned her around, his thumb grazing her lower lip. "You stay close. You don't talk to anyone I don't approve of. Do you understand?""I'm not a child," Nora said, though the way her heart hammered told a different