All Chapters of Claimed By The Wolf Kings: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

96 Chapters

62 - Pale

KAZIMIR The ceremony was interminable.It started with speeches. Introductions. The posturing of powerful men and women who had forgotten what it felt like to be vulnerable. I stood beside Ariel, my hand on her lower back, feeling the tension thrum through her like a live wire.She was so stiff and uncomfortable. Every few minutes, she shifted closer to me, not because she wanted to, I realized, but because the other wolves were staring at her unabashedly, and I was the only safe harbor in the room.I didn't mind.When the time came for introductions, Marcus Volk took the stage. His voice boomed through the hall, welcoming the Alphas, their families, their entourages."And now," he said, his eyes finding mine, "I'd like to introduce a new face to the summit. Alpha Kazimir Rossi, and his mate, Ariel Blondeau, the Blood Moon bride." The room went silent.I felt Ariel tense beside me. Felt her nails dig into my arm."What?" she whispered.I didn't answer. I led her forward, into the ce

62 - Ghost from the past

ARIEL The world stopped.I'd heard that phrase before, read it in books, heard it in songs, dismissed it as the kind of melodrama that didn't happen in real life. But standing there, in that glittering hall, surrounded by wolves in their finest clothes, the world stopped.Malhorn.He was standing in the doorway, silver-haired and sharp-featured, dressed in black that swallowed the light. He looked older than I remembered, but then again, it had been years. I had run from him for years, even though he was near impossible to hide from. And now he was here.In the same room as I was.Breathing the same air.My hand was frozen in Kazimir's. I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. The room spun around me, the crystal glasses, the velvet drapes, the wolves who had stopped talking to stare at the new arrival.Malhorn's eyes swept the room.Found me.Found us.His smile was slow and cold. Like he he had been expecting me to be there and he had just found me. And something inside

63 - Come here

ARIEL The great hall was still full when I returned.People were still talking and dining, a few eyes looked at me as I came in, I didn't care. I walked to the table, to my seat, to Kazimir's side. He looked up as I approached, his eyes searching my face."You came back," he said."I'm not a coward.""I never said you were."I sat beside him. His hand found mine under the table. I didn't pull away.Malhorn was across the room, talking to another Alpha, his back to us. I watched him for a long moment, watched the way he moved, the way he smiled, the way he made everyone around him feel like prey."I hate him so much," I said quietly."I know.""I've hated him ever since I knew him.""I know.""I want to kill him."Kazimir's hand tightened on mine. "Me too. But not tonight.""Then when?""Soon."I looked at him. At his sharp profile, his steady eyes, his hand wrapped around mine like he was the only thing keeping me from floating away."Promise me," I said."I promise."It wasn't enoug

64 - Can I have this dance?

ARIEL The ballroom was a constellation of light.Crystal chandeliers blazed overhead, casting prismatic shadows across the floor. The walls were draped in velvet the color of midnight. Wolves in silk and diamonds swirled across the marble, their laughter rising and falling like music. And the music, a string quartet tucked into the corner, playing something old and aching and beautiful.I stood at the edge of the ballroom, my hand on the railing of the staircase, and tried to remember how to breathe.Kazimir had laid out a dress for me. Not the red one, something new. Something I hadn't seen before. It was deep blue, the color of the sea at midnight, silk that pooled at my feet and caught the light like water. The bodice was fitted, the neckline low, the back open to my waist. A diamond necklace rested against my collarbone, pink, the one he'd bought me at the jewelry store.I was always surprised about how clothes, finery and makeup could transform me into the extraordinary. Sometim

65 - Ours

ARIEL Every muscle in my body went rigid. Kazimir's hand was iron on my back."No," he said."I assure you, my intentions are purely social. It's kind of rude to have one dance partner for the rest of the night." "I said no."Malhorn's smile didn't waver. "Surely you can spare her for one dance. I promise I'll return her in one piece.""You can't even touch her, why would you want to dance with her?" The words hung in the air. Malhorn's smile flickered, just for a moment, just a crack in the mask.Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out a pair of gloves. Black silk. He pulled them on slowly, deliberately, one finger at a time."Now I can," he said.Kazimir stepped in front of me, blocking Malhorn from view. "You need to leave.""I'm not finished with my conversation.""You're finished.""Ariel." Malhorn's voice came from behind Kazimir's shoulder. "Tell your Alpha to behave. We wouldn't want to cause a scene."I found my voice. "Go away.""Ariel..." "I said go away."Malhor

66 - Promises

ARIEL My heart stopped. "What?""The suppressants, they won't last forever. They were always meant to be a temporary solution. Without proper treatment, she won't live to see her next birthday. That is the simple fact.” "You're lying.""I'm not. And you know I'm not." He reached into his jacket, pulled out a small case. Opened it. Vials. Pale blue liquid. Dozens of them, lying there like they weren’t the one thing I needed to save my daughter. "I can help her. I have everything she needs. The medication, the research, the doctors. All you have to do is come back." "Never.""Ariel..." "I said never."He closed the case. Slipped it back into his jacket."You're making a huge mistake.""I'm not making anything. I'm surviving. The way I've always survived. Without you."Malhorn looked at me for a long moment. His eyes were sad. Almost."We still have your eggs," he said. "We never really stopped. Your presence isn't really needed. We can always find another wolf to be the surrogate.

67 One step closer

ARIEL I woke to warmth.Not the cold of the mountain estate. Not the chill of the stone walls or the draft from the window. Something else. Something that pressed against my back and wrapped around my waist and breathed slow and even against my hair.I opened my eyes.The room was still dark, gray light filtering through the curtains, the fire burned down to embers. I was in the bed. The massive, canopied bed that I'd refused to share with him.But I was sharing it now.Kazimir's arm was draped across my waist, his body curved around mine, his chest pressed against my back. His face was buried in my hair, his breathing deep and steady. He was still asleep.I should have pulled away.I should have shoved him off, reminded him of all the reasons this was wrong, retreated to my side of the bed and built my walls back up.I didn't move.I lay there, frozen, feeling the rise and fall of his chest against my back. Feeling the weight of his arm, the warmth of his breath, the steady thrum of

68 More than anything

KAZIMIR KAZIMIR The day ahead was full of politics, the final ceremony, the closing remarks, the endless handshakes and empty promises. But there was one thing I needed to do first.Marcus Volk had requested a private meeting after the breakfast ceremony.I found him in the library, standing by the fire, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He looked up when I entered, his face unreadable."Kazimir. Thank you for coming.""You said it was urgent.""It is." He gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit."I sat.Marcus didn't immediately speak. He swirled his whiskey, stared into the flames, and seemed to be choosing his words carefully."I have a proposition for you," he said finally. "A business proposition. From an interested party.""Who?""I'm not at liberty to say that yet.” "Then I'm not interested."Marcus smiled. "I thought you might say that. Which is why I'm going to tell you enough to pique your interest, but not enough to satisfy your curiosity."I leaned back in my chair. "

69 Only you

KAZIMIR I kissed her again.This time, there was no hesitation. Her hands found the buttons of my shirt, fumbling with them, her breath hot against my neck. I reached behind her, finding the zipper of her dress, and pulled it down slowly.She shivered as the fabric loosened. I pushed it off her shoulders, watching it fall, watching her emerge from it like a goddess from the sea.She stood before me in nothing but a thin slip of silk, her seductive curves and the swell of her breasts were hard to miss, especially when her nipples stood erect, her skin flushed, her eyes bright with wanting."Your turn," she whispered.She pulled my shirt over my head, her hands exploring my chest, my shoulders, my back. Her touch was electric, leaving trails of fire wherever she went.I lifted her, carried her to the bed. She wrapped her legs around my waist, pulling me closer, her mouth finding my neck, my collarbone, my chest.I laid her down on the sheets.She looked up at me, her raven black hair s

Chapter 70 Scientific evidence

ARIEL ARIEL The estate came into view like a promise.I pressed my forehead against the car window, watching the familiar stone walls rise out of the darkness. The windows were lit with warm golden light. Smoke curled from the chimneys. Somewhere inside, Evie was waiting for me.I hadn't let myself think about her during the drive. Hadn't let myself imagine what it would be like to hold her again, to hear her voice, to feel her small arms around my neck. I couldn't. It was all too much to think about. But now we were here. And she was inside.The car had barely stopped before I was out of the door.I heard her before I saw her, that small, delighted shriek that always made my heart ache. Then she was running across the foyer, her hair flying behind her, her arms outstretched."Mama!"I dropped to my knees. She crashed into me, her small body colliding with mine, her arms wrapping around my neck. I held her so tight I was probably hurting her, but I couldn't let go."Baby. My baby."

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