All Chapters of Taking a Chance with the Crippled Alpha: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Dustan’s POVI stared at Lyria. Thank the Moon, my mind was still struggling to process what I'd just heard… otherwise I would have just shredded the trespasser on the spot. Did she really just—did she actually eavesdrop on us—"The hell are you doing snooping around in my garden?" I growled, my voice low and irritated. "Did I not forbid you? Do you have a death wish?"But unlike before, Lyria seemed completely unfazed by my roar. She took a couple of shy steps forward, swaying her hips as she played with the strand of her hair that she was tucking behind her ear. Her smile was infuriatingly smug."Alpha," she purred, her voice dripping with false innocence. "I couldn't not hear this conversation. It was quite... revealing."She reached out and touched my arm, her fingers squeezing my bicep. I flinched at the contact, my skin crawling at the audacity. "Get your hands off me," I snapped.She ignored me completely, leaning forward until her lips were almost brushing my ear. Her brea

Elara's POVI dropped down on the floor, my back pressed against the door, my body wracked with sobs I couldn't control. The tears wouldn't stop coming and I hated every time I thought I'd cried myself dry, another wave would hit me, and I'd be gasping for air all over again.I could identify my pattern, I was almost understanding my trigger… it wasn't just Lyria. I mean it was, but more than her, it was a culmination of all the betrayals… Of all people. Of all the women in the world, he had to have his eyes on her? Not that having his eyes on any other woman would make it any less difficult…but this one person who had stolen everything from me—my father's love, my betrothed, my dignity. And now she was trying to steal my husband too. Not that I gave much fuck about this husband… that's what I kept saying myself. We had sex… it was just because we were mates… the attraction was too much… That was it. There was nothing emotional…nothing… no affection. I pressed my hands against my

Dustan's POVThe silence stretched on.The food on my plate had grown cold, but I couldn't bring myself to care.I could see the way Elara carefully avoided my gaze. Then Ruth suddenly set down her wine glass with a decisive clink."Alright!" She beamed. Her bright smile was completely at odds with the tension in the room. "Everyone seems a little too tense. Guess the Alphas didn't do much at the meet, did they?" She reached for the wine decanter, pouring generous amounts for everyone at the table. "That goes in favor of my brothers, really. Not that they need anyone to carry them.” She flashed that infectious smile at Cassian and me before continuing with whatever rant. “Those Alphas are useless anyway. Should pass on the throne to the next generation already. Those old mutts." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "But wolves are proud, you know."She nudged Elara with her elbow, then pointed her wine glass directly at me. "Especially Alpha wolves."I kept my expression neutral, thou

Elara’s POVI leaned further into the wolf, letting his warmth seep into my skin. The tension that had coiled in my chest since, slowly unwound, replaced by something serene. My fingers traced lazy patterns through his midnight fur, marveling at the contradiction of the texture—so impossibly soft, yet I could feel the steel of muscle beneath. He rumbled again, that deep, contented sound that vibrated through my entire body. I smiled, resting my cheek against the crown of his head."I don't know why you're here," I murmured, my voice barely audible. "But I'm glad you are."His tail swept across the ground once, twice. A response, I presumed. An acknowledgment perhaps. I closed my eyes, letting myself exist in this moment. The cool night air on my skin. The solid warmth of the wolf beneath my hands as if taking away all the negativity that I had been feeling…it was like osmosis. The distant song of crickets played like background music and the whisper of wind through the pines, made

Elara’s POVI didn't look back as I left Cassian's quarters.If I had looked back, I might have said something I'd regret. Or worse—The dark corridor stretched before me. My footsteps echoed, too loud in the silence, but I didn't slow down. I couldn't slow down. If I slowed down, I would stop, and if I stopped, I would think, and if I thought—I burst through the doors of my chambers and slammed them shut behind me.The room was just as I had left it. Silk curtains billowing in the night. Everything peaceful. Everything normal.Everything a lie.I stood in the middle of the room, my chest heaving, my fists clenched so tightly that my nails bit into my palms. The pain was grounding, but only barely. My entire body vibrated with a rage so consuming that I couldn't see straight.I wanted to break something.I wanted to scream.I wanted for kill something. I wanted to find Ruth and wrap my hands around her throat and squeeze until the smug smile finally left her face.“No.” I forced mys