All Chapters of Claimed by the Biker Alpha’s: Chapter 21 - Chapter 25

Madeleine's POV My eyebrows shot up. “Prepared for what, Rook?”He gestured for me to sit on the edge of the bed. “Look, if things go sideways, and you’re alone, you need to know how to defend yourself enough to get away. Basic blocks, strikes. Nothing fancy, just enough to buy you a few seconds.”My heart hammered. *If things go sideways.* It wasn't 'if', it was 'when'. I took the stick from him, my fingers wrapping around the smooth wood. It felt surprisingly solid.“Okay,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “Show me.”For the next hour, Rook patiently went through defensive maneuvers, his movements swift and economical. Each jab, each parry, each instruction was delivered with a quiet intensity that left no doubt about the seriousness of the lesson. Dare remained outside the door, his silent presence a constant reminder of the invisible threat that loomed over us. My muscles ached, but the rhythmic movements, the focus required, momentarily pushed the fear to the back of my mind.

Madeleine's POV The roar of the crowd died, a sudden, collective gasp that echoed in my chest. One second, Silas was gaining, a blur of black leather and chrome, the next, his bike was skidding, throwing up a shower of sparks that seemed to hang in the air like burning embers. My stomach dropped. He missed the cable. He missed the goddamn cable. His bike careened into the safety barrier, a sickening thud, and then silence. No, not silence, just the rushing sound of my own blood in my ears, and the distant, muffled shouts.“Silas!” My voice tore from my throat, a ragged scream. I was running before my brain caught up, pushing through the stunned spectators, my eyes fixed on the twisted metal and the still figure beside it. Every step was a prayer and a curse rolled into one. My lungs burned, my knees threatened to buckle, but I kept going. He had to be okay. He *had* to be.I reached him, skidding to a halt. He lay motionless, half-pinned under the mangled bike. A gasp escaped me. His

Madeleine's POV The clang of metal on metal echoed from the garage, a constant reminder of the new locks and reinforced gates. It had been like this for days, ever since Silas got hurt. Jax, Dare, and Rook were everywhere, their faces grim, their voices low as they issued orders to the other club members. Every time I saw them, I felt a fresh wave of guilt wash over me. Silas was still confined to his bed, his arm in a sling, and it was all my fault. I was a magnet for trouble, a weakness they hadn’t needed.I watched Jax from the kitchen, stirring my coffee far too vigorously. He leaned against the doorframe, still shirtless even in the cool morning air, his gaze sweeping over the yard. He radiated a protective energy that made me feel both safe and ridiculously burdensome.“Morning, angel,” he rumbled, stepping inside. He grabbed a mug and poured himself some coffee, his eyes softening as they met mine. “Sleep well?”I shrugged. “As well as I could.” I didn't want to bring up the n