Claimed by the Alpha's Love (Tori and Lucas) novel Chapter 57

Chapter 57

I sat beside him, concern temporarily overriding my anger.

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His breathing was shallow, his body temperature far too high. This was beginning to look like the early stages of lunar madness, which was

extremely rare outside the full moon period.

“Ethan,” I said, placing a cool hand on his forehead. “When did this start? Are you feeling the shift coming on?”

His only response was to turn away from my touch, murmuring something incoherent. I caught only a few words-regret, truth, a

sounded like “wrong choice.”

I stood up to get him some water when something on his desk caught my eye-a black leather portfolio, partially open with sketches spilling

out from its edges.

Curiosity overrode my immediate concerns, and I flipped the portfolio open wider.

My blood ran cold at what I found.

Sketches. Dozens of them. All of Tori Sullivan.

Her human form, her wolf form, close-ups of her face, her eyes. In one particularly detailed drawing, her eyes were colored in a beautiful silver

hue with the words “my moonlight” written beneath.

My blood ran cold as everything clicked into place.

The lack of temporary marks. The distancing. The way he sometimes called me by the wrong name in moments of distraction.

Ethan still loved her.

Rage surged through me, but I forced it down.

I looked back at Ethan on the bed, his hair plastered to his forehead with sweat, his breathing shallow as the fever took hold.

“Since that’s how it is,” I whispered, my fingers curling into fists at my sides, “you can’t blame me for what comes next.”

I reached into my purse, fingers closing around the small vial I always carried-essence perfume, designed to trigger a mate’s protective and mating instincts. It was manipulative, even borderline unethical, but I was beyond caring.

I dabbed the scent behind my ears and wrists before approaching him.

‘Ethan,” I whispered, leaning close. “Mark me, It will help with the madness.

His eyes snapped open, glowing with feral intensity as the scent reached hu

Before I could react, he growled a deep, primal sound that vibrated through the room-and longed forward, pinning a to the mattress with supernatural strength.

My heart raced, a mixture of fear and triumph coursing thinugh me.

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18.40 Fri, Feb 6 BBQ

Chapter 57

The lunar madness had taken hold completely now, stripping away his clized facade and leaving only the wolf-raw, instinctual, and desperate for release.

His fangs elongated as he buried his face in my neck, his body burning he against mine.

I closed my eyes, surrendering to the inevitable victory.

Then, just as his fangs grazed my skin, he froze.

“No, he growled, his voice barely recognizable. “Not… right.”

He pulled back, his eyes clearing slightly as he stared down at me. ‘You re not… Tori,” he mumbled, the words slurring but unmistakable. Tori… only Tori.”

With a violent motion, he shoved himself away from me, nearly falling of the bed in his haste to put distance between us.

“Get out!”

I stumbled backward, humiliation burning through me like acid. Even in his most primal state, with artificial pheromones clouding his senses, he had rejected me.

As I fled his quarters, tears of rage blurred my vision.

The rejection stung worse than any physical pain-a female, rejected by a male in his most instinctual state.

It was the ultimate insult in wolf society.

Back in my car, hands shaking on the steering wheel, I could barely contain the humiliation burning through me.

Why agree to marry me if he was still obsessed with her?

I was just his second choice. After all my efforts, all my careful planning, was still losing to Tori Sullivan.

Fine. Very well.

Just wait, Tori. Just you wait. If I can’t have what I want, neither will you.

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