Escaping the Alpha, Claimed in the End novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Amelia’s POV

I sat on the edge of the bed for a long time after seeing the couple outside with their heart-shaped balloons tight, like something inside was folding in on itself. Valentine’s Day.

A couple of years ago-or even just a few months ago-I wouldn’t have cared about a day like this But this was the first Valentine’s Day since Ryder and I became an actual item, sötiething real, something serious And I didnt even know whether to blame it on terrible timing or on my luck that on the one day we were supposed to feel the closest as lover were completely estranged…

”

I pressed the heels of my hands to my eyes, trying to force myself not to cry again. My head already hurt from everything that happened at the bridal shop. The fake video. Delilah’s strange attitude. Ryder’s distance. It all stacked up until my wo body felt heavy.

Lucas dropped by later that afternoon while I was sitting alone near the window, pretending I wasn’t falling apart. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching me for a moment before speaking.

“Okay,” he said, “I’m just gonna say this before you make yourself sick worrying.”

I blinked up at him. “Lucas, I really don’t have the energy for cryptic stuff right now.”

He let out a breath. “It’s about Ryder.”

My stomach tightened. “What about him?”

“He hasn’t been pulling away because he doesn’t care,” Lucas said. “He’s been digging into the fire. Like… obsessively. The guy barely sleeps.”

I frowned. “What? Why wouldn’t he just tell me that?”

“Because he’s Ryder,” Lucas replied with a shrug. “He thinks keeping you out of it means he’s protecting you.”

I stared at him, confused. “Protecting me from what?”

“That’s the thing.” Lucas walked over and sat on the arm of the chair across from me. “He doesn’t think the fire was an accident. He thinks someone set it. On purpose.”

My breath caught. “Someone… tried to hurt me?”

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “That’s why he’s been acting weird. The arguments, the mood swings, him disappearing at weird hours-that’s not him blowing you off. That’s him freaking out and trying to figure out who did it.”

I swallowed hard. “So he wasn’t pulling away because of… us.”

“No,” Lucas said immediately. “Not even close. The guy’s losing his mind trying to keep you safe. He just sucks at showing it.”

After talking to Lucas, that uneasy feeling about Delilah came back even stronger. It wasn’t just the strange advice or the weird video she showed me. Something deeper felt wrong-like the person I’d been talking to these past few days wasn’t actually her.

So I called Delilah. The real one.

She picked up on the third ring, sounding warm and calm, the way she always did before all of this.

“Moonchild?” she said gently. “I didn’t expect you to call. Are you alright?”

Just hearing that soothing voice almost made my throat close “Yeah. I just wanted to check in How was your s

retreat?”

She let out a soft laugh. “Long and cold. But it went well. I’m sorry again that I couldn’t make it to your banquet 1 had fun, at least?”

I froze.

Fun? At the banquet she had spoken to me at? Or… the person who looked like her?

“Yeah,” I said slowly, choosing my words carefully. “It was… fine.”

Thope ย

We talked for a bit, but the more I asked, the stranger her answers felt. Delilah said she hadn’t even returned to the termory until yesterday. She asked if her apprentices had delivered the pastries like she’d instructed-they had She apologized agam for missing the banquet and said she’d be back in a few days to catch up properly.

By then, I was almost sure the Delilah staying in our guest wing wasn’t her at all… but my mind refused to accept it

So I tested something small.

“Do you remember telling me about Ryder’s past that night?”

She made a confused little sound. “Telling you what about his past? I haven’t spoken to Ryder in almost three weeks.”

A chill ran down my spine.

By the time I hung up, my hands were shaking. Someone had been pretending to be her. Someone had been in my house. Someone had given me that drink. Someone had been close enough to hurt me.

I walked outside just to breathe, but I barely made it halfway down the path before I almost ran straight into Sloane-Dane’s sister. She had a satchel slung over her shoulder, like she’d been heading somewhere.

“Oh-Amelia,” she said, surprised. “Good timing. I was actually looking for you. Dane forgot one of his books when he dropped something off last week, and I figured I’d return it to you guys since I was in the area.”

I must’ve looked terrible because her expression softened instantly.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

I pressed a hand to my forehead. “It’s… a long story.”

“I’ve got time,” she said simply.

Something about Sloane always made me feel grounded, even before I knew she was a witch. So I told her. Everything. The strange behavior. The off comments. The mismatched memories. The phone call with the real Delilah that didn’t line up with anything.

When I finished, Sloane’s face had gone still in a way that made my stomach twist.

“Amelia,” she said slowly, “there’s something you need to know.”

My heart dropped. “What?”

“There’s a potion,” she said. “A very strong one. Old magic. It can change someone’s appearance-face, voice, scent. Everything. Only a handful of witches even know the recipe.”

I felt like I couldn’t breathe. “Are you saying someone… pretended to be Delilah?”

“I can’t say for sure,” she answered, “but from what you described? It’s possible. Very possible.”

I took a shaky step back. “Why would someone do that?”

“That’s the scary part.” Sloane’s voice softened. “People who use potions like that? They re usually after something lag sud they’re usually willing to do anything to get it.”

My chest tightened until it hurt.

Sloane reached out and squeezed my arm gently. “Be careful. Don’t trust anyone who feels. off And whateve meet that fake version alone again. Whoever it was had a reason for becoming Delilah.”

A cold realization hit me then.

“And that night,” I whispered, “when she gave me that chamomile drink…”

Sloane’s eyes sharpened. “Where is it now?”

“Gone.” I said quietly. “The room burned. Everything burned.”

She cursed under her breath. “Then keep your guard up. Because whoever did this isn’t finished.”

tever you do fton

After Sloane left, my nerves were buzzing so hard I couldn’t sit still. I needed to know for sure. So I messaged Callum and asked him to bring Delilah to the garden behind the training hall. He didn’t even question it-just said, “On it.” and a few minutes later, she appeared.

“Amelia?” Fake Delilah frowned. “Callum said you needed me urgently.”

I let my eyes fill with tears. “It’s Ryder,” I whispered. “I don’t think he loves me anymore.”

Her expression softened instantly-too fast, too rehearsed. “Oh, sweetheart… men change. Maybe he’s moving on.”

The real Delilah would never say that.

I sniffed loudly and looked down. “Do you remember last Thanksgiving? When you came over and we made that burnt apple pie?”

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “It was such a special night.”

My stomach dropped. We had never spent Thanksgiving together. Not even once.

Everything inside me went quiet.

I wiped my tears, forcing a small smile. “Thanks. I just needed someone to talk to.”

She relaxed, completely unaware she’d given herself away.

I walked home calmly, not looking back once.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify