Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54

My wolf stirred again, a low chuff vibrating in my chest, but I pushed the feeling aside, refusing to give it attention.

I exhaled deeply, trying to steady my racing heart. “Listen, Damon,” I began, reaching out to take his hand gently in mine. I gave it a reassuring squeeze, hoping my words would be clear. “I care about you—truly I do—but not in the way you want. I don’t want to be marked, and honestly, I don’t think it’s the right path for me.”

His vibrant green eyes searched my face, desperately seeking any sign of hesitation, any crack in my resolve that might mean I was bluffing. It hurt, more than I wanted to admit. I never wanted to hurt him or make him feel unwanted, but there was no denying the truth.

After a long pause, Damon sighed softly, lifting my hand to press a tender kiss to my knuckles. His gaze never wavered from mine, filled with a mixture of hope and sorrow.

“If you truly don’t want this, I won’t push you,” he said quietly, releasing my hand. “But please, Natalia, just think about it. Consider what we could have—what it could mean for us.”

I stayed silent, unable to find the right words. Without another look, Damon turned and walked away, his shoulders tight with tension.

Once I was alone again, I finally allowed myself to exhale fully. Shaking my head, I gathered my skirt and made my way out of the parlor, the soft creak of the floorboards beneath my feet echoing in the stillness. The house was peaceful at this late hour, cloaked in a comforting quiet that I desperately needed.

I knew I couldn’t accept Damon’s offer. Yet, he was right about one thing: Andrei was watching us closely. He suspected that Damon and I weren’t truly a couple, and if he uncovered the truth, he would use it to drive a wedge between us. Worse, he might discover the secret of the twins and try to take them away from me.

If we could convince others that the twins were ours, that might buy us some protection. But the idea felt fragile, like patching a cracked window with glass that was already flawed. It was uncertain, risky, and I wasn’t sure it would hold.

Back in my room, I drew a warm bath, the steam swirling around me as I sank in and let the water envelop my body. I stayed there for a long time, my mind racing through every possible scenario, weighing my options carefully. For now, moving forward with the new pack alliance seemed the safest choice. It would give me a chance to watch Andrei, to anticipate his next moves before he could strike.

My wolf hummed softly in agreement before curling up and drifting back to sleep. I gripped the edge of the sink, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were heavy with exhaustion, my face pale and drawn from too many sleepless nights and constant worry.

Then my gaze landed on the small bottle of ointment Andrei had left on the counter. I picked it up, running my thumb over the label. What he did was… surprisingly kind. It was unlike him to show any tenderness.

But I knew better than to trust this sudden affection. It was just another layer of his manipulation. He didn’t miss me. He didn’t love me. All he wanted was to uncover every secret I held.

Still, the thought unsettled me deeply. My fingers tightened around the tube for a moment before I set it back down, flicked off the light, and slipped beneath the covers.

When sleep finally claimed me, my dreams were haunted by visions of Andrei—circling me in the shadowy forest, pulling me close, pressing his lips to mine. That strange, uneasy feeling only grew stronger as I drifted between sleep and waking.