Rejected by Her Mate Claimed by Four Alphas novel Chapter 128

CHAPTER 111

Alpha Lucien’s POV

I forced myself to turn my attention back to the speaker, but may mind kept wandering to the whispered. conversation happening at our table. Ronan and Killian were still focused on Clara, and their words made my wolf pace restlessly.

“She’s even more beautiful than I remembered,” Killian murmured, his eyes tracking Clara’s every

movement. “The way she carries herself tonight, it’s like she was born for this.”

Ronan nodded, his voice filled with something that sounded almost like pride. “Darius has done well with her. She’s stronger than she was when I first met her.”

“Stronger how?” I asked quietly, unable to keep the curiosity from my voice.

“You should have seen her fight,” Ronan said, his eyes lighting up with genuine respect. “She took down three of my best warriors without breaking a sweat. And the way she handled that situation with the rogues near the border, pure instinct and skill.”

Killian’s smile was almost fond. “She’s got fire in her. More than most alphas I know. Darius is lucky to have found her.”

I noticed how Darius kept glancing back at us, clearly aware we were discussing Clara. His jaw was tight, and I could see the possessive tension in his shoulders,

“Found her?” I pressed. “How exactly did they meet?”

The two alphas exchanged glances, and I caught something guarded in their expressions.

“That’s not really our story to tell,” Ronan said carefully. “But let’s just say she’s been through more than most people could handle.”

“And she came out stronger for it,” Killian added. “There’s something about her, something that makes you want to protect her and challenge her all at once.”

r

I listened to them talk about Clara like she was some kind of miracle, and with each word, my fascination

grew. These were two of the most powerful alphas in the region, and they were speaking about her with

the kind of respect usually reserved for fellow alphas.

What was it about this woman that inspired such loyalty?

The way she moves,” Ronan continued, his voice dropping lower. “It’s like she’s always ready for a fight, but she makes it look graceful. Deadly and beautiful at the same time.”

“And those eyes,” Killian added with a slight shake of his head. “Sometimes when she looks at you, it feels like she’s seeing right through all your defenses.”

I found myself studying Clara more intently, trying to see what they saw. She sat beside Darius with perfect

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posture, her attention focused on the speaker, but I could see the subtle alertness in her body language. Like she was aware of every person in the room, every potential threat.

“She’s not just beautiful, 4 said slowly, the realization hitting me. “She’s dangerous?

“Very,” Ronan confirmed with what sounded like approval. “But the right kind of dangerous. The kind that makes you better just by being around her.”

As the presentations continued, I grew increasingly restless. The formal speeches felt tedious, and my mind kept wandering back to Clara and the power I’d sensed from her earlier. I’d already sent word to the council that I wouldn’t be giving a presentation tonight, claiming prior commitments.

The truth was, I couldn’t focus on anything else.

Finally, I stood up from my seat, murmuring an excuse about needing air. Ronan and Killian barely acknowledged my departure, still absorbed in their quiet observations of Clara.

I made my way toward the exit, needing space to think. The hallway outside the ballroom was quieter, with only a few hotel staff moving about their duties. I found a spot near the floor–to–ceiling windows and tried to clear my head.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

As I stood there, trying to process everything I’d learned, I heard soft footsteps approaching. I turned to see Clara walking toward me, having apparently stopped to speak with one of the waitresses about

something.

She was smiling at whatever the woman had told her, and the expression transformed her face completely. Gone was the composed, careful mask/she wore in the ballroom. This was genuine warmth, the kind that made my chest tight.

She thanked the waitress and turned to head back toward the ballroom, passing directly in front of me. As she moved, a soft breeze from the air conditioning carried her scent toward me.

I froze.

Jasmine and vanilla and something else, something that made my wolf throw back his head and how! with recognition. The scent hit me, and suddenly I couldn’t breathe.

Mate.

My mate.

The word echoed in my mind like a bell, clear and undeniable. Every instinct I possessed screamed that this woman, this beautiful, dangerous woman who belonged to another alpha, was mine.

Clara paused, seeming to sense my stare. She turned to look at me, her eyebrows raising slightly in polite inquiry.

“Alpha Lucien? Are you alright?”

CHAPTER 12

Leouldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. Could barely think past the overwhelming certainty that fate had just played the cruelest joke possible.

“I’m fine,” I managed to say, though my voice sounded strange even to my own ears. “Just needed some air.”

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