Rejected by Her Mate Claimed by Four Alphas novel Chapter 13

CHAPTER 12

Clara’s POV

His smile sent a chill down my spine. “You’ll find out. When you’re ready.”

The guard who had escorted me–Xander, I’d heard Darius call him–stepped forward to lead me back to the medical wing. I followed, my mind racing with questions. What game was Darius playing? What did he really want from me?

Three more days passed before Samuel finally cleared me to leave the medical wing. My wounds had healed remarkably fast, leaving behind only pink scars where deep gashes had

been.

“Your wolf has impressive healing abilities,” Samuel noted as he removed the last of my bandages. “I’ve rarely seen recovery this quick from injuries so severe.”

I said nothing. My wolf had always been strong–too strong for a Luna, according to Jaden. But here, perhaps that strength would be valued rather than suppressed.

Just as Samuel finished his final examination, the door opened. A young woman entered, her posture military–straight.

“Alpha Darius instructed me to escort Clara Ashburn to her room once she’s cleared,” she

announced.

Samuel nodded. “She’s cleared. Still needs to take it easy for another week, but she can leave the medical wing.”

The woman turned to me. “I’m Lyra. Follow me.”

I followed her through the stone corridors of the Shadowfang pack house. Unlike Xander, she didn’t adjust her pace for my comfort. She walked briskly, expecting me to keep up. I gritted my teeth and forced my still–healing body to match her speed.

After several turns and a flight of stairs, we stopped at a wooden door. Lyra pushed it open, revealing a spacious bedroom with a large bed, a dresser, and a small sitting area. Large windows overlooked a courtyard. The room was simple but comfortable.

“This is your room,” Lyra said. “Bathroom through there. Clean clothes in the dresser. Alpha Darius said you’re free to move around the main areas of the pack house, but not to leave

without an escort.”

“So I am a prisoner,” I said.

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Lyra’s expression remained neutral. “You’re whatever Alpha Darius says you are.” She turned to leave, then paused. “Training starts tomorrow. 5 AM. Be ready.”

Before I could ask any questions, she was gone, the door closing firmly behind her.

I explored the room, finding the dresser stocked with training clothes, all in my size. The bathroom had all the necessities–soap, shampoo, towels. Everything I needed, but nothing

personal. Nothing that marked this space as mine.

Still, it was more comfort than I had expected from a warlord’s pack. I showered, careful of my healing wounds, then changed into clean clothes and settled on the bed. The soft mattress was a welcome change from the medical cot.

Despite my body’s exhaustion, sleep eluded me. My mind kept replaying my conversation with Darius. His cryptic answers. The way he’d leaned so close, his breath warming my skin. The tension that had nothing to do with training.

I was playing a dangerous game with a dangerous man. But what choice did I have? Jaden had stripped me of everything–my position, my pack, my very identity. With Darius, I had a chance to rebuild, to become stronger. To find a way to make Jaden pay for his betrayal.

Eventually, I drifted into an uneasy sleep.

A crash jolted me awake. I sat up sharply, instantly alert. Darius stood in my room, the door slammed open, morning light streaming in behind him.

“Up,” he ordered. “Training starts now.”

I blinked, disoriented. “What time is it?”

“4:30. You’re late.”

“Late?” I glanced at the window, where dawn was barely breaking. “Lyra said 5 AM.”

“I said 4:30.” His voice left no room for argument. “Anyone who trains with me learns punctuality first.”

I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it. I had asked for this. Begged for it, essentially.

As if reading my thoughts, Darius raised an eyebrow. “Having second thoughts already? We haven’t even started.”

“No,” I said quickly, pushing back the covers. “I just need to change.”

“Good.” He tossed something at me–a bundle of black fabric that I caught reflexively. “Wear

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this. The courtyard in five minutes.”

I unfolded the bundle to find training clothes–similar to what filled the dresser, but of higher quality. Designed for movement and durability.

I looked up to find Darius still standing there, watching me with those amber eyes.

“Do you mind?” I asked, gesturing for him to leave so I could change.

His expression didn’t change. “What’s there to see that I haven’t already seen?”

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I remembered our first meeting–me bloody and broken on the forest floor, him naked after his shift. But that had been different. I had been barely conscious, and he had been focused on keeping me alive.

“That’s not the point,” I said, standing up to face him. “It’s about respect. Just because you’re the Alpha doesn’t mean you get to-”

My words cut off as he took a sudden step forward. I instinctively stepped back, my heel catching on the rug. I stumbled, off–balance, certain I was about to fall.

In a blur of movement, Darius caught me. His arm snaked around my waist, holding me upright. Our bodies pressed together, his face inches from mine. His breath fanned across my cheeks, warm and smelling faintly of mint.

“Careful,” he murmured, his voice low. “We can’t start training if you injure yourself by falling.”

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. His proximity scrambled my thoughts, leaving only awareness of his arm around me, strong and secure. Of his eyes, amber and intense, watching me with an expression I couldn’t read.

“Four minutes,” he said, still not releasing me. “Don’t be late this time.”

Then he let go, stepping back so suddenly I almost stumbled again. Without another word, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.

I stood there for a moment, my heart racing. What had just happened? What was this game he was playing?

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. I had four minutes to get ready for training with the most dangerous Alpha in the territories. Everything else including whatever was happening between us would have to wait.

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