Rejected by Her Mate Claimed by Four Alphas novel Chapter 138

CHAPTER 122

Clara’s POV

I sat cross–legged on the floor of our bedroom, surrounded by an impressive collection of gifts that had arrived over the past week. Ever since our return from the Regional Alpha Council meeting, it seemed like every alpha who had attended was trying to curry favor with Darius through me.

There were expensive jewelry sets from the Eastern Territories, rare wines from the Mountain Clans, silk scarves from the Coastal Regions, and even a custom–made dagger with an ornate handle from the Northern Pack. Each gift came with a carefully worded note expressing admiration for our “partnership” and hopes for future cooperation.

It was both flattering and exhausting.

I picked up a delicate crystal figurine of a wolf that had arrived that morning, turning it over in my hands to examine the intricate craftsmanship. The accompanying card was signed by Alpha Ferdinand, praising my “grace and intelligence” at the meeting.

b

“Admiring your latest tribute?” Darius’s voice came from directly behind me.

I hadn’t heard him enter the room, but before I could turn around, I felt his warm breath against my neck and the gentle pressure of his teeth on my earlobe. A shiver ran down my spine as he bit down just hard enough to make me gasp.

“These alphas are pathetic,” he murmured against my ear, his voice low and amused. “Sending gifts like lovesick teenagers trying to impress the popular girl

I jabbed my elbow backward, catching him in the ribs. “Watch it.”

He chuckled and didn’t pull away, instead wrapping his arms around me from behind. “What? I’m just pointing out the obvious. Alpha Ferdinand has never sent gifts to anyone before, but suddenly he’s commissioning crystal artists?”

“Maybe he’s just being polite,” I said, though I had to admit the sudden attention was a bit overwhelming. “Polite?” Darius’s hands moved to rest on my waist, his thumbs tracing small circles against my sides. “Sweetheart, there’s nothing polite about the way those men were looking at you at that meeting.”

I laughed despite myself. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Am I?” His lips brushed against the sensitive spot just below my ear, making my breath catch. “Tell me you didn’t notice Alpha Viktor practically drooling when you walked past his table.”

“Viktor barely looked at me.”

“Viktor, who hasn’t shown interest in a woman in over a decade, couldn’t take his eyes off you.” Darius’s voice was getting lower, more intimate. “Just like Ronan. Just like Killian. Just like every other alpha in that room.”

CHAPTER 2.

+25 Points

His hands slid up from my waist, fingertips trailing along my ribs in a way that made me lean back against his chest. The crystal figurine nearly slipped from my fingers.

“You’re in a mood today, observed, trying to keep my voice steady as his mouth found that spot on my neck that always made me melt.

“I’m always in a mood when it comes to you,” he replied, his lips moving against my skin. “Especially when I have to watch other alphas undressing you with their eyes.” –

I set the figurine down carefully and turned in his arms, facing him properly. “Is the big bad warlord jealous?”

“Completely,” he admitted without shame, his hands settling on my hips. “And you love it.”

He wasn’t wrong. There was something intoxicating about seeing this powerful, controlled man get possessive over me. The way his eyes darkened when other men paid me attention, the way his jaw clenched when someone got too close. The alpha warlord everyone feared, reduced to jealousy over me.

“Maybe a little,” I said, my arms coming up to circle his neck.

“Just a little?” He leaned down until our faces were inches apart. “I think it’s more than a little.”

Before I could respond, his mouth covered mine in a kiss that was anything but gentle. It was claiming, demanding, full of all the possessiveness he’d been talking about. My fingers tangled in his hair as I kissed him back, heat pooling in my stomach.

He lifted me easily, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carried me toward the bed. The gifts scattered around us were forgotten as his hands roamed over my body, as his mouth moved from my lips to my throat, as I arched against him and forgot why we’d been talking about other alphas in the first place.

“Darius,” I breathed, my hands working at the buttons of his shirt.

“Yes?” His voice was rough, strained.

“The door.”

“What about it?”

“It’s not locked.”

He pulled back to look at me, his eyes dark with desire. “Are you expecting visitors?”

“No, but-”

A sharp knock at the door interrupted whatever I was about to say. We both froze, breathing hard, staring at each other with matching expressions of frustration.

“Alpha Darius?” came a voice from the hallway. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but there’s someone at the border requesting to see Clara. We’ve been trying to reach you for the past hour.”

CHAPTER I.

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