Rejected by Her Mate Claimed by Four Alphas novel Chapter 139

CHAPTER 123

Clara’s POV

Darius was quiet for a long moment, clearly weighing his options. Finally, he called out, “Bring him to my office. Under guard. We’ll meet with him there.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Footsteps retreated down the hallway, leaving us alone with the tension that had settled over the room like a thick blanket.

“This could be dangerous,” I said quietly.

“Everything about your past is dangerous,” Darius replied, his hands settling on my shoulders. “But we’ll handle it. Together.”

The word ‘together‘ sent warmth through my chest despite the circumstances. Whatever Jaden wanted, whatever game he was playing, I wouldn’t be facing it alone this time.

We made our way to Darius’s office, the atmosphere between us completely different from the playful, heated mood of just minutes before. Now we were focused, alert, ready to deal with whatever message Jaden had sent.

Darius settled into his chair behind the massive oak desk, then gestured for me to come around to his side.

“Sit,” he said, patting his lap.

I raised an eyebrow. “On your lap? During a business meeting?”

“This isn’t business. This is personal. And I want whoever Jaden sent to understand exactly who you belong to now.”

The possessiveness in his voice sent a familiar thrill through me, but I hesitated. “That seems a bit… much.”

r

“Clara.” His voice dropped to that commanding tone that always made my knees weak. “Come here.”

I found myself moving toward him before I’d consciously decided to obey. He guided me onto his lap, his arms settling around my waist in a way that was both protective and proprietary.

“Better,” he murmured against my ear. “Now everyone who sees us will know exactly where you stand.”

“And where do I stand?” I asked, though I thought I knew the answer.

“Right here. With me. Where you belong.”

The certainty in his voice made my heart skip a beat. Before I could respond, he was kissing me again, slow and thorough, his hands tangling in my hair.

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Imelted into him, forgetting where we were, forgetting why we were there, forgetting everything except the feel of his mouth on mine and the way he held me like I was something precious.

A knock at the door brought us both back to reality with jarring suddenness.

We separated quickly, both of us breathing harder than we should have been. Darius ran a hand through his hair while I smoothed down my clothes, trying to look composed and professional instead of like we’d been seconds away from tearing each other’s clothes off.

“Come in,” Darius called, his voice steady despite the circumstances.

The door opened to reveal one of our guards escorting a man I didn’t recognize. He was medium height, brown hair, nervous eyes that darted around the room before settling on me with obvious relief.

“Clara,” he said, taking a step forward. “Thank the goddess you’re safe.”

I felt Darius tense beneath me, his arms tightening around my waist in a subtle but clear warning to the stranger.

“I’m Derek,” the man continued. “I’ve been traveling since this morning to get here. It’s getting late, and I

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was hoping I might be able to stay the night and head back in the morning?”

“That depends,” Darius said, his voice carefully neutral, “on why you’re here.”

Derek’s eyes flicked between us, clearly taking in the fact that I was sitting on Darius’s lap, that his arms were around me, that we were presenting a united front.

“I have a message,” Derek said. “From Alpha Jaden.”

The silence that followed was deafening. I could feel Darius’s anger building, could sense the predatory stillness that always preceded violence where he was concerned.

“And what message would that be?” Darius asked, his voice deadly quiet.

Derek swallowed hard, clearly sensing the danger in the room, “Alpha Jaden requests that Clara return to Shadowcrest Pack to meet with him. He says it’s important, that there are things they need to discuss.”

The temperature in the room plummeted. Darius’s hands on my waist turned to steel bands, and I could practically feel the rage radiating from him.

“He wants her to what?” Darius’s voice was so low it was almost a growl.

Derek took a step back, his face pale. “He just wants to talk to her. To explain some things. He said to tell her that he said please.”

Before Darius could respond, before his anger could explode into violence, I spoke up.

“You can tell Jaden that I won’t be going anywhere,” I said firmly. “I have a life here now. A mate. A pack. I’m not interested in revisiting the past.”

Derek looked stricken. “But Clara, he really wants to see you. He said—”

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+don’t care what he said,” I cut him off. “The answer is no.”

Derek opened his mouth to continue, but Darius had heard enough. His fist slammed down on the desk with enough force to make both Derek and me jump.

“Let me make something very clear,” Darius said, his voice filled with deadly calm. “Clara is my mate.

Mine. And your pathetic excuse of an alpha can go fuck himself if he thinks he can summon what belongs

to me.”

Derek’s face went white as a sheet.

“You’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning,” Darius continued, “or you’ll wish you were dead. The only reason I’m letting you stay at all is because I know Clara would want me to show you hospitality.”

There was a long pause where Derek seemed to be weighing his options. Finally, he nodded shakily.

“I understand, Alpha. I’ll leave at dawn.”

Darius bellowed to the guard outside. “Come escort our guest to the visitors‘ quarters. Make sure he has everything he needs for the night.”

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