Rejected by Her Mate Claimed by Four Alphas novel Chapter 17

CHAPTER 16

Clara’s POV

“You need a fourth team, a small one, two or three wolves at most to find and guard that hidden exit before you begin your main assault.” My words came faster now, the fear in my chest giving way to the rush of mapping out battle plans. “And you should consider entering from just two points, not three. Make more noise at one entrance to draw attention while your main force comes in quietly from another.”

I gestured with my hands as I laid out the plan, muscles still aching from our earlier training session but my mind fully engaged.

“The cave system has a bottleneck here,” I continued, crouching down to draw a rough map in the dirt with my finger, still half–expecting Alpha Darius to knock me away. “If you position fighters here and here, you can force them into this chamber where they’ll be trapped.”

The three wolves gathered around my crude dirt map, their expressions a mixture of surprise and grudging respect. Alpha Darius crouched beside me, so close I could feel the heat radiating from his body. My pulse jumped again, but not entirely from fear this time.

“How do you know the internal layout so well?” the third wolf asked, breaking the tense

silence.

“I’ve spent time in those caves. Years ago, they were a sanctuary, not a threat.” I stood up, brushing dirt from my hands, careful not to make any sudden movements that might trigger Alpha Darius’s aggression again. “I doubt the rogues have modified the natural structure. They can’t without risking collapse.”

Alpha Darius rose to his full height, still watching me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. His amber eyes seemed to be reassessing everything he thought he knew about me. The rage had receded, but the dangerous energy remained, coiled just beneath the surface.

“Your strategy,” he said slowly, “is sound. If what you say about this fourth exit is true.”

“It is.” I lifted my chin slightly, fighting to keep my voice steady. “I wouldn’t lie about something that could get warriors killed.”

Something unreadable flickered across his face. Before he could respond, the third wolf stepped forward, staring at me with curiosity.

“Who in the goddess‘ name are you?” he asked, breaking the silence.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. How could I explain who I was when I barely

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CHAPTER 16

knew myself anymore?

+25 Points >

Alpha Darius saved me from answering. “That’s enough, Liam. Clara, you’re dismissed.”

I nodded, relieved to escape the intensity of their stares. As I turned to leave, I caught the subtle shift in Alpha Darius’s stance, the way he angled his body toward Beta Xander.

Just while I was pretty far from where he was, I heard him say, “Find out if she’s right about that fourth exit,” his voice so low that it was obvious he clearly didn’t intend for me to hear. “And do it quietly. I want confirmation before we make any changes to our plans.”

I kept walking, careful not to let my steps falter. My heart was still racing from the confrontation, my throat sore where his fingers had pressed.

But beneath the lingering fear was something else, a flicker of satisfaction. He was taking me seriously. Something Jaden never did in the years we were together.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I kept expecting Alpha Darius to summon me, to demand more information about the caves, but no summons came. My nerves remained on edge as I moved through the pack house, aware of the sidelong glances and hushed whispers that followed me. Word traveled fast in a wolf pack.

I tried to distract myself by exploring more of the grounds, keeping to the areas Nora had shown me were acceptable. My muscles still ached from yesterday’s training, each step a reminder of how much I had to learn if I wanted to survive here.

By late afternoon, I found myself in the pack’s small library, running my fingers along leather–bound spines, when Marcus appeared in the doorway.

“So you’re the one who challenged the Alpha’s strategy,” he said, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed. “Didn’t think you had it in you.”

I tensed, unsure if his tone held admiration or mockery. “I didn’t challenge anything. I just pointed out something they missed.”

“Well, whatever you said must have made an impression. Beta Xander took three of our best trackers out at sundown.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “In quite a hurry, too.”

Before I could respond, Nora appeared behind him, shooing him away with a quick glare. She

waited until he was gone before turning to me.

“The Alpha wants you at the eastern field rather than the open courtyard tomorrow,” she said, eyeing me curiously. “What happened between you two? The entire pack is buzzing about how you stood up to him in the garden.”

“Nothing happened,” I lied, the memory of his hand at my throat still fresh. “Just a

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CHAPTER 16

misunderstanding.”

+25 Points

She clearly didn’t believe me but knew better than to push. “Whatever it was, be careful. Alpha Darius isn’t known for his forgiveness.”

Her warning followed me through dinner, where I ate quickly, avoiding the stares of the other pack members. In my room, I paced restlessly, replaying the confrontation in my mind.

Each time I remembered the rage in his eyes, I felt a fresh wave of fear. But each time I recalled how he’d listened to my strategy, I felt something else, something that confused me even more than my fear.

That night, I barely slept, my mind cycling between fear and anticipation of what was to

come.

Would he still be furious when I saw him again?

Would he punish me for eavesdropping, or would my knowledge of the caves be enough to

earn his forgiveness?

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