Rejected by Her Mate Claimed by Four Alphas novel Chapter 180

CHAPTER 164

Clara’s POV

By the time we made it back to the pack house, I could feel the dry sweat on my skin and the forest clinging to my hair. My legs were still shaky from what we’d done against that tree, and every time Darius looked at me with that satisfied smirk, heat rushed through me all over again.

“I need a shower,” I said as we climbed the front steps, trying to sound normal even though my voice was

still a little breathless.

“Good idea,” Darius said, his hand sliding down to squeeze my ass as we walked through the door. “I could

use one too.”

Several pack members were in the main hallway, and they nodded respectfully as we passed. I tried to look like a dignified Luna and not like someone who’d just been thoroughly taken against a tree in the

middle of the forest.

We made it to our room, and I headed straight for the bathroom. I needed to clean up, get my head clear,

and figure out how to have a serious conversation about war strategy when all I could think about was Darius’s hands on my body.

I’d barely made it three steps into the bathroom when I heard footsteps behind me.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Darius asked, his voice playful.

I turned around to find him following me, already pulling his shirt over his head. His chest was still flushed

from our run and what we’d done after, muscles moving under his skin in a way that made my mouth go

dry.

“To take a shower,” I said, trying to sound firm. “Alone.”

He grinned, tossing his shirt aside. “I think I need one too. Very dirty from our run.”

“Darius,” I said, putting my hand on his chest to stop him from coming closer. “If you follow ine into that

ľ shower, we’re never going to get anything done today.”

“Would that be so bad?” he asked, his hands finding my waist.

I could see the heat in his eyes, the way his gaze kept dropping to my lips, my neck, lower. We’d already been together twice in the past twelve hours, and he still looked at me like he wanted to devour me.

“Stop being such a dog,” I said, pushing against his chest.

Instead of backing away, his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer until I was pressed against him. I could feel the heat of his skin through my damp running clothes, smell the mix of sweat and pine and something that was purely him.

“I’ll be your dog if you want,” he whispered against my ear, his voice low and rough. “Any time you want.”

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+25 Points

Heat shot through me so fast it made me dizzy. This was Alpha Darius Kincaid, the man other Alphas. feared, the warlord who commanded armies and never showed weakness. And here he was, telling me he’d be my dog if I wanted him to be.

I felt my cheeks burning, my heart racing. “You’re impossible.”

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest where I was pressed against him. “Only for you”

For a moment, we just stood there, his arms around me, my hands flat against his chest. I could feel his

heartbeat under my palms, steady and strong.

Then he released me, stepping back with that same satisfied smile.

“Go clean up,” he said. “I’ll wait my turn.”

I escaped into the bathroom, closing the door behind me and leaning against it for a moment. My

reflection in the mirror showed exactly what I expected. Hair wild, cheeks flushed, lips swollen from his

kisses. I looked like someone who’d been thoroughly claimed.

The shower was exactly what I needed. Hot water washing away the sweat and dirt, giving me a few

minutes to get my thoughts in order. We had serious things to discuss today. War planning, alliance building, strategy sessions. I needed to be Luna Clara, not the woman who melted every time Darius

looked at her.

I took my time getting dressed, choosing clothes that made me feel strong and in control. Dark jeans, a fitted black top, boots that could handle anything. When I looked in the mirror again, I saw Luna Clara looking back.

Darius was waiting for me when I came out, sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked me up and down

slowly, appreciation clear in his eyes.

“Better?” he asked.

“Much,” I said. “Your turn.”

He disappeared into the bathroom, and I used the time to braid my hair back and check my phone. No

us+ urgent messages, which was good. It meant the pack was running smoothly without us hovering over every detail.

When Darius emerged from the bathroom, water still dripping from his hair, a towel wrapped around his waist, I had to look away. The man was built like a god, all muscle and scars and dangerous beauty.

“Like what you see?” he asked, clearly noticing my stare.

“Get dressed,” I said, trying to sound stern. “We have work to do.”

He laughed but pulled on clothes without argument. Dark jeans that fit him perfectly, a gray shirt that

stretched across his chest, boots that made him look even taller and more intimidating than usual.

“Ready?” he asked.

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We made our way to his office together, my hand in his. I liked the way we fit together, the way other pack members stepped aside respectfully as we passed. This was what partnership looked like. What it felt like

to be equals.

His office was exactly as he’d left it yesterday when he’d been slowly starving himself over my disappearance. Papers scattered across the desk, empty coffee cups, the dress I’d worn our last night together still draped over the back of his chair.

“First things first,” Darius said, moving to sit behind his desk. “We need to call Ronan.”

He reached for his phone, but before he could dial, there was a sharp knock on the door.

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