Rejected by Her Mate Claimed by Four Alphas novel Chapter 202

CHAPTER 190

Clara’s POV

I woke to the feeling of Dartus’s fingers tracing lazy patterns on my bare shoulder. Morning light filtered

through the curtains, and for a moment I let myself stay still, eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of his body against mine.

Last night felt like a dream. The bath, the way he’d touched me, the way I’d finally been able to let go of

everything weighing on my mind. But now, with daylight streaming in, reality was settling back into place.

I had two packs to manage–one as Luna and the other as a possible alpha. Also, I had territories to organize. People depended on me for answers I wasn’t sure I had.

“I can hear you thinking,” Darius murmured against my hair.

I opened my eyes and turned to face him. His dark hair was messy from sleep, and there was something softer about him in the morning light. Less of the commanding Alpha, more of just the man who had held

me through the night.

“There’s a lot to think about,” I said.

“There is.” His hand moved to cup my face, thumb brushing across my cheek. “But not right this second.”

I wanted to stay in this bed with him. Wanted to pretend that the outside world could wait a little longer. But I could already hear movement in the halls outside our room. People were awake, working, waiting for

direction.

“We need to get up,” I said, though I made no move to leave his arms.

“We do,” he agreed, but he was looking at my lips like he had other ideas.

Before I could lose my resolve, I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed. The cool air hit my skin, raising goosebumps along my arms.

“Clara,” Darius said, his voice rougher now.

I looked back at him. He was propped up on one elbow, the sheet pooled around his waist, his eyes dark with want. For a moment, I considered crawling back into bed with him.

Instead, I stood and walked to the wardrobe. “We have work to do.”

He made a sound that might have been a mixture of frustration and amusement. “You’re going to be the

death of me.”

I pulled out clean clothes, trying to ignore the way his eyes followed my movements. “I thought Alphas were supposed to have better self-control.”

“Not around you,” he said simply.

The honesty in his voice made something warm settle in my chest. I turned to look at him again, and the

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intensity in his gaze made my breath catch

“Get dressed,” I said, my voice softer than I intended. “Before I change my mind about leaving this room.”

That got him moving. He rolled out of bed with fluid grace, completely unashamed of his nakedness. I tried not to stare at the way the morning light played across the muscles of his back as he walked to his

own clothes.

We dressed in comfortable silence, the kind that came from knowing each other’s movements. When we were both ready, Darius came up behind me as I was braiding my hair.

“Let me,” he said, taking the strands from my hands.

His fingers were surprisingly gentle as he worked, and I found myself relaxing under his touch. When he

finished, he pressed a soft kiss to the back of my neck.

“Ready?” he asked.

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I’d ever really be ready for what came next.

We made our way to the main hall, where the visiting Alphas and their warriors were already gathering for

breakfast. Kane looked up as we entered, nodding respectfully.

“Luna Clara, Alpha Darius. How are the wounded this morning?”

“Stable,” I replied, taking a seat at the head table. “The doctors say most of them should recover fully.”

“And the Shadowcrest survivors?” Marcus asked.

I had been dreading this conversation, but it needed to happen. “We’re taking them back to their territory today. They need proper leadership and organization.”

“You’re going personally?” Kane looked surprised.

“Yes.” I kept my voice steady, authoritative. “These people lost everything yesterday. Their Alpha, their Luna, their sense of security. They need to see that there’s a future for them.”

Darius sat beside me, his presence solid and reassuring. “We’ll take a full escort. Make sure the transition goes smoothly.”

The other Alphas exchanged glances. I could see the questions in their eyes, the calculations. A Luna taking control of a conquered pack wasn’t unheard of, but it wasn’t common either.

“What about long–term leadership?” Marcus asked carefully.

“We’ll figure that out once we assess the situation,” I said. “Right now, the priority is making sure everyone has food, shelter, and medical care.”

After breakfast, we gathered our warriors and began the journey to Shadowcrest territory. The wounded who could travel came with us in wagons, and those who couldn’t stayed behind with healers.

As we rode, I found myself thinking about the last time I’d traveled this path. I’d been fleeing for my life

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then broken and bleeding, with no idea what came next. Now I was returning as something I’d never imagined I could be.

The Shadowcrest compound looked different in daylight. Less imposing, more damaged. Windows were still broken probably from my little prank the last time. Bloodstains marked the courtyard stones, probably from the warriors who had fled back yesterday.

But it was still the place I’d called home for most of my life. The place where I’d learned to fight, where I’d dreamed of being Luna, where I’d had my heart broken and my life destroyed.

“You okay?” Darius asked quietly as we dismounted.

“I will be,” I said, and I meant it.

The surviving Shadowcrest pack members had gathered in the main hall. Approximately sixty people in total, including children and the elderly. They looked lost, frightened, uncertain about what would happen

to them.

I walked to the front of the room, Darius at my side. The conversations died away as people noticed us.

“I know yesterday was hard,” I began, my voice carrying clearly through the hall. “You lost people you cared

about. Your leaders are gone. Your future feels uncertain.”

Some people nodded. Others just stared at me with hollow eyes.

“But you’re still here,” I continued. “You’re still alive, still strong, still a pack. And that matters.”

An older man near the back stood up. I recognized him as Thomas, one of Jaden’s advisors.

“What gives you the right to come back here?” he demanded. “You killed our Alpha. You destroyed our

pack.”

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