Rejected by Her Mate Claimed by Four Alphas novel Chapter 50

CHAPTER 47

Darius‘ POV

“Lucien won’t be joining us today,” I said casually, breaking the silence between us. “Pack troubles.”

Clara’s gaze flicked to mine, thoughtfully. “So it’s just Alpha Ronan then?”

I nodded. “Just Ronan.”

A small smile played at the corner of her mouth. “Disappointed?”

come will be the same”

“Not at all,” I replied. “One Alpha or two, the..

She raised an eyebrow. “So confident in me, Alpha?”

Me every reason to believe in your abilities.”

“Should I not be?” I challenged. “You’ve given

Something flickered in her eyes–surprise, perhaps, or a flicker of warmth. Then it was gone, masked by her usual composure. “I won’t let you down,” she said, echoing her words from the night

before.

I found myself reaching out, my fingers brushing briefly against hers on the tabletop. “I know.”

The drug would take effect soon enough–nothing extreme that would incapacitate her completely, just enough to slow her reflexes and give Ronan control over the situation.

The feeling of her warm skin under my fingertips made the guilt twist deeper in my gut. I focused on my meal instead.

Minutes passed in silence and I kept glancing at Clara, watching for signs of the drug taking effect -maybe her eyes glazing over or her movements slowing down.

But nothing changed.

She ate just as she always does, and her eyes remained focused. I guess the effects will come

later.

The fight wouldn’t start for another hour, so there was still time.

“I should prepare,” Clara said finally, rising from her seat with the same fluid grace she always displayed. “I’ll meet you at the arena.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. As she walked away, her stride was steady, her posture straight. There was no hint of drowsiness or telltale signs of impaired coordination.

Had I miscalculated the dosage? Or was her metabolism faster than I’d anticipated?

OO 23

CHAPTER

After Clara left, I made my way directly to the guest wing where Ronan was staying. I needed to

ensure he understood the situation without revealing too much.

Two guards stood outside his door both wearing his pack’s insignia–a crescent moon against a dark background. They straightened as I approached, nodding respectfully.

“Alpha Darius,” one of them greeted me.

“I need to speak with Alpha Ronan,” I said, not bothering with pleasantries.

The guard knocked on the door, then opened it at Ronan’s command. I stepped inside to find him

adjusting the leather cuffs he wore for combat–traditional among his pack.

“Darius,” he acknowledged without looking up. “Come to wish me luck?”

“You won’t need luck,” I replied, closing the door behind me.

Now he looked up, his amber eyes narrowing. “What did you mean on the call? That I can’t beat her

unless you let me?”

I moved further into the room, keeping my expression neutral. “Exactly what I said.”

Ronan straightened, his considerable height putting him a few inches above me. “You’re saying

you’ve rigged this fight?”

“I’m saying that what you need right now is a way to show your strength, not reveal your

weakness.”

He bristled, stepping closer. “I am not weak.”

I chuckled, thinking of the tablet dissolving in Clara’s tea, of the betrayal I’d committed. “Trust me,

you are.”

“Explain yourself,” he demanded, anger flashing in his eyes.

“Clara took down my entire elite force,” I said simply. “One after another, without rest. They’re not weak, Ronan. They’re killers, trained by me personally. And she defeated them all.”

“So what? I’m stronger than any of your elite.”

“And she’s unlike anyone you’ve ever faced.” I turned toward the door. “But today, you’ll win.”

Ronan grabbed my arm, spinning me back to face him. “What did you do?”

I looked pointedly at his hand until he released me. “Nothing you wouldn’t have done in my

position. You need this victory for your pack. I need my position secured. We both get what we

want.”

23

CHAP

“I don’t need your help to win a fight,” he snarled.

25 Points

“Don’t you?” I raised an eyebrow. “Then consider it insurance. You still have to fight her. She’ll still put up a hell of a battle. But in the end, the victory will be yours.”

Before he could press further, I gestured toward the door. “The arena is ready. I suggest you don’t

keep them waiting.”

Ronan followed, clearly unsatisfied with my explanation but unwilling to push it further, at least for now. We walked in tense silence to the training grounds where the fight would take place.

The arena was already crowded. Members of both our packs filled the seats, an uneasy mixture of scents and colors as they kept to their respective sides. My elite warriors stood at attention along one edge, their faces impassive but eyes watchful and so was Ronan’s guards.

What struck me immediately was Clara’s absence.

She should have been here by now, warming up, preparing for the fight.

Vex approached, her usually stoic expression showing traces of concern. “Alpha, Clara hasn’t arrived yet.”

A flicker of unease ran through me. “Did you check her quarters?”

“Yes, Alpha. She’s not there. No one has seen her since breakfast.”

The unease grew stronger. Had the drug affected her more severely than I’d intended? Was she unconscious somewhere, unable to make it to the arena?

“Find her,” I ordered, keeping my voice low. “Discreetly.”

Vex nodded and slipped away, signaling to two other warriors who followed her back toward the

pack house.

Ronan, meanwhile, had begun pacing the edge of the fighting circle, his impatience obvious in every line of his body. Minutes ticked by. The crowd grew restless, murmurs spreading through the

ranks.

“Where is this mighty warrior of yours, Darius?” Ronan called out finally, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Did she lose her nerve?”

I forced a calm I didn’t feel. “She’ll be here.”

“Perhaps she realized she was facing a true Alpha, not just your trained pets.” His gaze slid dismissively over my elite force. “No offense to your warriors, but they’ve clearly gone soft if they

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