Rejected by Her Mate Claimed by Four Alphas novel Chapter 70

CHAPTER 63

Clara’s POV

I knocked on Darius’s office door for the third time, wondering why he wasn’t answering. Beta

Xander had said that Darius wanted to see me immediately about the mission details.

Finally, I heard movement inside.

“Come in,” came Darius’s voice, though it sounded strained.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. “I was told you wanted to see me about-”

I stopped mid–sentence. Darius wasn’t alone..

Alpha Ronan sat across from Darius’s desk, both men looking like they’d been caught doing something they shouldn’t. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.

“Alpha Ronan,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. “I didn’t know you were visiting.”

Ronan’s eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my wolf stir. There was something different about the way he was looking at me now, like he was seeing me for the first time.

“Clara,” he said, his voice rougher than I remembered from our fight. “Perfect timing.”

I glanced between the two Alphas. “Should I come back later?”

“No,” Darius said quickly. “Actually, this involves you.”

I stepped fully into the room, closing the door behind me. “What involves me?”

Ronan leaned forward in his chair, studying my face. “We’ve been discussing your… background.”

My blood went cold, but I kept my expression calm. “My background?”

“Shadowcrest Pack,” Ronan said simply. “Jaden. Your sister.”

Every muscle in my body tensed. I looked at Darius, who had the decency to look uncomfortable.

“You told him,” I said. Not a question.

“He was… persistent,” Darius replied.

Ronan stood up, his full height imposing in the small office. “I know what Jaden did to you. How he rejected you, chose your sister over you, and tried to have you killed.”

I said nothing, waiting to see where this was going because I already had an idea.

“I also know,” Ronan continued, “that you’re planning revenge.”

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“Am I?” I asked coolly.

“Aren’t you?” He stepped closer. “A woman with your skills, your determination, your reasons for

hatred? Of course you’re planning revenge.”

I glanced at Darius again. He nodded slightly, as if giving me permission to speak freely.

“What’s your point, Alpha Ronan?” I asked.

“My point is that we want the same thing,” he said. “Jaden destroyed. His pack brought low. Him stripped of everything he holds dear.”

“And why would you want that?”

Ronan’s eyes hardened. “Because men like Jaden need to learn there are consequences for their actions. Because he’s been a problem for too long. And because after seeing what you can do, I know you’re exactly what I need to make it happen.”

I felt something spark in my chest. This was better than I could have hoped for. Ronan was offering himself up as an ally against Jaden. All I had to do was convince him I was interested.

“What are you suggesting?” I asked.

“An alliance. I give you everything you need to get your revenge and you help me take down Jaden.”

“What kind of everything?”

“Resources. Warriors. Access to his territory. Protection from retaliation.” Ronan’s voice grew more intense. “I have ways of getting inside Shadowcrest that you don’t. I have connections, intelligence

networks, weapons.”

“And what do you get out of it?”

“The satisfaction of watching an arrogant fool fall. And the elimination of a rival who’s been causing problems for years.”

I pretended to consider this, though my mind was already racing with thoughts about how I’d been waiting for this opportunity.

“Jaden isn’t going to be easy to take down,” I said. “He’s paranoid. Well–protected. And he knows I have reasons to want him dead if I’m still alive.”

“Which is why you need help,” Ronan replied. “My help.”

“And Darius?” I looked at my current Alpha. “What’s his role in this?”

Darius leaned back in his chair. “I provide the base of operations. The safe haven. The place where you can plan and prepare without worrying about Jaden’s spies.”

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“A three–way alliance against one pack?” I raised an eyebrow. “Seems like overkill.”

“Not when that pack is led by someone as slippery as Jaden,” Ronan said. “He’s survived challenges from stronger Alphas before. He won’t go down easy.”

To be honest, I wanted to scoff. The only reason Jaden had that reputation was because of me. I had been his shield, doing everything while he took the glory and complained that I was too strong

and domineering.

I still wonder why the goddess paired me with someone like Alpha Jaden. Didn’t she see Darius or

even Ronan?

As quickly as the thought crossed my mind, I shook my head, snapping myself back into the conversation while reminding myself that Darius was weird, even with the great sex, and Ronan

had a mate.

“What about your own pack?” I asked Ronan. “Your mate? Won’t they have questions about why you’re suddenly obsessed with destroying Jaden?”

Something flickered across Ronan’s face. “My pack follows my lead and they want his downfall as badly as I do. As for my mate…” He paused. “She’ll understand that this is necessary.”

I doubted that, but it wasn’t my problem.

“What’s the plan?” I asked.

“That depends,” Ronan said. “Are you in?”

I let the silence stretch for a moment, as if I were still deciding. In reality, this was exactly what I’d been hoping for. Ronan was offering me everything I needed to destroy Jaden, and he was doing it

willingly.

“I’m in,” I said finally.

Ronan smiled, and it was sharp and dangerous. “Good. Then let’s talk details.”

“What kind of details?”

“How well do you know Shadowcrest’s defenses? Their patrol routes? Their weak points?”

“Better than anyone except Jaden himself,” I admitted. “I helped design half of them.”

“Perfect” Ronan began pacing, his energy infectious. “What about allies inside the pack? Anyone who might be willing to help?”

I shook my head. “Jaden made sure to turn everyone against me when he rejected me. Anyone who might have been sympathetic would probably have been exiled or silenced. Seeing as he

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wanted me dead despite rejecting me, they’ve been silenced.”

“What about enemies? Wolves who have grievances against Jaden but haven’t acted on them?”

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