Rejected by Her Mate Claimed by Four Alphas novel Chapter 83

CHAPTER 75

Alpha Darius‘ POV

I had seen enough.

Without sparing another moment to watch this ridiculous display, I stepped forward and cleared my throat loudly.

“Alpha Killian,” I said, my voice carrying just enough authority to cut through whatever spell they seemed to be under. “I believe we have a meeting to attend.”

Both Clara and Killian startled, as if they had completely forgotten I was standing there. Clara immediately dropped Killian’s hand and took a step backward, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Killian looked at me with what might have been annoyance, though he quickly masked it with a polite smile. “Of course, Alpha Darius. I apologize for getting distracted.”

Getting distracted. That’s what he called it.

I gestured toward the packhouse, making it clear that our business took precedence over whatever had just happened in the training ring. “The conference room is ready whenever you are.”

“Certainly,” Killian replied, though he glanced back at Clara one more time before following me.

That glance didn’t go unnoticed. My wolf snarled with displeasure, and I had to work to keep my expression neutral.

Clara remained in the training ring, looking somewhat dazed by the entire interaction. I caught her eye briefly and saw confusion there, mixed with something else I couldn’t quite identify.

“Clara,” I called out, making my voice casual. “Continue with your training session. We’ll discuss your progress later.”

She nodded quickly and turned back to the other warriors, who had been watching the entire exchange with obvious curiosity.

I led Killian toward the packhouse, maintaining a steady pace that didn’t allow for conversation. The sooner we got this treaty renewal finished, the sooner I could deal with whatever had just transpired between him and Clara.

As we walked, I could feel Killian’s eyes on me. He was probably trying to read my mood, to understand whether I had noticed the charged moment between him and my pack member.

I had definitely noticed. And I didn’t like it one bit.

We reached the conference room, where Xander had already set up all the necessary documents and refreshments. The formal treaty papers were laid out on the large wooden table, along with updated territorial maps and trade agreements.

CHAPTER Z

“Please, have a seat,” I said, gesturing to the chair across from my usual position at the head of the table.

Killian settled into his chair and immediately began reviewing the documents in front of him. His

expression became more businesslike, though could tell his mind was still partially occupied with thoughts of Clara.

“These terms look similar to our previous agreement,” he said, scanning the first page. “Any major changes I should be aware of?”

“A few updates to the territorial boundaries, as we discussed,” I replied, pointing to the relevant section. “The neutral zones have shifted slightly due to rogue activity.”

He nodded and continued reading. “What about trade provisions? Any adjustments to the lumber

exchange rates?”

“We’re proposing a five percent increase to reflect current market values.”

Killian looked up from the papers, his eyebrows raised slightly. “Five percent? That’s a significant jump.”

“It’s in line with what other packs are charging for similar quality timber,” I said firmly. “Our lumber is some of the finest in the region.”

“I’m not questioning the quality,” Killian replied. “But a five percent increase puts a strain on my pack’s

budget.”

I leaned back in my chair, studying his face. “What would you consider reasonable?”

“Two percent. Three at most.”

“Four percent,” I countered. “That’s my final offer.”

Killian considered this for a moment, then nodded. “Four percent is acceptable.”

We continued working through the various clauses and provisions, negotiating small adjustments here and there. The process was familiar and mostly routine, but I found myself watching Killian more carefully than usual.

Every time there was a pause in our discussion, I could see his attention wandering. His eyes would drift toward the window that overlooked the training grounds, and I knew exactly what he was thinking about.

Or rather, who he was thinking about.

The territorial boundary discussions took longer than expected. Killian wanted more detailed information about the rogue movements in the southern regions, particularly how they might affect trade routes between our territories.

“The rogues are disorganized,” I explained, showing him the updated maps. “Small groups, no real leadership structure. They’re more of a nuisance than a serious threat.”

“Have you considered coordinating with neighboring packs to address the problem?” Killian asked.

2

CHAPTER ZS

“We handle our own security issues, replied. my tone making it clear that I didn’t appreciate the

suggestion that we needed help

Killian raised his hands in a placatinig gesture. “I wasn’t implying that you couldn’t handle it. Just thinking that a coordinated effort might be more efficient.”

I studied his face for any sign of condescension but found none. His suggestion seemed genuine, though! still didn’t like the implication.

“We’ll consider all options,” I said neutrally, moving on to the next section of the treaty.

The trade provisions took another hour to finalize. Killian wanted to add clauses about emergency supply sharing in case either pack faced unexpected shortages, while I pushed for more favorable terms on our metal exports.

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