Unmatched Wife: Not His To Claim Anymore novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Chapter 98

BIANCA

“Because Rivera asked us not to,” Klaus said simply. “He wanted you to get settled, to build a life here, without the pressure of knowing you were under direct Alpha King protection. He thought it might make you feel obligated or restricted”

That sounded like Rivera. Protecting me even from information that might make me feel indebted

“I should be angry about this,” I said, though I wasn’t sure if I actually was. “Being kept in the dark about something this significant.”

“You probably should be,” Klaus agreed. “But Dr. Morrison–Bianca–I hope you’ll understand that Rivera’s intentions were good. He wanted you to feel free here. Not beholden to anyone, not even me.”

I looked back through the doorway at Vera, unconscious and vulnerable on the medical bed we’d set up.

“The guards outside,” I said slowly. “The equipment. The immediate response when Rivera called. That was all Alpha King resources, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“How long have you been helping him investigate Thorne Lockwood?”

Klaus’s expression shifted to respect. “Since he first came to me with suspicions about who cursed Louis. I’ve been providing resources, running interference, keeping Thorne from realizing he’s under investigation.”

“And the whole time, you’ve been pretending to be just Rivera’s friend. Not the most powerful person in the city.”

“I am his friend first,” Klaus said quietly. “The Alpha King thing is secondary to that. It always has been.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. Didn’t know how to process any of this.

“Bianca?” Klaus’s voice gentled. “I know this is a lot to take in. And I know you probably have questions about why I’ve been so absent from city governance, why I let Rivera handle so much, why I approved your entry without ever meeting you.” He paused “The truth is that I’ve been… not handling things well. Since my wife died. I withdrew from almost everything, let my responsibilities pile up, let people like Thorne gain more influence than they should have had.”

“But you’re here now,” I observed. “At a crime scene. Running a tactical operation. That doesn’t look like withdrawal to me.

“Rivera needed me. So I showed up.” He managed a small smile. “That’s what friends do.”

I thought about Rivera, about his mysterious resources and connections, about the way he’d orchestrated my entry to this city with a single phone call.

About the fact that his best friend was the Alpha King and he’d never once mentioned it.

“I need to get back to my patient,” I said finally. “But Klaus–thank you. For the entry clearance, for the backup tonight, for all of it. I appreciate it more than you know.

“You’re welcome.” He started to turn away, then paused. “And Bianca? Rivera cares about you deeply. More than he’s cared about anyone since his wife died. Whatever secrets he’s kept, whatever information he’s held back–it’s been to protect you, not manipulate you. I hope you’ll remember that.”

He left before I could respond, and I returned to Vera’s bedside.

Rivera appeared a few minutes later, looking exhausted and worried.

“How is she?”

Chapter 98

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“Stable. She’s going to need monitoring for the next forty–eight hours at minimum, but I think she’ll make it.” I adjusted her IV without looking at him. “I met Klaus.”

A pause. “Ah.”

“Ah,” I repeated. “That’s all you have to say? Ah?”

“He told you who he is.”

“He did. Your best friend. The Alpha King. The man whose resources you’ve been using to investigate Thorne, whose authority got me into this city, whose guards are currently stationed around your house.” I finally looked at him. “Were you planning to tell me? Ever?”

“Yes,” Rivera said immediately. “I was planning to tell you. I just–I was waiting for the right moment. For you to be settled enough that it wouldn’t feel overwhelming.”

“And you thought ‘right after we rescued a woman from an attempted murder‘ was that moment?”

“I think Klaus made an executive decision,” Rivera admitted.

“But Bianca, I promise you, I wasn’t trying to deceive you. I just wanted you to build a life here without feeling like you owed anyone. Without the pressure of knowing you were under Alpha King protection.”

I wanted to be angry. Wanted to feel betrayed by yet another man keeping significant secrets.

But I looked at Rivera–at his genuine worry, his obvious exhaustion, his hands still stained with Vera’s blood from helping me stabilize her–and I couldn’t find the anger.

“We’re going to have a very long conversation about this,” I said. “About trust, and secrets, and what information I deserve to have access to. But right now, I need to focus on keeping Vera alive.”

“Understood.” He moved to help me adjust the monitoring equipment. “What do you need?”

“Coffee. Clean scrubs. And for you to explain why you have a fully equipped medical suite in your guest room.”

“Louis’s curse,” Rivera said simply. “When the specialists couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him, I prepared for worst- case scenarios. Having equipment on hand meant I could respond quickly if he went into crisis.”

It made sense. Painful, frightening sense.

“Okay,” I said. “Coffee first. Then we save Vera. Then we have that very long conversation about secrets.”

“Deal.”

He disappeared to get coffee, and I settled into the chair beside Vera’s bed, my mind still reeling from the revelations of the past

hour.

The Alpha King was Rivera’s best friend.

I’d been living under Alpha King protection without knowing it.

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