CLAIMED BY THE RUTHLESS ALPHA

Another Darius POV

Who the f**k gave her the necklace?

My eyes tracked Seraphine as she moved around the long dining room table. The heavy oak piece could comfortably seat twenty or more, yet the room felt stifling with only ten of us packed inside. Ten was already more of this rotten pack than I wanted to stomach in one morning, but that was the number I had barked at Jax when I pounded on his cabin door at dawn.

It must be laundry day.

In any decent pack, the women would only repeat an outfit two days running if they had delayed washing. That was the only reason I could imagine for why Seraphine wore the same faded denim shorts and pale pink t-shirt from yesterday. That, and the clothes rail in her cramped cabin had looked ready to collapse under nothing at all.

She wasn’t wearing a bra.

Every time she bent to place bowls of crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, and golden toast on the table, her n*****s pressed clearly against the thin cotton. The sight sent unwanted heat curling low in my gut. But it wasn’t the first thing I noticed when she entered the room. It was the serene, empty smile fixed on her face.

She looked like nothing would make her happier than serving us. She had even tied her long, dark wavy hair into two ridiculous pigtails, as if the innocent look would fool me into thinking she was some brainless cheerleader type.

She was a liar. Every word that left those full, pouty lips was calculated.

As if she sensed the weight of my stare, her silver eyes flicked to mine for a split second before darting away. I drained my coffee and lifted the empty mug. She picked up the glass jug without hesitation.

One of the men, a platinum blond with hazel eyes who hadn’t stopped ogling her breasts, slapped her ass hard as she passed. The sharp crack of flesh meeting denim sliced through the murmurs.

Conversation died instantly.

For half a heartbeat, her painted smile cracked. I leaned forward slightly, waiting. Hoping she would smash the jug across his smug face and show me the fire I knew lived beneath her mask.

She didn’t.

The fake smile returned as she turned to him sweetly. “Leo, can I talk to you in a bit?”

His eyes never left her chest. “Sure thing, baby.”

She refilled my mug with steady hands, then glided back to Leo like a perfect fifties housewife. She leaned down to whisper in his ear. Whatever she said made his greasy smirk widen. As she straightened, I caught the barest glint of the thin silver chain around her neck.

Must be him. Leo had the look of a man who thought cheap jewelry was the fastest way into a woman’s bed.

Leo pushed his chair back. “I’ll be right back, Alpha. If that’s okay with you?”

I said nothing, watching them both. Seraphine kept her gaze lowered submissively.

Leo took her hand and led her out. The door clicked shut behind them.

The moment they were gone, Jax cleared his throat. “I was hoping you’d had more time to think about appointing a proper beta, Alpha.”

I visualized dragging my claws slowly across his throat, then offered a cold smile. “I’ve already chosen.”

Jax sat back, a flicker of unease crossing his calculating face.

Before I could speak again, Leo’s low murmur drifted through the closed door. “Hmm, I think I’d prefer a bed. How else will I tie you down properly?”

My wolf surged forward, snarling violently inside my chest.

Seraphine’s soft whisper followed. “Next time, Leo. Not here… stop it.” She let out a breathy giggle.

My grip tightened on the mug until the ceramic creaked dangerously. One more second and it would shatter.

Clearly, the way into Seraphine Stone’s bed was through cheap necklaces and crude groping.

Jax’s voice cut into my rising fury. “You seem distracted, Alpha. Is everything alright?”

I forced my gaze away from the door. “I was thinking about calling a full pack run tomorrow night. It’s time I met every member properly.”

Jax’s brown eyes sharpened with clear interest. “An excellent idea. I’ll ensure everyone attends.”

He tilted his head. “Have you considered choosing a Luna yet? The women here are quite beautiful. Tera, for one, would make a strong candidate.”

The door opened again. Leo slipped back inside with a smug, satisfied grin. Seraphine followed a moment later, head lowered, shirt untucked from her shorts, cheeks slightly flushed.

I looked away, jaw locked tight enough to ache.

“I’m not looking for a Luna,” I said flatly, voice edged with warning.

The conversation dragged on, but my attention kept splintering half on the worthless males around me, half on the petite woman who moved like a ghost between them. Every smile she gave them was false. Every brush of her body past Leo made my wolf want to rip him apart.

I wanted to know why she wore that necklace like a secret. Who had given it to her. Why the thought of anyone else touching her made my blood boil hotter than my need for revenge.

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