Claimed in the dark

Chapter five:THE MORNING AFTER

Chapter 5: The Morning After

My eyes fluttered open, a blinding headache splitting my skull. I groaned, shifting against the soft sheets. When I turned my head, the sight of Kaelen's sleeping face made my breath hitch. His sharp jawline was relaxed, his midnight hair messy. He looked devastatingly handsome, almost cute, in the quiet morning light.

"Good morning, little bird," Kaelen purred, his eyes opening to reveal those swirling silver rings. He had been awake the whole time.

"Good—"

Knock. Knock.

"Clara, are you awake? I'm coming in to get your dirty laundry," my mother's voice called from the hallway.

Panic seized my chest. "Mom, wait!" I whispered frantically.

Kaelen didn't even hesitate. With supernatural Lycan speed, he slipped out of the bed and vanished into my walk-in closet, closing the door just as the bedroom door swung open.

My mother walked in, her arms full of folded linens. She stopped, looking at my disheveled hair and pale face. "What's wrong, Clara? Are you okay?"

"Yes, mom," I squeaked, pulling the duvet up to my chin. "Just a slight headache."

She smiled softly, walking into my attached bathroom to grab my hamper, before coming back to my bedside. She leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Get ready and come down for breakfast, sweetie."

"Okay, mom."

The moment the door clicked shut, I escalated out of bed and threw open the closet door. Kaelen was already stepping out, a dark smirk playing on his lips.

"You need to go," I whispered, pushing his solid chest toward the balcony.

He caught my wrists, pulling me flush against his hard body. "Not without a proper goodbye," he murmured, leaning down to capture my lips.

Knock. Knock.

"Who is that?" I gasped, freezing.

"It's me, Julian," the voice replied from the other side of the oak door.

Kaelen’s eyes darkened, but he didn't make a sound. With a swift, silent movement, he slipped out my window, scaling the stone ledge of the mansion back toward his own wing.

I took a deep breath. "Come in."

The door opened, and Julian walked in. He looked tired, his golden hair messy, his eyes searching my room suspiciously. "Where did you go yesterday? I couldn't find you at the party."

"Oh... I wasn't feeling well," I lied, looking away. "So I came home early."

Julian walked closer, placing his warm hand gently on my forehead to feel my temperature. I held my breath, praying he couldn't smell Kaelen's dark musk still lingering on my skin.

"I'm fine now, Julian," I said, faking a soft smile.

He slowly let his hand drop. "Okay. I'll be waiting for you downstairs for breakfast."

"I'll be down soon."

As he closed the door behind him, I sank back onto my bed, burying my face in my hands. What am I going to do with these two brothers?

Clara's POV

I forced myself out of bed, showering quickly to wash away the sticky, sweet residue of the aphrodisiac and the intoxicating scent of Kaelen's dark power. I pulled on a simple, comfortable outfit and headed downstairs.

When I reached the grand dining hall, the family was already seated. My mother and Alpha Marcus were chatting quietly at the head of the table, while Kaelen and Julian sat on opposite sides, the space between them crackling with unspoken violence. Defiantly, I walked over and gently pulled out the empty chair positioned directly in the middle of the two brothers.

Julian’s eyes flared with a desperate hope as I sat down, while Kaelen merely let out a low, satisfied hum, his leg immediately brushing against mine under the table.

We were eating and discussing the upcoming pack integration when, suddenly, the heavy double doors of the mansion front entrance swept open.

A girl stepped into the foyer, laughing as she shook the morning mist from her hair. She was stunning, wearing a tiny, thigh-skimming white sundress that contrasted sharply with her long, raven hair and sunkissed skin. She carried a sleek designer duffel bag, looking entirely at home.

Before I could even ask, Who is—

Kaelen was already out of his chair.

My breath caught in my throat. The ruthless, untouchable Lycan Alpha rushed toward her, his face softening into a genuine, brilliant smile I had never seen before. He wrapped his massive arms around her, pulling her into a tight, lifting hug.

A physical weight dropped into the pit of my stomach. It felt heavy, cold, and sickeningly painful. My wolf whimpered in my chest, clawing at my ribs as I watched Kaelen gently take the duffel bag from her hands, his touch lingering on her shoulder.

"Who is that?" I whispered, my voice tight as I turned to face Julian.

Julian watched them, a grim, knowing look settling over his features. "Oh, that's Sienna," he said quietly. "She’s Kaelen's childhood friend, and the girl who saved his life in the rogue territories when we were young. She's also the future Luna of our pack. Their marriage was arranged years ago .

My throat closed up.

"I don't care," I cut him off sharply before he could finish his sentence, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound indifferent.

I picked up my fork, staring blankly at my plate. But deep down, beneath the anger and the pride, my heart was completely broken.

With a soft smile I had never once received from him, Kaelen pulled out a chair, offering her a seat. She sat down right beside him. Now, Kaelen was seated squarely in the middle of us, effectively cutting off the direct connection we had shared only moments ago.

Alpha Marcus nodded to a nearby maid. "Please, get Sienna a plate of food."

Sienna settled in, her bright eyes scanning the table before landing on me. "Kaelen," she said, her voice melodic but curious. "Who is she?"

"Oh. Sorry, my bad," Kaelen muttered, clearing his throat. He gestured toward me, his voice entirely devoid of the raw, possessive heat he used behind closed doors. "This is Clara, my stepsister. And this is her mom, Sophia."

My chest tightened until it physically hurt. Clara.

It was the very first time he had ever called me by my actual name instead of his mocking, intimate nicknames. No 'little bird.' Just Clara, my stepsister. That single, detached word made my heart break into a million jagged pieces.

Before Kaelen could explain any further, Alpha Marcus gently cut in, looking warmly at my mother. "My new wife," he clarified proudly.

Marcus then turned his gaze back to me, pointing toward the guest of honor. "Clara, this is Sienna. Kaelen's future Luna."

Hearing the word Luna out loud felt like a physical blow, knocking the air right out of my lungs. I slowly raised my eyes, looking Kaelen dead in the face.

He met my gaze. He saw the sheer, raw pain swimming in my eyes. He felt the heavy, suffocating heartbreak radiating from my wolf. But instead of reaching out, instead of giving me even a flicker of reassurance, Kaelen simply overlooked it. He coldly pulled his eyes away from mine and turned back to Sienna, leaving me to drown in the silence.