Claimed in the dark

Chapter Three:THE MIDNIGHT REQUISITION

Chapter 3: The Midnight Requisition

The dining hall of the newly unified pack mansion was suffocating.

My mother and Marcus sat at the head of the long mahogany table, discussing pack logistics and wedding plans, completely oblivious to the silent, deadly war raging right in front of them.

Across from me, Julian sat with his hands clenched into white-knuckled fists, his amber eyes burning into mine. Every few minutes, he would flash me a look of desperate, possessive longing a stark contrast to the cold calculation he had shown me at the ball. He wanted me back, his wolf driven insane by the foreign scent clinging to my skin.

But the predator who owned that scent sat right beside me.

Kaelen didn’t even look at Julian. He didn’t need to. Underneath the heavy tablecloth, Kaelen’s massive, calloused hand rested heavily on my bare thigh. His fingers slowly drifted upward, his thumb caressing the soft skin just beneath the hem of my dress with an agonizingly slow, rhythmic pressure that had me trembling.

I tried to shift away, but his grip only tightened, pinning me in place. He leaned closer, pretending to cut his steak, his shoulder brushing mine.

"Eat, little bird," Kaelen murmured, his deep, gravelly voice vibrating against my ear so low only my wolf could hear it. "You need your strength for tonight."

A wave of heat flooded my core. I looked up and caught Julian staring, his nostrils flaring as he tried to discern what was happening beneath the table. The tension was too much.

"Excuse me," I choked out, abruptly standing up. "I need to use the restroom."

I practically bolted from the room, escaping the suffocating dining hall. I hurried down the quiet, dimly lit hallway toward the powder room, leaning against the cold marble sink the moment the door clicked shut. I splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the phantom feel of Kaelen's fingers.

When I finally stepped back out into the dimly lit corridor, a hand shot out of the shadows, wrapping around my waist and pulling me into a recessed alcove.

"Julian!" I gasped, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"Clara, please," he begged, his hands gripping my shoulders. His eyes were wild, completely feral. "I know I ruined everything. But seeing him touch you... seeing how you look at him... it’s killing me. Please tell me last night was a lie. Tell me you still love me."

Before I could push him away, Julian slammed his mouth against mine.

It was a kiss of pure desperation, tasting of wine and frantic regret. He pulled me flush against him, his hands sliding down to my hips, trying desperately to reclaim what he had lost. For a split second, the familiar warmth of my old crush flared, and my defenses began to falter.

Then, a low, vibrating growl shook the very floorboards.

The shadows in the corridor seemed to detach from the walls, creeping forward as Kaelen stepped into the dim light. His eyes were entirely black, the silver Lycan rings swirling with lethal intent. The sheer weight of his dominant aura flooded the corridor, instantly dropping Julian to his knees under the oppressive pressure.

"I believe I told you, little brother," Kaelen purred, his voice dangerously soft. "The shadows don't give back what they catch."

Kaelen walked forward, completely ignoring Julian as he grabbed me by the waist and pulled me effortlessly out of his grip. He spun me around, pinning me back against the stone wall with a force that knocked the breath from my lungs.

"You let him touch you," Kaelen growled against my lips, his dark eyes boring into my soul.

"Kaelen, please—" I whimpered, but my plea was cut off as his mouth crashed down on mine.

This wasn't just a kiss; it was a brutal, overwhelming punishment. He gripped my jaw tightly, forcing my mouth open as his tongue invaded with absolute, terrifying dominance. I clutched at his broad shoulders, my fingers tearing at his shirt as a wild, electric heat flooded my lower abdomen.

Right in front of his kneeling, paralyzed brother, Kaelen hitched my leg over his hip. His large hand slid underneath my dress, his fingers finding me completely drenched and trembling for him. He stroked me ruthlessly, his thumb applying an agonizingly perfect pressure that made me arch my back, a loud, breathless cry escaping my lips.

"Look at her, Julian," Kaelen demanded, his voice a dark command as his fingers continued their relentless, wicked rhythm until I was shaking violently, entirely undone. "Look at how she begs for me. She was never yours. She belongs to the dark."

Julian let out a guttural howl of defeat and rage, unable to break Kaelen's dominant hold, before dragging himself up and fleeing down the hallway.

Kaelen didn't even watch him go. He lifted me entirely off my feet, his lips burying deep into the crook of my neck, his fangs grazing my pulsing vein. "Now, little bird," he whispered, his hot breath branding my skin. "Let me show you what happens when you let another man touch what belongs to the Alpha."

"Clara?"

A sharp voice cut through the heavy silence of the corridor. It was my mom, calling out for me from the direction of the dining hall.

The sudden sound broke Kaelen's hypnotic, terrifying spell. Startled, I violently shoved against his solid chest, managing to slip out of his loosened grip. I didn't look back. I practically ran down the hall toward the sound of her voice, escaping Kaelen's suffocating darkness.

At that exact moment, my mom felt like an angel sent directly to save me from the devil.