Claimed Twice

Chapter nine

Someone Is Watching

Alpha Alexander picked up my phone off the floor and read the message. His whole body went rigid, like a wolf catching a scary smell in the wind.

"Who sent this?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous, a voice I had never heard him use before.

"I don't know," I said, my hands shaking. "I don't recognize the number."

He was already dialing someone on his own phone. "Selene, I need security on Nora Whitfield right now. Someone just threatened her directly." He paused, listening. "I don't care what it costs. Do it."

I sank into a chair, my head spinning. Five days ago, my life was quiet. Boring, even. Now people were threatening me over blood in my veins that I did not even know was special.

"I want answers," I said. "Real ones. No more half stories."

Alpha Alexander sat down across from me, his eyes serious. "Okay. Here's what I know. Five years ago, my father found out something about your family before the ceremony. He never told me the full truth. He just told me you were weak, that the family line would be diluted, that I had to reject you to protect the pack's future."

"Weak," I repeated, the word still sharp even after five years.

"I was wrong to listen to him," Alpha Alexander said. "I was young and scared of him, and I hate myself for it every single day. But I think now, looking back, I think he lied to me. I think he knew exactly what you were, and he was afraid of it, not because you were weak, but because you might be powerful enough to challenge our family's claim to leadership."

I stared at him, trying to process everything at once.

"So you're saying your father rejected me for you," I said slowly, "not because I was too weak to be your mate, but because I might have been too strong?"

Alpha Alexander nodded, his jaw tight. "I think so. And I think whoever sent that text knows the same secret my father did. Which means we're not just dealing with old family drama anymore, Nora. Someone out there is scared of what you are. And scared people do dangerous things."

My phone buzzed again. Another message from the same unknown number.

You have until Friday to walk away from the Voss project. Or we make sure you never wake up from your next flare-up.

I looked up at Alexander, my whole body trembling.

"Friday is the merger deadline," I whispered.

"I know," he said, standing up fast, his hands curling into fists. "Which means someone is trying to stop the merger by hurting you. And I am not going to let that happen not this time.”