Claimed by the Hellbound Alpha

Demands

Kaia

The intruder did not take long to realize that I had noticed his presence and decided to flee while I covered my body with my hands. I considered shifting and following him, but the stories about rogues roaming that part of the territory flooded my mind and discouraged me. They no longer seemed like mere rumors. The wisest course of action was to return and communicate my decision to Alpha Damian.

I went back to where I had left my clothes and, after getting dressed, made my way toward the pack house. I arrived just as the morning activity was beginning.

I knew Alpha Damian would already be awake, overseeing the start of the day's routine, so I went to look for him where I expected to find him. On my way to the parking area, where the Alpha kept his collection of luxury cars, I noticed several people staring at me, accompanied by hushed whispers that pointed me out without mercy.

It soon became obvious that the news had already spread, even though the events in question had taken place only a few hours earlier. But that was how everything worked in the Green Moon Pack.

“Her mate rejected her...”

“Is it true she got involved with a man who's about to become a father?”

“How embarrassing. She must be a social climber.”

I refused to let myself be affected by what were nothing more than rumors. I was Marcus's rightful mate, and I remained his mate despite the circumstances that now supposedly made our marriage "difficult."

As I had expected, I found Alpha Damian reviewing the day's routes with his security team. And, just as I had anticipated, his Beta was with him.

My father.

The man whose loyalty to the Alpha went beyond absolute.

“Kaia,” my father said when he saw me. “Did you sleep?”

He seemed concerned, but after what had happened the previous night, I had realized that his concern had limits and was not nearly as genuine as I had always believed.

“I've considered our Alpha's proposal, and I have an answer.”

Alpha Damian interrupted whatever discussion he had been having with his staff when he heard my words. He walked toward me, and our eyes met.

“I'll inform your mother that you're here and that you have an answer,” my father said. “She'll want to hear what you have to say.”

“There is no need for her to come,” I replied firmly. “After what happened yesterday, it has become clear to me that her maternal love has limits. Besides, there will be time for us to see each other later.”

“Does that mean you'll stay, Kaia?” Alpha Damian asked.

I noticed the expectation that immediately stiffened my father's posture, and from the look on his face, I could tell he was already informing my mother through the mind link.

“It means I have conditions,” I answered.

I was fully aware of my audacity, and I knew Damian tolerated it only because of my position and because he likely did not want to complicate matters any further. For him, for his son, for my cousin, and for my parents, the best outcome was to treat me with patience and understanding until my storm passed and everyone could continue with their lives as though nothing had happened.

“It means I will stay, yes, but my stay...” I was about to add *my silence*, but decided against it. “My time here comes at a price.”

“More than what I've already offered you?” Alpha Damian asked, a trace of anger entering his voice.

It was understandable.

He was an Alpha, and his generosity had very narrow limits.

“Just one more thing, Alpha,” I replied with a smile.

But before I could state my demand, I sensed Marcus's presence.

And sure enough, when I turned, I saw him approaching.

He was not alone.

Evelyn was with him.

Although they were dressed, it was obvious they had only recently gotten out of bed, thrown on whatever clothes were closest, and rushed over to witness what they expected would be my surrender. They wanted to hear for themselves how I accepted the role of Marcus's concubine in exchange for my silence, my lowered head, and the obedience of a servant omega.

They were about to be very disappointed.

“What is this about?” Alpha Damian asked after noticing his son's arrival and the presence of his daughter-in-law with the enormous belly that filled him with so much pride.

“One moment, Alpha, if you don't mind,” my father said, directing a look at me that seemed to suggest he wanted to drag me away by the arm. “Daughter, please, what exactly are you trying to do?”

His irritation was obvious because he believed I was overstepping my bounds.

And I might have listened to him if Beta Robert still felt like my father.

But he didn't.

Not anymore.

His position the previous night had shown me exactly where his priorities lay.

So I would answer him accordingly.

“What I'm trying to do is give our Alpha my response, Beta Robert,” I said deliberately using his title. “Now, if I may...”

At that moment, Luna Kelly joined the group, hand in hand with my mother—or rather, the wife of Beta Robert, because I intended to apply the same treatment to her as well.

“We're listening,” Alpha Damian announced once he was satisfied that everyone involved had gathered. “What is your proposal, Kaia?”

I swept my gaze across everyone present before responding.

“The first thing I demand—”

“Demand?” Alpha Damian interrupted sharply.

Beta Robert was barely controlling himself, and his wife immediately took hold of his hand.

“I am being asked to sacrifice far too much, Alpha,” I replied with very little courtesy.

I saw the restrained anger on his face, the tightening of his lips, until he finally gave voice to it.

“Kaia, I understand your pain, and I know I cannot even imagine everything you're going through. But you must understand once and for all that you cannot blame anyone for what is happening. It was all a mistake, something unforeseen. You were away from the pack when my son Marcus met your cousin, and they chose to be together because no mate appeared, despite the many matchmaking events and introductions he attended. Your cousin did not have a mate either, and it so happened that they liked one another, became engaged, and are now expecting the future heir of our pack—a child who cannot be viewed as a bastard, illegitimate, or born outside of marriage. We never imagined that you could be Marcus's mate.”

I swallowed my anger and refrained from pointing out that I understood perfectly well how everything had happened.

That was not the issue.

And while something deep inside me insisted that Evelyn was not as innocent as she pretended to be, I had no proof beyond intuition.

What truly angered me was that Marcus had slept with me without warning me about any of this.

And when I revealed what had happened, everyone's solution—including the people who had conceived and raised me—was not only to silence me with a bureaucratic consolation prize, but also to turn me into a second wife.

A mistress.

A concubine living beside the marital bedroom, always available whenever the future Alpha wished to claim his mate.

That was what truly enraged me.

I took a deep breath and prepared to drop a second bombshell on everyone present.