CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA

Chapter 16

DANIELLA POV

Time was surprisingly slow today. In the morning, it dragged like it had all the patience in the world. I woke up before my alarm, my heart was already restless, I stared at the ceiling like it held answers I couldn’t reach. Every few minutes I checked the time, convinced hours had passed, but it hadn’t.

By afternoon, it was like the clock grew wings.

“It’s 5:30!” Lilian shouted from the living room.

My stomach dropped.

One hour and thirty minutes. That was it. I had one hour thirty minutes to prepare.

I jumped out of bed, and ran out of my room to the living room.

I stood in the middle of the living room, frozen. My heartbeat picked up immediately. It was beating extremely loud, and it felt like my heart was going to burst out of my chest.

“Why are you standing like someone just proposed?” Lilian asked, walking up to me with my makeup bag.

“Don’t say that,” I blurted too quickly.

We both passed and stared at each other.

Then she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You think he’s going to do something big?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered honestly. “That’s what scares me.”

Because Rider doesn’t do things halfway. If he was planning something, it meant he thought about it carefully and extremely deeply. .

And that terrified me more than anything.

Lilian gently grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the bedroom.

“Sit,” she ordered.

I obeyed.

My reflection in the mirror looked nervous. Wide eyed, almost fragile.

“What if it doesn’t go well?” I asked quietly as she began prepping my skin. “What if I embarrass myself? What if it’s too much? What if he changes his mind halfway through?”

“Daniella.”

Her tone was firm now.

“That man looked at you last week like he was holding himself back from saying something dangerous. He sent you a whole package. He planned this. He chose you.”

I swallowed.

“And if tonight changes everything?” I asked.

She smiled softly. “Good. Because I know it’s going to change for good.”

Her words comforted me, and I decided to push the negative thoughts

We talked, while she did my makeup. She decided to change my position, saying I’m not meant to see my face. I agreed with her, and changed my position.

Putting on the dress felt unreal.

The midnight blue silk slid over my body like water. It hugged my waist, flowed gently at my hips, and rested perfectly along my legs. It wasn’t overly revealing, but it was elegant and perfect and extremely mature. The dress showed his intentional mindset, like he took his time to pick out this particular dress.

The heels elevated my posture instantly. The jewelry shimmered subtly against my skin. The perfume he had chosen was soft, warm, slightly sweet and intimate.

When I looked at myself in the mirror again, I barely recognized the girl staring back.

I looked wanted and perfect.

“You’re going to make him lose his mind,” Lilian whispered.

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed.

Rider: I’m outside.

Everything inside me flipped. I was so nervous.

“He’s here,” I breathed.

Lilian squeezed my hands. “Go. And stop doubting yourself.”

I hugged Lilian.” Thank you for being my best friend and my shoulder. I’ll never forget how you always make me feel worth it.”

She smiled at me, and told me to go. She wasn’t an emotional person anyway, but she managed to show some emotions towards me.

The elevator ride down felt endless.

When the doors slid open and I stepped into the cool evening air, my eyes searched for him, while my heart kept pounding against my rib cage.

Then I saw him, leaning against his car.

Black tailored suit. Crisp white shirt slightly open at the collar. No tie. His hair is styled but not overly done. He looked effortlessly handsome and powerful.

But the moment his eyes landed on me, I felt his breathing seized.

His entire body stilled.

His gaze traveled slowly, carefully, from my heels upward. Not rushed. He was taking his time to check me out. .

When his eyes finally met mine, something shifted in his expression.

Something vulnerable.

He walked toward me slowly.

“You…” he started, then exhaled softly. “You look…”

He shook his head slightly, almost defeated.

“Thank you,” he finally managed.

The sincerity in his voice made my heart race even harder.

“For what?” I teased lightly.

“For coming.”

He opened the car door for me without breaking eye contact. When I sat down, my hands were trembling slightly.

During the drive, we talked about little things and laughed during our conversation, but underneath the conversation was tension. It wasn’t really an awkward tension, it just felt like he was anticipating something.

I could feel his nervousness too. He kept adjusting his watch. Flexing his fingers against the steering wheel.

“Where are we going?” I finally asked.

“It’s a surprise.”

“You’re enjoying this too much.”

A small smirk tugged at his lips.

Then he reached into the compartment and pulled out a black silk blindfold.

My eyes widened.

“Rider.”

“Trust me,” he said quietly.

The way he said it made my chest tighten.

He wasn’t demanding, but the look in his eyes showed he really wanted me to trust him.

I studied him for a moment.

“Ughh fine. But if something happens to my pretty face, you’ll hear it from Lilian. ,” I said.

“Yes my lady.” He said while laughing. I couldn’t stop staring at his face, the way it brightened up. His laugh was ethereal.

I put it on, darkness wrapped around me.

Suddenly every sensation amplified.

The hum of the engine.

The faint scent of his cologne.

The warmth of his hand when he placed it gently on my thigh.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured.

And I believed him.