Lahat ng Kabanata ng Claimed By His Daddy (Stripper/Nerd): Kabanata 111 - Kabanata 120

Kael. The night hadn’t ended for me. I’d stood by the ocean long after she fell asleep watching the dark roll against the shore and listening to the waves swallow the sound of my thoughts. The sky had that faint tint of gray that comes just before sunrise and I could still smell her everywhere. I can smell hee on my hands, on my skin and even the sheets behind me. I couldn’t sleep even if I tried. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face when she whispered my name and the way her breath trembled and the way her touch burned through me. I’d wanted to stay. I wanted to hold her and pretend none of it mattered. But pretending had never saved anyone.The quiet broke when a faint knock came from downstairs. Not the kind meant for polite visits but it w was coded in three slow and two fast. A signal only my network used!My stomach tightened as I glanced once at the door of the room where Arielle slept still curled under the covers her hair spilling across the pillow like moonlight.

Arielle. I didn’t see Kael that morning. When I woke up, the room already felt too quiet and cold like all the warmth that had wrapped me through the night had been taken away with him. His side of the bed was empty and even the sheets barely creased as if he’d left before the sun even rose.For a long time I just lay there staring at the ceiling trying to make sense of the ache spreading through my chest. Maybe I should’ve been used to it by now because of the way he came close only to disappear again. But after the night before, after falling asleep in his arms with his heartbeat against my back and the faint sound of the waves outside it hurt in a different way. I hadn’t realized how easily peace could vanish until it did.I spent most of the morning wandering through the villa like a ghost. The servants moved quietly giving me polite nods and tight smiles that said they didn’t know what to say to me because they were all humams. I ate breakfast alone at the long wooden table,

Arielle. I woke up to the sound of the sea again. It had become the only sound that truly filled this house like it was trying to make up for the silence that always hung between Kael and me. The curtains were half drawn and a soft morning light spilled into the room turning everything gold and quiet. I sat up slowly brushing my hair away from my face and stared at the ceiling for a moment wondering why my chest felt heavier today. Maybe it was because we were leaving soon. The thought had been sitting at the edge of my mind all week as we would be returning to the pack back to that world of watchful eyes and unspoken rules. Back to the place where every heartbeat would felt judged.Here in the city it was different. No one knew who I was and no one whispered. I could walk through the streets and breathe like a normal person. I could laugh, buy things and blend in and feel free even if only for a little while.Kael had sent one of his people earlier this week to get me new clothes

Kael. Arielle walked ahead of me with her hair bouncing lightly with every step she took and when she reached the door, she turned around and smiled. That smile so innocent and sweet and somehow reckless made something tight twist in my chest. She didn’t even know what she did to me when she smiled like that. “Come on” she said grabbing my hand and tugging me toward the car waiting outside. Her palm was soft and small against mine her fingers curling gently like she trusted me more than she should.The moment we stepped outside, the air smelled like salt and warmth. I could already hear the distant sound of waves crashing somewhere behind the busy street. Arielle’s excitement was impossible to miss because her energy was contagious and even though I told myself not to I smiled a little. She was practically glowing the sunlight hitting her skin with her shorts showing off the smooth length of her pale legs. When she laughed softly at something she said to herself I clenched my ja

Are. The day had slowly begun to lean into gold when we found ourselves still walking through the market our hands brushing once in a while and every touch felt like something new something dangerous and sweet. The crowd had begun to thin out a bit though the air was still filled with laughter and the music of drums and ocean waves. Arielle was still full of energy moving from one stall to another like she was afraid she’d miss something. She had that innocent kind of excitement that made people turn to look at her and every time someone did, I felt that sharp possessive pull again in my chest. I didn’t even try to hide it anymore. I walked close always close enough that anyone watching knew she wasn’t alone. She had a bag full of random things by now from candles, bracelets, two books she couldn’t read yet but liked the smell of and a ridiculous sunhat she’d insisted on wearing for ten minutes before getting embarrassed when a kid laughed at her.“You’re enjoying this too much”