All Chapters of BETRAYED BY MY MATE CLAIMED BY HIS STEPBROTHER : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

100 Chapters

21. One Room, One Night

ARIELLA….The trial had ended, and to my surprise, the elders hadn’t scoffed or argued with my judgment. Instead, there had been murmurs of approval, nods of respect, even a flicker of pride in Zach’s grandfather’s eyes.By the time Zach and I left their Pack, the weight pressing on my chest had lightened. For the first time, I felt like I’d truly proven myself, not just to them, but to me.The road stretched long and quiet as we drove through the forested edges of Green Jade territory. I leaned back against the seat, exhaustion washing over me, when suddenly…Clunk. Rattle. Silence.The car shuddered, then came to a complete halt.I sat up straight. “What just happened?”Zach tried the ignition again, his jaw tightening. Nothing. “The engine’s dead.”I blinked at him. “Seriously? You’re the Alpha of one of the most powerful packs and you can’t even keep a car running?”He shot me a look, one corner of his lips twitching. “I wasn’t planning for it to break down in the middle of nowher

22. Shadows Of The Past

ARIELLA…..Vaughn’s eyes narrowed as he studied me, like he wanted to peel back every layer I’d carefully put up. He didn’t storm away immediately as I’d expected. No, he lingered, his tone shifting, turning sharper, colder.“Tell me something, Ariella,” he said, voice dripping with mockery. “Has Zach told you about his past?”I stiffened. “What past?”He smirked, cruel and knowing, like a predator toying with its prey. “Ah. So he hasn’t.”My pulse quickened, unease crawling through me. “If you have something to say, Vaughn, say it. Don't beat around the bush.”But he only shook his head, lips curling in amusement. “No. That’s not my story to tell. When you find out, though, remember this moment.” He leaned in close enough that I caught the sharp edge of his cologne. “He’s not the saint you think he is.” He whispered and pulled away from me. I noticed a malicious smirk dancing on his lips. And with that, he walked away, leaving his words hanging heavy in the air.My chest tightened,

23. Cracks In The Glass

ARIELLA DAVENPORT….When I woke up in the morning I didn't feel the warmth I felt every morning. I opened my eyes and found the other side of the bed empty. I touched the mattress only to find it cold. Zach had gone long ago. But why?I looked across the wall at the clock hanging there and found it was six-fifteen in the morning. He never left the bed before me. He always woke up after me, even if he woke up before me, he never left the bed until I woke up and saw his face the first thing in the morning.He said, his day goes well seeing my face in the morning and he wants me to see his face the moment I open my eyes. Then what changed today. Did he sense something?I went to the bathroom to freshen up then wore my leggings and sports bra then went to the training field. I trained hard this morning but the heaviness in my chest hadn’t lifted. If anything, it pressed harder with each hour that passed.Zach was the same as always, calm, steady, protective. He poured me coffee at break

24. The Demon Within

ZACH WINCHESTER….Morning light streamed through the curtains, warm against my skin, but all I felt was cold inside. Ariella sat at the small table by the window, sipping her tea with that distant look in her eyes again. It pierced me deeper than any blade ever could.I couldn’t keep waiting. If I did, Vaughn would win. And worse, she’d lose her trust in me completely.Taking a steadying breath, I crossed the room. “Ariella.”She looked up, her brows knitting. “What is it?”I sat across from her, my palms pressing against my knees to stop the tremor in my hands. Goddess, I’d fought rogues with blood on my claws and never felt fear like this.“There’s something I need to tell you,” I said, my voice low, rougher than I intended. “Something about me. About my past.”Her eyes sharpened, curiosity flaring with the same unease Vaughn had planted in her. She didn’t speak, just waited.I exhaled, dragging my hand through my hair. “Before I became who I am now… before I ever thought of leading

25. The Crack In Armor

ZACH WINCHESTER…….For a long time, I could only stare at her. I’d laid myself bare, every ugly scar, every truth I’d buried and I had been ready for her to recoil, to walk away, to look at me with the same disgust I saw in my own reflection.But she hadn’t.She’d touched the locket. She’d called me strong. She’d chosen me. Something inside me cracked wide open, something I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding together with iron and silence.Before I could stop myself, I pulled her against me, crushing her to my chest. My arms wrapped around her like I could anchor myself in her warmth, like she was the only thing tethering me to sanity.“You have no idea what you’ve just done to me,” I whispered into her hair, my voice shaking despite every effort to steady it.She didn’t push me away. She clung to me, her hands fisting in the fabric of my shirt. “I just told you the truth,” she murmured.I leaned back just enough to look at her. Her eyes shimmered, not with fear, but with something

26. Jealous Ariella

ARIELLA DAVENPORT….The night was quiet. Too quiet.Zach and I sat in his study, a single lamp throwing golden light across the room. I was curled up in the armchair, pretending to read, but really just watching him. His head bent over some alliance papers, brows furrowed in concentration, the silver chain of his locket catching the light every time he shifted.That locket… the thing binding his demon wolf. The thing that kept him safe.The thing that terrified me more than anything else because what if it failed?My gaze must have lingered too long, because Zach suddenly glanced up. “What is it?”I bit my lip, caught. “Nothing. Just… thinking.”He leaned back, setting the papers aside. “About me?”I nodded, honesty winning over my instinct to dodge. “About that locket. What if…” My throat tightened. “What if it ever stops working?”For a moment, something unreadable flickered across his eyes. Then he reached up and pressed the locket into his palm. “It hasn’t failed me once since I p

27. Alpha Vellora

ARIELLA DAVENPORT…..The morning sun beat down on the training grounds, heat radiating off the packed dirt. Warriors circled the ring, murmuring among themselves as Zach barked orders, his commanding presence filling the space as always.I stood with my arms crossed, watching him put the younger fighters through their paces. His gaze swept over the pack then lingered on me. A smirk tugged at his lips.“Care to join us, my Queen?” he called out, voice loud enough for all to hear.I arched a brow, stepping forward. “Only if you’re ready to be embarrassed in front of your own warriors.”A ripple of laughter spread through the circle. Zach’s smirk deepened. “Bold words. Let’s see if you can back them up.”The crowd parted as I stepped into the ring. Zach circled me like a predator, slow and deliberate. I mirrored his steps, my pulse quickening.The first clash came fast. He lunged; I ducked, twisting away with a grin. “You’re slower than I remember,” I taunted.He growled low in his throa

28. I'm Only Yours

ZACH WINCHESTER…….I pressed my palm harder against the door, my forehead leaning into the wood. Her silence burned worse than any wound I’d ever taken in battle. Ariella had always met me head-on; snarling, laughing, fighting. But this silence? It was ice.“Ariella,” I said, low, steady, forcing the roughness out of my voice. “You think I didn’t feel it too? The way she looked at me, the way she touched me? I hated it. Every damn second of it. But you…” I let out a breath, closing my eyes. “You’re the only one I wanted at that table.”Still nothing. Just silence.My hand curled into a fist against the door. “Damn it, Ariella, don’t shut me out.”A pause. Then my voice dropped, softer, almost a growl in my throat. “You think I’d ever choose her? Or anyone? I turned her down before, and I’d do it again. Every single time. Because I already belong to someone.”I could almost hear her breathing on the other side, ragged and quick. It made my chest ache.“You,” I whispered, pressing my

29. Unlashed The Demon Wolf

ARIELLA DAVENPORT…..I stood in front of the mirror, my breath catching for a moment as I took in the reflection staring back at me. The golden gown hugged me perfectly, the soft shimmer of its fabric catching every flicker of light like it held tiny stars within. The neckline was elegant, not too daring but enough to draw the eye, while the fitted bodice traced the lines of my frame before spilling into a graceful flow that kissed the floor.I smoothed a hand down the skirt, the silk gliding under my palm, warm and weightless. The sleeves, delicate and sheer, almost looked like they’d been woven from sunlight itself. I tilted my head slightly, watching the way the gown’s subtle embroidery, glinting patterns shifted and danced with every movement.For a moment, I almost didn’t recognize myself. The golden tones wrapped me in a glow I wasn’t used to, making me look softer, brighter, almost otherworldly. And as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, I whispered to my reflection

30. It's not a curse, It's blessing

ZACH WINCHESTER…..I woke up with a jerk, my chest heaving, the coppery taste of blood still thick in my mouth.But it wasn’t the blood that haunted me. It was her.The image of Ariella, standing before me, bleeding, defiant, burned into my mind. Her voice cut through the haze of rage, calling me back when no one else could.And then, her body flying through the air as my paw struck her.“Ariella,” I rasped, forcing myself upright. My head pounded, every muscle aching, but I didn’t care. “Where is she?”The room was quiet now, hushed. The crowd that had once screamed in terror now lingered at a distance, staring at me with wide eyes. Not just with fear… but with something else. Awe.I ignored them. My gaze swept wildly until it landed on her.She was on her knees, blood trickling from her temple, one hand on my arm. My demon wolf was gone, pulled back inside me, but the memory of her touch lingered, grounding me even as shame crushed me.I stumbled toward her, my knees nearly giving

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