Claimed by the Vengeful Alpha

Chapter 68: A Different Claim

Keenan was seething. He knew Claude’s knowledge about the reason for his scar made no difference to the warmonger. The Alpha’s goal wouldn’t change so flimsily. If his plans involved Maya, her actions wouldn’t deter him.

But the unwanted Alpha wasn’t the only problem; Maya accepted whatever he threw her way. She had leaned toward him; he had seen that.

She hadn’t cared that she was staring and had smiled right in his face when he caught her. Her act after being caught had pissed him off more.

Pretending she didn’t understand—she always did that. It irked him. She must think he was stupid, using the same tactic still. He grabbed the edge of the desk as he tried to get his emotions under control. ƒreewebɳovel.com

Two gentle knocks sounded at the side door. Keenan turned his head immediately. There was only one person who could be knocking. His legs moved before he even completed the thought. He opened the door with enough force to rip it off its hinges and was greeted with her face.

Her wide blue eyes were looking up at him, and her lips made a tight line. Her hands twisted together in front of her, and as soon as he opened the door, she grabbed the sides of her dress.

"What?!" He didn’t yell, but he sounded pretty harsh.

Maya shook as tears pooled in her eyes. It was too intense, the way he stared at her, and a voice at the back of her head kept yelling that this was a bad idea.

What am I doing?

"Did you not hear me?" He asked.

She flinched. He was never gentle with her, and she probably wouldn’t care, but she knew how gentle he could be. She missed it, terribly. Would they ever get there?

"I-I..." she started to speak, but her throat failed her.

His eyes narrowed, and his grip on the door tightened. "Speak properly. Your act irritates me."

Everything she did was an act to him. She already knew that, but it still stung. "This marriage is fake," she blurted.

She should be happy, right? It shouldn’t hurt so much. If this was fake, she had nothing to lose when it didn’t work out. She could just leave. But if she left, wouldn’t it feel like losing everything?

"Fake?" Keenan frowned and closed the gap between them, taking his hand away from the door.

He wrapped a palm around her neck. Maya gasped as her eyes widened in fear, but no sound left her throat.

"Is this another ploy to escape me?"

"Isn’t it fake?" Maya whispered, holding his hand, trying to ease his grip. It was getting hard to breathe.

Her voice betrayed her—too hopeful, even to her own ears. He stared at her with such hatred, yet no part of her wanted it to be fake.

She wanted to be tied to him like her necklace around his neck. It shouldn’t matter if he treated her like this.

Keenan threw his head back and let out a sad laugh, yet his grip on her neck never wavered. "Woman, surely this must be a joke. You think I would orchestrate a fake marriage with you?"

He pulled his head back and leaned closer until his nose nearly brushed hers. His green eyes locked onto her blue ones, and his breath tickled her top lip.

Maya swallowed, feeling the lump go down her throat, and terror made her legs weak. His grip on her throat was strong, and she knew she couldn’t get away if she tried.

"You underestimate my hatred," his voice was but a whisper, yet it echoed in her head. "I want you bound to me forever. I want you to hate every moment of your life, and I will be right here to make sure of it. You can never escape me."

Every word he spoke was fiery and she knew he wasn’t lying. His hate ran so deep. Yet, her heart fluttered at his declaration.

Am I ill?

He released her neck. She dropped to the floor with a loud thud as her legs failed her. She rubbed her throat as she finally drew a full breath. She coughed loudly, feeling the tears run down the sides of her face.

"You think this is a fake marriage? Don’t be ridiculous. Even your father couldn’t get you away from me." He cursed under his breath as he walked away from her, ready to shut the door in her face.

"B-but the marriage certificate was stolen," Maya mumbled. The words came out between coughs as she forced herself to speak. She wiped at her face. She didn’t want him to see her crying.

Keenan’s expression darkened, and his hand paused before reaching the door. "Stolen?"

"You said so," she whispered.

He whipped his head around, and she saw the dark look in his eyes. Maya instinctively shrank back. In a single stride, he closed the distance between them. She barely had time to react before he crouched in front of her.

"Stolen?" he repeated, then surged forward.

Maya gasped as his weight caged her against the carpet. One hand planted itself beside her head while the other caught her leg.

"You think mere paper dictates my hold on you? Perhaps," he said softly, "I should stake a different claim."

He pushed her legs apart and placed himself between them. Fear flooded through her veins, and the tears she had held back slipped from the corners of her eyes.

Her heart threatened to jump out of her chest and she had the urge to push him off. Yet she didn’t. His familiar scent wrapped around her and, despite her fear, some of the tension left her body.

"Tch!" Keenan swore and was off her in an instant. Before she could react, he slammed the door in her face.

Maya lay flat on her back longer than she needed to. She was terrified, but at the same time, she wasn’t. The marriage wasn’t fake; Alaina had lied.

She should be happy, right? But why was everything so complicated?

She moved her legs upward and wrapped her arms around them as she slightly sobbed on the carpet.