Chapter 113
Claire’s POV
I would never be able to compete with a dead woman. No one could. I also didn’t know that I would even want to try.
I cared about Ivan, but not in the ways the King was thinking. If purposefully expressed those feelings. We had some moments neither of us had pushed for that.
The King had to be mistaken. Or….
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an cared in any kind of way for me, he had never pause where the mood might have gone romantic, but
I didn’t really have intentions for Ivan, but I supposed I could see myself learning to care for him in enough time, with enough attention from the both of us. But now, thinking on it, that seemed even more unlikely.
If I reminded him of what he had lost, anything romantic between us simply wouldn’t happen.
Even if this wasn’t the most pressing issue in my life, I was still grateful to the King for trying to reach out to me in his own way, to warn me. If I had been in love with Ivan, this news might have devastated me, but it would have still been important for me to hear.
As things were at the moment, I felt like I could safely walk away from any hints of a future with Ivan.
It was probably better for me to remain alone anyway. My only other romantic experience had been with Gideon, and it was clear how terrible that had turned out.
Though, perhaps now was the time to finally address the King about Gideon’s problem.
“Sir, actually, while I’m so appreciative that you wished to warn me of this, was hoping I could speak to you privately about another matter.”
“Speak your mind, girl,” the Alpha King said.
“Well, it’s just… I was hoping that…” I cleared my throat, rallying my courage. I had to be bold to win his favor in the ways that I needed to help Gideon. “My friend Alpha Gideon has this case being filed against him that is truly a lie. Gideon would never mistreat anyone, and –”
The King held up his hand and I silenced at once, knowing he didn’t want me to speak further just from that gesture alone.
“Claire, you are new here, so it’s possible you do not know the rules. Ivan has never broken the rules to even know to tell you,” the King said. “We do not discuss business at my events. I will tell you as I told Gideon himself. If he wishes to defend himself, he can do so at court. Not in my ballroom.”
“Oh…” I said and bowed a little. “Forgive me, Alpha King. I meant no offense.”
“I know,” he said. “You’ve been through a lot tonight. So I will not punish you. Rest assured whatever Gideon had or hadn’t done will be judged appropriately in my court.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“You may go now,” he told me, dismissing me.
I hurried as I turned and walked away. As I did, my heart ached and my stomach twisted.
I’d come here tonight, risking everything to try to save Gideon and his pack. Instead, I’d nearly exposed my identity, was embarrassed in front of the Alpha King, and churned up old, unpleasant memories for Ivan.
I’d failed worse than I could have imagined.
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Chapter 113
Feeling slightly stummed, I walked back into the crowd without prpose or direction. At once, a man came to my side. I jumped, worried it might be Gideon. Instead, Ivan was there holling out his arm for me. I immediately took it
“You spoke with the King.” he said.
“He didn’t listen to me,” I said.
Ivan was stoic. “I’m sorry.”
“You brought me here, Ivan. I… Thank you. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it worth something”
“You tried. That alone makes the effort worth it.”
I didn’t know if I believed that.
Keeping my gaze on the ground, not wanting to see Gideon, I said, “I want to go home now.”
“I will happily accompany you,” he said, and started to lead me to the door.
Gideon’s POV
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Seeing Claire return to Ivan made bile rise in my stomach. First Raven, and now Claire? What kind of hold did this man have over these women? Was he truly so charismatic that he could woo any woman? Or was it specifically Claire and Raven who fell under his charms?
They must have known about each other. Were they okay with Ian dating them both?
That didn’t seem likely, and it didn’t seem like Ivan either to date two women at once.
But if that wasn’t what was
happening, then what…?
In a flash, I remembered Leo’s suspicions.
What if…
No, it couldn’t be…
But…
What if that picture had been a mistake somehow? Was it possible? What if Raven and Claire were the same person after all?
I watched Claire the entire way as she walked from near the King rejoined with Ivan, and walked out the door. Then, I sat for a while, alone with my thoughts, wondering if I could have missed something obvious.
Looking around, with her gone, there was nothing here for me now.
With a sigh, I moved toward the exit myself, wh
“Alpha, are you ready to go now?”
I reconnected with Xavier.
I glanced back and forth outside, but Claire and Ivan were gone.
There was no point in staying here. I was more than ready to go home.
“Yes,” I told Xavier and he sent for the car, when it arrived, one of my guards was behind the wheel, while Xavier and I went into the backseat.
I had a lot on my mind, but more that I needed to talk to my Beta about.
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Chapter 113
“Claire was there tonight,” I said.
Xavier’s eyes went wide. “Claire? Your…?”
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“Yes,” I said. “I thought she was dead, but it seems she has been taking refuge in Ivan’s pack. And perhaps with Ivan himself.
The thought made me extremely unsettled. I hadn’t liked the thought of Raven with someone else, but the thought of Claire being with Ivan was worse. That Claire and Raven might be the same person did not soothe me in this.
“I want to know everything.” I said. “Find out as much as you can Speak to whoever will talk. I want to know where she’s been and why she’s been hidden.”
Xavier nodded, even as he looked somewhat troubled.
I could guess what was bothering him. Ivan’s pack was notoriously tight–lipped. For Claire to have been there for this long without that secret being revealed did not bode well for any hope we might have had for uncovering secrets now.
But we had to try. I needed to know.
“Whatever you can find,” I emphasized. “I’m hoping to find something that will connect Claire to Raven.”
Xavier looked at me with wide eyes, like he couldn’t believe what I had just said.
I stood by it though, and let my silence speak for my seriousness.
To see Claire again…
To see her with Ivan…
There was something going on here, and I was being kept in the dark about it.
I wanted that to change.
Now.
