Page 76 of Claimed By the Alpha

William had no more cards to play, no more escapes. His only choice was to fight this now and hope for the best.

“William?” Derek asked, his face paling as he inched back.

“I have to say; I never thought Celine would bring you back, Isaac. I didn’t think she had the juice for it—” he paused, icy smoke circling his feet, crawling up as a display of power. “I was so close again, and then you came back.”

Frustration edged on his face as he strode closer. The marble floor beneath his feet froze with every step he made.

“How could you pretend to be my friend?” Joanne’s voice cracked; pain flowed through the bond, her anger faltering.

He was there for her in more ways than others could ever realize. And his betrayal hurt her the most. He broke her, tore her apart, and then saved her.

All so he could claim the throne.

“It was nothing personal, Joanne. It never was. But when your father figured out who I was, he had to be taken care of. And Liam was very easy to influence.”

With every breath he took, his appearance changed somehow. He remained William, but the wickedness in his eyes, the way his lips curled with this evil smile, was something I had never seen before with him, but I knew this was the real him.

All he ever presented was a façade, a play to get what he wanted.

“Don’t think this is the first time I will sit on that throne. Who do you think changed it? I decorated it with the bones of those who dared to stand against me. You two are probably in there a few times.” He moved closer to the throne, playing with the icy smoke in his hands.

There would be something different this time because this time Joanne would fight. From all I know now, she could never fully control that fire inside her, but I had faith she could in this life.

Joanne trembled; her hands balled into fists as she tried to contain her anger. I crawled closer and leaned down until my lips hovered by her ear.

“Show him your rage, little bird,” I whispered.

The smirk that curved on her lips strained my pants. I thought she couldn’t be more beautiful, but this sight. This anger that she showed was divine—delicious even.

Fire crackled on her digits, her aura clashing around her, searching for those who stood against her, against us.

The frozen marble floor melted by the fire that spread, reaching for William.

“Impossible,” William murmured.

A growl rumbled in her chest, and Logan purred at the sight, finally hearing Joanne’s wolf for the first time.

“You killed me!” she roared and lunged for William. Claws had replaced her nails and cut through his flesh as he tried to escape her attack.

She was fast and vicious—a combination William didn’t see coming.

Conner wanted to help her, but I held up my hand. “She has to do this, trust me.”

He nodded and watched with me. I would help if she needed me, but as she fought him, showing all the power she had inside her. I was mesmerized by it. She fought with such grace and need that I instantly knew why we were so perfect for each other.

She wasn’t only my good side. No, she had the same taste for blood I had—the same cravings for pain.Maybe that was why we were never paired up in the beginning, fearing what we might bring.

Crème colored fur sprouted on her bare arms, her wolf eager to shift. However, this wasn’t the time. It would give William the upper hand in battle.

“Don’t shift,”I mind linked, hoping her wolf would see why.

My words distracted her momentarily, and she took a harsh hit to her jaw. The crack echoed around us, and fury rose inside me.

I crept closer but froze when she held up her hand, stopping me.

Laughter followed as she spit the blood out of her mouth.

“Even Liam hit me better than that,” she said while William glared at her.

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