Claiming Emerald: Four Alphas At Her Feet
Chapter 44: Do You Love Him???

Chapter 44: Do You Love Him???

"Shit!" Emerald gasped, stepping back as the chilled splash of wine soaked into her dress.

"Oh no," came a sugary, venom-laced voice. "Did I do that?"

Emerald turned slowly, her eyes narrowing. "Alia."

Alia stood in front of her, wide-eyed and faux-concerned, her sequined dress sparkling too brightly under the firelight. While she maintained a perfect smile, her grip on the empty wine glass was anything but innocent.

"Oops," Alia said sweetly. "I wasn’t looking."

"Clearly," Emerald muttered, brushing uselessly at the soaked front of her dress.

"Red wine’s a disaster on black, don’t you think?" Alia cooed. "But then again, you’re good at covering stains, aren’t you?"

Emerald’s eyes flared. "Back off."

"Oh, come on," Alia said, stepping closer, "we’re all adults here. No need to act like you’re still the Luna. That seat’s being filled." She tilted her chin proudly. "Rick’s never been happier. I’m sure you’ve heard."

"Funny," Emerald replied coolly. "I thought plastic was a downgrade."

Alia’s smile faltered, and for a split second, her mask slipped. She composed her almost immediately, her smile returning sharper than before. "Still got that bite, huh?"

"I don’t have time for this, Alia," Emerald muttered, stepping past her.

Alia’s brows lifted. "Oh, is that how the great Alpha Emerald speaks to her host’s Luna?"

Emerald blinked. "You’re not Luna."

"Not yet." Alia’s tone was smug. "But soon. We’re just working out the formalities. Rick wanted to wait until after the summit to announce it... didn’t want to hurt your feelings too badly."

Emerald gave a dry laugh. "I’m so happy for you."

Alia’s grin widened. "I bet you are. Since you left, Rick’s been... well, freer. Happier. More fulfilled." Her eyes dropped to Emerald’s wine-stained dress. "You know, with someone who can actually give him what he wants."

Emerald’s jaw tensed, but her eyes remained locked on the figure she’d been tracking this entire time.

Kieran. He was walking away from the courtyard now, deeper into the inner estate.

Emerald turned to follow him.

Alia’s hand shot out and grabbed her arm. "I’m not done talking to you."

Emerald stiffened. "Let go."

Alia’s smile grew meaner. "You think just because you’ve got a new title, it changes what you really are? You’re still the same weak little orphan girl Rick pitied. He never wanted you. Never chose you. He only kept you because it was convenient."

Emerald’s breath caught, the words stabbing old wounds that had never fully healed. Memories slammed into her: of how she’s been at his beck and call, tears, lonely nights, the betrayal, the humiliation. She hadn’t expected how hard this place would hit her.

But she wasn’t that girl anymore.

Viola growled faintly. "Don’t let her win."

"I’ve won a thousand times already."

Emerald slowly turned to face Alia, her smile icy. "You can have Rick. Keep him. Tie him up in a pretty red bow and mark his neck a hundred times."

Alia blinked.

"I have more than enough mates who worship the ground I walk on," Emerald said sweetly. "Alphas who would tear this entire pack apart for me. I don’t need Rick. I replaced him the second I left."

Alia’s smirk faltered.

"In fact, just one of them?" Emerald added, eyes glinting. "Just one of them can ruin your entire idea of what a real man is."

Satisfied, Emerald turned and walked away without waiting for a response, her heart pounding. Her dress was still soaked, but her head held high.

She spotted Kieran moving toward the outer edge of the gathering, his long coat shifting with the breeze. He was leaving.

She quickened her pace, stepping away from the bonfire and the voices, weaving through the stone arch that led to the housing for visiting delegates.

"Kieran!" she called.

He stopped, just as he was about to vanish into one of the side corridors. He turned halfway, and his facial expression was hard to read. "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to you."

"You’ve already said enough," he replied without turning fully. "Or maybe not enough, depending on how you look at it."

Emerald quickened her pace. "You’re in danger."

He turned now, brows furrowing. "What?"

"You shouldn’t go anywhere alone," she said quickly. "Not tonight. Not during the summit. Please."

He studied her. "Why?"

"Just trust me."

A pause.

"Let me guess," he said coolly. "This is your way of trying to talk to me again?"

Her face tightened. "No. I’m serious."

"That’s rich," he muttered. "You’re asking for trust, but you won’t even tell me who marked you. You slept with me and let me believe—"

"I know," she cut in. "And I’m sorry."

"Are you?" he asked in a low voice. "Or are you just trying to smooth things over before your next mistake comes to bite you?"

Emerald’s hands balled into fists, as she tried to keep herself from lashing at him. "Someone might be trying to kill you."

Kieran blinked. "That’s dramatic, even for you."

"I’m not being dramatic," she snapped. "I’m being serious."

"Then tell me who."

Viola’s voice echoed, "Tell him. Just tell him."

Her mouth opened, but the words refused to come.

Kieran’s jaw tightened. "That’s what I thought."

He turned away.

"Kieran—"

But he was already walking off, his back stiff with tension.

Emerald stood frozen in place, heart hammering, and then, her phone buzzed.

She fumbled for it, half expecting to see another message from the anonymous number that had been threatening her.

But it wasn’t a message.

It was a call.

Unknown number.

She hesitated... and slid her hand across the cracked screen. "Hello?"

"Beautiful dress," came the dark, smooth voice she knew too well.

Emerald’s chest locked. "Where are you?"

"You walk like a queen," The Rogue King murmured, voice dripping with amusement. "But your hands tremble like prey."

"How did you get this number?" she hissed, eyes darting around. "Where are you?"

A soft laugh. "I have my ways. And I’m much closer than you think."

She froze. "Don’t touch him."

"Ah," he sighed. "So you do care about him."

"Please," she whispered, a desperate edge to her voice. "Just... just leave him alone."

"Do you love him?" he asked, deadly quiet now.

Her breath caught. "I... I..." she stuttered

"That’s more reason to wipe him off the face of the earth," he said coldly.

"No!"

"You can try to protect him, little wolf," The Rogue King continued, his voice turning cruel, "but this summit will end with his death."

Her knees felt weak.

"Kieran is mine to destroy if you let him come between us again."

"You can’t just kill..."

"I can," he interrupted smoothly. "And I will. You belong to me, Emerald. And I won’t share."

"Please," she whispered. "Don’t do this."

"Then keep him away from you. Or bury him."

Her voice broke. "You don’t have to do this..."

"I do. And I will."

He hung up.

Emerald lowered the phone slowly, her hands shaking so badly she nearly dropped it.

Viola whispered, voice thin and terrified, "He’s watching us. Right now."

Emerald turned in a slow circle, scanning every rooftop, every shadow, every figure in the courtyard.

But there was no sign of him, just the cold, cruel promise he’d left behind.

She had led him right to Kieran, and now... someone was going to die.

Unless she stopped him.

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