Claimed by the Wrong Alphas
Chapter 44: Exposed

Chapter 44: Exposed

Charis

I felt all the blood drain from my face as Darian’s gaze met mine.

My knees went weak, and for a terrifying moment, I thought I might faint. I gripped Marcus’s sleeve instinctively. The communication band Marcus had given me started beeping as panic flooded my system.

"Eamon!" Marcus shook my shoulders gently, forcing me to tear my gaze away from Darian, who had gone back to pressing his phone. "Are you alright? You look terrified."

I opened my mouth slightly, but no sound came.

"Whoa there," Marcus said gently, his gaze darting from me to Darian. He smoothly removed the wristband from my trembling hand and pressed a few buttons before slipping the band back on my wrist.

"Hey," he called out to me again. "It’s okay. He’s not the fucking Moon Goddess, he’s my cousin."

"What?" I turned to him, frantically.

He gave me another reassuring smile as he chuckled softly. "My cousin," he nudged with his face at Darian, who was busy with his phone now. "A lot of people have different reactions when they discover that the Alpha King’s son is my cousin. I probably should have warned you."

I turned to stare at him fully this time. My eyes were still wide with terror, and now it was joined with disbelief. "He-He’s your cousin?" I stuttered; my voice was barely audible.

Marcus nodded with amusement dancing in his eyes. "Want an autograph or something?" he teased.

"No, no," I said quickly, my mind racing desperately for an escape. "It’s just that...can I use the bathroom for a minute? I’ll be right back."

Before Marcus could respond or protest, I turned and ran from the tent as fast as my legs could carry me. I could feel the curious eyes of Marcus’s entire family following my retreat, and heard his mother’s voice drifting after me.

"Marcus, we’re not waiting for anyone who isn’t here. The food is getting cold."

I ran across the courtyard, weaving between clusters of celebrating families until I reached the nearest bathroom facility. I burst through the door of the boys’ restroom and locked myself in the farthest stall, my breathing coming in panicked gasps.

I pressed my back against the stall door, trying to process what had just happened. I forced myself to replay Darian’s reaction when our eyes had met.

Our gazes had locked for a heartbeat, maybe two and nothing-no spark of recognition. No anger, no suspicion on his part. He’d given me the same dismissive once-over he’d always used on people he considered beneath him, then had returned his attention to his phone.

That had always been his way—treating me like a background object. Even now, in a crowd, I was just another face.

I should have felt relieved, but instead, my stomach was twisting with dread.

Why on earth was he here? Marcus wasn’t being inducted—he was already a student. Was this some family reunion? A coincidence? Or something more?

I wished desperately that I had a phone to call Slater, Rhett or anyone who might help me figure out what to do. I needed to return to the dorm without being seen, but we were told that no one was allowed to go back there until after the celebration.

Maybe he really didn’t recognise me, I thought desperately. I’ve changed so much—the short hair, the boy’s clothes, the way I carry myself. And he never really looked at me that closely when we were engaged. I was just another arranged marriage to him and a sex symbol.

But even as I tried to convince myself, fear gnawed at my stomach. Darian may not have noticed me initially, but if I was forced to spend more time around him—if Marcus insisted on including me in family activities—he might recognise me.

I decided I couldn’t risk it. I need to leave now.

A soft creak jolted me. I heard the bathroom door open and froze completely. Light footsteps echoed off the tile walls, followed by the sound of water running at the sink.

Swallowing hard, I reached for the stall lock. Maybe it was just someone washing their hands. Maybe—

Carefully, I opened the stall door just a crack to see who had entered. The main area appeared empty, but one of the sinks was indeed running.

Perplexed and growing more nervous by the second, I pushed the door wider and stepped out cautiously.

"So, you were hiding."

The voice came from directly behind me, making me gasp in shock and stumble backwards. My feet tangled together, and I fell hard to the cold tile floor, scrambling backwards in terror.

Peter was leaning casually against another stall door; his eyes were cold, despite a slight smile playing at his lips.

"Hi, Alpha Prime," I stuttered, my voice shaking. "I didn’t know you were here..."

He smiled and stretched his hand towards me without saying a word. I took it tentatively, and then he helped me to my feet. I turned to thank him, when I saw he was giving me that same look that had creeped me out at the courtyard.

He began moving toward me with deliberate slowness, and I kept moving backwards across the floor until I was pressed against the base of the sink counter with nowhere else to go.

He leaned down until he was at my eye level, then lowered his voice to a whisper that sent chills down my spine.

"So, you’re a Shadewolf?"

For a moment, I felt a flicker of relief. If he thought I was just a Shadewolf rather than a girl, maybe my gender was still safe. But I refused to answer him, I just stared back with wide, frightened eyes.

He chuckled at my silence, leaned back slightly, slipping both hands into his pockets in a gesture that was somehow more threatening than if he’d kept them visible.

"I’m going to ask you some questions," he said conversationally, "and you’re going to answer me as honestly as possible."

He tilted his head, studying my face with interest. "Who are you really? I know Alpha Riggs wasn’t joking when he said you weren’t his son, even his bastard. You’re not an Alpha’s son, are you?"

I didn’t say anything.

He scoffed and continued. "Alpha sons aren’t born as Shadewolves. They come with Alpha Wolves. Hell, boys aren’t typically born as Shadewolves either, which means..."

I tensed, realising with growing horror where his line of reasoning was leading.

Just as I was certain my secret was about to be fully exposed, the bathroom door flung open with enough force to bang against the wall.

Darian stood in the doorway. He looked up from his phone as his gaze darted between me and Peter.