Claiming Emerald: Four Alphas At Her Feet Chapter 50: Over Him

"I want you back."

Erald stared at Rick like he’d grown a second head.

"I’m sorry, what?"

His eyes didn’t waver. "You heard ."

She blinked. "Is this so kind of sick joke? Because if it is, you’re two seconds from catching a punch to the throat."

Rick’s lips twitched, but he didn’t smile. "No gas. I’m serious."

Erald blinked at him, half-expecting him to smirk, to laugh, to drop the act, but he didn’t. Instead, he stared at her like he ant every word.

She took a step back. "Well, that’s unfortunate. You picked the wrong night to try honesty."

She turned to walk away.

He grabbed her arm gently, but firmly, pulling her back around. "Don’t walk away from this, not until you answer ."

"I don’t owe you anything," she snapped, wrenching her arm free. "I don’t owe you any answer or closure, and especially not forgiveness."

Rick’s expression tightened, but he didn’t fight back. Instead, his hand slowly rose to rub the back of his neck, a flicker of sothing... either guilt or frustration, crossing his face.

"Do you miss ?" he asked quietly. "When you’re with them... do you think about ? Do they make you feel like I used to?"

Erald’s breath caught, anger simring beneath her skin.

She took a step closer, speaking in an ice-cold tone. "You had . And you lost . That’s not on , Rick. That’s on you."

"I made a mistake."

"No," she snapped. "You made a decision. A thousand of them. Each ti you ignored , undermined , and belittled in front of your pack. Each ti you chose soone else over , even when I was right there, waiting."

Viola growled in her head. "Say it louder. Rip him apart."

"Erald..."

"I don’t want to be disrespectful to our benevolent host," she said sarcastically, "but if you don’t move, I might do sothing we both regret."

His gaze darkened. "It was a misunderstanding. That’s all, and it’s in the past."

"Oh, so, because it’s all in the past now," Her voice rose with every word. "I should forget what you did? How you humiliated in front of your pack, before dignitaries and ogas?"

"It was complicated..."

She shoved him hard, and he stumbled backwards, his back hitting the wall with a thud.

"You don’t own !" she yelled. "You had . I gave you everything, and you still made feel like I was never enough. I’d rather die than ever co back to you."

In her head, Viola howled her approval. "That’s my girl," her wolf growled. "Tear his pride to pieces."

Erald didn’t bother waiting for a reply. She turned and stord down the corridor, fists clenched, breath shaking.

She didn’t look back, letting him stew in it.

She wasn’t sure if he ant it... If he was sincere, or if Alia had already lost her novelty, and Rick’s fragile ego couldn’t handle seeing other Alphas circling the woman he thought would always be his.

Whatever it was... she didn’t care.

Rick was the past.

And the past had no place in her present or future.

—

The banquet took place in a spacious courtyard lit up by twinkling fairy lights. The garden around the estate was brightly illuminated with lanterns, while soft music created a pleasant atmosphere.

Long tables were dressed in black velvet, and the flickering candles created a warm atmosphere.

The energy was light, with Alphas and delegates chatting, drinking, and laughing around long tables and lounge areas.

Erald sat near the front, close enough to be seen, far enough to breathe. Her gown shimred under the low lights, her chin high, her presence impossible to ignore.

And yet... she could feel Rick watching her... again.

It was a constant pressure on the back of her neck, a gaze that lingered too long and too hard.

Lucien noticed as he approached her with two glasses. "Sothing wrong?" he asked, handing her a glass while he sipped from the other

"I’m fine," she said automatically.

Lucien followed her gaze across the room and saw Rick. His brow furrowed. "Is he bothering you?"

Erald hesitated. "It’s nothing I can’t take care of."

Lucien stared at her for a long beat. "You always say that. But that doesn’t an you should have to."

Before she could answer, he added, "I’ve been thinking about sothing."

She blinked. "What?"

But before he could respond, fireworks exploded outside. Bright, shimring light lit up the night sky through the large terrace windows.

The entire room seed to gasp in delight, and one by one, the Alphas and their entourages made their way outside to enjoy the show.

Erald took the opportunity.

She slipped away, quietly and quickly, until she found herself alone on one of the upper balconies. From here, the fireworks stretched wide across the heavens, gold and violet streaks echoing like distant thunder.

She exhaled slowly, letting the cold air calm her.

Then... footsteps.

She didn’t turn around.

"You’re getting good at disappearing," Kieran said.

"Maybe I just don’t like crowds," she muttered.

He ca to stand beside her, silent for a mont.

"I heard what Rick said," Kieran said finally. "I didn’t an to eavesdrop. I just... I happened to be very close by."

Erald closed her eyes. "Of course you were."

There was a long silence.

"That bastard," Kieran said bitterly. "After what he did to you, he thinks he can just waltz back in..."

"I can handle Rick," she interrupted. "I’m over him. Truly."

He looked at her. "You sure?"

"I’m sure," she said softly.

They stood in silence for a mont as the fireworks continued, casting bursts of colour across their faces.

"He’s very pathetic," Kieran said finally. "Trying to stake a claim on sothing... I an, soone precious he threw away."

Erald smiled faintly. "Thanks."

Another firework burst overhead, drawing Erald’s attention back to the lit night sky. The tension faded slightly, just enough that she turned back to look at him.

It was then that she realised he was close, closer than she had thought.

Kieran turned to face her fully, and Erald did the sa.

The atmosphere around them changed.

It felt slow, like there was a strong connection pulling them together.

Kieran leaned in a bit closer, his eyes still warm like before, and for a brief mont, it felt... inevitable.

His hand brushed hers; she didn’t pull away.

Her heart beat faster, the fireworks slowing behind them, fading into a hush. He leaned in, lips inches from hers...

Then her phone rang.

Erald jerked back, blinking as the mont shattered in a million pieces. Without looking, she fished her phone and answered.

"Hello?" she half-snapped.

The voice on the other end was smooth, but full of venom. "If he so much as touches a hair on your head," The Rogue King purred, "I’ll forget the duel and kill him where he stands."

Erald froze.

"Kieran," she whispered. "He’s watching."

Kieran blinked. "What?"

Erald dropped the phone as if it had burned her.

Kieran’s phone buzzed almost imdiately with an unknown number. He answered it cautiously, glancing at Erald as he did.

She noticed his expression change. His eyes narrowed, and his shoulders tightened.

After a mont, he ended the call.

"Who was it?" she asked.

"The Rogue King," he said, eyes burning. "He told to prepare to die tomorrow."