Claimed by My Bestie's Alpha Daddy novel Chapter 43

The news hit before sunrise.

My tablet wouldn’t stop buzzing with alerts, notifications stacking like falling debris. Even half-awake, I could see the headlines screaming Richard’s name in every possible permutation:

“Alpha King Detached and Dangerous?”

“Richard’s Empire of Silence”

“Where’s the Transparency? Allies Demand Answers.”

The articles were slickly produced, peppered with cherry-picked quotes that made Richard sound like a tyrant, or worse, an incompetent child playing at war. The Crosthorn Pack had clearly worked with David’s team to get their message unified, with their Betas and advisors dropping sly, cutting comments in interviews:

“We want leadership that listens, not someone who hides behind closed doors and flirts with staff.” “Our Pack will always back truth, not arrogance.” “Ask his office plaything about transparency.”

That last one made me choke on my breath.

I sat up in the cold, gray light of morning, staring at the words until they blurred. My thumb shook as I scrolled.

The fury was instant, white-hot and blinding.

“They’re coming for me, too,” I whispered to the empty room.

By the time I forced myself into clothes and boots and got to the command hub, the place was a war zone.

Emma was already there, her hair scraped into a severe bun that didn’t suit her, face taut with fury. She didn’t even say good morning. She just shoved a tablet at me.

“Look.”

I took it, fingers already numb.

It was a graphic David’s PR team had blasted everywhere overnight.

Richard at the summit, caught mid-scowl, eyes cold and alien. Next to it, my blurry silhouette leaving his room, circled in red. Underneath, in bold, bloodred font:

SECRETS AND SCANDALS: CAN HE BE TRUSTED?

I felt bile rise.

Emma’s voice was like a scalpel. “This is the clean version.

You don’t want to see the ones on private Pack forums.”

I swallowed. “How bad?”

She sighed. “Worse than you think. They’re framing you as a manipulative mistress. Him as a power-drunk Alpha who can’t control himself.”

My stomach twisted.Emma softened her voice. “Hey. Amelia. Don’t let them see you break. This is all just speculation based on your quick rise to this position. Show them how good you are and the rumors won’t need clearing.”

I closed my eyes, breathing carefully until the trembling in my hands stilled.

“Where is he?” I asked.

Emma gestured behind her with her thumb. “Strategy room with Nathan. They’re triaging fallout.”

I tapped the clause.

“Any Pack that signs a secondary exclusive military treaty with an external aggressor forfeits Stonepeak protections.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “Holy shit. David’s ‘protection deals

‘count as aggression.”

“Exactly. If we can prove he’s offered military support to Crosthorn, they void themselves from Stonepeak’s umbrella. They’d lose not only our support, but Stonepeak itself would sanction them.”

Emma let out a low whistle.

“That’s brilliant.”I leaned back in my chair, exhausted. “It’ll be a political nightmare, but it’s leverage.”

Emma grabbed my wrist.

“We need to tell Richard. Now.”

The strategy room was even worse up close.

Maps littered the tables. Digital boards flickered with updated polls and intercepted comms. Alex and Paul sat with sour expressions, arms folded, while Nathan barked orders into a headset.

Richard stood at the head of the table.