Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 25

NATALIA

The world slowed to a syrupy drag as I stood dripping beside the pool, every eye in the room drawn to me like moths to a flame. My soaked gown clung to my legs, heavy and cold. I could feel the mascara streaking down my cheeks, the foundation long gone, leaving only bare skin and truth.

The makeup I’d tried to use to shield my identity had washed away.

Mira was gone.

Natalia had been pulled, gasping, from the water.

And by morning, everyone would know it.

Behind me, I could hear Lilith’s voice–cracked and breathless–sputtering accusations as Andrei hauled her out of the water.

“She pushed me! She–she did it to humiliate me!”

Her voice trembled on the edge of a sob, just loud enough for the crowd to hear.

I didn’t even look at them.

I was done playing roles. Done pretending to be someone else to survive.

Let them stare.

Let them wonder.

I’d almost died once trying to disappear. I wasn’t going to shrink again just because the truth made people uncomfortable.

I turned toward the side exit, water sloshing in my heels, and took a single step before I heard him behind me.

“Natalia–wait!”

I stopped.

Closed my eyes.

And turned slowly.

Andrei stood there, his shirt soaked through, eyes wild. Lilith clung to his arm like a parasite, soaked and shaking, mascara bleeding down her cheek like ink. She was practically buried against his side, but his attention was all on

1. 1. me.

“You really have nothing to say?” he asked.

His voice was hoarse. Raw.

Like he’d swallowed regret and didn’t know how to breathe past it.

Chapter 25

I stared at him for a long moment, then shook my head once. “I have nothing to explain.”

And I meant it.

Because I knew exactly how this would go.

He would defend her, as he always had. He would say I overreacted. That I misunderstood. That Lilith had been through so much.

He would believe her tears over my truth.

Because he always had.

And I was done begging to be believed.

I turned again.

But this time, his hand shot out and caught my wrist. Not roughly–but enough to stop me.

That’s when the low growl cut through the air.

Andrei barely had time to turn before Damon’s arm slid protectively around my waist, pulling me back into his

chest.

It was like stepping into the eye of a storm and finding calm.

“Isn’t it a little inappropriate,” Damon said, his voice smooth and sharp as a blade, “to lay hands on another Alpha’s Luna?”

The silence amongst the gawking masses went razor–sharp.

Andrei didn’t let go right away. His jaw clenched, eyes narrowing.

The tension crackled between them, old and deep and unresolved.

Damon didn’t flinch. His hand tightened gently at my waist.

“You’re upset. I understand. But whatever this is” his eyes flicked to Lilith and back” doesn’t involve her

anymore.

Andrei’s gaze returned to mine, something fragile breaking behind his eyes.

But I’d seen enough.

I stepped out of Damon’s hold just enough to steady myself and said, without venom, “Your fiancée is still crying. Shouldn’t you be helping her?”

Andrei opened his mouth–but I didn’t give him the chance to speak.

I turned and walked away, my back straight, my steps slow.

And this time, I didn’t stop.

Chapter 25

ANDREI

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