Claimed by the Alpha and the Vampire Prince: Masquerading as a Man-Chapter 26: Stupid Move

I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering in my throat as Reed’s grip on my waist tightened. He wasn’t stopping. His body pressed into mine, the slow, deliberate grind sending a sickening realization through me—he was enjoying this.

"You reek of him," he muttered against my skin, his voice laced with irritation.

Him? Who? Blaze? Did vampires have some scent-marking thing? Was that why Reed was acting like this? Possessive. Jealous. Dangerous.

I kept my eyes shut, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. Think, Clare. Think. I couldn’t push him off—not without setting him off. I couldn’t run—where the hell would I go? Even if I screamed, I knew the truth.

No one would help me.

No one would stop him.

And if I fought?

A predator like him loved the thrill of a chase.

His fingers flexed on my waist, nails just barely digging in as his teeth grazed my pulse.

"Skipping school... not a very smart move." He chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling against my back. "You need to be taught a lesson."

I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood. Do something. Anything.

My hands clenched at my sides, my nails biting into my palms. I needed to get out of this—fast.

And then, by some stroke of twisted luck, an idea hit me. A gamble. A reckless, stupid gamble.

If Reed was jealous, why not use it?

I forced myself to relax just slightly—just enough for him to notice. Then, in the quietest, most breathless voice I could muster, I whispered:

"He already taught me one."

I didn’t have to say his name.

But Reed went still.

Yeah, stupid move.

But if I could turn monsters against each other? Why not?

I just didn’t anticipate Reed biting me too.

The pain was instant, sharp, ripping through my neck like fire. I screamed, my knees almost giving out as his fangs sank deep. Not like Blaze. Reed’s bite wasn’t about hunger—it was punishment.

And I had pissed him off.

The pressure built, his jaw locked down, and for a second, I thought he wasn’t going to stop. That he’d just keep tearing into me until I was nothing but a shredded, bloodied mess in his arms.

Then—suddenly—he pulled back. My body sagged in relief, but it didn’t last. His tongue dragged over the wound, slow and deliberate, sealing it with a sensation that made my stomach churn.

"There. Now you also bear my scent also."

My breath hitched. Shit.

I might’ve stopped whatever he was about to do before, but this? This was worse.

He pulled away from me and turned me around.

Reed’s eyes, once amused, were still dark with anger. A storm brewing just beneath the surface. Not good. Not good at all.

Then he took a step back, and my body stupidly thought—run. But before I could even process the thought, his voice cut through the thick air between us.

"On your knees, pretty boy."

He let go of me, his hands falling to his sides as he tilted his head, watching me.

I turned slowly, dread twisting my insides. Looking into his eyes, I knew.

I was completely. Fucked.

I should’ve just kept my mouth shut.

I swallowed hard, my body frozen in place. On my knees? No. No way.

Reed’s lips curled into something between a smirk and a warning. His eyes darkened, flashing something primal, something that made my stomach twist. I had pissed him off, and now I was paying for it.

"Did I stutter?" he asked, his voice smooth, calm—too calm.

I didn’t move. Couldn’t. My brain was short-circuiting, every possible escape plan turning to dust in my head.

Then he reached out. Not rough, not violent—just tugged my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. His thumb brushed over my bottom lip, almost thoughtful.

"Hesitant now?" he mused.

I clenched my jaw. My knees trembled, but I locked them in place, refusing to drop.

"I—" My voice cracked, my throat dry. What the hell was I supposed to say?

I didn’t know how to do this. Hell, I didn’t even know how to start. And judging by the way Reed was watching me, he knew that. He could smell my inexperience.

A slow grin spread across his face.

"You really are innocent, aren’t you?" he murmured, almost to himself.

My heart hammered against my ribs. Think, think, think!

"Reed, I—" I tried, but he shushed me with a single finger against my lips.

"Relax, pretty boy. We have all the time in the world."

I was so, so screwed.

"How did Blaze punish you then? Did he fuck you in the ass?"

The words made my breath hitch, my whole body going stiff. My eyes widened in shock, and just like that, he knew.

Shit.

Reed’s smirk twisted into something darker, something cruel. "You lied to me, you stupid human?" His voice dropped to a growl, low and dangerous. His eyes were turning yellow.

I was so screwed.

My heart pounded as the realization sank in. Punishment. That word—I had misunderstood it completely. I thought I was being smart, thought I could just say Blaze had fed on me again and be done with it. But no—to them, punishment meant something entirely different.

God, I was so stupid. So naive.

I had seriously messed up.

Reed’s grip tightened, his nails digging into my skin as his golden eyes glowed with something dangerous. A chill ran down my spine.

"You really thought you could lie to me, pretty boy?" His voice was lower now, almost a growl.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. I had no way out of this.

Reed’s lips curled into a wicked smirk, his head tilting as if he was enjoying the way I stiffened under his hold.

"That makes two punishments now."

Fuck.

I didn’t realize "punishment" meant... this.

I had been so damn naive. I thought I could turn them against each other, make them fight over me instead of tormenting me.

But now, I had just made things worse.