Home / Paranormal / CLAIMING HAILEY / CHAPTER 100: THE PRICE WE PAID

Share

CHAPTER 100: THE PRICE WE PAID

Author: Lizzy Fash
last update Last Updated: 2025-03-20 15:56:10

RYAN

The castle felt heavier than usual as if even the walls held the weight of what had occurred. Jaden's anger, Jermaine's return, Jackson dragging Alexia back against her will—everything was just happening so fast. Too fast.

I stood in my office, staring out into the vast forest beyond the borders of our pack. The night sky was clear, yet even the stars shone dull, weighed down by the storm brewing within these walls.

The words of Jaden still echoed within my mind.

"She is nothing to me but the Queen."

My fists clenched, claws threatening to extend.

The rage that surged through me then was nothing besides the pain that I felt on behalf of Hailey. My mate, who has suffered more than anybody, is still suffering, and all she received finally having gotten her sons back home were resentment and accusations.

I should have been able to handle it better than that.

I should have watched over her a little more, at least.

A light, soft knock upon the door cut into my mood.

"Come in," I calle
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 101: HER WOLF

    RYANThe ground shook under my feet. The very foundations of the earth we stood on shook as a primordial force, something old and wild, reverberated through the trees. Throughout the night, a roar so deep it echoed in my bones caused my body to tighten automatically. Whatever was on the way wasn't pleasant. Isaiah remained still, staring into the darkness over the boundary with an unreadable face. However, Logan had partially moved, his claws longer, his breathing laboured with barely restrained rage. "What on earth is that?" Logan's gaze darted to the Seer as he snarled. Isaiah’s voice seemed unnaturally calm. "The result of cutting off fate's plan." The air changed before I could insist on an explanation. The wind increased, bringing with it a touch and chaff of unease.A whiff of strength, of the resurgence of the past. Between the woods, a flash of black and silver travelled more quickly than my eyes could track. Then there was quiet. A gigantic figure entered the area after a sin

    Last Updated : 2025-03-21
  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 102: THE AWAKENING OF ERIS

    ALEXIAThe pain was unbearable.It wasn't the kind of pain I could push through, wasn't something I could grit my teeth and ignore. It was inside me, tearing at my very existence, splitting me apart in ways I didn't understand.I couldn't breathe.I clutched at my chest, digging my fingers into the skin as something inside me unravelled. My vision blurred, shifting between reality and something else, a realm of dark and silver light. Whispers in my ears-full of voices all calling my name.Alexia…You must wake up…You must remember…The words made no sense, yet they felt like a command written into the fabric of my soul.A pair of hands shook my shoulders."Alexia! Look at me!"The haze parted, and I knew the voice. Turtela.I gasped, making myself turn to face her. She knelt beside me, alarm written all over her face. The room swung behind her, shadows stretching out fantastic shapes on the walls."What's… happening?" I croaked.She swallowed hard. "I don't know. One second you were

    Last Updated : 2025-03-21
  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 103: THE RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE KING

    ADRIAN I was hit with the smell of the wolves overpowering, lingering on the trees, to the very air that I breathed. It felt like their presence weighted down and choked, like this land belonged only to them, spewing out everything else in its wake. But I had not come here for them. I had come for her. Turtela. The name itself was a whisper upon my lips, a yearning buried deep within the recesses of my immortal heart. The bond that tied us together was ancient, strong, and unbreakable-whether she accepted it or not. It was time for her to return to my side, to accept what had been written between us by the hand of fate. My boots barely made any sound as I stepped past the thick tree line, crossing into the wolves' domain. The shadows danced at my will, bending in the moonlight to move with me, like loyal subjects waiting on my command. I knew they had already scented me. Let them come. I wanted them to. Because no force, no army, no king-not even the mighty Alpha Wolf Ki

    Last Updated : 2025-03-22
  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 104: A MOTHER'S FEAR

    MARISSAThe castle halls had never felt this cold.Even with the comfort of warmth from the torches dancing along the stone walls, a chill ran deep into my bones. It wasn't because of the night air, nor because of the tension that had thickened since the triplets returned.No, it was something more.This was fear.Fear for her.For my daughter.Alexia.She was here, finally back home where she belonged, but not under the circumstances I had prayed for. She had been taken from the human world, thrust back into a destiny she hadn't chosen, surrounded by mates she refused to accept.And worst of allShe had lost her wolf and then regained her wolf, who is a goddess of Chaos, and I played a part in her predicament; I was desperate for power, acceptance, and love, so I messed things up terribly, yet I can't undo the wrongdoings even as I feel bad.The very thing that connected her to this world, to our kind, to herself has been restored without so much preparation or any prior notice, and

    Last Updated : 2025-03-22
  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 105: CONFRONTATION

    MARISSAThe space was tight, suffocating beneath the presence that stood in the doorway.A shiver darted ice down my backbone as I tightened my hold on Alexia, her trembling just noticeable but there.The knock sounded again—this time louder, more insistent.I shifted my head toward the door, my heart pounding against my ribcage.They had arrived.Jaden. Jermaine. Jackson.The triplets had returned for their mate, my precious child.Alexia gasped and stepped back from me. I saw the storm build in her eyes, the raw defiance that wavered between fear and determination."I don't want to see them," she whispered.I raised a hand, brushing a strand of golden hair from her face. "You don't have to, at least not now when you don't want to. I'd talk to them."Her mouth parted as if she wanted to believe me. As if she needed to believe me.But destiny was cruel.The doors opened without welcome.They entered, their tall figures stretching out in long shadows under the soft glow of the torches.

    Last Updated : 2025-03-23
  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 106: BROKEN TRUST

    LOGANThe castle had never felt this empty.Not in the early years when Hailey and I struggled to rebuild our kingdom, not even when Marissa and I stood at the altar with ghosts of the past haunting our vows. This emptiness wasn't from the walls—it was from within.From me.From my daughter.Alexia.She was here, under the same roof as me again, but she felt further away than ever. The sudden rift between ùs was created as a result of the Seer's vision, I could've been visiting her steadily in the human world but I couldn't bear seeing her then walking away hence I never visited her even once and now she believes she was abandoned and is hated by me but that has never been the case.I had spent years imagining this moment, rehearsing the words I'd say, the apologies I owed, the promises I'd make. But nothing had prepared me for the look in her eyes tonight.She wasn't my little girl anymore.She was a woman now broken, furrow broken and burdened by truths no one should have to carry a

    Last Updated : 2025-03-23
  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 107: SAFE PLACE

    ALEXIAI never thought I'd be here.Standing in my father's arms.Letting myself feel small again.Letting myself… need him. The feeling is surreal and astounding but I had been strong for so long, too long even with Jackson's never-ending presence, I felt alone because I couldn't accept the bond with him, I was two years older than the triplets and had treated them as my siblings but everything changed the moment Jackson clocked Eighteen years. Granted, all through his growing stage, he never allowed males around me. He was super possessive, but it got worse the moment he turned Eighteen as his jealousy couldn't be managed even by me, but here in my father's arms, I feel so much peace and quiet.I had built fortresses of steel and stone around my heart to protect it from the pain of abandonment for years. I spent so long telling myself I was not worth it; that no one would ever truly fight for me.And yet… here he was.Logan. My father.Holding me like he was afraid I would disappear

    Last Updated : 2025-03-24
  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 108: ATHENA'S ARRIVAL

    HAILEY The air was thick with emotion, yet warm with the comfort of family. I sat with Alexia in the quiet sitting room, cherishing the rare moment of peace as I brushed a stray lock of hair from her face."You know you'll always have me, right?" I murmured, my fingers lingering against her cheek.She hesitated, her blue eyes searching mine as if trying to find the certainty she had once known. "I know," she whispered, though I could hear the uncertainty laced in her tone.It hurt, to see her so lost and burdened by a destiny she never chose. My whole life, I had fought for those I loved, yet here was my own goddaughter, embroiled in a fate I could not unravel. Thank the gods for Turtela; she has been the peace bridge existing in our midst and has been my steady emotional support, as she is always there to ease any tension we build up.As I was about to continue, the heavy doors creaked open, and I turned to see Jaden entering.But he wasn't alone.A woman was beside him, uncomfortab

    Last Updated : 2025-03-24

Latest chapter

  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 180: REINFORCEMENT

    JERMAINEThere was something about the struggle that lingered in the air long after the final enemy fell. A weight, a thrum of residual power that clung to the soul like an ethereal resonance of the dead.Though Thomas's dying breath was swallowed by silence, I could sense him.Or his shadow.His anger.His desperation.His defeat.I leaned against the broken trellis, chest heaving, heart still racing from the battle. The garden rested in shambles—blossoms shattered beneath heavy heel marks, the smoldering scorch scars of Isaiah's and Kael's fury staining the once spotless paths. Death and potency clung in the air, but what had me unsettled the most was the icy stillness that came after.Jackson was cleaning blood from his sword, face unemotional. Jaden was still standing at the ready, golden eyes scanning the area, refusing to believe that it was truly finished.Our father was standing in the center, shoulders locked, staring down at the spot where Thomas once was.Those words were r

  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 179: ENDING THEM

    HAILEYThe air was quiet, save for my breathing, as regular as the tick of a clock. Sleep held me in its grasp like a heavy fog, but some power pulled me out of its depths—a discord in the air, an awkward shift that didn't belong.I didn't wake, didn't flinch so much as a muscle to show I knew anything, but my senses were on high alert. The scent hit me next—bitter and flavored with evil.David.The moment stretched, charged and taut. I felt him in the darkness, holding back just beyond the edge of night. He thought me vulnerable. He thought he held the advantage.He was wrong.A breath of movement, a mere stir in the air—then a knife descended at my throat.My eyes snapped open.Before he could bring his knife to my skin, I closed my hand about his wrist in an unbreakable grip. His eyes widened, shock crossing his face. He tried to pull away, but I held tighter, bones snapping under my fingers."You're a fool, David," I breathed, my voice a killing whisper.He snarled, twisting in my

  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 178: HOME

    TURTELANight air was quiet, but there was something moving in the space around us. One moment we were sitting there, tension still thick with all that had happened, and then—I felt it.A tug deep inside me, as if an unseen string had been pulled taut and back into position. A rush of heat washed over me, as if stepping out into a frigid winter's night and into the sun. I gasped, my eyes wide with shock as my heart knew before my mind could."Mother," I whispered.I wasn't alone. Alexia drew in a harsh breath next to me, her hold on the rim of the stone table tightening. Jermaine and Jackson both stiffened sharply, their heads snapping up at the same moment. Aaron leapt out of his chair so fast the chair scraped harshly on the floor.And then, as a group, we moved.No words were ever spoken. We all knew it—the instant she was back. We ran in, our shoes clattering in the corridors, hearts racing with a single, desperate desire.We discovered them in their room.Ryan stood his ground n

  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 177: FIGHT FOR YOU

    HAILEYThe air was heavy with the smell of fire and blood. As soon as I entered the room, I saw Ryan.Or Ares.His wolf had emerged fully, and the sight of him sent a shiver down my spine—one not of fear, but of ragged, gnawing worry. His massive body was tense, his muscles rippling as barely repressed fury rolled off him in waves. The golden sheen of his irises had been darkened to black, the edges dancing like the embers of a dying fire.And at his feet—nothing but ash remained.Azure was gone. Not dead—destroyed.Ryan—Ares—had seen to that.The smell of charred flesh still hung in the air, but it wasn't what caught my eye. It was how his body shook, not with fatigue, but with rage barely in check. The monster within him was still fighting to get blood, still fighting to tear something—someone—limb from limb.He was losing it. Losing control to his wolf's instincts.And if I didn't stop him now, he would never come back.I crept forward, slowly, slowly, very slowly."Ares," I breath

  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 176: FREEDOM

    RYANAgony.It started as a dull ache, a pressure in my ribs, then spread like wildfire throughout my entire body. It was like some thing had been wrapped around my soul—tight, choking, unyielding—and now it was being ripped away.I gasped, my head spinning, my muscles freezing as I collapsed onto the cold, wet stone beneath me. The chains that had bound me all these years clattered against the floor, and suddenly—air was mine.The spell was broken.I balled my fists, the rush of power surging back into my veins, my wolf snarling inside me, at last released after months of being suppressed and quiet. I drew in a deep breath, the stale air of my imprisonment now mixed with something else—power. A commanding, familiar, and unbreakable presence.Hailey.She did it.I let out a whoop of breathless laughter, my lips spreading in a savage grin. My mate had broken the spell. And that left only one possibility—anyone who'd placed it there was dead.Athena.I could feel it, the traces of her m

  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 175: PLAN

    THOMASThe scent of blood and power hung heavy in the air. I floated through the garden like a specter, in fast, striking hard.Jackson didn't have time to blink before my fist hit his ribcage, and he reeled back into the stone table. His wine glass shattered against it, crimson liquid spreading across the ground like blood.He coughed, rolling onto his side, but I didn't give him a chance to catch his breath. I launched myself at him again, claws extended—A shock of energy struck my side.I was knocked back, crashing through a stone pillar before I landed on the ground with a grunt. Fire coursed through me, but I didn't have time to register it. I leapt up onto my feet as Adrian appeared in front of me, fangs bared.“You’re either stupid or desperate,” he hissed. “Attacking us here?”I wiped blood from my mouth and grinned. “A little of both.”Jermaine and Jaden were already flanking me, their wolves prowling just beneath the surface. Aurora stood behind them, golden eyes glowing, h

  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 173: UNRIVALED SPELLS

    AURORA" Damn Auntie, you certainly are queen."I looked at her.At Her.The Queen of All Species. The Unbreakable. The one whose name carried the legends' weight and whispered fear into the hearts of the enemy.And yet, up until this time, I had never truly seen her.Hailey between the dying sparks of magic, power still snapping in the air like a tempest that will not be silenced. Light and darkness curled about her as though the universe knew whom it was dealing with. Outside, wind howled, but inside was only silence—thickness, gagging, wonder-struck silence.I had believed myself strong beforehand. But facing her there, looking at her after what had just transpired between us, I realized something profound."I see now," I gasped, my words struggling to come above the still-pulsing magic.Those eyes turned upon me—aged, knowing, unreadable.I gulped, perspiration tickling against my skin. "I understand why every mighty ruler wanted you as his wife."It wasn't her power, though that

  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 172: THE HUNT FOR ATHENA

    HAILEYThe moon rode high in the sky, dropping a chill silver light across the castle grounds. I rested my arms against the railing on the balcony's edge, drawing in deep gulps of the night air. My hands grasped the railing tightly as I fought to suppress the fury simmering in my blood. Ryan was lost. Athena had cursed him. And that could mean only one thing—tonight, we hunted.Behind me, Aurora stepped forward, her golden eyes burning with determination. She had not spoken a word since the devastation in the war room, but now there was a tempest raging inside of her, quietly. Her wolf was restless, hungry for revenge."Ready?" I asked.Aurora nodded, rolling her shoulders. "More than ready."I turned and moved towards the door. We did not need an army to accomplish this. This was a personal matter. Athena had crossed a line, and she would suffer the consequences.As we strode through the castle corridors, the torches along the stone walls started to dance furiously, reacting to the s

  • CLAIMING HAILEY    CHAPTER 171: THE BREAKING POINT

    JADENThe air in the war room was so tight you could strangle on it.Jermaine sat at one end of the long wooden table, folded arms crossed over his chest, face immobile. Jackson was leaning back in his chair, scowling as he beat a single, slow finger against the armrest. I couldn't sit still, pacing up and down the length of the room like a caged animal.The silence had lingered for too long.Then Jermaine finally spoke."We must discuss the prophecy."Jackson mocked. "Now you're interested in it?"Jermaine's eyes narrowed. "I've always been interested."I stopped pacing, spinning around to face them both. "Then why do you sound like you're only bringing this up now?" I snapped. "Ryan—our dad—is missing. Can't we be more worried about finding him rather than arguing about some prophecy that's been hanging over our heads since we were born?"Jermaine expelled a rough breath, gazing at me as if I were being silly. "We're not dealing with any prophecy here, Jaden. This one tells us that

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status