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CHAPTER 121: SHADOWS DEEPEN
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2025-03-31 17:11:31
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CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 122: HEART STOPPER
LOGANThe grounds groaned beneath me, the motor growled, but I hardly heard it. I was not unconscious of the cold, stinging night air whipping by. I was still unable to understand their words. "Flora was his mother." "His father was Azure." In my imagination, these phrases sounded like battle drums. Flora. My friend, my mate, the mother of my daughter and the angelic human I had loved with every fibre of my being is presently being linked to the one who almost destroyed us all? How is this even possible?. I tried to calm my beating heart, which had suddenly become unsteady, perspirations across my forehead as my knuckles repeatedly shook and the words I had heard settled and dawned on me. Years had passed since she died—gone from me, leaving only memories and an empty spot that I had never occupied. And now, suddenly, the truth was revealed. She had another living child. The son of Azure. I grind my teeth. It was an unpleasant betrayal. This information had dealt me a sudden blow, and
Last Updated : 2025-03-31CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 123: SHATTERED
MARISSAThe packhouse was eerily silent, as if the walls themselves grappled with making sense of what had happened. Smoke and the bitter taste of burned magic clung in the air, mingling with the raw emotion that radiated from all assembled. My own heart pounded in every beat as I took in the scene before me.Logan—our Logan—kneeling on the ground, broken.I had never witnessed him so broken. Never. This resilient man had never been so broken. Yet even I had no idea how to process all of these new information. Flora had been so devoted and loving to her mate and child so this revelation is simply too astounding. The man who had been a rock of fortitude, who had battled and fought and led wars and defended his daughter with a ferocity that shook the world—cried.Hailey sat next to him, her presence in itself a soothing balm of reassurance, but even she could not repair this. Some wounds cut too deep. Some truths dismantled everything. Flora was her best friend yet she seemed so lost r
Last Updated : 2025-04-01CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 124: FRACTURED VISION
ISAIAHThe air was thick with heaviness. Magic clung like a heavy fog, the stench of incense and old shadows poisoning every breath I took. My flesh itched as the remnant of David's black magic clung to the packhouse walls, a harbinger of what was to come.All of that was nothing compared to the devastation in Logan's eyes before he shifted and vanished into the shadows.I had seen so much sorrow, could foresee so many losses to come. And yet even my gift—the visions the divine had given me—the visions could not prepare me for the bare, suffocating despair that consumed Logan.Flora had been his everything. His salvation for a lifetime of pain. And to discover that she was never his to begin with? That their bond was an illusion of magic?It shattered something inside him that might never heal.Hailey was where Logan had just left, her jaw set, her fists clenched. Her words echoed in my mind."We have to kill him."And she was right.David had grown beyond what I had foreseen. He had
Last Updated : 2025-04-01CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 1: THE FORGOTTEN WOLF
HAILEY QUINI tiptoe through the dim corridors of the packhouse, my bare feet padding softly against the cold wooden floors. The early morning light filtered dimly through the filthy-looking windows, casting long shadows that mirrored my reality—always in the background, always unseen. As I quietly prepared for my endless chores, I couldn’t help but feel that even the lowest Omegas had it better than I did. My existence wasn’t about living; it was about surviving.My body ached from yesterday’s punishments, the bruises on my ribs pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat. I winced as I bent to pick up a stray shoe someone had carelessly left in the hallway. It didn’t matter who dropped it; if the Luna saw it there, I would be the one blamed. That was how things always were over here. The truth didn’t matter to anyone here.I had learned long ago that speaking up only made things worse.As an orphan taken in by the Cedar pack’s Alpha and Luna after my mother’s death, I was expected to “earn
Last Updated : 2025-01-09CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 2: BULLIED BY THOMAS’S MATE
HAILEYThe packhouse hovered above me, its shadow stretching across the worn stone path as I mounted the creaking stairs; the weight of the laundry basket tugged at my arms, heavy with the scent of detergent, damp fabric, and bleach that clung to my skin. It was as if the building lived and breathed through its thick walls and heavy beams, exuding an unshakable power weighing upon me like a cage of a reminder of my place within this space of elitism.None of the clothes in the basket belonged to me. They never did. My days had turned into a monotonous cycle of scrubbing floors, folding linens, and tending to tasks nobody else would touch. It wasn't just work; it was a prison. And the walls felt closer ànd suffocating every day. Hope looks like such an impossible fantasy.But something was off today. The air vibrated with tension, an èlectric feeling I couldn't quite place. The source? Marissa Devaro. The pack had spent weeks preparing for her arrival, and now she was here—Thomas's cho
Last Updated : 2025-01-09CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 3: HAILEY SNEAKS OFF TO WORK WITH HUMANS
HAILEY Late one evening, as I gazed at the fissures in my small room's ceiling, the idea struck me. After Marissa's most recent act of cruelty and the pack's unrelenting disdain, the familiar weight of powerlessness weighed against my chest more than before. I was no longer able to do it. The packhouse was a jail, not a home, with its high walls and oppressive regulations. I would waste away, invisible and unloved, if I stayed. However, fleeing was insufficient. I had to find a way to live. I had heard rumours of the human settlement outside the pack's domain. People constantly seemed to need labourers for jobs that didn't need a lot of thought. I could save money and establish a life apart from here if I could find employment.I needed a way to survive, though, and I had heard rumours of a human town just outside the pack's territory. Humans seemed to always need workers for jobs that didn't ask too many questions, so if I could find work, I could save up and start a life far away f
Last Updated : 2025-01-09CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 4: DUNGEON
HAILEY As the warriors pulled me into the thick jungle, their hands closing around me like steel chains, my legs shook. My bare feet dragged against the coarse ground as I stumbled over sharp pebbles and roots. The foreboding shadow of the huge trees behind me engulfed the reassuring light of the neon lamps of the human settlement. "Please," I prayed in a raspy voice. "You're not getting—" The taller warrior cut in, "Save it," disdainfully and in a frigid tone. "Thomas will determine what to do with you." Thomas. I was horrified at the mere mention of the word. As Alpha, Thomas represented everything the pack feared and obeyed: ruthless, adamantly traditional, and unbending but a coward and manipulator behind it. Disobedience was never tolerated by him. My actions would be betrayal. I could sense Amenia's stern but reassuring voice awakening in my mind. "Stay strong Hailey. We will get through this. I wanted to believe her, but I was too scared to answer. I felt as if I was marching t
Last Updated : 2025-01-09CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 5: ALPHA KING RYAN
ALPHA KING There was an eerie stillness in the woods, one that pricked at my senses. Walking home, there was only the quiet of leaves being pushed aside by my boots as they sank into the soggy mud of the narrow path. The moon broke through the canopy above, lighting the ground in sporadic silver puddles. Though I've always been vigilant, I'm nervous tonight. Widespread attacks, escalating tensions between packs, and rumors of rebellions had been playing havoc for weeks. It was my duty to keep my territories tight and unified. I could not fail. I stood at six feet four and was a commanding presence that could scare off most men. My penetrating green eyes swept every shadow and twig for movement and detected nothing. Pursuing movement in every branch and darkness. He wore complex tattoos of wolves and runes carved onto his skin, coiled around his neck and arms. They conveyed power and a heritage handed down from his ancestors; they were not baubles. My black pants were drawn up into stu
Last Updated : 2025-01-09
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CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 124: FRACTURED VISION
ISAIAHThe air was thick with heaviness. Magic clung like a heavy fog, the stench of incense and old shadows poisoning every breath I took. My flesh itched as the remnant of David's black magic clung to the packhouse walls, a harbinger of what was to come.All of that was nothing compared to the devastation in Logan's eyes before he shifted and vanished into the shadows.I had seen so much sorrow, could foresee so many losses to come. And yet even my gift—the visions the divine had given me—the visions could not prepare me for the bare, suffocating despair that consumed Logan.Flora had been his everything. His salvation for a lifetime of pain. And to discover that she was never his to begin with? That their bond was an illusion of magic?It shattered something inside him that might never heal.Hailey was where Logan had just left, her jaw set, her fists clenched. Her words echoed in my mind."We have to kill him."And she was right.David had grown beyond what I had foreseen. He had
CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 123: SHATTERED
MARISSAThe packhouse was eerily silent, as if the walls themselves grappled with making sense of what had happened. Smoke and the bitter taste of burned magic clung in the air, mingling with the raw emotion that radiated from all assembled. My own heart pounded in every beat as I took in the scene before me.Logan—our Logan—kneeling on the ground, broken.I had never witnessed him so broken. Never. This resilient man had never been so broken. Yet even I had no idea how to process all of these new information. Flora had been so devoted and loving to her mate and child so this revelation is simply too astounding. The man who had been a rock of fortitude, who had battled and fought and led wars and defended his daughter with a ferocity that shook the world—cried.Hailey sat next to him, her presence in itself a soothing balm of reassurance, but even she could not repair this. Some wounds cut too deep. Some truths dismantled everything. Flora was her best friend yet she seemed so lost r
CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 122: HEART STOPPER
LOGANThe grounds groaned beneath me, the motor growled, but I hardly heard it. I was not unconscious of the cold, stinging night air whipping by. I was still unable to understand their words. "Flora was his mother." "His father was Azure." In my imagination, these phrases sounded like battle drums. Flora. My friend, my mate, the mother of my daughter and the angelic human I had loved with every fibre of my being is presently being linked to the one who almost destroyed us all? How is this even possible?. I tried to calm my beating heart, which had suddenly become unsteady, perspirations across my forehead as my knuckles repeatedly shook and the words I had heard settled and dawned on me. Years had passed since she died—gone from me, leaving only memories and an empty spot that I had never occupied. And now, suddenly, the truth was revealed. She had another living child. The son of Azure. I grind my teeth. It was an unpleasant betrayal. This information had dealt me a sudden blow, and
CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 121: SHADOWS DEEPEN
JACKSONI felt like the wind had been punched out of my lungs.David was Alexia's half-brother?That wasn't some irrelevant piece of information we had overlooked—that changed everything.I turned to Jermaine, my fists tightening. "Are you sure?"Jermaine's expression was serious. He tapped the parchment again. "This record is old, Jackson. There's no mistake. Azure and Alexia's mother had a child before ever meeting Alexia's father. That child was David."I ran a hand through my hair, trying to get my head around it. "So that means." My jaw clenched. "That means he's been lying to Jaden the entire time."Jermaine nodded. "Not just Jaden. All of us."I sucked in a sharp breath. "We have to tell Hailey."Jermaine hesitated. "We have to be careful how we do that. Jaden is already wound up. If we push him too hard, he'll think we're trying to manipulate him."I growled. "I don't care if he gets mad at me. This doesn't involve Jaden anymore. Alexia's involved. And if David is anything lik
CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 120: SHADOW GAMES
DAVIDI could feel the change in the air.Jaden was stepping back.Not sudden—not a drastic move. But I knew him too well. He lingered a little longer. His eyes lingered a little longer, searching for something he wasn't sure that he wanted to see.I had seen it before. Doubt. It was a powerful thing. A weapon.And I was a master at wielding it.I had to act quickly.I came across him near the training grounds, looking up into the branches of the trees as if in deep thought. Perfect."Deep in thought about something serious?" I joked, my tone light and cheerful.Jaden shifted restlessly, then shook his head once more. "A lot on my mind."I rested against the stone wall beside him. "Jackson and Jermaine, then?"His head whirled around. "How did you—I smiled. "Come on, Jaden. We've been friends for years. You think I don't know when something's wrong with you?"His shoulders relaxed a bit. He wanted to believe me.Good."Let me guess," I continued, looking at him. "They think I'm a thr
CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 119: CRACKS IN THE SHADOWS
JADENI ran through the castle halls, my brothers' words ringing in my ears."David is not safe. You have to wake up, Jaden.""There's something not right with him. I don't trust him.""And you shouldn't either."It wasn't what they told me that unsettled me—it was the certainty in their voices. Jermaine was usually reserved, the sort who would weigh everything before he spoke, and Jackson, despite his arrogance at times, possessed a keen eye for spotting lies. But they were both wrong this time.David was okay.He had always been okay.Hadn't he?I suppressed the idea.Blending around the cutting corner, I bumped my shoulder into the chilly stone wall but barely registered.I needed air.Sliding the doors of the courtyard wide open, I entered the biting night. The sky stretched out endlessly overhead, and stars shone like lanterns in the distance. The stillness was a welcome change.Until I saw him.Waiting beside the far archway, David stood in the shadows. He wasn't pacing. He wasn
CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 118: THE BROTHERS' WARNING
JACKSONThe minute I stepped into the castle, I knew something was off. The atmosphere here wasn't just charged—it was polluted. You could smell the hidden odour around here of great trouble brewing. It was silent, a tick below normal, but I'd been a part of the human world long enough not to miss the scent of deceptions when they hung thick in the air.Jermaine was already in the grand hall, arms folded, his face as sharp as ever."Do you feel it too?" he asked as I walked in.I nodded. "David?"Something was not right with him.It's not a suspicion, just intuition. A powerful, nagging feeling that twisted in my gut whenever I looked at him. He was too smooth, too controlled. Men like him couldn't be trusted.I'd run across my fair share of lying people in the human world—corporate vipers who grinned as they orchestrated your downfall, politicians who had spun deception into poetry. And David? The same vibe. The kind of person who took the long way around, who got you to believe him
CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 117: AFTERMATH
MARISSAThe castle was more subdued than normal tonight. There was an unnatural quiet that clung to the air, like the quiet before a storm. Everywhere felt tense and electrifying; pack members were scared out of their minds, and the stench of fear radiated.And I didn't appreciate it.The torches' flickering made long shadows on the floor as I approached Hailey's room, my boots softly echoing on the stone floor.Turtela walked alongside me, her strides light and smooth. She wasn't as taut as I was, but I knew she sensed it, too—the change in atmosphere, the insidious feeling of discomfort. David. The new bone of contention in the house. We can all feel how dangerous he is, but not Jaden; he trusts him explicitly even despite all warnings given.Ryan had spoken to me about him, his suspicions dark and ominous. Hailey had agreed, which wasn't typical. She was protective, but she wasn't one to judge.That alone rang alarms. Hailey would never condemn anyone without all facts in place; i
CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 116: SUSPICION
DAVID There was a perceptible weight to the air in the castle. Unease. Mistrust. It thickened with each glance that was directed at me, becoming almost tangible. Ryan kept an eye on me. He was constantly observing. As Jaden guided me around the castle, his voice full of excitement, I caught a glimpse of his golden eyes across the courtyard. The escalating conflict between his parents went unnoticed by him. Between us. "Come on," Jaden urged me to move on. "The war rooms are still hidden from you. Following the previous vampire incursion, my mother had them reinforced. His mom. I stifled a grin, maintaining a deliberately neutral expression. What was about to happen was unknown to Hailey. Neither did Jaden. As we went beneath imposing arches, the smell of steel and old parchment filled the air. Jaden babbled on about history and war tactics, but I was still focused on other things. Ryan was still suspicious and in my space. He continued to observe. A predator identifies a fellow preda
