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CHAPTER 46: A SHADOW GAME
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-25 13:52:51
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CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 47: THE FATHER HE NEVER KNEW
AARON The streets were alive with their usual buzz of traffic and the usual hum of cars, but I was barely aware of it all tonight. The crushing weight of Selene's ambitions and the secrets she kept made me uneasy because she insisted on moulding me into her destiny rather than mine as if she were preparing me for something bigger, but I wanted something or someone more. Hailey, I became obsessed with her the moment I saw her, but I have no intention of stopping, no matter the level of opposition involved, she must be mine.I hid at a tiny café with a bookshop on the more sedate side of town. I grabbed a seat beside the window in one corner, and the air smelt like freshly brewed coffee and old paper. No one knows me as the fashion house billionaire; titles do not matter here, so I find peace and calmness of thought every time I come by this place. However, I went here for a little respite from Selene's oppressive rule, not for the books or the coffee. Even though the bell above the e
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-25CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 48: SELENE'S WRATH
SELENEI walked the great hall of my lair as the moon was low in the sky, sending a silver light over the thick forest. My heart was pounding with a mix of fear and anger, which I could not identify. Isaiah was alive. Alive! He had returned like a ghost from the past, with the power to annihilate the carefully constructed web of deceit I had built, after all my scheming and struggling to ensure that he would never return. More than that, Aaron had discovered him. I clenched my fists and drove my nails into my palms. My son having to face him made my blood boil. A reminder of a past I'd long forgotten, Isaiah was a weakness. A reminder of a past I'd long forgotten. I'd given up everything to ensure Aaron's future and shape him into the weapon he was born to become. Everything has been jeopardized because of Isaiah. Two of my most trusted outlaws entered through the creaking massive oak doors. Their faces were impassive as their massive bodies filled the room. I roared, "Report," my voi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-26CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 49: A QUEEN'S SHADOW
THOMASSwirling the amber-colored liquid in my glass, candlelight danced over the smooth wood of my study desk. Betrayals had surfaced and friendships had changed through the crazy last weeks. Still, my thoughts continued to focus on Hailey all along. She was a queen in all ways, and she was everything. Authoritative, elegant, and beautiful, she was Ryan's and beyond reach. The hot light didn't quite ease the ache within, so I had some of the bourbon. Years ago, I would never have imagined making the concessions and compromises that I had made. But as the facts gradually emerged, it became glaringly obvious that Lucy had lied to me. Lucy. Saying her name made me feel contemptuous. She had infiltrated my life, playing tricks on my free will and offering promises. She was my friend and equal. But no-she was an enchantress who used magic to make me hers to command. And I only discovered it by chance. A random encounter with an old renegade healer shocked me into wakefulness. We were disc
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-26CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 50: THE RISE OF AZURE
HAILEY The air grew sinister, heavy with an eerie cold that made my spine tingle. It wasn't the typical court setting, where the triplets' laughter and the council members' sporadic arguments could be heard reverberating through the corridors. No, it felt like the world itself was holding its breath today. Something feels wrong yet I can't put my fingers around it. My court was all around me as I stood in the vast hall. Ryan and Logan stood on either side of me, their eyes alert and focused. Some of our finest warriors were protecting the triplets elsewhere. The vampire King Adrian had recently pledged fealty, and the partnership looked to momentarily improve our position. But now, it seemed, our peace was short-lived. The doors broke open, and the smell of sulphur filled up the entire space. An outer-world ethereal guy entered the hall, his presence like a black hole, draining the air from the room. On his armour each piece is engraved with ancient runes, glinted in the faint light,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-26CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 51: DEFIANCE
AZUREThe calmness of Hades' halls contrasted with the storm that was building within me. Selene's death was an unavoidable consequence of her ambitions and insolence, which were ultimately more of a hindrance than a benefit. But now there were additional issues. Black obsidian reflected dimly the flickering light of the surrounding torches as I sat on my throne, their long flames licking dark shadows across the room. Before me, a servant stumbled forward and dropped to his knees. "Master," he said, "the preparations for the next phase are complete." I waved him off, not really paying attention. I had more important things to think about. Subjugation was not enough for my purposes; blind, unflinching fealty was also necessary. And one individual had not yet succumbed. Aaron was the one who had not yet fallen in line. He had been a loose thread for too long. His disobedience was getting on my nerves, and Selene had neglected to monitor him. She was, after all, his birth mother; hence,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-26CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 52: SHADOWS FROM THE PAST
RYANThe weight on my chest was only reduced by the morning light pouring through the council chamber's tall windows. Hailey sat beside me; she looked little, serene, and reassuring, yet it was clear that she harboured an invisible storm that was just as fierce as mine. An older wolf named Calder sent for us because he had found information regarding Isaiah's history. Although I don't believe rumours, I could tell this one was serious by the time Calder approached us because he looked worried. I said, "Calder, tell us everything," a bit harsher than I intended them to be. The senior gave the nod with him before focussing on me; his gaze flitted to Hailey. "It's about Isaiah… and Selene." Hailey paused her hand on the armrest. Selene? What about her? Calder paused, and for an instant, I feared he might not say anything. Then he inhaled deeply and started. Calder murmured, the realisation weighing heavily on his voice, "Isaiah and Selene were mates." Hailey narrowed her eyes and tensed
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-27CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 53: SHADOWS OF DECEPTION
AARONI was on the edge of the woods, looking into the darkness, and the icy wind was nipping at my skin. Azure was hanging over all of it, trying to rule over all of it, and my dad was alive. All that had occurred in the past couple of days was all relived in my head like a broken record. Isaiah was a human being. My dad. My heart mourned hearing the epiphany. Selene had lied to me all these years, telling tales of a father who had left us and abandoned me to fight in this despicable and unforgiving world alone. But things were much uglier than that: my father withdrew to himself and struggled, no worse than Selene. I curled my fist up, hard as I dug nails into the palms of my hands. His peaceful, half-formed justification stoked the flames within me up the chimney even after speaking to him previously. Azure's plea for duty now towered above me like the weight of these choices. Isaiah had mentioned that he would like to speak with me once more. Part of me longed to shut him out, to
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-27CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 54: DESTINED BY FATE
LYNAAs I emerged from the darkness and entered the fading light of the street lamps, a subtle yet distinct odour of human blood permeated the air. The small human town had always been a very nice hunting area, but I had long ago sworn off hunting for sport. Since I had spent so many years living in self-control and just taking what I needed to survive, no one would ever know what was hiding in the shadows. But tonight I felt restless, like I had an itch I couldn't get rid of. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something was changing. My keen senses detected a figure travelling in the other direction as I turned a corner. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and exuded a commanding aura. He was a wolf. His scent was distinct, earthy and sharp, mixed with something darker—something that spoke of power and turmoil. Time seemed to stop for a moment, and I cocked my head to one side, curious. "I might ask you that." He said in a low, gravelly voice as if he weren't used to speaking softl
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-28
Bab terbaru
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
CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 170: PROPHECY
ALEXIAThe weight of it all descended upon me the moment I stepped into my chambers. I had barely a breath, a thought, a chance to untangle the chaos that was occurring around us. It was as if the world had decided to come apart at the seams, and we were all just trying not to fall into the abyss.I perched on the edge of the bed, my fingers jammed against my temples. Hailey, Thomas, Isaiah, Jaden, Athena, Flora—too many pieces in motion, too many threats lurking in the background. And in the middle of it all, I was supposed to be stronger, smarter, more capable than I was.My fingers curled into fists. Isaiah.He had looked… tired. No, not just tired—drained. His presence, usually so steady and enigmatic, had been unraveling before my eyes. And Jaden—he had wanted answers, but the anger in his eyes had been too much, too un contained. If I had not intervened, I had no idea what would have happened.I got up and left the room, my strides quick and determined. There was no time for bro
CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 169: CONNORS DEATH
THOMASThe stench of sweat and blood clung thick in the air as I stepped into the dungeon, the torches flickering to send leaping shadows across the cold stone walls.Bound to the heavy chains screwed into the floor was Connor, self-proclaimed King of Bears. His massive frame rested forward, but even in chains, he was a giant—a monster barely restrained. The fool had actually tried to attack me. Big mistake.His amber eyes snapped to mine as I entered, brimming with raw fury. Good.I had wanted him angry.I had wanted him desperate.Because desperation made men stupid. And stupid men made mistakes."You've finally risen to confront me, coward?" Connor swore, blood frothing on his lips. He strained at the chains, testing their limits, muscles distending. "I should have known you'd creep back to this world. Only vermin won't lie still dead."I smiled and approached him. "Watch it, Connor. Warnings aren't going to get you out of this one."His laugh was low and guttural. "Save me? From y
