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CHAPTER 49: A QUEEN'S SHADOW
Last Updated:
2025-02-26 14:18:43
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CLAIMING 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,
Last Updated : 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,
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 2025-02-28CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 55: WHISPERS OF THE STORM
HAILEYA flurry of murmur filled the council room as voices were raised in contentious discussion. Around the large round table sat the representatives of the various species, including wolves, vampires, witches, and even fae, their expressions displaying a mixture of bullheadedness and fear. I sat at the top, my status as queen cemented by our tense alliances. "Enough," I yelled, my voice piercing the tense atmosphere like a blade. All eyes turned to me, and suddenly there was silence. "There will never be a solution with this squabbling. We are up against more dangers than we have ever encountered. We shall all fall if we do not stand together. Representative of the Fae leaned forward, his golden eyes gleaming. If I may speak freelý, Your Majesty, given that wolves like Thomas continue to roam free and create division, how can we have faith in these alliances? Unease shook the room as Thomas was brought up. In an attempt to avoid taking the bait and defending my type, I clenched my
Last Updated : 2025-02-28CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 56: WISDOM IN THE SHADOWS
HAILEY With the moonlight pouring in through the big windows and casting a gentle, silvery glow over the room, I sat cross-legged in my own space. My attention was focused inward, yet my reflection was caught in the shimmering elaborate mirror on the distant wall. I sought deep inside for Amenia, my wolf, the presence that has been my guiding light, my constant companion, and also my fiercest critic. "Amenia," I close my eyes. "I need you." The air became warmer and more energetic. The image of a great wolf came into clarity in her mind's eye: its impressive rich silver fur and its piercing gold eyes. I have been so stressed out lately with no time to relax or reflect on anything. The air became warmer, throbbing with vitality. The image of a great wolf flashed into focus in her mind's eye: the eyes of piercing gold, the gorgeous fur of deep silver. I feel both light and relieved as Amenia padded forward and appeared as a shadow before me, immediately enveloping me in her presence
Last Updated : 2025-03-01CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 57: HEALING MOON
LOGANMy mind was anything but calm, even if the moonlight streaming through the treetops overhead was serene. The woodland that loomed at the perimeter of our grounds caught my attention as I stood at the edge of the pack's area. The nocturnal sounds seemed so far as the trees gently swayed and arched in the fresh breeze. Marissa's unpredictable nature, witty remarks, and the fact that she had put everything on the line to save Alexia and the triplets consumed my thoughts. Trying to reconcile the villain I once thought she was with the woman she'd be as my mate. I had been trying to understand her for days. Her gaze was filled with love rather than merely protectiveness towards Alexia. It was full of love. I had never anticipated someone like Marissa to show the kind of affection I had assumed was only for partners or family. She was teaching my young daughter how to weave flowers into crowns when I discovered her in the garden with Alexia that day. Marissa struggled with a particul
Last Updated : 2025-03-01
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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
