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CHAPTER 72: LIGHT IN THE DARK
Last Updated:
2025-03-09 02:05:35
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CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 73: MOONLIGHT SHADOWS
AARONDespite the peace of the forest surrounding the packhouse, my mind was anything but calm; the weight of fatherhood, the inexplicable nature of my daughter's existence, and the impending threats from forces we hardly understood—it was all too much. But as I looked down at Aurora cradled in Lyna's arms, everything seemed to fade away. Her tiny fingers twitched, her violet eyes fluttering open briefly to meet mine before she fell back asleep. “How are you holding up?” Lyna’s voice cut through my mind.As I sat in the rocking chair we had set up by the window, I looked up at her. Her pale skin seemed to glow in the moonlight, and she was radiant despite the exhaustion lining her face. “I’m not sure,” I confessed, stroking her hair. “One minute I’m terrified out of my mind, and the next, I feel... whole. Like she’s a piece of me I didn’t know was missing.” Lyna smiled, her fingers grazed Aurora’s cheek. “She is. She’s a piece of both of us.” The weight of her words settled over me, a
Last Updated : 2025-03-09CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 74: AN UNLIKELY BOND
HAILEYThe midday sun highlighted the packhouse windows, warming the living room in which I sat, but I couldn't concentrate because my stomach churned miserably, a familiar ache caused by this pregnancy. Amenia, my wolf, fidgeted at the back of my head, her worry clear. You need to rest more, Hailey. "I've tried," I murmured to myself out loud, tracing the edge of my barely perceptible bump. Despite being only four months pregnant, this one felt larger and more exhausting than the last. I looked up as Adrian entered the room. The vampire king carried his usual look of superiority. His black eyes swept over me with gentle intent, and he exuded sophistication. "Hailey," he spoke in a smooth, honey-toned voice. "You are pale." Too tired to groan, I exhaled long and hard. "Thanks for pointing that out." He inched in silently, his movement as smooth as silk as usual. "Can I?" When I hesitated, it was agony that was in control. I nodded.Adrian descended to his knees before me, the chill pa
Last Updated : 2025-03-09CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 75: WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN
ADRIANI couldn't help but notice the tension in the air on the pack's grounds. I sensed it in the warriors' training, their eyes more fierce, their actions more precise. It was something more profound and primordial than the triplets' secrets or Azure's impending menace. And Hailey was the first. I saw the soldiers in the pack move in unison as I stood at the edge of the training area. I was envious of their admirable devotion to their queen. Even for me, such kind of loyalty was uncommon. But I wasn't thinking about them. They had her. Hailey. The connection I had with her was different from anything I had ever experienced; it wasn’t romantic—I wouldn’t dare venture into such territory anymorè—but it was profound, a connection that pulled at my very soul. She didn’t know it, but I had been dreaming of her, dreams full of whispers, warnings, and a sense of inevitability. “Adrian.” Isaiah’s voice drew me out of my reverie. The older man came towards me, his face shadowed by a mixture
Last Updated : 2025-03-09CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 76: SHADOWS OF DESTINY
RYAN The atmosphere was tense as I strolled through the forest that surrounded the pack’s lands; the moonlight barely broke through the dense canopy above, creating long, eerie shadows that danced with every rustle of leaves; my wolf, Ares, paced restlessly inside me, his agitation a constant pressure on my mind; Hailey’s pregnancy wasn’t just a blessing—it was a storm brewing on the horizon; the bond she had formed with Adrian, no matter how innocent, gnawed at my instincts; and now, with her recent pain and Adrian’s inexplicable ability to calm her, I felt as though I was losing control of the situation. “She’s our mate,” Ares growled; “We protect her, not him.” “I know,” I muttered. I whispered out loud, know. But what are our options? If he can assist her then we let him. Ares snarled once more but stopped arguing. Although he shared my frustration, even he acknowledged that Hailey had seemed somewhat relieved by Adrian's presence. I saw Logan reclining against a tree, his face u
Last Updated : 2025-03-09CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 77: A TRAITORS' STRIKE
MARISSA The silence seemed to press against your ears, intensifying every rustle and creak, and the night was calm and eerily quiet. To get my thoughts straight, I had ventured into the woods outside the pack's boundaries. My head was a jumble of ideas from all that had transpired, including the fates of the kids, Hailey's relationship with Adrian, and my own hazardous position as Luna next to Logan. I was always calm in the forest. The tall trees, the earthy smell of bark and moss, and the distant owl's screech served as a memory of my former self before danger and responsibility weighed heavily on me. But something didn't feel right tonight. I started to feel nervous, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on up. I looked around, but I couldn't find anything strange. Nevertheless, Lyra, my wolf, was agitated. In my mind, Lyra snarled, "We're not alone." My muscles coiling in preparation for a fight, I tensed myself. "Who is it?" Despite my uneasiness, I cried out in a forcef
Last Updated : 2025-03-10CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 78: A LOYAL SERVANT'S REPORT
THOMASI've forgotten what it means to be human. The master's first thing was to steal our senses from us and leave us numb, but I faltered when I was meant to kill Marissa; the master won't be pleased with this information. I've certainly come a long way since the man who obsessed over Hailey.Azure's den was heavy and stifling with air that seemed weighty with an aura of fear that clung to my body like a second skin. The burning candles cast long shadows on the stone walls, and the faint light did little to drive back the darkness that seemed to pervade this space. I carried the burden of defeat as I traveled down the long corridor. I had left Marissa crippled for weeks, maybe months, but I was not expecting Azure to be satisfied. He required results—completely and absolutely—and anything short of that would not suffice. I approached his enormous chamber's enormous doors. They were hanging over me. They resemble gates of hell descending over me, finely made with depictions of anarch
Last Updated : 2025-03-10CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 79: SHADOWS OF DOMINION
AZUREThe air in the lair pulsed with ancient energy that had existed long before this world knew light, and I sat upon my throne, carved from obsidian and etched with the runes of power, with my fingers drumming rhythmically on its armrest. I reminded myself that patience was necessary for all great victories, and mine would be the greatest of them all. As Thomas entered the room, his posture was rigid and submissive; he was loyal, yes, but flawed—like all mortals. His previous report about Marissa lingered in my mind, a mixture of annoyance hung in my head, a mix of annoyance and contentment. Alive yet unable to function. It was a calculated decision, but not one I would have taken. "My lord," Thomas said with a slight bow. I narrowed my eyes and waved him closer. "Talk, Thomas. What's new? He moved forward warily as if he were afraid of crossing some unseen line. "The pack continues to reel. Tensions among Hailey's allies are rising, and she is preoccupied with her pregnancy. My lo
Last Updated : 2025-03-10CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 80: VISIONS AND SACRIFICES
ISAIAH The only light in the tiny space was the warm glow of the fire, which crackled softly in the hearth. I was burdened by the weight of my visions, each of which represented a part of the future that I was still unable to piece together. The realms had always been both a blessing and a curse, a gift that ensnared me in a destiny from which I could never break free. But tonight, the visions were darker and heavier. The subtle shift in the air brought with it the subtle smell of earth and pine. I focused and grounded myself in the here and now by closing my eyes. I imagined I could hear the shadows dancing across the walls for a brief moment.The spirits' whispers were urgent and desperate. "Show me," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "What is to come?" The fire flickered, its light dimming as the room grew colder. I felt the pull, the familiar tug of the visions taking hold. My head swam, and the world around me faded into darkness. In the vision I stood on a battlefield, the
Last Updated : 2025-03-10
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CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 126: MEMORY LANE
AARONThe past had a way of creeping back in, no matter how much I tried to hide it.I'd had a craving for power. No, that was too weak—I'd been obsessed with it. Power was my aim, my constant thought. And Hailey… Hailey had been my fixation, the crown treasure that I believed I ought to have claimed.I had spent years believing I deserved the throne, deserving of her love. If I had been Alpha King and not Ryan, I would be the one standing beside her, ruling alongside her. I had wanted it at any cost, so much so that I had lost myself in its longing.Time had taken away the illusions from me, forcing me to face reality. Then, meeting my mate and having my beautiful Aurora finally subdued my person, and all my unnecessary cravings disappeared. Hailey wasn't ever going to be my own. And power? Power was a momentary flash, a burden that could destroy the very person that held it. I had seen what it did to others, seen how the burden of it had nearly shattered Hailey.And now I was watch
CLAIMING HAILEY CHAPTER 125: EXHAUSTION
TURTELAThe second I entered my chambers, the weight of it all came crashing upon me.I had held on in that room, standing before my family, as I watched the breaking of a man I had known my entire life. Logan—the hard-as-nails warrior, the father figure who had always stridden so fearlessly—became something raw and broken.And David…That smug, condescending grin. The ring of his laughter echoing, taunting us after his devastation.I clung to the doorframe, shaking hand. I was gasping for breath, constricted chest, scorched throat. I had fought so hard to have some kind of strength in that room, not to break down. But now, here in the privacy of my own chambers, I could finally release it all.A sob of shuddering tore from my throat as I dropped to knees.It was too much.The lying and the betrayal and the war roiling outside our walls. Feeling powerless gnawed at me like a sickness. I was always the bright one, the warm one, the one with the smile that could find humor even in dire
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
