Filed To Story: Claimed by the Alpha I Hate Book Read Free
After another hour in bed, I had no choice but to shower and get dressed for the long day ahead. Come tomorrow, I would no longer be in this packand my future would be more uncertain than ever. I was on a mission, to safeguard this pack and hopefully ensure a long and happy life with Nolan by my side.
I threw on something simple, a t-shirt and a pair of dark leggings. I wanted to get far away from the pack’s territory line before calling on my Father and his men. I wanted the wolves running patrol to remain safe, and keep another fight from brewing.
Shortly after I had gotten dressed, Grandma called and asked me to join her for coffee. I knew I wouldn’t have the chance to say goodbye to my family, but it was a risk I was willing to take. I was betting on my survival, on returning with crucial information about the upcoming war. Dad, Sean and
Grandma would be furiousbut they would live, and that was what mattered.
I accepted her invitation, as it was the last chance, I’d have to see her. Nolan personally dropped me off at the coffee shop, giving me a lasting kiss that made me question if leaving was the right choice.
‘It’s for Breyona and Giovanni.’ My wolf reminded me, ‘Neither of us want to leave, but it’s what a Luna would do. Two members of our pack are just as important as the rest.’
She was right, we both knew it. Neither of us wanted to leave Nolan, it simply feltwrong, but the safety of this pack mattered more than our personal happiness.
Grandma arrived shortly after Nolan had left, a sour expression on her face. Her face was creased with lines, her eyes clouded with sleep. Grandma had definitely seen better days. I had expected her to return home weeks ago, I was sure she missed her little cottage in the woods and her herb garden. Not only did she stay for Dad, she stayed for Sean and I. With our Mom gone, our family had a gaping hole that no one could fill. Grandma never tried to fill that hole, but she filled the house with life and laughter.
She refused to let Dad and Sean sit around moping. Mom wouldn’t want that, and Grandma knew it.
“You look like you need a couple days’ worth of sleep.” I chuckled lightly, giving her a quick hug before heading into the coffee shop.
“I think this entire pack needs a couple days’ worth of sleep.” Grandma replied. Despite the exhaustion in her eyes, she smiled, looking years younger. “War takes its toll on everyone, warriors and civilians alike.”
“It does, doesn’t it.” I sighed, “I heard you’ve been volunteering at the Community Center.”
“Someone has to feed all the soldiers.” Grandma shrugged, “They deserve some quality food, not that gruel Kate was serving.”
Kate was just another member of the pack, a few years younger than Grandma, with four children of her own. Volunteers had stepped up left and right, offering their homes, food, and time to help out the pack.
“I’m sure their very appreciative.” I smiled softly.
I ordered myself an Iced Mocha Latte and one of their huge chocolate chip muffins. The last time I had been here I was with Breyona, how things have changed. Grandma and I sat at one of the small circular tables in the coffee shop, and I watched as something shifted in her eyes.
“How’s life as the Luna treating you?” She asked, “When this mess is over, are you going to go through with the ceremony?”
The ceremonyan event I had completely forgotten about. It wasn’t that I questioned the decision to step up as Nolan’s Luna, but there were more pressing things on my mind.
The ceremony was a day of joy for the entire pack, where their Luna would step up and claim her position. It was a simple matter, the Alpha and Luna would draw a shallow cut along their palm and join hands. All of those voiceseveryone in the pack would then be linked to me. The ceremony was binding, allowing me to mind-link everyone in the pack simultaneously, as Nolan had done many times.
Mates could naturally mind-link with each other, just as any individual in the pack could mind-link Nolan.
The ceremony often happened months after the Alpha met his mate, giving the she-wolf time to decide if she truly wanted to become Luna. I had no such qualms; I was more than ready to step into the position.
“Of course, I will.” I nodded, “As much as I’d like to get it done with now, the last thing we need is an invasion during the celebration.”
“I agree.” Grandma nodded, giving me a long look. “My Granddaughter, a Luna. Not that I’m surprised,
I always knew you were destined for great things. You’re already willing to give everything for this pack, you’ve been its Luna for quite some time already.”
Something was bothering her; I could easily tell. I knew she hadn’t a clue about Breyona and
Giovanni’s disappearance, but Grandma easily picked up on the moods and expressions of others. She could tell I was stressed, and that there was something I wasn’t telling her.
The only people who knew about Breyona and Giovanni’s disappearance was his Beta, Zeke, and
Breyona’s parents. They hadn’t taken the news lightly, but they trusted Nolan to bring their daughter back. If only they knew that their trust wasn’t in Nolan, but in me. The thought made my stomach turn.
The last thing I wanted was to destroy their trust, to fail in returning their daughter.
Even if we managed to get the upper hand and win this war, there were still other pressing concerns.
How would the pack react to Giovanni’s presence? He couldn’t remain in the dark forever. Alpha Bran would undoubtedly refuse, which could lead to another problem entirely. Alpha Bran could easily decide to retaliate, which would lead to yet another war.
The ‘what ifs’ and potential problems made my head swim, but the caffeine and sugar did what it could to quiet my frazzled mind. Grandma and I stayed at the coffee shop for another half hour before she had to go back to the community center. It was nearing dinner time, Grandma and the other volunteers had to make food for all of the warriors who had come to this pack.
As we stepped outside of the coffee shop, we nearly ran into Chelsea. I hadn’t seen her since her birthday, not that I actively sought her out to begin with. She had Ethan at her side, an odd pairing considering neither really ever liked one another. Ethan had seen better days, dark rings lined his eyes, and they shined with a dull haunted light.
Isaac had been a close friend of his, and had lost his life when Brittany managed to escape Nolan’s dungeon. Chelsea had never cared for Isaac, making it even stranger that she stood by Ethan’s side.
Chelsea’s face turned up in a sneer as we locked eyes, while Ethan remained indifferent. Ethan was an a*s on all accounts, but he had never pretended to like me. When I dated Scott, Chelsea was my closest friend. She was also the first to turn on me once I discovered Scott wasn’t my mate.
“Looks like everything finally worked out for you, Daisy.” Chelsea sneered, and through the jealousy burning in her eyes, I could see her insecurities shining clear. “You’ve got your claws in yet another
Alpha, maybe this one will actually stick around.”
For once, Chelsea’s words had no effect on me. I had a long list of things to worry about, and petty jealousy wasn’t one of them. Chelsea had always known how to provoke a reaction from me, but this time, her words fell short. I had every intention on turning away when Grandma opened her mouth and spoke.
“Child, you need to learn some manners and learn how to speak to your future Luna.” Grandma snapped.
A smart person would hear the contained anger in her words and back off, Chelsea was not one of those people. Grandma had always known how to strike fear into Sean and I. Even Dad kept his distance when Grandma was truly angry. She emitted a calm and wise aura that surrounded her, and could easily make anyone sound childish and inexperienced. She looked down on Chelsea like a toddler throwing a fit, blatant disappointment burned in her eyes.
“She’s not my Luna.” Chelsea sneered, though it wasn’t fueled with as much anger this time around.
She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at my Grandma, who seemed completely disinterested.
Ethan stood to the side, his eyes flitting around the outside of the coffee shop. I wasn’t even sure he heard what Chelsea had said. I was never close with Isaac, nor had I ever pretended to be, but I felt sorry for Ethan. Even though he was a total a*****e, he had lost someone important.
“So long as you live in this pack, Daisy is your Luna.” Grandma’s voice held an eerie calmness, one that told me Chelsea better back off if she had any sense of self-preservation. “How shameful, Alpha Nolan will hear of this. He will not take kindly to you disrespecting his mate.”
Chelsea paled, most likely recalling the horrible rumors that surrounded Nolan. Rumors where he k****d brutally and without mercy, rumors where he’d take prisoners for the slightest infractions and never let them see the light of day. Little did Chelsea know, most of the rumors were true, but they only told half of the story. Nolan was brutal, dominate, and fought with a ferocity that made most men pale in comparison. He was also selfless, brave, and would do anything and everything for his people. Every act of brutality, every cruel action had been for the benefit and safety of his pack. When he had taken this pack from Scott and merged it with his own, it had taken a full month before the people of this pack saw him for what he was, everything that an Alpha should be.
“Ethan” I called out before Chelsea could storm away with a huff. Ethan’s wandering eyes met my own, strained with grief. “I’m sorry about Isaac. The people who hurt him will pay; you have my word.”
“Thanks, Luna.” Ethan nodded; his voice rougher than usual.
Ethan headed into the coffee shop, leaving Chelsea staggering to catch up. Grandma flashed me a humorous smile, though her eyes shined with both anger and sadness.
“That girl will learn some manners sooner or later. She’s going to say the wrong thing to the wrong person someday.” Grandma huffed, “You handled that well, Daisy. I wish I could’ve said the same about myself.”
“She needed to hear what you said.” I shrugged, “You’re right, someday she will say the wrong thing to someone.”
It nearly k****d me to turn away from my Grandma, to let her get into the car and watch as she drove away. There would be no long goodbyes. My family would only try to stop me. They wouldn’t understand that I had no choice, that it was so much more than my life for Breyona’s. I swallowed the guilt and tinge of fear that swirled in my stomach, mustering the courage to move forward.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?