Filed To Story: Claimed by the Alpha I Hate Book Read Free
Darkness enveloped my vision, but I still had my other senses. I could feel the chilling brush of night against my skin, its breeze curling around my arms and speckling them in goosebumps. The smoky scent of charred meat clung to my nose, mouthwatering as it called on my empty stomach to awaken.
One by one, I let them slip into the background, where I could no longer notice them. Just as I’d began constructing the thought, I heard a familiar voice.
“Woah, what’s she doing?”
It was Zeke, and from the sound of it, he was close by. I didn’t plan on answering, not that I needed to.
Breyona was quick to reply, effectively hushing the eager Alpha.
“Shh! She’s using her magic to give Sean hair.” Breyona whispered, her voice fading into nothing.
Zeke cursed then whispered, “I don’t want to miss this.”
I could hear the sound of his footfalls and knew he had run back into the house. Returning to the task at hand, I thought of my brother and the role he filled in my life. He’d been my first best-friend, and my first enemy. This time around, I didn’t have to put much effort into it. Cordelia had been right when she said knowing my magical type would make it easier to call it forth. All I had to do was create a mental image of what I wanted, and I felt the electrifying stir of magic in my gut.
Reaching out, I tapped into it and let it solidify the picture I’d created.
A scream rang out, and my eyes snapped open. It was rough enough that it sounded masculine, but it was higher than any man’s voice I’d ever heard. It was followed by a deep bellow of rich laughter.
The five of us locked eyes, a second passing before we scrambled off the sectional and raced inside.
More laughter rang out, varying in pitch and tone. I recognized my dad’s and grandmas in the mix, along with Claire’s.
We sprinted through the kitchen, pushing past one another like children, to the source of the commotion.
Everyone was in the living room, so it took a moment before I was able to spot who screamed.
Giovanni made it first, followed by Breyona and then me. Clara and Mason came directly after, both craning their heads until they found what we were all looking for.
Zeke was on the floor, clutching his stomach as he cackled. Dad was red-faced from trying to hold it in, and grandma had her hand firmly planted against her forehead. Both Cass and Kendrick had ear-
splitting grins on their faces while Claire and Flora giggled behind their hands. Nolan’s was the last laugh I heard, his tone as deep and rich as Zeke’s. I was so stunned by my mate’s reaction that I almost didn’t notice Sean.
“Daisy, this isn’t what I meant at all.” My big brother groaned, combing his fingers through the long mane of hair I’d given him.
It was a wispy shade of blonde, a last-minute detail I didn’t think would stick, and ended a few inches past his a*s. Seeing him like that left me stunned for a minute, not only because it actually worked but because of how different he looked. Breyona was the first to break the silence, and as always, she didn’t disappoint.
“So majestic.” She murmured in amazement.
Per her comment, the room was once again engulfed in laughter, this time mine included.
For the rest of the night we laughed, ate, and talked. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had this much fun, where there wasn’t some threat looming over my shoulder. Since taking on the responsibility of Luna and Queen of the Vampires, there wasn’t much time to kick back and relax.
Even Tristan and Giovanni seemed to be enjoying themselves. The latter was absorbed in a conversation with Nolan and his dad. Breyona kept her distance, but every time Giovanni’s eyes lit up with interest, she’d practically squeal. Tristan was elbows deep in whatever argument Zeke had incited, but judging from the occasional smirks they gave one another, it wasn’t serious enough to intervene.
Before long, a few of us began packing things up. There were enough leftovers to feed a small army of humans, which meant there was just enough for Nolan and Ito last the week with. Grandma’s desserts, on the other hand. Those were gone before anything else.
Dad and grandma, along with Nolan’s parents, were the first to leave. Sometime during the evening,
Holly decided she wanted to stay for the sleepover Cassidy was hosting. She seemed a bit nervous, toying with the hem of her dress, but surprisingly, Clara took her aside and helped smooth things out.
Since Nolan didn’t feel comfortable leaving all of us here alone, we made a compromise. The guys would keep to themselves and find something to do, while the girls had full rein of the in-home theatre, living room, and minibar.
None of them objected to the idea, not once Nolan showed them the lounge and his aged whiskey collection. If anything, I think Giovanni might’ve been ready to swoon.
“I’m totally down to hang out and drink, but can we maybe find a late-night barber or something first?”
Sean asked, narrowing his eyes at me in particular when everyone burst into laughter. Even Tristan and Giovanni cracked a smile, and they were two of the most stoic men in the room.
Zeke clapped him on his back and said, “Not to worry, man. I can cut your hair for you.”
“You can?” Sean asked dryly.
“Sure can.” Zeke nodded, “I’ve done it before.”
Placated with Zeke’s answer, Sean lumbered into the lounge, jumping into the conversation Mason and
Kendrick were having over Nolan’s whiskey collection.
Kendrick’s entire face had lit up when Nolan invited him as well, right down to his hazel and green-
flecked eyes. It was wholesome and almost adorable the way Kendrick grinned and stammered, “I-I’d be honored, Alpha!”
When Sean was out of hearing distance, Breyona tapped Zeke on the shoulder and said, “You’ve cut hair before?”
“Yeah, when I was seven. Didn’t do too bad if I do say so myself.” Zeke shrugged, his grin downright cheeky. “Hey, Daisy. If I mess up, you think you could regrow his hair a second time?”
I yawned into the palm of my hand, only somewhat tired from using my magic the first time. The amulet
Rowena had given me must’ve been doing its job, making it easier to focus my magic. Still, I hoped the wave of exhaustion I felt when conjuring would soon go away. It would royally s**k if I spent the rest of my life dependent on mid-day naps.
“Don’t see why not.” I replied.
Cassidy quickly ushered the guys from the room and demanded we all change into something comfortable. I loaned Holly and Clara a pair of pajamas, and half an hour later, found myself sitting front row in the home-theatre while some Werewolf-Vampire romance movie played on the screen.
I bit back a cackle when the tanned, obscenely muscular guy on the screen exploded in a mass of fur, his clothes shredded and billowing through the air like confetti. Out of all the inaccurate information I’d seen so far, they at least got that part right.
“I thought I was supposed to be escaping my troubles, but you’ve got us watching werewolves and vampire’s fight.” I said teasingly.
Cassidy’s face broke out into a grin, her sea glass eyes twinkling with laughter in the low light. She tossed a handful of popcorn into her mouth, groaning happily as she chewed.
“Ugh, I just love popcorn. And hey, at least there’s no witches in the movie!” She giggled. Then she waggled her eyebrows and said, “Plus who doesn’t like watching two attractive men fight over a girl?”
“She needs to pick the werewolf. He’s so hot.” Clara murmured; her eyes fixated on the screen. Or, more specifically, fixated on the tanned shirtless man that walked across the screen.
Breyona wrinkled her nose and turned to give Clara an incredulous look. “Bleh, that wolf has a superiority complex or something. He’s done nothing but boss her around. Plus it’s weird as h**l that they can end up mated to a literal child.
She needs to pick the Vampire. At least he cares about what she wants.”
“I don’t know about you, but I like me a bossy man and that Vampire of hers is a good hundred years older than she is.” Clara shot back, poking her tongue out.
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?