Filed To Story: Claimed by the Alpha I Hate Book Read Free
There’s a good chance I might come back a second time…only to stay. I don’t know what I’m doing,
Sean. I don’t know how to win this.”
“Mm, maybe.” Sean mused. “There’s always that possibility. Life isn’t a certainty, and anything can happen but…” He trailed off, eyes sparkling with mischief. “…but I have it on good authority to let you know if you win this if you defeat the blood witch, you won’t be coming back here for a long, long while.”
I tried hard to wrap my head around what he was saying, but the thought of living a long life with Nolan by my side no longer felt like a certainty. It felt like a dream, one not nearly as tangible as the one I currently stood in.
“How can you know that?” I demanded, pausing to sniffle.
“Let’s just say, you’ve got someone looking out for you. Someone important.” He winked, and I had the feeling he expected me to know who he was talking about. “Now, we’ve got some things to talk about and not nearly enough time to do it. Tell me, how’s dad doing?”
As I explained to Sean the moments after his death, the tears continued to slip free. Sean’s smile faded, his eyes growing dark and mournful.
“Make sure he doesn’t blame Nolan, Daisy.
It’ll eat him alive if he does, and he’s not meant to come here for a long time.”
“I don’t know how, but he doesn’t.” I chuckled, wiping the moisture off my cheeks. “It shocked all of us.
He hugged him, Sean…andand they cried together.”
A soft smile returned to his face. “Tell dad
I’m proud of him-that mom is too. And even though it wasn’t his fault, tell Nolan that I forgive him.” 1
“You’ve seen mom?!” I gasped.
Sean chuckled, glancing over to the forests edge. “Yeah, I have. She misses you, Daisy, but she’s loved seeing how much you’ve grown.
At first glance, it was nothing more than your average forest, though the colors were much more vibrant. The longer I looked, the more I noticed the subtle differences that made this forest anything but normal.
First of all, every bird and butterfly in the park seemed attracted to that one spot, weaving in and out of the trees, only to emerge and circle the park. The sunlight streaming down on the treetops sparkled like it had been imbued with flecks of gold.
Even the air itself shimmered with magic; a kind that felt familiar yet ancient.
“What is that place?” I asked, unable to tear my eyes away. “Can-Can I go in there?”
Sean was silent long enough for me to turn my head. When we locked eyes, there was a gentleness in them that I’d never seen before. It wrapped around my heart and stole away the pain, replacing it with a longing so strong my eyes began to water.
“Ah, I’m afraid you can’t. That’s the point of no return, sis. Like I said, it’s not your time yet. Someday, you will, and when you do, I’ll be there waiting.”
I closed my eyes, fighting the wave of tears.” I don’t want to do this without you.
“Look at me, Daisy.” He demanded, though not unkindly. Reluctantly, I did as he said. ” I’m right where
I’m meant to be, and I will always be watching over you, little sister.”
I couldn’t help it; I didn’t want this moment to end. I threw myself into his arms, wishing more than anything that I could will my magic to stretch these seconds into hours- into an eternity. It would never be enough.
As I sobbed into his chest, not wanting to let go, something rustled within the grove.
“Look up…” Sean whispered.
I craned my head towards the patch of magical trees, and when I saw what Sean was looking at, my heart split in my chest.
It was Kanyon, my brother’s mate. 3
He stood at the cusp of the grove, a breathtaking smile on his face as he watched Sean and me. When he noticed me looking, he waved. When I turned back to Sean, his eyes were brimming with joy and love, so much that I now realized what a horrible mistake it had been to try and bring him back.
Finally, after all this time, Sean had reunited with his mate.
“You’re right.” I said, but the words came out as a whisper. “You’re meant to be here, aren’t you?”
Sean tilted his head to look down at me. “I am, Daisy. I promise.”
Squaring my shoulders, I embraced every facet of the pain. Rather than shoving it down, I let it consume me. Then, like the birds and butterflies darting about, I let it all
“I think I can let you go now.” I said, my voice cracking.
Sean pulled me into a hug, and I held on for dear life, committing every detail about my big brother to memory.
“You’re strong, Daisy. So strong. You can do this, you hear me? You’re going to change everything, and
I’ll be right there watching it all.”
He let me go, then took a step back.
“Walk me to the edge?” Sean asked, glancing in Kanyon’s direction.
“Of course.” I smiled, blinking to see past the tears.
With our fingers laced together, something we hadn’t done since we were children, my brother and I walked past the park that was once such a huge part of our childhood, and towards the magical grove that would cherish him always.
We stopped right at the edge of the towering trees. The sweetest scent trickled from in between them, coming from somewhere deep within the forest. I tilted my head, registering the sound of laughter and bell’s twinkling in the distance. The feeling of utter peace was stronger here, so much so that part of me wanted to take Sean’s hand and follow him inside. 1
I knew deep down that I couldn’t, that when it was my time to come here, it would be Nolan’s hand I held.
Sean squeezed my hand once before releasing it. “This is where we part, little sister, but it’s not forever. It’s never forever.” Abruptly, he snapped his fingers. Oh, I almost forgot. There’s something I need to tell you before you go, something important.”
“What? What’s so important that you have to tell me now?” I frowned.
Sean swallowed, the first and only sign of nervousness I’d seen from him since coming here.
“They said you need to know this before you go back, that it’s crucial.”
I pursed my lips. “You’re freaking me out here. What is it? What do you need to tell me?”
Sean paused. The silence seemed to stretch. on for miles, far beyond the park and the magical grove we stood in front of. I wanted to ask who this ‘they’ was and if they were the same person Sean claimed was watching over me, but even more so, I wanted to know what he was going to say.
“I’m going to tell you the identity of the second witch. I’m going to give you her name.”
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?