Claire's POV They said it was normal to get pre-wedding jitters just before the wedding. You start to doubt everything and question everyone. Was this really the dress for me? Did I look fat in it? Are those the right flowers for me? And…. Was he the right one for me? I'm one of the few who didn't go through all that. It was happening, I was getting married! Mother patted down on my arm as we walked down the aisle, trying to ease my nerves but it did her more good than it did me. She took a deep breath, controlling her breathing. She looked stunning in her ash, plunging neck-sleeve sequin dress. With a small smile her way, I stood in front of him. I had the widest grin on as I looked over at my father wiping off a stray tear with his handkerchief. I was used to it, I'd seen a lot of stray tears and worn-out kerchiefs as he had always been proud of me. "By the power vested in me by the goddess herself, I give to you this drink that your bond may form and you shall become tru
Claire's POV"What?" My voice was barely above a whisperHe let out a dark chuckle and I watched my mother cower in fear. I felt the same way but I couldn't let him see that. It would ruin everything I set out to do."You really thought you could run away from our bond? From me?" He eyed Jayden who remained speechless. I seemed to be the only one calm enough to be articulate."I wasn't running from you." I held my head up high as I told the obvious lie. "I didn't even know you existed."He let out another chuckle. He seemed to love doing that, to rile people up, get under their skin, and probably scare them. Whichever one it was, it was working as my heart dropped to my stomach, and my palms turned warm and sweaty."That would be believable if you didn't know about the prophecy." He took a step forward and I instinctively took one back."What are you talking about?" I feigned ignoranceHe rolled his eyes, pointing at something behind me. "It's right there."I looked in the direction h
Claire's POV"What have you done?!" I wailed, dropping to my knees and pulling Jayden to me.He shrugged nonchalantly, "He had to go. You cared too much about him."My best friend, almost mate just got killed in front of me, my so-called mate killed him and he was being nonchalant! The fury burned deeply within me.Something came over me and in the blink of an eye, I was in front of him.He didn't bat an eye at my angry state. He looked like he expected it as stared at me, waiting for my outburst.I glared with as much hate as I could muster, not breaking eye contact. "Do you plan on killing everyone I care about."His callous hand pushed a stray strand away from my face. "If they try to get in the way, yes.""I'll never love you."His hand dropped as he laughed, a full belly laugh "You are quite arrogant, aren't you? I don't want your love. I need you by my side."I was a little embarrassed and slightly hurt but managed to utter, "Why is that?""Come with me and you'll find out."I h
Claire's POVA loud voice echoed in the hall. "You are not taking my daughter with you!"It was Father.He took a couple of steps forward and pushed me behind him. An act that had Darien narrowing his eyes at us. My heart pumped loudly in my chest and fear started to pool in. I was scared, for my father."Just who do you think you are to stop me?"Father still held my hand, pushing me behind him, an act we all knew would be futile if Darien made a move. "She's the best thing to happen to me and I won't let you hurt her.""I'm not going to hurt my mate. She doesn't want to be with me as much as I don't want to be with her. I just want pups and she's the only one who can give them to me."He was getting frustrated with the endless bickering judging from how he pinched the bridge of his nose. He could have all our heads in seconds if he wanted to."You are going to hurt my daughter." Mother had finally come to and was standing up for me. A big mistake as Darien growled at her causing her
Claire's POVI was still unsure how it happened but somehow I got a room of my own, right opposite his, much to my displeasure. I couldn't help but stare off at the blank wall. I had a hard night, my wolf kept clawing for her mate, trying to take control to get to him. I couldn't help but wonder if he had a tough night too.A knock on my door pulled me away from the impending headache."Who is it?"No response came. I paused, wondering if I misheard but I didn't as it came again, much louder this time."Why won't you say something? Hold on!" I pulled back the door to find an unfamiliar face. It was a woman. An elderly one with a poker face."The alpha has sent for you. He needs you in the infirmary," she said in a monotone."Why? Is he sick?" My heart ached a little at the very thought. It was true that I hated him but I never wanted him sick even though he caused me a lot of pain and scared the hell out of me.She scoffed like I said something crazy. "The alpha never gets sick and if
Claire's POVA week passed by and I barely left my room. I avoided wolf interaction as much as possible, mostly Darien's. Finally, I summoned courage and walked right into his room without knocking. I was met with a wide, masculine back. My eyes trailed down the spine to meet dark, tight briefs hugging his waist and tight butt.My wolf was yelping and itching to bed her mate. He didn't seem to notice my presence in the room. Maybe he did with the way his spine straightened as he walked over to his drawers.A blue set of trousers blocked the magnificent view of his delicious-looking butt."Are you going to say something or keep staring at my ass?" He still looked away from me, his gaze on something probably more interesting than his mate.My cheeks turned crimson. "I wasn't staring. I merely took a glance."He turned to me, nodding in agreement ever so lightly but I knew he didn't fall for my lies, even I didn't."You should tell that to the drool on your lips." He pointed outMy fin
Claire Pov’s The cold breeze the gloomy day offered kissed my skin as I stepped out to the training ground that was not too far from the pack house, the determination I felt to prove I wasn't just a helpless outsider bubbling earnestly in me.I’d been through worse than a group of she-wolves looking at me like I didn't belong here. The sun was rising, casting its golden, warm rays over the nearby trees, but its warmth wasn’t all useful as it didn't do much in thawing the icy stares that followed my every move. Their eyes were boring deep into my skin, silently judging every fiber of my being. I could feel it.I straightened up my posture, refusing to show any sign of discomfort their stares caused me. My mission here was simple, to train, to fight, to survive- and maybe a part of me was here to see if I could lay my hands on any clue that would help me figure out if there was any way out of this twisted situation Darien had forced me into. His words went on to echo in my head about
Claire’s PovI slammed the door of my room behind me, locking it in one swift motion. My head was spinning with the day’s events, the words exchange I had with Sasha. The tension I brought into the room that was now hanging in the air was so thick that I could cut through it with a knife if I wanted to, but that wasn't my problemnow. “Or should I make it one so I could be distracted for a little while from these head-burning thoughts residing in my head?” I mocked myself before leaning on the door, using it as a support to slide down to the bare floor as exhaustion set in. “What a day!”It was just my first day, and I had already encountered a boulder named Sasha. It was such a start that I least expected. I knew I was going to be outcasted, but I didn't think it would be this bad, I knew it would take me some time before I got accepted into their midst, but I didn't think their reception on the first day would be such a tough one for me it break through.At this point, I wished
Claire’s Pov I paced the length of my room restlessly, trying to calm the raging storm that was brewing in me. My conversation with Audrey earlier today still clung to me like a bitter taste in my tongue, and I couldn’t shake it off.Every time I brought my eyes together, all I could hear and see was her world, echoing, and gnawing at my mind. Darien was totally of no use in the situation because I ought to have certain privileges of having him at my side in moments like this, but that wasn’t the case as he only deemed it fit to mock me.I have had my mind made up to lock myself in for the night, although not completely made up yet and that is because I know trying to avoid everyone and staying to myself wouldn’t do me so much good in the long run. A firm knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. Without asking any questions about who the intruder was, I already knew who it was. It was difficult not to know because Darien always knocked like he was breaking down barriers.“C
Claire’s Pov“Into your pack?” I asked in confusion, “Is there something I am missing here? I thought Darien was the Alpha?”“And so what?” Audrey shot back.“Then how is this your pack?” I went on, “It belongs to Darien and not you in anyways. I am now a part of his life, so I rightfully belong here.”Her eyes narrowed down at me, and I knew I’d crossed the line. She slowly got on her feet, her movement was a graceful one that was filled with unspoken threats at the same time. “You are not part of his life,” she stated, taking several steps closer to me, “You are just a distraction, but a temporal one because I will soon get you kicked out.” I felt the blood draining from my face and pulling down my feet giving me cold feet. “What?!” I exclaimed. Audrey leaned in, her voice nie barely above a whisper, but it was filled with venom. “I’ve been by Darien's side since the day he was born,” she said, “I’ve protected, and guided him, and with all I have done, do you think I would let so
Claire’s PovI have concluded that the pack house was not just closed up with the hard brick walls but with whispers, coldness, and secrets. The coldness was the most dominant of it all, it was an invisible barrier that made me feel like I was walking on thin ice with every step I took. No matter where I turned to, I could feel the eyes of the pack watching me, and silently waiting for me to falter, adding more to the coldness.The she-wolves, the warriors, and even the pack house staff all seem to have one thing in common which was not wanting to accept me. Although the staff in the house haven’t displayed any negative behavior for me to think much about them, they were not warm to me and I wasn't t naively going to think that maybe in a matter of time, they would come around because that wasn't what it seemed like.Aside from them, there was one person who I was so sure was determined to make sure I didn't find my footing in the pack and that was no other person that Audrey, the
Claire’s PovI slammed the door of my room behind me, locking it in one swift motion. My head was spinning with the day’s events, the words exchange I had with Sasha. The tension I brought into the room that was now hanging in the air was so thick that I could cut through it with a knife if I wanted to, but that wasn't my problemnow. “Or should I make it one so I could be distracted for a little while from these head-burning thoughts residing in my head?” I mocked myself before leaning on the door, using it as a support to slide down to the bare floor as exhaustion set in. “What a day!”It was just my first day, and I had already encountered a boulder named Sasha. It was such a start that I least expected. I knew I was going to be outcasted, but I didn't think it would be this bad, I knew it would take me some time before I got accepted into their midst, but I didn't think their reception on the first day would be such a tough one for me it break through.At this point, I wished
Claire Pov’s The cold breeze the gloomy day offered kissed my skin as I stepped out to the training ground that was not too far from the pack house, the determination I felt to prove I wasn't just a helpless outsider bubbling earnestly in me.I’d been through worse than a group of she-wolves looking at me like I didn't belong here. The sun was rising, casting its golden, warm rays over the nearby trees, but its warmth wasn’t all useful as it didn't do much in thawing the icy stares that followed my every move. Their eyes were boring deep into my skin, silently judging every fiber of my being. I could feel it.I straightened up my posture, refusing to show any sign of discomfort their stares caused me. My mission here was simple, to train, to fight, to survive- and maybe a part of me was here to see if I could lay my hands on any clue that would help me figure out if there was any way out of this twisted situation Darien had forced me into. His words went on to echo in my head about
Claire's POVA week passed by and I barely left my room. I avoided wolf interaction as much as possible, mostly Darien's. Finally, I summoned courage and walked right into his room without knocking. I was met with a wide, masculine back. My eyes trailed down the spine to meet dark, tight briefs hugging his waist and tight butt.My wolf was yelping and itching to bed her mate. He didn't seem to notice my presence in the room. Maybe he did with the way his spine straightened as he walked over to his drawers.A blue set of trousers blocked the magnificent view of his delicious-looking butt."Are you going to say something or keep staring at my ass?" He still looked away from me, his gaze on something probably more interesting than his mate.My cheeks turned crimson. "I wasn't staring. I merely took a glance."He turned to me, nodding in agreement ever so lightly but I knew he didn't fall for my lies, even I didn't."You should tell that to the drool on your lips." He pointed outMy fin
Claire's POVI was still unsure how it happened but somehow I got a room of my own, right opposite his, much to my displeasure. I couldn't help but stare off at the blank wall. I had a hard night, my wolf kept clawing for her mate, trying to take control to get to him. I couldn't help but wonder if he had a tough night too.A knock on my door pulled me away from the impending headache."Who is it?"No response came. I paused, wondering if I misheard but I didn't as it came again, much louder this time."Why won't you say something? Hold on!" I pulled back the door to find an unfamiliar face. It was a woman. An elderly one with a poker face."The alpha has sent for you. He needs you in the infirmary," she said in a monotone."Why? Is he sick?" My heart ached a little at the very thought. It was true that I hated him but I never wanted him sick even though he caused me a lot of pain and scared the hell out of me.She scoffed like I said something crazy. "The alpha never gets sick and if
Claire's POVA loud voice echoed in the hall. "You are not taking my daughter with you!"It was Father.He took a couple of steps forward and pushed me behind him. An act that had Darien narrowing his eyes at us. My heart pumped loudly in my chest and fear started to pool in. I was scared, for my father."Just who do you think you are to stop me?"Father still held my hand, pushing me behind him, an act we all knew would be futile if Darien made a move. "She's the best thing to happen to me and I won't let you hurt her.""I'm not going to hurt my mate. She doesn't want to be with me as much as I don't want to be with her. I just want pups and she's the only one who can give them to me."He was getting frustrated with the endless bickering judging from how he pinched the bridge of his nose. He could have all our heads in seconds if he wanted to."You are going to hurt my daughter." Mother had finally come to and was standing up for me. A big mistake as Darien growled at her causing her
Claire's POV"What have you done?!" I wailed, dropping to my knees and pulling Jayden to me.He shrugged nonchalantly, "He had to go. You cared too much about him."My best friend, almost mate just got killed in front of me, my so-called mate killed him and he was being nonchalant! The fury burned deeply within me.Something came over me and in the blink of an eye, I was in front of him.He didn't bat an eye at my angry state. He looked like he expected it as stared at me, waiting for my outburst.I glared with as much hate as I could muster, not breaking eye contact. "Do you plan on killing everyone I care about."His callous hand pushed a stray strand away from my face. "If they try to get in the way, yes.""I'll never love you."His hand dropped as he laughed, a full belly laugh "You are quite arrogant, aren't you? I don't want your love. I need you by my side."I was a little embarrassed and slightly hurt but managed to utter, "Why is that?""Come with me and you'll find out."I h