All Chapters of The Dual Claim: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The boxes kept moving from hand to hand until they were loaded onto the edge of the box truck. Then it was my turn to stack them based on our delivery order and what each household needed. Seith and I worked side by side. After so many years of doing this together, we had our rhythm that was seamless. Uncle and his team did another truck, while Sam, one of the Pack’s Council members, and his team loaded the third truck.Our territory spanned thousands of acres, three trucks could cover more ground in less time getting them delivered.The terrain was slow going, even with the maintained dirt roads, for these large trucks. It was often a two- or three-day trip for us, and even longer for Sam and Erick who took the homes the farthest from the main Pack House.With the truck loaded, I went back into the house to get my camping gear. Once I had the bags and boxes loaded, I got behind the wheel, and started the engine.For some unknown, unw

I threw my gloves down on the table as soon as I got through the door to the Pack House. The trucks for the old ones. The ones who refused to live close enough where help could be provided on a daily basis.Instead, they chose to live on the outskirts away from the rest of the pack. Preferring solitude over the day-to-day bustle in the center of things.I could understand that to some extent, but for the most part, they’d reached an age where they didn’t always run with us anymore. The burden they thought they were avoiding, only became more of one because of the time and effort it took to make sure they were okay.At least with the advent of modern communication, we didn’t have to physically check on them every day.I think if that were the case, I’d make a formal edict and push the move to the hub.Lands were too expansive, and with everyone becoming busier by the day, there was no way we could manually drive out and check on dozens of solitary w

I fiddled with my tie until the bow was perfectly aligned and centered. For whatever reason, my fingers just weren’t cooperating. What should have taken me seconds, took over twenty minutes.It didn’t help matters that Seith sat in the armchair directly behind me making faces in the mirror.I growled and pulled the ends apart for the umpteenth time.“What gives?” my cousin asked from his casual perch. “You tie these things all the time. Want me to get a clip on one?”“Fuck off,” I replied irritably. “Sorry. That came out meaner than I wanted it to.”“Don’t sweat it. I’m used to you and your moods by now. Seriously though, what’s going on. You’re radiating anxiety. It’s icky.” He said, adding a shiver for effect. “Make it stop.”“Jackass.” I murmured, but his smile showed he heard it anyway. “It’s the damn ceremony tonight.”“So? I mean it’s not like it’s your first one.”“I know that. But this one feels like it’s got a lot more

The SUVs rolled in, one after another starting earlier this afternoon. It was a constant procession, some making the trek for a few days.Sure, they could have flown, but some traditions are harder to break than others. The Eastern Hills Pack arrived in a decked-out RV just before dusk. That was a new twist, but it was a week’s journey for them, so why not have accommodations on the road?That meant we also didn’t have to provide lodging, only hookups.Seith left me with the knowledge of Ravenhall’s ambition. It was quite possible he married Vanessa to a Northern Pack hoping to expand into our hemisphere.Vanessa didn’t have much use for the Southern boys during our time at the academy. She made in with Northern Princesses, the common name for Alpha daughters. That put her in direct sight of the Northern Princes.What Seith made sense now that I think back on things. Lucien made the perfect patsy. He never cared about running the pack, only running

My eyes weren’t even open, but they hurt from the light hitting my lids. I went to move my arm over my face, but it felt like lead. Moving it even a little bit, hurt my muscles.What the heck?I finally got my arm over my eyes and peeked out from under it. The sun was high in the sky.Trying to sit up hurt everywhere; so, I went little by little. It felt like it took hours, but I had nothing to tell me how long it really took.My limbs protested and my head throbbed.I finally made it upright and leaned back against one of those massive trees.I was in one of those sun pockets, where the leaf canopy didn’t provide much shade.The warmth from the sun seeped into my bones. It helped me relax a little, but I still hurt.It hurt to swallow, my throat was parched, my lips felt chapped. On top of that, my mouth was drier than a desert and tasted like someone dumped a load of rotten food in it.I fought the urge to heave. My br