All Chapters of The Dual Claim: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

I opened my eyes, feeling refreshed. I sat up and stretched, taking in the beautiful meadow around me.Birds sang and butterflies flitted in the early morning sunshine.Somewhere in the distance, I heard the rush of water. I realized how thirsty I was, so I got up and ran toward it.I stopped just in time. The sound I heard wasn’t a babbling brook or a small river. It was a huge waterfall directly across from me.Water rushed over the side, cascading down, down, down, until it hit a large pool; the impact sent spray half way across the clearing toward me.I could see rocks jutting out from the water below, with serpents slithering in and out of the ripples. Their scales glistened, droplets catching the rays of the sun.The water looked so inviting; I wanted to be a part of it, to bathe, to bask in it. I stepped forward, one step… then another… then a howl and a blur of silver came at me. It barreled toward me, its golden eyes wa

I watched her fiddle with her fingers, clearly avoiding telling me her story.Was she trying to weave a tale, or just stalling?“I’m waiting,” I said with a little more irritability than I should have. I thought I was rescuing someone in need, not someone running from a murder rap.I cleared my throat and she jumped.“How far back do you want?”“I was at the ceremony. Start with what happened after you fled.”“You… we…” She stopped mid-sentence, looking at me with a horrified look on her face. Then just nodded, again looked at her hands.With a deep breath, she started. “I fled the ballroom through the kitchens. I ran out the back door to the fountain to try and catch my breath.”Then she whispered, “and cry.”My feelings went from big guy Alpha, to someone who wanted to pull her close and let her know everything was going to be okay.I understood, with those two whispered words, why she fled. I still needed to he

What did the Alpha just say? Two heartbeats? Is Orielle back?Ori! Orielle, are you there? Please talk to me. You can wake up now. We’re safe now Orielle.I waited, hoping to feel her stretch lazily, as if she was waking up from a long nap.Nothing.Maybe I just have to wait a bit longer.But knowing that Zevir hears her is comforting.The new man that came in, Sam, I think, stepped toward me, but looked back at the Alpha. “Two? Are you sure?”The Alpha nodded. “Zee was quite positive. Said we had to protect them at all costs. It was touch and go there for a while. But after we got to the cabin and I got her cleaned up and warming, Zee said the heartbeats were stronger.”“I still can’t feel Orielle. How does he know she’s in there?” I asked quietly.Both men looked at me, lips pursed. The Alpha opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before he just decided no words were better.Not wolf. Baby.

I downed the contents of my glass, and moved toward the door. Sam fell in step behind me, and together we entered the cabin.The first thing that hit me was the smell. I’m not sure what Soraya did to the food, but nothing I cooked ever smelled this amazing.The smell of apples and cinnamon rose over everything else, my mouth watered and I already couldn’t wait for dessert.There were three place settings at the table, so whatever she made, there was enough for all of us. That was very kind of her.I didn’t see her in the kitchen, and I noticed that I felt a little on edge. She came down the hallway, and once I laid eyes on her, my nerves settled a bit.Zee settled.Sam smirked, the jackass.I needed to rein in my emotions.Although, because Sam is mated to the High Priestess and the Pack’s highest ranked Elder and mystic himself, he is more in tune to my Alpha energies than anyone else in the Pack.It would take a lot of

I was midway through a sentence with Selwyn on the telephone when Auron started jumping against me.A chill walked up and down my spine. Not walked, more like stomped.Multiple times.Each pass felt like I’d stuck a screwdriver in an electric outlet a little bit deeper.Little by little my muscles froze; I lost my grip on the phone and it fell to the couch cushion. I tried to move my lips, but I was unable to speak.Auron slammed against me, over and over.He snarled and nipped at me, demanding to be let out.The sensation stopped. Suddenly, I felt like I’d been in the ring for a full twelve round fight.I took deep long breaths after not being able to inhale. My lungs desperate for air.My nerves tingled as if waking up from a long sleep.“Lucien? Lucien? Are you alright?” I heard through the phone’s speaker. “What’s wrong? I can feel something.”“Selwyn, let me call you back,” I said and cut off the call.