CLAIMED - Fated to Two Chapter 2: The Shadowfang Bloodline

"Let’s not escalate this matter, Harleigh. You know how much I love you. That’s why I chose you as my mate," Lance says.

"Love?!" I hiss. "This betrayal is love to you?!"

Lance steps forward. But he falters and steps back when my growl rolls out again.

"Aiko is my fated mate. I felt our mate-bond connection during the blue moon, a few weeks after she turned eighteen," he says.

"You should’ve told ! So I wouldn’t have to accept you as my mate, then build my world around your empty promises!" I shout, my heart breaking.

"How could I when it’s gonna disappoint my parents?" Lance quickly presses his palm to his mouth with regret plastering on his face.

The pain becos even sharper than before, that a long, raw howl escapes .

My wolf urges to kill them both. But my human mind tells , "No. It’s not worth it."

Eventually, I turn and walk away.

They don’t deserve my tears or my ti. I won’t give them more of .

Lance chases after , and shalessly says, "I’m still gonna marry you. But you have to let Aiko be on my side because my wolf needs her. Otherwise, I’ll be weak and incapable of doing my responsibilities as an Alpha."

That insult sickens , provoking to disregard my self-control.

I lunge at Lance with my claws raking across his chest.

He stumbles and hisses, clutching the wound. Still, he doesn’t wolf out to fight back.

But,...

Aiko dares to.

She explodes at with speed and fury.

We tumble with canines and claws bared. We roll on the floor in a wild attempt for dominance.

Unfortunately for her, I have a huge advantage over her.

She’s born and raised as a highborn, and therefore used to being surrounded by Gammas and Betas to protect her as per her father’s demand. Unlike , I have to train myself all the ti in preparation for the mont that Harper and my affiliation with the now non-existent Shadowfang Pack would get exposed one day, and that no one would possibly be there to defend us except us.

Lance finally wolfs-out. He first aims to stop us. But unsurprisingly soon moves to protect Aiko when she begins to lose to .

He aggressively and unapologetically shoves away. "Stop! Don’t you dare hurt her!"

I hate to admit it, but the fact that the man I love isn’t only f.ucking my fake friend, but is also choosing to defend her over stings!

What’s surprising though is how I counter him with a calm voice. "Then tell her to train herself first before attacking ."

Once again, I turn around and stride away. But this ti, as confidently and as calmly as I can.

When I reach the Ogas’ headquarters where Harper and I live, I shift back into my human form and call Harper using my phone. "Don’t panic, and don’t ask anything. Just co here to our quarter. We’re leaving this pack while they’re all busy waiting and looking for Lance."

I hang up before she can reply.

Frantically, I strip off the heavy wedding gown and veil, then pull on a plain shirt and pants.

Harper bursts through the door, just in ti I’m done stuffing our clothes and belongings into our suitcases.

"What’s the aning of this?!" she hisses.

"Lance and Aiko betrayed . And I wolfed out in front of them," I answer.

A sharp gasp escapes her, her big blue eyes filled with fear.

"It’s only a matter of ti before they and the rest find out about our bloodline. So we gotta move now!"

"Shouldn’t we tell Alpha Philip and Luna Lavinia before we leave so the pack won’t hunt us down? They promised to protect us, right?" she asks.

They deserve to know since they’ve been very kind to us. But if I go back to the Great Hall, we may lose our chance to escape.

With a trembling hand, I call Alpha Philip instead.

He answers almost instantly and irritatedly.

["Lance has just arrived, and now you’re the one missing? Get back here now. It’s embarrassing for the entire pack to keep them waiting."]

"I won’t be marrying Lance," I say firmly

["Hold on,"] his voice hardens. ["Where are you? Let’s talk about this."]

Hesitantly, I agree to et him in his sturdy room.

Harper and I carry our suitcases to the Alpha’s mansion. Its halls are empty and silent: everyone must still be at the Grand Hall, waiting for a wedding that will never happen.

In the study room, Alpha Philip sits behind his desk. Luna Lavinia and, surprisingly, Chief Beta Victor stand behind him. Their faces are grim, and their aura dark, sending chills down my spine.

My throat tightens as I explain everything, except the part about wolfing out due to Victor’s presence.

But,...

None of them seem surprised.

Then,...

It hits : They already knew about Lance and Aiko!

"Do you know why I saved you and Harper from the Ambush of the Shadowfang Pack?" Alpha Philip asks in a low and eerie voice.

Victor remains unsurprised, which ans he also knew about our past.

Alpha Philip continues, "It wasn’t out of charity nor pity. It was a strategy. A gamble I was willing to make."

My hands curl into fists, my breath thinning.

"The Shadowfang Pack was the strongest of all due to their gift, or so call a curse: The Shadow Bind, that other packs feared and envied."

"Then, there’s a prophecy from the multi-eyed seer that a wolf with the Shadowfang blood will either destroy the world or rule it with indescribable fear. And we couldn’t ignore that. So the Dunebourne Pack, alongside others, discreetly planned a war, choosing the night of a total solar eclipse to attack when no Shadowfang wolves could use the Shadow Bind against us. And it was a success."

So this is another betrayal? The savior we’re grateful for and look up to is actually a traitor?!

But his next revelation is far more painful than the last.

"After killing your parents with my own canines and claws, I decided to spare you, thinking that I might be able to use either of you one day to strengthen my pack."

"How can you be sure Harleigh or I will have the Shadow Bind when we wolf out?" Harper asks in a trembling voice.

Luna Lavinia smirks. "The multi-eyed seer says the prophecy still stands even after the Ambush of the Shadowfang Pack. Since there are only the two of you left, it ans one of you, or both, carry the gift."

The Shadow Bind is a rare gift only a selected few wolves of the Shadowfang Pack had. When one who has it speaks with intent, whether silently or out loud, his/ her words beco law for wolves who are ant to hear them. They’re forced to obey, even if it ans slaughtering their own. The stronger the emotions, the stronger the effect.

Die! Kill each other! - I yell in my head.

But, Philip, Lavinia and Victor remain comfortable, alive and well.

How I wish I have The Shadow Bind now, so I can save myself and Harper from these monsters!

"If the other packs find out that you betrayed them and kept us for your greed, they’ll surely attack your pack. And just like the Shadowfang, Dunebourne will only beco a part of history," I say, my jaw tight and my shoulders squared.

Alpha Philip sniggers, and so do Luna Lavinia and Victor.

"That’s why it’s a gamble. Do you think I’ll let them know?" he says confidently.

"Well, I will! You’re going down with us!" I counter.

Just as Harper and I turn to leave, Gammas in military uniforms storm into the room. Two of them grab , forcing to the ground, while others drag Harper away.

"NO! Harleigh! Help !" she screams, tears on her face.

I thrash and try to wolf out, but the weight of the n above keeps my wolf trapped inside.

I twist my head toward Alpha Philip. "Please! Don’t hurt my sister!"

He rises from his seat, then crouches down in front of . His sharp nails dig into my jaw as he forces my gaze to et his.

"I won’t, as long as you obey everything I want," he says. "You’re luckier than her, because you’re older and wolfed out first. But if Harper turns out to have the Shadow Bind, you’ll take her place in the dungeon. You’ll live only if she obeys us or..."

"... if you stand up now, put on your wedding dress, go to the Great Hall, marry my son, and give him heirs."

Heirs?!

He’s now gambling on the possibility that I’ll bear a child or children who may possess the Shadow Bind. What a desperate, greedy man!

"Fine. Give a minute to fix myself. I’ll go ahead and marry Lance."

When the Gammas release , I limp out of the study, pretending to comply while already planning how to save Harper and escape this nightmare.