Page 51 of Claimed By the Alpha
Finlay’s brows nudged together, and he slowly nodded. “When Celine created us, she also created the bonds, not wanting her children to wander this place alone.”
They both betrayed the sacred bond and for that, they were punished. But was it the king’s doing or someone else? And why did I struggle to believe it was just the king’s hunger for power that he killed his chosen love?
Another crack in the story, no one knew the real one. And that wasn’t something uncommon. If you tell your truth to one, and he tells it to the next, and so on, the story will change. Parts would go missing, and other pieces would be added.
“He was the first to get banished, and he has been trying to come back here ever since.”
“He doesn’t remember this.” If Isaac was the same man in these paintings, he didn’t remember. He was a terrible liar, as was I. I had kept things from him and the other way around.
Maybe I was putting too much faith in him, but how could I not when he was all I wanted? All I loved.
“History always repeats itself. This is our past and future.” Finlay’s words made me shiver, and I couldn’t believe that these images were Isaac’s future.
“This won’t happen.” I was convinced of my words, but I couldn’t deny what I saw in the paintings, what I knew from those tales.
“It won’t because you won’t stand beside him,” he said.
I scoffed, anger flaring up again, remembering why I was here. “Oh, yeah, my true mate.” My words were laced with venom, angered by what my brother wanted to force upon me.
“I know this wasn’t the life you wanted, but I know you will be happy. All before you were, at least, the ones that didn’t fall for a Blackwood.”
“Why me? Why not my brother? He is a Monroe!” Why did I have to be given to a man? Why couldn’t he choose a she-wolf and do whatever was needed?
“You are the only one that can bring the next Monroe. Make sure the purity of the fire wolves continues.”
Fire wolves? That was what they called us. But how could Finlay have the same ability if he wasn’t a Monroe, or was he?
“Again, why not my brother?”
He sighed in defeat, his shoulders slightly slumped. “It always has to be a she-wolf.”
“So, because I’m a woman? That’s why I don’t have a choice.” This was too typical. Always men deciding what happened to us. All because we can carry something they couldn’t.
“No, that isn’t it,” he paused, tiredness written on his face. “My father was a pure blood, but I’m not. A pure blood can only be born from another female pure blood. Even though your brother is a pure blood, his descendants won’t be.”
“Then why does he sit on the throne?” Why wasn’t I sitting there if I held so much importance? Why did he get to rule this place? Did I want to?
No, I never saw myself sitting all high and mighty like my brother was earlier. However, it would be nice to take control of my own life for once. Because I never had a choice at the sound of Finlay’s words. My path was set the moment I was born. Never leaving me a choice, never caring what I wanted in my life.
“Because you have to—” Finlay started, but I already knew where he was going.
“Breed?”
“Yes.”
I was nothing more than a breeding whore. Ensuring the survival of the bloodline. No one cared what I wanted in life.
The same thing was asked by Emlyn and by Dale. Only that time, it was my choice, I wanted to help; Iwantedto build a family with Isaac.
“But I can’t. I’m broken, destroyed by the mate bond.”
There it was. Pity. He pitied me for my brokenness. “You will be whole again once you get your wolf back.”
Wait, what? “Wolf? I have a wolf?”
“Had. But she can come back. There are still pieces of her left in you.”
Had? When did I lose her? “What do you mean?”
