Page 42 of Claimed By the Alpha

My brows knitted and my lips remained sealed.

He sighed and shook his head. “They must have done something to you, that has to be it. They wanted him to sit on the throne but when I found you, they had to change their plans.”

“Who? Who are you talking about? Who sits on the throne?” Was this the same throne Emlyn had talked about?

“Fuck,” he ran his fingers through his thick hair and glanced around, fearing someone might hear us. “Alpha Derek.”

The world stopped at that moment, my breathing hitched, and my heart stammered. My hopes, my wishes had become true. He was alive. He didn’t die that day; he didn’t give his life for me. We both survived the crash.

The familiar warmth spread through me, and I focused on it, not wanting to let my mind spiral. Because if he was alive all this time, that meant he left me. He chose to leave me.

“Joanne?” A lump formed in the back of my throat when I heard his voice. Finlay stepped aside and bared his neck in submission.

I didn’t dare to look, fearing this was all some sort of game. But I had to, I had to know for sure. If it was really him. I already knew his cinnamon scent, and now the sound of his voice. There wasn’t enough magic in the world to fake that.

Slowly turning, blinking the tears away that blurred my sight, I met his dark hazelnut eyes. It seemed he didn’t age a day. He had the same plump lips as mine but he had our father’s nose. Sharp with a slight crook in the middle. As if they both had broken it on the same spot. The black curls slightly bounced as he stepped closer. Power and strength radiated from him, his appearance the same but also so different.

Taking a shaky breath, I finally found my voice again. “Hello brother.”

Chapter fifteen

Brother

Thesilencearoundusthickened, and I waited to see what he would do next. He didn’t even come alone. What seemed like guards trailed behind him, glaring at me suspiciously.

I wanted to slap my brother for leaving me alone in this world, hug him for the lost time and then kick him for everything he had put me through.

I was alone for so long, grieving my loss, battling with my insanity, and he could have taken it all away by showing me he was alive, by showing this world to me. To make me understand what I went through, the pain, the heat, that it was going to be okay.

If it wasn’t for William, I would probably be lying in a ditch somewhere and no one would have missed me. Not even my own brother.

“You finally came back to us.” With a beaming smile plastered on his face, his arms wide, he came closer, engulfed me in his scent and touch. “I missed you so much.” His words were a mere whisper and slowly, I relaxed in his hold.

“Why did you leave me?” My voice cracked at the end, my throat closing and tears brimmed in my eyes, ready to roll down.

“Leave you? I didn’t leave you. You were gone, you left.” He inched back, eyebrows pinched together as he searched my face for answers I knew I didn’t have.

I never left him, never.

“Der—” His name paused on my tongue when growls surrounded me. Derek held up his hand and shook his head.

“It’s Alpha Derek,” was spat out by one of his guards. Why did he have guards? Didn’t he trust me? And why did they look at me with such disgust?

Anger bubbled, and I huffed, peeling myself away from my brother. “You are not my Alpha, Derek.” I swallowed the remainder of my words, wanting to tell him about Isaac, but when the growls resonated once more and even Finlay shook his head, I held my tongue.

“Come, little sis. Let me show you your new home.” He held out his hand, patiently waiting for me to take it.

“What about my friend?” I said, my eyes drifting to a still unconscious Conner.

A smile curved on Derek’s lips. “You will see him later, it seems the trip has taken its toll on him.”

Trip? Was that how passing the border would be called?

With caution, I took his hand, let him lead the way, while I could only hope the others were okay. I still couldn’t feel Isaac, nothing further than that he was alive. Even with me moving from Conner, nothing changed within the bond, as if Isaac moved with me. Maybe it had something to do with this trip.

Derek didn’t say another word while we strolled through the forest. This golden hue filled the air and the scent of ashes fully disappeared.

“Pumpkin, you need to remember this. You have to be the one.” My father’s voice suddenly flowed within me, goosebumps rose in its wake and it seemed Derek noticed. He stopped in his tracks and glared at me, waiting for me to speak up.

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