Page 46 of Claimed By the Alpha

They weren’t our allies; no, they were another enemy. They had what was mine, and I would burn this forest to the ground until I had her back in my arms.

William’s groan snapped me back, and I watched as he climbed to his feet, staggering slightly.

“What happened?” I growled, making him stumble further.

He was still finding his balance, not noticing his mate lying on the ground. He mumbled something I couldn’t understand, and Laila stirred.

They were both useless; they couldn’t keep Joanne safe. He might have helped her all those years, but now he failed her.

“William!”

He was helping Laila to his feet when he finally met my gaze. Confusion was written on his face, exhaustion filled his eyes, and he shook his head. “There was this weird scent and then smoke.”

“And then?” I pressed, inching closer.

“This orange light or something and then nothing. Where are Conner and Jo?”

Was he fucking serious right now? Useless, fucking useless.

“If I knew where they were, I wouldn’t be here!”

Concern came next, but the sigh from Laila was too much, too damn much.

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t snap your neck right now!” I was in her face before she could even blink; my hand itched with the urge to strangle her, wanting so badly to see her eyes change color, popping out of their sockets while I squeezed the life out of her.

William shoved me back and took a protective stance before his mate, but she wouldn’t have it.

“I want to find them too, Isaac!” she yelled, pushing past William.

“Admit it! You hate her! I see the way you look at her!”

Her brows pinched, and her lips parted slightly, wanting to say something, but nothing came. “I don’t hate her, it’s complicated,” she sighed in defeat, and her words gave me nothing.

“Why? Because she went into heat a few times near William!”

Her jaw ticked, and anger rolled off her. “Believe what you want, but I do care about her!” She stormed off, leaving me alone with William.

“We have to find them,” I said, locking eyes with him.

“I don’t even know where to start.” He was about to follow Laila when she came strolling back.

“I think it’s best if we stay here, it’s very—” she paused, pointing behind her, and my lips curled in a smile.

“That is what I will do to you if I ever find out you are fucking with me.”

She just glared at me as the silence between us thickened. Even William knew not to stand between us, and that move made my anger falter. Why wouldn’t he protect her? Was I missing something again?

“What did he do?” I asked her, and she glanced at William.

“He only helped her,” she whispered, but she didn’t tell me everything.

“Say it,” I growled in warning, ice layered on my skin; the smoke danced to the ground, ready to crawl toward William.

“Her brother is alive,” William spoke up, and Laila exhaled in relief.

“Impossible. I saw him die.”

William shook his head, raking his fingers through his hair. “He saved her, yes. But he didn’t die.”

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