Claimed

Chapter 25

            

Author's Note

Happy Sunday! Thanks for all the positive feedback I've been getting on this story and remember I love comments! And votes of course. Enjoy!

AM

Xael: "Don't leave me like that again Win.

"I won't."

Bloodshot eyes, limp hair, a darkness underneath his eyes that I never noticed before worries me as we continue to stare at each other in silence. Leaning in we kiss briefly as I snuggle into his embrace.

"Promise me Elden is under control again."

Xael: "I can't help it Winnie. He is a part of me. My wolf."

"He killed Zachary in front of me twice! You were out of control."

Xael: "I know. I am better now, especially since you are awake."

"Why did you do it? I always stand up for you. You can be cruel, but I've never seen you kill a man over petty jealousy."

Xael: " The angrier I am the more animalistic I become. I can't promise you something that is beyond my control. All I can do is beg for your forgiveness."

"I'll always forgive you because I love you. You could kill a hundred men and I would still love you because you are my Xael."

Xael: "So I can kill your mother next for sending him to your room?"

"No that's not what I meant Xael. You are being foolish."

He chuckles softly. His raspy laugh soothing to hear.

"I brought him back to life."

Xael: "I know."

"What is going on with me Xael? Am I a freak?"

Xael: "Don't say that. You are special. One of a kind Win. My little princess."

"But its true. I'm not like you. I don't fit in anywhere. I can't handle all of these changes. It's exhausting, living day by day not knowing where I come from or what I can do. I can't live like this."

Xael: "Winnie from this day forth I will work harder to find you the answers you so desperately seek, but you must keep your spirits high. It hurts me to see you so upset."

"We need to see the witch."

Xael: "The witch?

I sit upright still facing Xael with a look of bewilderment on his face. I hold onto his hands for comfort as I continue to stare into his eyes.

"When I blacked out from touching you, the necklace gave me a vision of your past memories."

Xael: "What do you mean?"

"The necklace it told me what I wanted most at that moment and it was information on this locket my parents left me. No more lying about my past. The witch was right, all your secret keeping has only caused us both misery and pain."

Xael: " I did what I had to do to protect us. Yes, I admit I've kept the truth from you for selfish reasons, but also to keep you safe. You are fragile Win. I do not want the truth to ruin you, or us for that matter."

"Learning the truth will only help me grow as a person, but I can't find my parents without you. Now please tell me the witch's name."

Xael: "Do you really want to open Pandora's box Win? We are happy. Now isn't the time to do this. It doesn't feel right."

"I've dreamed about knowing my origins. All I've ever wanted was to know who I am. Please don't make me choose between being with you and finding my family."

Xael: "You want the truth."

I nod my head silently awaiting his answers.

Xael: "I'll start at the beginning in regards to your necklace. When you were two you had this weird fascination with putting things in your mouth, especially your necklace. I wanted to remove it so you wouldn't swallow it. I only touched it for a second when I blacked out after a shooting pain immobilized me. It goes through my entire body. I black out and wake up in the healer's wing with you asleep on my chest. Your mother sat by my bedside. She explained to me that she found us on the floor, you screaming and crying and me passed out. I told her what happened of course. She and Gabriel were the only ones who knew of the necklace's protection, everyone else thought I was seeing the witch for healing and fertility potions for the pack. You were so traumatized that you never wanted me out of your sight for months. Always latching your tiny fists into my hair. I had to move your crib into my room. Anyways it was Gabriel who suggested I take you to the witch. The first witch I met, her name was Keturah, she told me nothing of what it was. She just talked in riddles. I must admit. I was frightened by her words, so I kept you close. I spent more time taking you everywhere with me. It annoyed my pack to no end. You loved to interrupt meetings by babbling and crying when things didn't go your way. It was truly adorable. I waited almost a year before seeing another witch named Nélida. Gabriel had our best trackers try to find the original witch Keturah that we saw when you were two, but we couldn't find her so I went to Nélida, a trusted witch used for healing remedies by the werewolves of the Balux kingdom. We went immediately and unlike Keturah, she inspected the jewelry told me it was made of pure magic stronger than she ever produced in her lifetime. I asked her if she could remove it and she told me to break the magic entwined around it would bring danger. She offered to do a spell to reveal your origins but I refused when she wanted your blood and hair for it. That was the last time I actively tried to figure out where you came from."

Glancing down at the necklace I see faint cracked lines on it.

"It's broken.