Shadows Of Passing Time – Carter Hughes 106

 

<The Claiming Begins 

The Claiming Begins 

“You can run, you can scream, but at the end of the day, you’re still ours. So, fight all you want, My 

Love… we like a challenge.” 

-Rory Caine 

Callum’s POV: 

Claim 

I took Rhea from Rory’s arms the moment Lila and Theo walked by the corner. His jaw tensed, but 

he didn’t argue. He knew why. 

She was too soft, too fragile at this moment, her breath shallow against my chest as she curled 

into me, completely unaware of the storm she had just walked into. We couldn’t risk her waking up 

to that. 

I wasn’t stupid. Ivy, Cassandra, and Aria weren’t just going to leave without making a goddamn 

scene. The last thing our mate needed was to open her eyes and see them clawing for us, well, 

them, acting like they had any kind of claim. 

“Take care of it,” I ordered, my tone leaving no room for debate. “Before she wakes up.” 

Seth smirked, rolling his shoulders as if he’d been waiting for this. Rory cracked his knuckles, the 

usual amusement on his face replaced with something deadly. Even Jaxon, who barely 

acknowledged his hookups outside of what they could offer in the moment, looked ready to drag 

them out by their throats. 

“Don’t let them cry about it,” I added, adjusting Rhea’s weight in my arms. “I don’t want a f*****g 

mess when she wakes up.” 

Jaxon scoffed. “They’ll cry, but they’ll be gone.” 

With that, I turned on my heel and took her upstairs away from all of it. 

The moment I stepped into my room, I felt something inside me settle. This was right. This was where she belonged. 

I laid her down carefully on my bed, pulling the blanket over her small frame. Her silver hair fanned out against the dark sheets, and my fingers itched to trace over every inch of her. 

She was ours. 

The dress she wore clung to her like a second skin, showing off every perfect curve, every dip and rise of her body. It made something primal inside me tighten, but I forced it down. I couldn’t think like that. Not when she was passed out from alcohol, completely vulnerable in my bed. I bent down, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face, my fingers tingling from the contact. 

She smelled too good. Like tuberose and roses, del cate and intoxicating, a scent I needed in my 

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lungs. 

I kissed her forehead softly, closing my eyes for just a moment. 

“You’re perfect.” 

And she had no idea. 

Claim 

With a reluctant breath, I straightened and stepped back. She needed to rest. We had time. She 

was ours now. 

But first, I had a few things to handle. 

Seth’s POV: 

“I don’t see what the big f*****g deal is,” Aria huffed crossing her arms. “She’s just some random 

she-wolf-” 

Jaxon growled, a sound so lethal that it had Cassandra and Ivy shrinking back. 

“She’s our mate,” Rory said, his voice cold, his gray eyes sharp as a blade. “Not random. Not temporary. Ours.” 

Aria scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Oh please. She doesn’t even know you. Do you think she’s just going to fall into your arms? The whole f*****g pack knows how you guys—” 

“Shut the f**k up, Aria,” I cut in, my patience snapping. “Seriously.” 

She flinched at the sharp edge of my voice. 

I wasn’t in the mood for this s**t. I had a mate upstairs, lying in Callum’s bed while I was stuck here, dealing with this. 

Cassandra lifted her chin, her lips curling in disgust. “What makes you think she’ll want you? You’re 

a pack of f*****g man-whores.” 

Rory chuckled darkly. “And yet you still wanted us.” 

Cassandra froze, her mouth snapping shut. 

Ivy let out a small, broken sound, her eyes brimming with tears as she turned to me. “Seth…” 

I clenched my jaw, hating the way her voice shook. 

I reached for her, pulling her into a hug because out of the three of them, Ivy was the only one who 

had ever been realwith me. Even if she was a pain in the ass. 

“I’m sorry,” I muttered, pressing a quick kiss to her hair before stepping back. “But she’s ours.” 

She sniffed. “You could’ve told me.” 

I sighed. “We didn’t know until tonight. If we had, we wouldn’t have-” 

The Claiming Begins 

“Enough.” 

Callum’s voice cut through the room, calm but laced with dominance. The three women turned to him, their expressions shifting from anger to unease. 

“These are your Alphas,” he said, his voice measured, firm. “And their decision has been made. You 

will respect it. Now leave.” 

Ivy hesitated, swallowing hard, but even she knew it was over. 

Aria and Cassandra stormed out, pissed, but they knew better than to push Callum. The moment the door shut behind them, the tension snapped. 

“Finally,” Rory muttered. 

Jaxon exhaled sharply. “Let’s get back to her.” 

Jaxon’s POV: 

She was waking up. 

I felt it before I even reached the stairs. 

Her scent-tuberose and roses, thick and heavy in the air-made my wolf snarl with need. We reached Callum’s door just in time to hear her voice small and afraid. 

“Lila!” 

The f*****g panic in her tone sent something sharp through my chest. We burst through the door. 

And there she was. 

Standing in the middle of the room, her silver hair was a wild mess, and her blue eyes were glassy and unfocused. She was terrified. 

I didn’t even think. 

We moved at the same time, surrounding her, cutting off any chance of escape. 

I pressed against her back, my hands locking onto her hips, while Rory and Seth took her sides. Callum cupped her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek, his expression soft, but this control 

was razor-thin. 

“You’re ours.” 

Horrible start, but f**k, I wouldnt have frayed better myself. 

I buried my nose in her hair, inhaling her scent, my fingers tightening on her bare skin. She trembled, her body responding instinctively, even if her mind hadn’t caught up yet. 

I let my lips graze the curve of her neck, just above her marking spot, and she shuddered against 

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f**k. 

She felt it. 

She had to. 

But then, she jerked away, her voice cracking. 

“Stop.” 

We froze. 

Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears, her hands trembling at her sides. 

“Please.” 

I clenched my jaw, my wolf snarling in protest, but we couldn’t ignore her plea. 

“You’re our mate,” Callum said, his voice calm, steady. “You feel it, don’t you?” 

She shook her head, stepping back until she hit the bed. 

Lila and Theo stood in the doorway, but I barely registered them. 

Her next words were all that mattered. 

“I don’t feel anything.” 

My fists clenched. It was a lie. But even knowing that, the sting of it hit like a punch to the ribs. 

Claim 

Rory recovered first, his lips grazing her temple as He whispered, “We’ve waited five years for you. You’re not getting rid of us that easily.” 

Seth growled low, his gray eyes burning into her. “You’re ours, Luna. And we’ll protect you. From everyone. Even yourself.” 

She swallowed hard, her pulse hammering against her throat. 

She could fight it. 

She could lie to herself. 

But she was already ours.