THE CLAIMING (The Chosen Series #1)

LOST TO YOU

There have been only a few moments in my life when I forget the world isn't just a giant computer, where a few keystrokes could undo my mistakes or reset everything that happened in the last 12 hours. This is one of those moments. Seeing the light drain from Griffin's eyes, his body lifeless against mine, all I can do is scream. I clutch him tighter, rocking us back and forth, my tears blurring everything. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know, didn't mean for this, Griffin, I..."

I'm numb, crushed by the pain. I can't think, can't speak, can't breathe. The grief is suffocating. I never wanted this. I just needed time to think about the bond—not this.

My ears ring with shrill screams—only to realize they're coming from me.

"Ava, stop," Siobhan's voice cuts through. "You need to let go of him."

"No!" I growl, holding Griffin's limp form even tighter, his open shirt soaked with my tears.

"Ava," Liam says softly from behind me, "let him go."

Anger floods me at their deceit, their lies. I refuse to move. If they want me to let go, they'll have to pry me away.

"Ava."

"Fuck off!" I snap at the voice beside me—probably Patrick's. They can all go to hell.

"Want me to shoot her too?" sneers another voice, unmistakably Oscar's.

Seeing red, I release Griffin and lunge at Oscar. I'm going to kill him. Nails, fists, teeth—everything aimed at him as I pounce. "How can you be so heartless?" I scream, drawing blood.

I'm pulled away, thrashing against their grip. Grass, wood, the wrong scent—I know it's Liam holding me. "Ava, calm down," he insists, blocking my kicks.

Rage boils inside me, but then a searing pain engulfs me as he bites my neck near my mating scar. Agony courses through me, anger giving way to grief. Why? Why did they lie? They said he wouldn't be hurt.

Sighing, Liam loosens his grip and turns me to face him. "Ava, calm down," he says, wiping away my tears. "Look at him—he's not dead, just tranquilized."

Not dead? Not dead! What?

I don't believe it at first, but when I see Griffin's chest rise ever so slightly, I collapse. He's alive. Relief crashes over me like a tidal wave, and I lean on Liam, sobbing uncontrollably as his hand soothingly runs through my hair. Pulling back, I search his face for reassurance, doubt still lingering.

"He's not dead?" I ask again, tears blurring my vision.

Liam smiles, his dimples showing. "He's not, Ava. Look at him."

I move closer and see Griffin lying on a stretcher, his eyes closed, but his chest is rising and falling. "I'm sorry we couldn't tell you our plans, Ava," Siobhan says gently, standing beside me.

Patrick steps in, explaining their strategy. "We needed Griffin's wolf to believe you were alone."

"But he was in control," I murmur, staring at Griffin.

"His control was slipping," Liam admits grimly. "This was the only way."

As we head back to the ranch, my steps faltering, Liam scoops me up in his arms. "Rest, Ava. I'll get you home safe."

Home. The Ranch isn't my home.

Deep down, I know it. These are supposed to be my people, my family's people, but they're not my home.

Listening to Liam's heartbeat, I think of what could have been. But after Griffin, I know it can never be.

As the barn's tall roof comes into view, I ask, "Where are they taking him?"