THE CLAIMING (The Chosen Series #1)

EPILOGUE

Shay groans as he watches me finish packing another box of my essential, must-keep shoes and passes it over to him for taping. "Fuck me, Bambi. How many boxes of shoes are you taking with you?"

"A girl can never have enough shoes," I reply, laughing at his frown directed at the large, brown box.

Shay reaches into the folded cardboard, pulls out a strappy silver and crystal stiletto, and inspects it closely before smirking. "I suppose these spiky things can be worn at home after Griffin installs a stripper pole."

I elbow him in the gut, eliciting a loud oomph, and delicately place my favorite Jimmy Choo Misty 120 sandal back in its box before returning to my spot on the floor. Griffin enters the bedroom, ready to collect another box, grinning as he looks at Shay.

"Now that's one of the smartest ideas you've had, brother," Griffin comments.

Bending down to kiss my head, Griffin whispers, "What do you think, Doe? If I put a pole in our room, would you wear them, and only them, for me?" His words come out as a purr.

Blushing, I pull him down for a kiss, biting his lip and responding through our bond, sharing images of him using the pole to seduce me.

"Can you two focus?" Shay grumbles. "We have like a million more shoes to pack before we hit the road, and I'm hungry."

"Less complaining and more working will help us finish quicker," Griffin tells Shay, patting him on the back as he moves towards the boxes waiting to be loaded into the trailer. "Why don't you take those down, and then we can grab a bite?"

"Sir, yes sir," Shay salutes jokingly, lifting the boxes and following Griffin out the door.

"Child," Isla sighs, shaking her head, as she closes the now-empty dresser.

Over the past few weeks away from the Ranch, Isla has regained her strength and can now walk by herself, speaking only when she has something worth saying. Placing the final shoe in the box, I smile at my now-empty room. Memories flood my mind - moments with Erin, laughter, tears, and shared secrets.

Moving in with Griffin is the right decision, but leaving here is bittersweet. Erin wasn't surprised when I shared everything with her after reconciling with Griffin. She's content as long as I'm happy. I haven't pried into her reasons for leaving the Ranch or her current situation, but she promises to visit regularly, especially as she'll be an aunt in about seven months. Erin will tell me when she's ready.

"Sister," Isla whispers, smiling widely, her white teeth showing.

"Erin?" I ask, and she nods, moving downstairs. It's astounding how Isla senses things that even Griffin can't. Griffin assures me it's normal, but Isla seems different again, very different from me.

Following her to the porch, I hear Erin's red Mercedes pull up. Lowering her black Gucci glasses, she rushes towards us, throwing her arms around Isla and me, bursting into happy tears.

Squeezing her and pulling back, I notice her unusual attire - dark jeans and a red plaid jacket. "Erin, are you going somewhere?" I inquire, eyeing her suitcases in the car.

"Well," she says sheepishly, "I arranged to stay in the cabin for a few days while you settle in, you know, for Christmas and all."

I squeal, hugging her again before we return inside. Taking out three glasses, we toast to new adventures.

"So, I heard you got a fantastic price for this place," Erin says, refilling her glass from her silver flask.

"Yeah, the realtor got me well over the asking price, and the new owners bought all the furniture," I reply happily. "They're a couple migrating from Australia for work. The wife fell in love with the place from the photos the realtor took, and that was it."

"Well, it's a fantastic place to live," Erin toasts, raising her glass.

The front door opens, and my mate enters, Shay following with bags of food. "Tiger," Shay greets, making my eyes roll.

Turning to Griffin, I notice his silence, his broad body frozen in place. Dropping the bag of food to the ground, he rushes Erin, taking her face in his hands, and examining her closely he smells her.

Eyes still scanning, he turns her around and pulls her hair to the side, bending her neck ever so slightly. That is when I see it, something I have never noticed before.

At the base of her skull, so faint and aged over time, is a small scar in the shape of a V.

"Sister," Isla says again, grinning at her brother.

Griffin, still in a trance, turns Erin back around, taking her in his arms, and pulls her in close, smelling her hair, and whispers, "Ciara..."

STAY TUNED FOR BOOK TWO

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OMG! I cannot believe I wrote a book - COVID gave me the time to get off my ass finally and write...

I wonder how many of you are sitting back smugly saying  - I knew it, I knew E was C - I called it!!! - Well done to those readers, I didn't hide it as much as some of the other secrets to be revealed, but it is still impressive to those that picked it.

Thank you so much to my readers that have reached this page (unless you cheated and skipped - GO BACK, all chapters have little secrets, if you skip them, you will miss them)

So I know some of you are thinking - when will book two be released. I have to admit. I cannot confirm that. COVID gave me ample time to write book 1 - but being back at work has ceased all NEW writing for book 2.

BUT, now that BOOK 1 is complete, I can focus on book two and begin writing with a clear mind and focus... Also, I am a writer that will not publish something that I will not finish - so WHEN I post the first chapter of book 2 - know that I have completed it (rough draft only) but that you will get to read every chapter until the end without me ghosting you...

So if you have not already, please follow me - that way, you will not miss out on any updates that may come.

Finally, to my loyal readers that have voted and commented - it is for YOU that I write! Listening to you fall in love with Griffin has made everything worth it. So once again, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

KnightWaters