CLAIMED - Fated to Two-Chapter 43: I Finally Found You

HARLEIGH’S POV:

Suddenly,...

A woman who appears to be around Alpha Torrin’s age steps between us, her face tight with anxiety. "You don’t look like a Frostveil werewolf. So why would they allow you to lead their pack? Are you related to Torrin? A half-sister? A distant cousin?"

Alpha Torrin’s own unease grows as he stares at her.

I shake my head. "No. I’m Alpha Torrin’s fated mate. We were about to get married when Atticus and Damian found us and took us hostage."

The woman gasps in disbelief, covering her mouth. She looks to Alpha Torrin for confirmation, but he neither confirms nor denies it. Then, unable to hold herself together, she bursts into tears and rushes out the door. An old man with similar hazel eyes immediately chases after her.

My heart pounds violently. The woman’s distress seems to transfer straight into me.

This can’t be possible. It’s only been days since Torrin disappeared. Could he really have formed a romantic relationship so quickly? Or worse, could Alpha Torrin also be fated to two? Could she be one... alongside me?

"Leave," Alpha Torrin repeats, his voice colder and sharper than before. "Don’t make me say it again, or I’ll drag you out of this house myself."

Can he really do that to me?

I hesitate, but desperation pushes me to ask, "Is that woman your fated mate too?"

"No. But she’s the one who saved my life. And in return, I made her a promise," he replies.

Relief washes through me so suddenly my knees almost buckle.

I take his hand and place it on my belly. "It may still be hard for you to understand everything. But we’ll take it slow just like we did the last time. Torrin, I need you back. Our baby needs you."

His eyes widen. His body stiffens. "Baby?"

There’s no joy in his expression, only pure shock, as if he’s hoping it isn’t real.

The sight cuts deep. But I still insist, "I’m not leaving unless you come with us."

"B-But... you let me die," he says, his voice cracking.

The memory floods back: the moment he begged me to help him while I stood frozen.

Tears spill down my cheeks. "I’m sorry. I regret it more than anything. I was forced to choose between saving you and saving our baby. That’s why I couldn’t move."

He struggles to hold back his own tears. But after a long, agonizing pause, he pulls his hand away. "Excuse me. I need a moment to think." Then he rushes past me and storms out the door, never once looking back.

"Should we follow him?" Eric asks.

"No," I reply, keeping my voice steady and hiding my falling tears. "Let him have the time and space he asked for."

"Roger that. The others and I will start setting up our tents outside. I don’t think Alpha Torrin will change his mind overnight," Eric adds.

Once I’m finally alone, the sobs I’ve been holding back break free, tearing out of my chest.

But,...

When the storm of emotions finally settles, a new sense of resolve takes hold of me.

I must find a way to kill Damian successfully, this time. But how can I do that when he’s already in the custody of the United Alliance Court? I can’t just barge in there and kill him. I’d only end up in his place - jailed and facing trial. Yet if he’s found guilty and sentenced to death, I’ll lose my chance to kill him myself, and Alpha Torrin will remain distant and confused forever.

I step outside and search for Eric and Beta Samuel.

"Is there a way I can kill Damian myself without anyone from the United Alliance Court finding out?" I ask.

Both of them gawk at me in shock.

"He’s no longer a threat," Beta Samuel says firmly. "With all the solid evidence against him, he’ll never walk free again. If this is about revenge, forget it."

Eric nods in agreement.

"It’s not revenge," I insist, then explain everything, from the multi-eyed seer’s instructions to my many failed attempts to kill Damian. When I finish, understanding dawns on their faces.

"Give me a few days, I’ll arrange a visit for you to see Damian," Beta Samuel says.

"And while you wait, I’ll help you plan how to discreetly kill him," Eric adds.

A smile briefly crosses my lips as I murmur, "Thank you."

But,...

That smile vanishes the moment my gaze drifts toward a nearby tree. Alpha Torrin stands there with the woman, gently wiping her tears, sharing her pain and anxiety.

My wolf urges me to interrupt them, but I remain frozen, forcing myself to believe that maybe they’re just saying their final goodbyes to each other, and there’s nothing to overthink about.

But then,...

The woman collapses into Alpha Torrin’s arms, and he doesn’t hesitate to wrap her in a tight embrace.

Jealousy twists inside me, and I struggle desperately to push it aside. She saved him, while I let him die. Now he feels obligated to return the favor. Still, I have to trust him. No matter how much he resents me for not saving him, I know he’ll forgive me and understand that our baby’s life was at stake too.

He just needs time, and I’m willing to give him that.

When Alpha Torrin’s gaze accidentally finds mine, I quickly retreat into the nearest tent. I sit on the bed and force myself not to think about the woman at all.

Morning comes, and I barely manage to sleep. When I step out of the tent, I see the Frostveil Gammas carrying sacks of rice and flour, and crates of fresh produce into the house where the woman and her father live.

"Thank you, but we don’t need all of this," the old man says politely. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Please consider it a way of thanking you for saving and taking care of Alpha Torrin. And also as an apology for the fear and injuries caused by the Frostveil Gammas and Betas yesterday," I reply with a smile.

I then extend my hand. "By the way, my name is Harleigh Hale. Emotions were running so high last night that I forgot to ask for your and your daughter’s names."

He shakes my hand firmly. "I’m Harry Ochoa. My daughter’s name is Andrea."

"Do you know where I can find Alpha Torrin?" I ask. "I think it’s time I try to convince him again."

Sadness flickers across his face. He clearly doesn’t want Alpha Torrin to leave for Andrea’s sake. But Andrea doesn’t own him. He’s my fated mate, the father of my child, and he needs to come back and fix what’s broken: us and himself.

"He’s upstairs. In the attic. That’s his room," Harry finally says.

I ascend to the attic.

And,...

My heart sinks when I see Alpha Torrin and Andrea asleep on the same bed, his muscular arm, once belonging only to me, wrapped around her waist. I smell nor my wolf senses no violation between them. They didn’t cross that line... yet. Still, the pain grows the longer I stare at them.

I gently tap their shoulders to wake them. They stir, neither looking agitated, as if it’s completely normal for them to be found sleeping together, which adds insult to injury.

I fight back tears, my voice cracking. "I understand there may be some kind of bond forming between the two of you. But now that you know I exist, and that I’m just nearby, you should’ve considered that before sleeping on the same bed."

"Nothing happened," Alpha Torrin replies flatly, dismissing my pain.

"Nothing now," I say, struggling to steady myself. "But in the future, if you still insist on staying here with her, are you confident you’ll be able to stop yourself from..." I trail off, unable to voice the terrifying words.

An oppressive silence settles between us.

Finally, I manage to speak again. "I hope you’ve had ample time to say your goodbyes to Andrea. Because whether you like it or not, you have responsibilities to your pack and to me."

Andrea rises from the bed, her gaze challenging. "He will go back with you, coz I already convinced him to."

What? He agreed because of her, not because of me?

"But," Andrea continues, "I’ll be coming with him. My wolf confirms he’s my mate, and I refuse to be separated from him."

I raise an eyebrow at her, before glaring at Torrin, hoping for him to say no.

"I owe her my life. And since I’m the Alpha, and not you, my decision carries more weight than yours. She’s coming with us, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it," he says.

Tears spill from my eyes once more. He has no idea what I went through to protect him and his pack. Just because of that one moment when I failed to save him, he wants me to pay for it so dearly?

If I allow this, his connection with her could grow stronger. And then, fixing what’s broken between us will become even harder than it already is.