Chapter 13

His lips were soft and gentle. They worked in sync with mine. I’m not sure at what point it happened, but I quickly found my hands running through his hair and pulling him closer. I shocked myself by how much I was enjoying the kiss.

I had never really pictured myself kissing Kieran. Or anyone that wasn’t my mate for that matter. But here, and now, it just felt right. I couldn’t even begin to explain the emotions that were running through me.

The moment was broken, sooner than I liked, when Kieran chuckled and pulled away from me. He gently trailed his hands up my arms that lead to his hair where my hands were entangled in it. He brought them down and held them in his.

My mind was reeling from our unexpected moment of passion and I was trying my best to make sense of it. I’m not sure what had overcome me, but it scared me more than I’d like to admit. I’ve never given in to someone so easily.

“Believe me; as much as I’d love to stay and see where this goes, you need to get ready. Clint will be here soon with his pack.”

I blushed. Of course he would. I had almost completely forgotten about him and his mate coming tonight. It wasn’t fair of me to keep him when he still had so much to do.

“Your right, I wasn’t even thinking,” I said trying to avoid looking at him directly. If I saw his messed up hair and swollen lips, I would certainly blush even deeper than I already was.

I stood from the couch and striated myself out while peering into the bathroom behind him to avoid his eyes. “Well…I uh…I guess I should go get cleaned up then.”

“Yeah, I guess I should go make sure the holding cell is ready for the rogue Clint is bringing with him,” he replied.

That immediately caught my interest and I was forced to look at him now. “He’s bringing a rogue? You didn’t tell me that.”

“I didn’t find out until after you left. Clint phoned me and asked if I wanted to question and hold the prisoner for him.”

“Why doesn’t he just handle the situation himself? His pack is ranked number one in the US isn’t it?”

I found it strange that another Alpha wouldn’t handle his own problems. It didn’t make since for them to pass it on to someone else.

Kieran shifted uncomfortably at my question and flexed his hands into a balled up fist.

“Because he is one of the rogues from Axel’s pack. He was one of the one’s that helped him murder my parents. It’s a courtesy thing. Clint knows what I’ve been through and thought I’d want to be the one to deal with him.”

I didn’t know what all “dealing with him” entailed, but I’m sure it wouldn’t be good for the guy.

Kieran’s face had hardened some. I could hear the barely contained anger in his words. He was still very much affected by his parent’s death. Looking at him, I could see the boy that was still hurting from the loss. He just wanted justice.

I nodded in understanding. “Oh. That’s nice of him to do.”

“Clint was friends with my parents, so he knows the anger I’ve held over this. Even though he was considerably younger than them, they were still close. He’s been a great mentor to me. When I was lost and didn’t know how to run a pack, he helped me and showed me the ropes. He couldn’t have been kinder. I owe him a lot for that.”

 “How old is Alpha Clint?” I asked curiously.

“Thirty-four. He’s between mine and my parent’s age.”

“And his mate? She’s the same age as him?”

Thirty-four was considerably older than me. I couldn’t help, but worry I wouldn’t have anything in common with them.

“Twenty-six. Just a few years older than you, but not by much. He met her four years ago. Just two years before my parents passed.”  

I felt a little relieved at that. Maybe we’ll have more in common after all. Five years isn’t so bad. Though she’s had a lot more experience with Alpha duties than I had. Maybe she’ll give me some pointers.

Kieran looked at the clock then back to me. “Wyatt’s waiting for me at the holding building, I have to go. But I promise to answer any more questions you have after Clint and Kaelyn have gone.”

“Okay,” I nodded. “Just be careful. I’ve not had any experience with rogues, but I hear they can be unpredictable.”

A smile lit up on his face at my words and quickly he stepped closer to me and placed a soft gentle kiss on my forehead. I felt my face heat up from the contact and Kieran noticed. It only worsened when he chuckled.

“I’ll be back to get you soon.”

His hand dropped from my face and he stepped away from me. He sent me one last glance before disappearing from m sight and the room.

I stared after him in disbelief. Kieran was defiantly not what I expected when I got mixed up with an Alpha. He was better and so much more.

My shower was a quick one seeing as I was pressed for time and I was still searching through my things for something nice to wear. I was desperately trying to find something between a mix of casual and Formal and was having no luck.

It was already four forty-five and Alpha Clint would be arriving very soon which only sent me into a panic. I had to coach myself to breath several times.

When I finally settled on a dress that was close to what I was looking for I carried it to Kieran’s room and put it on. I studied myself in the long mirror pleased with my attire for the evening when I was ready.

The simple white dress I had chosen cut off just above my knees and my long blonde hair was in a French twist neatly on the back of head. I was never much for wearing jewelry, but the charm bracelet my parents had gotten me for my sixteenth birthday went incredibly well with it. It was white gold with all of my favorite things attached to it.

I suddenly found myself missing them again, but I didn’t let that stop myself from finishing getting ready. Kieran would be unhappy if I was late meeting his friends.

I made my way back into the bathroom and slipped on a pair of nice sandals that complimented the dress when I heard a light knock on the door.

I half expected it to be Kieran coming to check on me until I answered it and saw Keely standing before me in a blue dress a bright smile on her face. Her eyes widened when she took me in.

“Wow. You look beautiful, Claire. Now you’re making feel like I’m underdressed for this occasion.”

I smiled back at her. “Thanks, Keely, but you’re the one that looks lovely. Don’t you dare go change out of that.”

“You think?” she asked twirling around once in front of me with an unsure expression on her face.

“I know you do. You look great. Trust me.”

“Okay,” she said easily coming to a stop and welcoming herself into the room.

I giggled and followed after her. There was just so much to Keely that was very entertaining. She could be the shy, sweet girl that I had seen before. Or she could be the confident, brave, funny girl that I was seeing now. What impressed me most was how she handled her brothers overbearing ways. Like the other night for example.  She wasn’t afraid to say what she thought.

I could tell how much that bothered Kieran.

“So, what are you doing here?” I asked curiously when she plopped herself down on the couch below the bed.

“Oh you know, boredom, something to do, or genuine curiosity,” she replied. “I was wondering what you were doing. I’m glad it wasn’t what I thought might be going on in here.”

I raised an eyebrow to her. “And what exactly did you think was going on in here?”

She scrunched up her face and shook her head. “Please don’t make me say it.”

My eyes winded in surprise at her when I realized what she was getting at. “Oh that.”

“Yes, that,” she confirmed. “Believe me. My cousin has a mate and I haven’t seen her at all since she found him. They mostly spend their time locked up in their room. I’m not an idiot. I know what goes on between them, as much as I wish I didn’t.”

I laughed at that. “Well don’t worry. You don’t have to worry about that with your brother and me anytime soon.”

Just because I suddenly enjoyed kissing him did not mean I was ready to do anything else just yet. That will happen all in due time.

“You don’t know happy that makes me,” she smiled. “But just to be safe, I’ll always knock.”

“Good idea,” I agreed.

Keely and I chatting for the remainder of the time we had left and I didn’t even realize how fast the time had flown. Before I knew it, Kieran was there to get me and Keely and we were making our way down the large staircase.

No one seemed nearly as nervous as I was to be meeting a new pack, and the biggest one in the US at that. I guess everyone else was accustomed to these kinds of meetings whereas I was not. Being so new here made me feel out of place in these situations.

“You’ll be fine,” Keely assured me. “You’ll have to get used to us being presented as a family sooner or later. You’re my brother’s mate after all. It’s customary.”

I didn’t think I could feel any more nervous than I already was, but her words only made it worse. They echoed in my mind. “Family.” Is that what we were? Keely and Kieran are, I knew that, but not me. At least not yet.

Being mates in the werewolf world was much like being married in the human world. It made you as one; whether it is in the eyes of God or a pack of wolves. It would be just like that for us as well.

I felt myself becoming nauseous from all the pressure I was starting to feel. It couldn’t have come at a worse time. If it weren’t for Kieran next to me, gripping my hand, I’m sure I would have given into my urge to run back to his room and lock the door.

I chanted for myself to calm down, over and over in my head until we came to a dead stop at the bottom of the stairs. I lifted my eyes from the pearly white floor just in time for me to see the couple and a few of their wolves entering the room the same time as us.

They stopped a few feet away and each of us bowed our heads respectively in each other presence. Once the formalities were done with, the person I assumed was Alpha Clint smiled at us kindly. He and Kieran gave each other a manly handshake before turning to the rest of us and grinning.

He was quite handsome for an older male, with his dark hair, green eyes and tall frame. Though, to me, he couldn’t quite compare to Kieran. Not many people could.

“Clint you already know my sister Keely,” he said to him before wrapping his arm around me securely. “And this is my mate and future Luna of this pack, Claire.”

“Nice to finally meet you Claire. I’ve been hearing great things about you,” He smiled. “This is my mate and Luna of New Dawn Pack, Kaelyn,” he said turning to her.

She smiled at me politely before speaking. “Pleasure. I’m glad that Kieran has finally found himself a mate. We were starting to worry about him.”

I could only imagine why. He had been through so much with the loss of his parents and Jasmine, he’s bound to have people worry for him, especially his friends.

“She’s quite beautiful, Kieran. You chose well,” Kaelyn said to him when she sifted her eyes from me.

Kieran smiled appreciatively at her. “Yes, she is. Thank you.”

Although she was the one giving me compliments, I felt inferior in her presence. Not only did she have the natural air of a Luna, something I had yet to obtain, but she was also gorgeous.

Her long silky auburn hair flowed softly down her back and stopped mid waist. Her bright green eyes showed professionalism and kindness. She was slender, but with a tall frame. She could easily have become a model if she wished to. I bet a thousand agencies would be fighting to sign her. Everything about her was just so perfect.

“Kaelyn,” Keely cheered, giving her a huge hug.

She merely laughed at her before hugging her back. “You’ve aged since I have seen you last.”

“Well, I’m a whole year older now,” she stated proudly releasing Kaelyn.

Kieran squeezed me gently to his side drawing my attention and cleared his throat. “Why don’t we take this into the living room and we can speak further.”

“Of course,” Clint agreed.

Kieran lead us in, and offered Clint and Kaelyn the couch across from him, Keely and me. The other wolves did not follow. I assumed they were giving us our privacy.

Though Kieran seemed beyond pleased to see his old friends, he still seemed stiff. I silently wondered if it might have anything to do with the Rogue Alpha Clint brought with him today. I didn’t feel to safe having one so close by.

The two Alphas seemed to be having some kind of conversation with their eyes for a minute before anyone spoke again.

“I take it the rogue is in Wyatt’s custody now?” Kieran asked.

Alpha Clint nodded. “He met us at the borders to collect him.”

Kieran seemed to be in thought for a moment before speaking again. “The rogue doesn’t know why he’s here?” he asked Clint.

“No, he doesn’t. I only told him he was being transferred to another territory. I thought we should provide him the element of surprise.” He looked happy about that.

 “Yes, I’d love to see his pathetic face when he sees me.”

Clint’s dark brown eyes shifted from mine to Kieran’s then down to the floor in thought. His mate squeezed his hand while he returned it with a squeeze of his own. His stared at the floor another few seconds before looking back up to meet Kieran’s curious eyes.

“I know that you want retribution for your parent’s death as do I, but I should remind you to go easy on him,” Clint said. “He may say things to provoke you, and the urge to kill him will be overwhelming.”

Kieran waited patiently for him to continue.

“If you kill him, not only would you be without answers, but it might cause Axel to retaliate before you even have a chance to prepare. He’s a lot stronger than the last time you encountered him. He’s building his army back up.”

“He’s already preparing for an attack. He thinks I’m and easy target.” Kieran replied glancing at me then back to Clint.

 “He has a thirst for power. He wants so badly to rule something and he won’t give up,” Clint added. “And yes, he thinks your pack will be easy to obtain.”

Kieran pulled me closer to him as he thought over Alpha Clint’s words. His grip was so tight around my waist that I found it uncomfortable and slightly painful. I slightly squirmed in his hold.

“Well that all about to change,” he replied releasing me a little. He looked as if he were about to say something more before he looked at his sister next to us and stopped.

“Keely, you don’t have to stay for this. Why don’t you go find one of your friends? Just make sure you stay on the territory,” he told her.

Her ears were glued to the conversation and she became upset that her brother was kicking her out.

She frowned. “Why?” 

He sighed with irritation. There was a certain order behind his words. “Can you just do as I ask?”

They had a staring contest between them for what seemed like minutes before Kieran won with his more intimidating one and she stood.

“Fine, I’ll go find Tess,” she grumbled.

Before she made it to the door, Kieran called out her making her pause. “Just stay inside the territory. And I don’t want you anywhere near the holding cells.”

“Yes, dad,” she muttered sarcastically before continuing out the door.

Kaelyn giggled as soon as Keely disappeared from the room. “It looks like you still have your hands full.”

“We have our disagreements,” he said to her before focusing his attention back on Clint and continuing the previous conversation.

“I’m claiming Claire tonight,” he announced proudly.

Clint was taken aback momentarily before a pleased look appeared on his face. “That’s great, Kieran.”

“It really is,” Kaelyn said. “It will help both of your wolves considerably.”

“We plan to mate in two weeks, before the next full moon. Our wolves will be at their strongest then. It will make us stronger as well,” Kieran added.

I blushed at how easily it was for him to talk with them about our mating. They were still complete strangers to me, even if they were close friends of his.

Kaelyn giggled at that and caused both Kieran and I look at her with matching curious faces. Soon Clint chuckled as well.

“What?” we both asked simultaneously.

Trying to compose herself she barely sobered up enough to tell us. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. It’s just that neither of you will possibly be able to wait that long to mate.”

Clint suddenly stood from the couch and held his arm out to Kieran and motioned him to join him. “Come on, I think we should have a talk.”

Kaelyn nodded. “I agree. You should. As should Claire and I. They clearly need to be educated on certain things.”

I looked to Kieran and wonder if he felt just as much of an adolescent as I did in that moment. He frowned at Clint, but got up to join him.

“We’ll just leave you two alone,” Clint said before walking Kieran from the room.

I stared back and Kaelyn in bewilderment. What was I missing here?

She moved from her seat across from me and sat down on the sofa I was on.  She looked like she was ready to dish about something huge and I prepared myself for what she was about to say.  

“You don’t know much about mates, do you?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I know the basics. I guess the claim I’m a little lost on though.”

She grinned and clasped her hand over mine that were resting in my lap. “A claim is a very powerful thing on a wolf. Not only does it ward off any other male, but it also labels you as belonging to someone else.”

I frowned. I hate that word, belong. It made me feel like a possession and that was not something I was ok with. I was my own person.

“Kieran’s wolf will be going crazy for you,” she explained. “He won’t be able to control himself around you. At first things might not seem so bad, but the longer you go without completing the mating process after the claim, the more likely Kieran’s wolf will drive him crazy to mate you. It might become unbearable even, and cause him to lose control of his restraint.”

I swallowed hard at that. This whole claim thing was starting to sound like a bad idea. As much as it would help me, it was also going cause Kieran’s wolf to want me in a way I wasn’t ready for yet.

Then and idea came to mind.

“But, we may be different. You speak of true mates and we aren’t that,” I said.

She quickly shook her head. “That doesn’t matter. His wolf will see that he has a second chance at a mate and will stop at nothing to make you his completely. He won’t risk losing another mate. If anything, this will be worse for the both of you because you’re not true mates.”

It would be a lie to say this conversation didn’t frighten me. I wasn’t aware of any of the things she was telling to me. Kieran and I were both walking into this thing completely blind.

“Well, maybe after the claim we can just distance ourselves from each other and avoid any temptation.”

That earned me another laugh from her.

“That will only make it worse. He will want to be with you all the time. You’ll be lucky if he lets you leave his side. You’ll have a couple of days at most before he turns into a possessive Alpha wolf. Clint even went as far as locking me up so I couldn’t leave him.”

My eyes widened and I gasped at that. “And you didn’t get angry about that?”

“Are you kidding? I found it humorous. Plus my wolf wanted to be with him just as bad so it didn’t bother me much.”

Oh no. I’m gonna want him too?

“R-really?” I stuttered.

“Well almost as bad,” she corrected. “Nothing can compare to the emotions of an Alpha wolf. They are intensified much, much more than anyone else’s.”

Now, more than ever, I was beginning to feel reluctant about the marking/claim. I didn’t want to drive both of our wolves crazy and I certainly didn’t want Kieran to lock me up. That might have been okay with Kaelyn, but that was certainly not okay with me. I would kill him if he ever did something like that.

“Maybe we should just hold off for a while then,” I said.

She removed her hand from mine and her face became saddened.  All traces of humor had vanished from her features.

“Kieran needs someone and he chose you. For whatever reason, fate has thrown you two together to help each other. You have been given a second chance at love. Don’t waste it. Let him love you,” she said.

Love? I hadn’t even thought about love- mainly because I didn’t expect it after Daniel, but really? Could he love me?

When I didn’t speak she went on.

“I’ve known Kieran four years now, and in all the time I knew him, he couldn’t wait to find his mate.” Her face hardened at that. “Unfortunately though, when he did, he got screwed over. He got someone who was too stupid to realize that all she would ever want lied within Kieran. It wasn’t fair. He lost everything because of her. She almost ruined him. He was almost ready to give up completely. His wolf, his pack, everything. But then….” She paused for a second before regaining her smooth features and smiling at me, “he found you. He wanted to fix you and hoped you could fix him in return.”

“Oh,” I mumbled barely audible.

“Now the question is; will you let him? You may not have started out in love, but nothing is stopping you from growing in love. Let the claim bring you two together. Believe me, in the end, you be happy you did.”

One thing is for sure, Kaelyn had certainly given me a lot to consider. After everything she explained to me, consequences included, I don’t know how I could deny him. All he wanted to do was have a second chance. That wasn’t asking too much, was it? It would be selfish of me not to give him that.

Maybe Kaelyn is right. Just because I don’t love him now, doesn’t me I won’t ever love him. It just has to grow.

“You’re right,” I agreed. “If it’s one thing I’ve learned through this whole thing with Kieran, it is that anything is possible. He saved me once, and now it’s my turn to save him back.”

A wide grin took over her face at my decision before she surprised me by wrapping me up in a suffocating hug. I laughed at her sudden response. It was obvious that her and Clint cared a lot for Kieran.

“I know this isn’t the usual Luna behavior, but to me, Kieran is family, and that makes you family as well.”

When she released me I felt my lungs fill up with air again to my relief. She might have been slender, but she was strong.

“So…welcome to the family,” she said.

Kieran and Clint spent the majority of the evening discussing business after they had their “man to man” conversation. I could only imagine if it was the same as mine and Kaelyn’s.

After dinner with the pack, the visiting Alpha and Luna left and it was late. Most everyone had settled into their rooms, including Kieran and I. I had been nervous about how this whole thing would go down with us, but I refused to be overcome by my nerves.

He was going to claim me tonight. I had accepted that and wanted it even. I was ready. We were the only hope each of us had at happiness and I wouldn’t let that slip away from me.

When Kieran and I entered the room we both stood there in an awkward silence. Or maybe it was just me who felt awkward. I didn’t even know where to begin with the whole marking/claiming thing. 

“I um…I think tonight went really well,” I said kicking off my sandals and leaving them together on the floor. I would put them away tomorrow.

He kicked of his shoes as well and nodded. “Yeah, I do too,” he agreed. “You were great with them. They really liked you.”

That made me smile. “I’m glad. I really liked them too. I hope they’ll come back to visit again.”

He walked into his closet and in a minute he was out again and in his normal night time attire, A t-shirt and pair of athletic shorts.

“They will be,” he replied. “Clint said he would return to check on the rogue situation again in a week.”

“Oh. Good.”

I pulled the pins from my hair that were keeping it in place and let it fall loosely in waves at my face. The golden strands hung down below my shoulders, tickling my arm. When I looked at him, Kieran was watching me. His eye roamed over my figure.

“You looked beautiful tonight,” he said.

 “Thank you,” I smiled.

“Um do you mind helping me with this?” I asked pointing to the zipper of the dress in the back. “It was complicated trying to get it zipped before.”

“Not at all,” he said snapping from his stare and slowly walking over to me. I turned around to give him access of the zipper and waited patiently for his hands to find it. When the fabric fell loose around my still body, I slowly turned to face him.

I clutched the material to my chest tightly to keep it from falling to the floor in a heap. Though the straps had already fell from my shoulders leaving that part of me exposed. Kieran’s eyes trailed from my shoulder blade to my collar bone and rested there. He was thinking about something.

It was the exact place that had to be bitten to claim someone.

I pushed my fear of the bite aside and moved closer to him. His eye followed me as I moved. Something in his face changed. There was very little space between us now. He looked tempted.

“Do it,” I said.

“Are you sure?”

“I am,” I replied. “Claim me.”

With my permission he leaned forth and smirked. His hands gently traveled up my arms slowly and stopped at the straps that hung off my shoulders. He slid them down even further bringing the fabric away from the spot he needed access too. His warm lips brushed his along my collar bone making me shiver all over. I felt him smile against my skin.

His eyes grew dark, a shade that I had never seen on him before. It caused me to gasp in surprise.

I didn’t move when his hands traveled down my sides and gripped my waist in his hands. I let out a breath of air I didn’t know I was holding in. Unconsciously I placed my hands on his shoulders and pulled him into me.

His teeth grazed my skin, his hot breath fanning over me. I suppressed a moan. In only a matter of seconds I felt his canines and sinking his teeth into my peachy flesh causing a cry of pain to escape my lips.

As of that moment, I was truly his.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N

So, how many of you are screaming for Claire and Kieran right now? Yes, it finally happened. Claire is claimed! I can’t wait to start on the next chapter. I already know how the whole thing is going to play out and I can’t wait to share it with you. Get excited my friends because things are about to heat up.

**Please keep in mind though, this is only the claim. **   We’ll see how long they can hold out before mating. *Insert evil grin*

Now, to show me how much you love me for this chapter, comment and vote like crazy- per person. I’m dying to know your thoughts on the whole chapter. 

Comment…..Vote…..Follow!!!!

Picture to the side of Alpha Clint and Kaelyn >>>>>>>>