Chapter 14

Kieran had claimed me four hours ago and I was still in a world of pain. I cried for hours on end that night. It was almost unbearable. If it were not for Kieran holding me in his arms all night I’m sure the pain would have been incredibly worse. I was thankful for him.

My emotions were all over the place as well. I couldn’t think strait. I had never felt more bipolar in all my life. That was another reason for my tears. One minute I was fine and the next I was crying. The sheets on the bed were covered with blood and so was the room in the scent. It was a good thing I didn’t have an aversion to blood or I would have been sick.

At times I found myself hating Kieran for causing me to be in this extreme amount of pain and wanted to push him away. Though when I started to go through with it I backed out and couldn’t do it. I needed, no wanted him next to me. His arms offered so much comfort. I think the claim was starting to forge the bond already and my wolf was accepting it. She had yet to make her appearance though. I could only hope that he had saved her.

An hour ago Kieran had checked my wound and it was completely healed. It was only the pain that still existed. However, that much could be expected after what Kieran told me. A claim from anyone besides your true mate always hurts much longer and much more. Kieran had assured me that the pain would be fading soon.

I didn’t have any dreams throughout the night. But with the pain from the bite I wasn’t faring much better. I was just looking forward to it being over soon- whenever that may be.

By the time six A.M rolled around I panicked that Kieran might leave me and the tears worsened. I couldn’t be left alone in my current state. Thankfully he promised he wouldn’t leave my side until I was better. I wrapped my arms around him and didn’t let him go until the sun started peaking up over the curtains. The scar from the wound, that acted as my mark, was healed and now a dull pain. 

I was finally able to get hold of myself better as the pain eased; though my emotions were still completely out of order. For once in my life, I didn’t know what t expect from myself in the present day. That was a scary feeling. I was afraid I might break down or fly off on someone on a whim. I was completely and totally emotionally unstable.

“The sun is up baby, are you hungry?” Kieran asked.

I felt tingles shoot through me at my new pet name he had given me. I was shocked by how much I liked it. I yearned to hear it escape his lips again.

Why didn’t I find this weirder? I was receiving affections from Kieran I had never experienced or expected. That should make me feel uncomfortable, shouldn’t it? Could the bond really work this fast?

“No, I’m fine right here with you,” I smiled contently.

His arms tightened around my waist bringing me even closer to him. His gently kissed my hair and rested his chin upon my head. His breathing was a welcoming comfort to me. It calmed me more than I could convey.

I inhaled his scent again for the millionth time as he continued to hold me.

“Baby, you need to eat. You need to get your strength up,” he insisted softly. “You’ve been through quite an ordeal.”

Yes, I had.

It was hardly fair that it was only the Alpha’s that could claim their mates and not the she-wolves. It some kind of male bravado thing in my eyes and Mother Nature seemed to support it.

As much as I hated it, in this world, males were held above the females; however, some packs took that a little too far. Like only using the females for mating purposes and to satisfy the males, not letting them fight like the other wolves. I hated it.

That was exactly how my pack worked. Jasmine and Daniel were a true testament to that.

I perked up instantly at how that mere thought of him didn’t seem to bother me anymore. Was it true? Was I completely free of him now? I could only hope.

Then another thought crossed my mind. What was Daniel doing? How did he handle me being marked by someone else? Did it affect him? Did it cause him pain? I had the same thoughts about Jasmine as well.

The more vindictive part of me secretly hoped they suffered for everything they had put Kieran and me through and experienced the same kind of pain we had, while another part of me wouldn’t wish that kind of pain on anyone. I was conflicted. I guess I owed that to my messed up emotions as well.

“Come on,” Kieran urged raising us up in the bed together. “Let’s eat. It’s seven A.M.”

“Don’t make me go,” I begged. “Can’t you have something sent up for us?”

“You should get up and get moving. It might make you feel better?” he said running his hands through my, probably mangled, hair.

I wasn’t used to being so babied. Not even by my own parents. It was…nice.

Oh no. Does that make me sound vulnerable? This claim has really screwed me up. 

“I don’t want to,” I stated again getting slightly agitated. “I want to stay in bed with you.”

He sighed and released me. “I’m only trying to help you, Claire.”

“Well maybe I don’t need your help,” I snapped standing up from the bed. “Maybe I just want you to hold me all day and stop bugging me about things I don’t want to do. Just stay with me.”

“I will stay with you.”

“Whatever,” I huffed storming off the bathroom and slamming the door behind me.  It was only after I was inside leaning against the door that I realized what I had just done.

What the hell was that?

I mean sure I didn’t want to be seen by anyone right now, but was that really an excuse to snap at him. I think I may have just over reacted a bit.

No. No, Claire, you didn’t. He was being too insistent. He wouldn’t listen.

But, he was just trying to help, like he said. He didn’t mean to be that way.

Ugh! This is all so frustrating. At that, I started to cry again. I was already missing Kieran’s arms. I just wanted to be back in them. Maybe I should just go apologize to him.

A soft knock came on the door before I was able to push my body off the door. I sensed it was Kieran right away. But really, who else would be knocking on our bathroom door, in our room?

Whoa, ours? Where did that come from? It’s not ours, it’s his. I’m just a guest in his room. He’s being hospitable by letting me stay here. That’s all. None of this “what is mine is yours, and what is yours is mine” stuff. It’s way too early to be thinking like that.

Get that thought out of you head right now, Claire

Oh great, now I’m talking to myself as well. Where does this end?

“I’m sorry baby, let me in?” he asked. “Please.”

I couldn’t say no to that voice. It was calling out for me. He wanted me and I wanted him.

I quickly moved from the door and threw it open before wrapping my arms around his neck. I buried my face into his neck and inhaled him once again.

“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m just….”

“I know,” he finished. “I understand. This is just one of those side effects of being claimed. Your body doesn’t know how to handle all your newfound emotions. They are intertwined with mine and it will confuse you a lot.”

I nodded, but didn’t speak. Well that certainly makes sense.

“Come on, I’ll help you back to bed,” he said leading me away from the bathroom.

I pulled away from him. “Not that’s okay, I have to pee anyway.”

Did I really just say that? I flushed with embarrassment.

“I mean, I have to use the bathroom. I’ll be out in a minute,” I corrected. I pulled away from him once more and closed the bathroom door after me. Again, like last time, I found myself missing his arms.

My time in the bathroom was very short. I even took a quick shower just to wash the dried blood from my skin. But the longer I was away from Kieran the more I pined for him. By the time I was finished with everything and dressed in the clothes I had left in the bathroom the previous day, I found it distance between us unbearable and I wanted to be with him.

When I pulled open the bathroom door again Kieran had pulled the old sheets off the bed and replaced them with new clean ones. He was already laying on them waiting on me while playing on his phone. I smiled when I noticed a try of food on the bed.

I could smell it’s deliciousness from a distance and quickly made my way over to it.

The tray was filled with Pancakes, bacon, eggs, and biscuits. Just looking at it made my mouth water. There was enough food to feed at least three people on it.

I sat down next to Kieran on the bed and began eating.  

“Pancakes, eggs, coffee?” I asked him while stuffing my face. I’m sure I looked very unattractive at that moment.

“Bacon,” he smiled placing a piece in his mouth. “You’re the one who needs eat, not me.”

“I can’t eat all of this,” I said with wide eyes. “I’ll be sick.”

He frowned at me. “Well, try. You need the nutrients. ”

I sighed not wishing to argue with him, and continued to eat as he requested. The food was amazing, that’s for sure. Whoever made it should definitely consider being a chef.

I wonder if it was Lana’s mom, Margret.

After breakfast, someone was sent up to collect the tray and Kieran and I went back to bed. There was some sitcom playing in the background on his television set, but I found it easy to sleep through. I had very little interest in watching TV.

By the time the evening had rolled around and it was close to dinner I shot up out of the bed quickly. I realized that something had slipped my mind completely. The room.

I was supposed to point today. Why hadn’t Lana come to get me? Or Leland for that matter. They both agreed.

“What’s wrong?” Kieran panicked getting up after me.

“The room. I was supposed to paint it today. I had help,” I said.

“I ordered that no one bother you today while you were in the bathroom this morning. With the way you acted, I just figured you didn’t want to see anyone.”

“I don’t, I think.”

His assumption was right, but now I was kind of missing my friends. However, I didn’t want to be away from Kieran either. That though alone scared me very much. I was becoming unnaturally attached to him.

Maybe some time apart will do us both good. Who knows, maybe the distance will break us out of whatever spell we’re under. It was worth a shot, no matter how much it would bother me. Yes, I d miss him, but we can’t be together all the time. He had his duties and I would too eventually. Plus I really wanted to see Lana, Felix, Leland, and Keely again. It seemed like days since I was them last when in reality it was only yesterday.

“Changing your mind?” he asked.

I nodded. “Maybe. I miss my friends. Plus, Leland and Lana agreed to help me paint.” Then I thought of something. “Though, Leland has border patrol tonight, so he may want to rest.”

Kieran wrapped me up in his arms and kissed my head again. “If you want him to help, I can let someone else take over for him tonight,” he murmured into my hair.

“I don’t want to mess anything up. If he was supposed to be on patrol tonight he should.”

“He can have the night off,” he said softly. “I just want you to be happy.”

I turned in his arms to face him. My arms automatically wrapped around his neck. “I am happy. I have everything I need to be.”

He smiled at me and rubbed my back with his hand. “I’m happy too. But Leland can work tomorrow. There is still plenty for him to do then.”

I nodded and smiled back at him. “Okay, but only if you’re sure.”

“I am,” he said.

He bent down and brought his soft lips to mine sending tingles all through my body. I moaned into him and deepened our kiss unable to get enough of him.

I think it was safe to say that our souls had bonded and were accepting each other completely. I could feel it inside me.

I found myself in the white and wood room next door to Kieran’s, with Keely and Lana. Kieran had gone to tell Leland he had the night off while we taped everything that was not to be painted off. After we were finished with that, we then began to cover up all the furniture in the room. I didn’t want to ruin anything with paint.

My iPod was plugged into the dock, playing some of my favorite tunes as we worked. I hummed along softly with Lana and Keely’s beautiful voices. It gave a nice rhythm.

It wasn’t much longer when the rest of the help arrived. And to my surprised Felix was there too. I was overjoyed Kieran had sent more help.

“You came too,” I said to him after giving Leland a quick hug.

“You know me, I couldn’t stay away,” he smirked. “Plus, the Alpha offered me a day off if I came to help.”

I grinned and shook my head at him. “I knew it was something like that. And here I thought you’d never succumb to bribery.”

Felix threw his arm around my shoulder before rubbing his hand roughly on top of my head making my hair a complete mess.

“Hey,” I whined. “Don’t be mean.”

He laughed letting me go. “But it’s so easy.”

I rolled my eyes at him and pick up a paintbrush by the door. “Who’s painting around the frame?” I asked.

“I’ll do it,” Leland said taking the brush from my hand. He bent down and picked up a bucket of paint and poured some into a paint tray before placing it next to the door. He dipped the brush and started stroking the wall.

After distributing jobs to everyone we were finally all painting. I wouldn’t lie I missed Kieran heaps. And I often found myself thinking of him. My body and mind was screaming for me to go find him, but I couldn’t leave my friends to do the job I started.

I would just have to suck it up. This was for the best in the end. Space is good…space is healthy. Everyone needs it. So if I knew that, why was still trying to convince myself of it?

I tried to shake my thoughts of him once again and failing miserably. Somehow every thought always led back to him.

Paint…Kieran bought the paint….I wonder what he’ doing right now?

The help….Kieran sent the help….Kieran…I wonder if he’s missing me?

The room…Kieran gave me this room….Is Kieran thinking of me as much as I am him?

Does it ever stop? It was exhausting.

When the first coat of paint was on the walls I we all decided to take a short break. Keely was really into the beat of the music, dancing along by herself. Lana was joking around with Felix, and Leland and I, were both sitting in chairs on the balcony that was attached to the room. It was the one thing Kieran’s room was lacking. However, it excelled in all other areas.

“Thanks for helping,” I told him leaning my head back in the chair enjoying the cool breeze. Leland was doing the same. He didn’t look at me when he spoke.

“It’s no problem. I don’t mind painting. It’s a nice change from my everyday routine.” He smiled at the end of his sentence.

“Ah, the adventures of a wolf,” I grinned and sat up. “Your life must be filled with excitement.”

“True, but there is something called “too much of a good thing”, isn’t there?” he said sitting up to face me.

“I suppose there is,” I agreed. “However, I love adventure. I welcome too much of it.”

“Be careful what you wish for,” he chuckled. “Enjoy the peace while it lasts. One day you’ll be wishing for it.”

“Maybe,” I shrugged. “What about you? Do you miss it?”

“Me? No. I like being in on the action, but I do miss being able to relax. I miss the good old days, back when Kieran’s parents were still around. Things were just so much more relaxed than they are now. We all had to grow up when they passed. Kieran more than anyone though.”

“He was pretty free then? Less intense than he is now?” I guessed.

He nodded. “Pretty much. He’s different, but still the same, if that makes any sense.”

I giggled. “It doesn’t actually, but okay.”

“He’s different with you, you know? He’s just, I don’t know, more of the Kieran he used to be. He doesn’t ride all of us so hard about things now,” he explained.

“Or it could be the fact that he was rejected and he just doesn’t have the energy to.”

He shook his head. “You saw him the day you went missing and the night they captured Pierce. He could easily be back in Alpha mode if he wanted to.”

I nodded and looked down at my hands. “He could, but without his wolf he’s still lacking something. He’ll get it back though, especially after he claimed me last night.”

“Yeah about that, how are you feeling?” he asked.

I shrugged. “All over the place. I can’t really explain all the things I’m feeling or going through. It still confuses me.”

“You’ll adjust from what I’ve heard. It won’t take long,” he explained.

I smiled at him and we sat in a short comfortable silence for a couple of minutes. It was nice to have someone to talk about these things with. I liked Leland; he was a good friend to me, even if we didn’t know each other that well yet. Talking with someone who knew Kieran so well was helpful. I liked learning new things about my mate.

 Someone cleared their throat and interrupted our brief silence. Leland and I both looked to the French doors to see Felix standing there with his arm crossed and a smirk on his face.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything. Please, don’t let me intrude on your girl time.”

I giggled and Leland glared at him. However, Felix didn’t look at all fazed by it. It was entertaining to watch two friends poking fun at each other even if Leland didn’t see that.

“Always the smart ass,” he said his voice laced with humor now.

“You know it. The room isn’t going to paint itself, now is it?” Felix replied.

“No, but how cool would that be of it could,” I smiled getting up from my seat and passing by him.

Leland and Felix followed in after me, Felix sending some retort my way that I didn’t catch making Leland laugh. I just rolled my eyes at him and picked up a paint roller. Keely and Lana were already back to painting again, singing a song to the top of their lungs while I dipped my rolled in more purple paint.

Just one more coat and we’d be finished. It should take more than a day to dry and we could start moving furniture in. I was excited to pick out all new furnishings. Decorating would give me something else to do until my wolf came back. If she came back.

I spun around with my roller in hand to paint the wall behind me. Unknown to me that Leland was stand right beside me as I spun, therefore covering him in purple paint. I gasped and placed my hand over my mouth and tried my hardest not to giggle.

“I am so sorry,” I said.

His left arm was covered in paint along with a large portion of his t-shirt. When Felix, Lana and Keely caught sight of the mess, the all burst out laughing. At that point I could no longer hold back and joined in with the rest of them.

Instead of getting upset like I thought he might he just merely smirked and dipped his brush in my paint and swiped it across my forehead. I squealed and jumped back.

“Hey, what I did to you was an accident. No fair,” I complained. I wiped the back of my arm across my head in attempt to wipe of the paint, but only smeared it and made it worse.

“So was that,” he chuckled.

“Oh yeah?” I said. “Well so is this.”

Before he had a chance to react I took the smeared paint on my arm and wiped it across his cheek.

“No, we’re even,” I added.

He stared back at me in disbelief and shook his head. “Oh no. We’re not even close.”

I backed away just as the paint brush started coming my way dodged his first attempt at painting me, however, the second attempt was a success. He got me again on the shoulder, covering the blue of my shirt. I gasped.

While I was busy planning my counter attack on him someone cleared their throat and Kieran’s scent hit me like a ton of bricks. Everyone in the room immediately turned their attention t the door.

Kieran was standing there with an unexplainable look on his face. He didn’t look upset, but he wasn’t smiling either. All levity in the atmosphere vanished. He looked at everyone in the room before looking me and Leland over with a more serious expression. After a moment he grunted and stepped into the room.

All I wanted to do was run into his arms and embrace him, but with my painted body and clothes I refrained from doing so thinking he probably wouldn’t appreciate that too much.

“Looks like I missed the party,” he said looking at me. “Claire, can I speak to you for a minute?”

I felt my heart drop into my stomach. Oops. Was in trouble? What did I do? We didn’t ruin anything with the paint.

I immediately shook my head at how I was reacting.

No this is stupid. I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m just overreacting. He had nothing to be upset about.

I nodded my head and walked past Leland and Felix to meet Kieran. As soon as I reached him he took my hand and led me out the door. He quickly pulled me into his room and shut the door behind us. He stood in front of me with his arms crossed as if he were waiting for something.

“Is something wrong?” I asked with the raise of my eyebrow.

He simply frowned. It was just amazing to me how hot he looked even when he did that. I just wanted to reach up and kiss him.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out my phone and handed it to me.

“Your friend Jennifer called you three times in the past thirty minutes. It seemed important so I thought you’d like to know. You left your phone by the bed,” he answered briskly.

“Okay,” I said still wondering why he looked irritated. “Is that all?” I asked.

For a moment he didn’t say anything and continued to stare at me, and then he uncrossed his arms and closed the distance between us. He grabbed me up in them the second I was within reach.

“I missed you,” he said.

“Well, I missed you too, but that doesn’t explain your strange behavior,” I pointed out.

“You were gone a while,” he added.

“Yeah, there was a lot to do. There still is,” I answered. “It probably would have taken longer if you hadn’t sent Felix and Leland.”

Was I missing something? Why was he being all weird about this?

“You were laughing with him. You like him, don’t you?”

I frowned at him. I was starting to see where this was going.

“Yes, he’s my friend. Of course I like him,” I replied. “Is something wrong with that?”

He remained quiet for a minute before speaking back up. “Should I be worried?”

At that I giggled. “Worried? About what, me making friends? He is no different than Lana, Keely, or Felix. They’re all my friends, Kieran.”

He still didn’t say anything and kept his grave look.

I finally sighed and placed my hands on either side of his face and brought his lips to mine. He immediately kissed me back as the tingles shot through us. I pulled away after a moment and meet his eyes.

“No you don’t have to worry. You’re my mate and I am yours. I’m not her. I’m not jasmine. I wouldn’t choose someone else over you.”

His body visibly relaxed at my words and a light smile tugged at this lips. “You really mean that?”

I smiled back. “You have my word.”

“Good,” he said nestling his face into my neck as his arms tightened almost painfully around me. “Because your mine. My wolf won’t let you go. He’s already told me. He’s starting to come out more. I can’t guarantee he won’t overreact when he sees you with other males.”

“We’ll survive,” I told him confidently with a smile.

I leaned up to kiss him again before my phone rang breaking us apart. We both groaned at its sound.  When Kieran released me I looked down at the screen in confusion. It was Jennifer again. Something must be really important.

“I’ll let you take that. Wyatt’s expecting me back anyway. Our interrogation on the rogue is getting us nowhere. We’re working on new tactics,” he explained. “I’ll let you know more later.”

I nodded and smiled at him after he placed a soft kiss on my head and walked out of the room. I missed him as soon as his scent was gone. However, I didn’t have time to dwell on that. I had to speak to Jennifer.

“Hey,” I said answering the phone. “Where have you been? I’ve missed you like crazy.”

All I heard were sniffles on the other end of the line and instantly I became worried.

“Jen, are you ok?” I asked slowly.

“No,” she barely got out.

I became panic stricken. “Why? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

I could hear her soft sobs on the other end of the line for a minute before she spoke again.

“I can’t talk about it now. I don’t have much time. My phone is going dead.”

“At least tell me you’re not in some kind of danger,” I begged.

“I’m not,” she said more clearly. “At least not anymore. I got mixed up with some bad people, Claire. I’ll explain the rest when I get there, okay?”

“Wait? You’re coming here? Where are you? When are you coming?” I asked impatiently looking of answers.

“I’m a little ways away from you. At least half a day’s drive. Just expect to see me late tomorrow evening. I’ve stopped somewhere to sleep for the night, but I’ll leave first thing tomorrow.”

“You’re scaring me, Jen,” I said honestly. I was afraid for her.

“Don’t worry about me, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow. I promise.”

I sighed. “Okay but-”

Before I was able to finish my sentence I was cut off and the line went dead. I just stared back at the screen in bewilderment. None of that conversation with her made any sense. Something was really wrong with her.

She was never the overly emotional type. She was more of a carefree person who was always looking for a party and a good time. She never took life to seriously. She was much like Pierce in that way. This Jennifer I just spoke to was not the Jennifer I knew at all. This was something I needed to get down to the bottom of.

In a trance, I retuned back to the room next door with a heavy mind. I was running over all the possible reasons that would have put her in such an emotional state.

Everyone was staring at me, but no one asked any questions except for Lana. I assured her I was fine, but from the look of concern on her face I could tell she didn’t believe me. Leland held the same look as she did.

We painted the rest of the room in silence, apart from the music playing in the background. However, it wasn’t much of a distraction to my thoughts.

When all the painting was finally finished I retuned back to Kieran’s room still in deep thought. It was almost nine P.M and Kieran wasn’t in the room yet. The room felt emptier without him. I craved his company more when I was alone.

I decided to skip dinner with the pack again tonight and instead stayed holed up in the bedroom with my phone. I really needed to call my parents again, and maybe with a little luck they would know something about Jennifer.

I just couldn’t let this go so easily. My worry wouldn’t disappear just like that.

With that thought I sighed and leaned back into the headboard of the bed and dialed my mom’s number.

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A/N

Sorry for the wait on this chapter. Life is crazy sometimes. But alas we all have to deal. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I tried to make it as long as I could, but didn’t have the time or mental capacity to make more than six pages this time. Maybe next time.

Please leave me lots of votes and comments and let me know your still loving the book! I always love reading those. :)

Picture of Keely to the side >>>>>>>>

P.S: I didn’t have time to edit so kindly point out any mistakes you find. Thanks in advance!