His Claim

7

Corbin

    I lurched forward to catch her before her body fell. I picked her up, cradling her to me. Tears were still streaming down her face, and so were mine. Her hands gripped my shirt which made me hold her closer. Her skin was cool and I wiped the sweat from her forehead. She had touched everyone with her mind, piercing our hearts with a sadness so deep. I bit my lip to distract myself from the pain in my chest.

How long did she feel this way? How long has she been suffering?

My attention was turned away as I heard a loud growl.

"How dare you!" Lily screamed and lunged towards Clara. I watched as they tussled on the ground, but I was holding Ember. I let out a growl and the girls let go of each other.

I felt relief as Erin came and held onto Lily who was looking at Clara with murderous intent. I looked to Clara who was staring at Ember. She still had tears running down her face. Her hair was pulled from her usually bun and flowed in the wind in fiery locks.

"I-I," she started but then shifted and ran into the forest. I let out a sigh as I turned to look at the pack.

Go about your day, I said in our link and soon everyone was dispersing.
It wasn't good of me to dismiss everyone. Ember had made an intrusion into our pack connection which made everyone feel vulnerable now. She was the enemy, an outsider that shouldn't have been able to do that.

I was quick to take Ember to my room. Bruises were already forming around her neck, but her breathing was steady. I wiped her tear stained face and pulled the covers over her. I watched as her nose twitched and she dug her face into the pillow. Even if she didn't understand, we were still mates. I brushed back a rogue strand of hair that was crossed over her face. Her face held a pained expression. I cupped her cheek feeling the warm tingling sprout over my skin. Her brows came together before relaxing. Her lips parted softly as she let out a sigh. I didn't want anyone to bother her, my room was the safest place for her.

    I wasn't completely sure what she has been through, the extent of it. But it seemed it was worse and worse. Marcel was known for being cruel, he was banned from his pack when he was just a boy because he murdered his family. The pack couldn't bear to kill a child so they banned him. We knew some rogues escaped to the city to live a somewhat normal life. It usually wasn't an issue. Until he went to the city. He banned the rogues together into some makeshift pack. For a while we tolerated the crime he was causing in the city but then he got closer and closer to our borders.

    Then there was her. We knew he had a luna, but everything about her was shrouded in myth and stories. The Luna with hells eyes, who with one look could kill you. There were even stories of her taking children to eat them. Anyone who came to pass her would die.

    In a way we thought maybe she was a big piece of the puzzle. That she was the one who was helping Marcel make such progress. I guess in a way she was, but not the way we thought.

The sadness she held...the guilt...no cruel person would truly feel that. I ran my hand over her shoulder. Her skin was so soft.

    "Corbin," I looked up as Erin came in. He was my most trusted friend and beta.

    "How is Lily? Clara and her really went at it."

    "They are both fine. Lily isn't telling me much. I don't understand why. But she said she needs to invite the Alphas from the Eclipse Pack here."

    "Her old pack? What for?"

    "She won't tell me. The way she treats this rogue....I understand feeling sorry for her. But it's like she is obsessed with her. I basically had to lock her in our room. I can't believe she attacked Clara like that too," he sighs as he takes a seat on the couch. He rubs his hands over his face. I realized now how tired and worn down he looked. He had dark circles under his eyes. "You seemed a bit obsessed as well. I worry she is tampering with your minds."