His Claim

13

I woke right as the sun came over the horizon. I was sweating and the air felt charged. Corbin was gone but his scent was still very fresh.

But I felt this paralyzing fear through my whole body, it felt like my heart had stalled. I coughed and choked as I bent over the bed and threw up. What was this... I looked towards the windows that faced the front of the house. I got up walking over and I could see a white wolf with a few people behind him.

I knew instantly Marcel was here standing right below me. Corbin had also shifted. Their fur standing in spikes over their backs. I saw Erin and a few other men standing behind Corbin ready to attack. As I looked closer I saw Risa and another one of the children. Marcel's men had knives to their throats. I knew exactly what was going on.

That is why the air felt charged; they were ready to fight. I didn't have a choice. I took a few steps back. In werewolf form there was no way those two would have any common sense. If they started fighted the children would get hurt.

It was high jump but I think I could manage.

"Emmy no!" Lily's voice caused me to freeze. I looked over where she stood in the door frame, "Don't please. Corbin can handle this."

"I have to protect them," I whispered as I turned back to the window. I caught a glimpse of a vase filled with Lilacs on the nightstand. It only made me more determined.

"MARCELLL!" I screamed as I jumped through the window. My scream turned to a howl as I shifted landing between the two males. As I stared at Marcel's blue eyes I immediately felt like running away. I wish he never came, a part of me wished to never see him again. But I had been a fool playing in a fantasy world with this pack. I had been so foolish to think I even had a possibility of living here.

I quickly crouched down making myself smaller than Marcel as I rubbed up against him. He was still growling as I rubbed my head under his chin and licked my face.

Darling I called to him. His eyes narrowed at me and I shifted back. When I looked back up he had shifted back as well. I smiled as warmly as I could at him wrapping my arms around him in an embrace.

"My rose," Marcel whispered as he pulled me in tightly. As I looked up at his face I realized he looked....stronger. "Are you glad to see me?"

"Of course," I whisper as he pulls me in for a kiss. We pull apart when a loud growl erupts and we both look up at Corbin who was in between a man and wolf. I narrowed my eyes at him. Is he insane the children are right there. Marcel snapped and one of his men handed us both clothes. I slipped the black dress over me. It was an open back. Marcel always preferred nicer clothes and loved when my back was on display. I watched as Erin patted his shoulder and their eyes glossed over. Finally Corbin calmed down and Erin handed him a pile of clothes.

"Thank you so much for taking care of my mate," Marcel called out as he ran a hand over my back. I let out a soft sigh as he held me. I looked around him as I heard soft cries.

"Marcel," I whispered nodding to the kids.

"Oh yes, let them go," Marcel chuckled. I smiled as they ran over to me clinging to my legs. They cried for me calling me mommy. I touched Risa and Wrens heads ruffling their hair. They were the two youngest of the group. They still had some memories of their parents.

"Hi there, it's time for you to go back to your parents," I whispered, kissing each one of their heads. I took away the fog I had put to suppress their memories.

"Risa!" Clara screamed as the kids ran to their parents.

"And how about the rest of them?" Corbin growled. He looked so close to losing control. I had a feeling Marcel coming here was unplanned.

"I have them close by. But I am a bit famished after all this excitement," Marcel smiled widely, "We can talk negotiations over breakfast?"

I look around us. The pack had us surrounded. The only thing keeping them from killing us was the rest of the children. I look up at Marcel carefully. What was he doing? What was the plan?

"Of course. We will prepare a meal. Welcome to our pack. You can follow me," Corbin's sentences were short and strained. I could see his arms shaking at his sides. We follow behind them as we go into the pack house. We sit in the living room surrounded by warriors. Corbin and Erin sat on the couches watching over us. I could only imagine Lily was running around frantically.

"It is such a wonderful place you have here," Marcel noted as he looked around, "So much free space." Marcel's eye twitched when no one responded. "Darling have you enjoyed your time here?"

"They were very good hosts," I nod my head slightly.

Play along or he will get mad I snapped at the tense men.

"Thank you, Marcel. We are glad you made the trip here safely," Erin snapped.

"Oh yes. I was surprised you hadn't contacted me. But I started to get so lonely without my lovely mate. So, I thought. Well it was just about time we had a talk, hum neighbor?" Marcels words were chilling, each sentence a slice to the heart.

"I agree. How are things in the city?" Corbin asked. He seemed calmer now, his eyes had changed back to normal.

"My pack is coming along nicely. However we are outgrowing our space, and humans can be so....bothersome," Marcel ran his hand over my cheek, "Hum you really are in good shape my rose. I half expected you to kill her. But I also half expected her to manage her way back home."

His voice suddenly turned hard as he gripped my chin tightly. I stared up into his eyes in fear. His thumb rubbed my cheek then his nail dug into my skin dragging it down my face.

I smiled as he pulled away his thumb and licked it. "But isn't this better darling? You always said you wanted to visit this place," I rubbed his arm. I could feel the shock Erin felt. His mind was racing. Our heads spun around at the sound of plates breaking. My eyes widened as I saw Lily with a broken tray in her hands. She started to growl and bared her teeth at Marcel.

I gave her a soft smile, trying to reassure her. I couldn't have her act like this here. Not with him. She gave me a glance before shaking herself.

"Food. Is. Ready," she spat spinning around. We headed to the dining room where there was plenty of food on the table. Marcel sat at the head pulling me into his lap as everyone else took their seats. Marcel's men dug in like savages. I was surprised by the amount of food and mess they were creating. Marcel picked at the food lightly, letting me have a bite every now then.

"This is delicious. My regards to the chef," Marcel smiled down at me as he ran his fingers through my hair. I reached up and touched his hair, it had gotten so long.

"So about the other children? What are you wanting to negotiate?" Corbin asked. I looked up and noticed how tense they looked. I felt like this was partly my fault, I led Marcel straight here.

"Woah, calm down. There is no rush. They are safe....for now," Marcel let out a soft chuckle.

"I don't mean to rush you Marcel. We just have some anxious parents," Corbin said.

"Darling," I whispered and cupped his cheek. I was so scared he would hurt someone...or worse hurt the rest of the children. My mind raced with ideas....how did he treat them when I was gone? I left them alone unprotected. I thought of Risa's face, how it had been bruised and her eyes red from crying.

"My flower," Marcel stared at me for a moment and I nodded my head. "Alright then, I want to bring my pack to the woods. But we need space, and we would also like to border the city."

"There isn't land to give Marcel. The forest is full of packs, if we take in your numbers there will be shortage of food," Corbin states, "You know this. But...there is a bit of land more west. It is undeveloped but you can take your pack there."

I screamed as Marcel drove his fork into my hand. My blood splattered over the table as he withdrew the fork.