Claribelle's Mate

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Claribelle

As the night ended, a group of us ended up in the living room together to discuss the events of the day. There was Damien's parents, Jerome, Ashton, Xavier, Levi, Uncle Eli, Aunt Alice, my parents, Max, Damien and I. The thirteen of us settled into the chairs and couches around the room.

Ashton had already briefed us on the information he'd been able to get from the rogue. Only the leader knew who had hired them and the leader was amongst the dead. The rogue didn't even know it was me they were targeting until they arrived and the leader pointed me out.

They were at a loss to figure out who was after me and it had them all agitated. Especially Damien. He had a tight grip on my hand and his arm was wound around my waist, keeping me tightly pressed against his side.

Now, the room was completely silent and had been for a while. I broke it, trying to lighten the tension. "Sooo...that wasn't exactly how I pictured you meeting my pack and coven for the first time," I told Damien's parents.

Ashley grinned back at me and Alexander just regarded me with an inscrutable look on his face. "Are you not worried about the events that just transpired?" he asked.

I took a breath, debating how to answer him. I decided to just give it to him. "Not really, no. The rogue problem has been taken care of for tonight. We will come up with a plan to figure out who hired them to attack and who wants to hurt me. I have complete faith in my pack and coven."

He shook his head as he stared at me and, dare I say, there was a slight glint of admiration in his eyes.

"We've faced threats like this before," Uncle Eli stated. "It's been a while, that's for sure, but we're on much better terms with the coven this time around and I know that we can protect Claribelle like we protected Cecilia."

I cleared my throat in protest.

"Better than me, hopefully," my mother corrected. "Let's not forget I died that night and Belle doesn't have a second chance like I did."

Uncle Eli chuckled, nodding his head in agreement while my dad and Damien growled angrily, not liking the topic we were joking about.

I squeezed Damien's hand and gave him a small smile. "I'll be fine," I promised him.

"You can't promise that!" he growled angrily as he began to shake. "Someone is after you and we know nothing. Nothing! We don't know who it is, we don't know why they want you and we don't know when or how they will strike again!" He panted as he stopped yelling. He said very slowly and very quietly, "I. Can't. Lose. You."

I stared into his eyes for a long time, hazel clashing with blue as I tried to calm him. After a moment, I stood. I looked around at everyone in the room as they stared at us in concern. "Would you excuse us?" I asked, pulling Damien up by his hand and leading him upstairs to my room.

I could still feel him trembling with anger and I pushed him gently onto the bed, curling up in his lap and wrapping my arms around him. "I'm right here, Damien," I whispered. "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. I'm safe."

He growled, burying his face in my hair. It took a while before he was able to speak and when he did, his voice was quiet and filled with worry. "Jake and I couldn't handle anything happening to you, Clari," he whispered. "Just the thought of you in danger has us both tangled up in knots."

"I'm not in danger," I whispered, framing his face with my hands as I stared into his eyes.

"Yes, you are," he replied, accentuating each word. "There is someone out there right now that wants to take you from me."