Crimson's Daughter

Chapter VII: Hide and Seek

"Claire, you're back so soon? I thought you were going to go eat with Mae?" Lydia's voice made my neck snap in the direction of her. In all honesty, I was surprised she was back at our hotel room and not with her mate.

My erratic heartbeat was so loud in my ears, my chest heaving up and down and I am pretty sure my face was beet red. "There was an emergency and I was just very eager to get back to take a shower...why are you here?" I questioned, trying to calm down the fast beating.

"Oh well...Samson had to attend to Alpha duties with his father, but he did promise for us to hang out tomorrow! The whole reason he wasn't at the past two meetings were extremely strange, but at the time he was taking care of his sick mother."

"Wow, that sounds intense. What is he like?" I smiled, walking into the bathroom to wash off my make up.

"He is absolutely wonderful Claire! Samson is like a fresh of breath air and always so happy. He's from the Valor pack and has one older sister. Is it weird that I already feel proud of him, even if I barely know him?" I saw the tint of red that covered her cheeks.

"Isn't that the feeling you are originally supposed to get from what you told me about mates?" I questioned, slipping into a pair of cotton shorts and violet t-shirt.

"Yes, but no amount of planning can prepare you for when it does happen. This day marks a very important chapter in my life that will begin soon Claire. Since Samson is an Alpha and I am his mate it is expected of me to move there."

"So does that mean you will be leaving immediately when you gather your belongings back home? While I am happy for you it is bittersweet considering I only just met you and now you're moving away from me already." I pouted, throwing a pillow at her face.

Lydia's laugh filled the room and she had a newfound emotion in her eyes that I had never seen before. Love. She may have had the love of her parents and friends but I could only assume she had never felt something like this. Lydia was infatuated with Samson by the talk of it.

"Well Samson is really nice so I'm sure he would not mind you visiting me. He does live here after all in a small town not too far. My father on one hand will have to give his title to the Beta's son since he does not have a son to take over. Claire, you should meet him! I'm sure you two would be the best of buds." she grinned, a slight yawn escaping her.

While her happiness was infectious my body felt worn out. For Lydia to find her mate was good for her, finding mine was close to a nightmare. I would have to stay under the radar until we were able to return home. Hopefully Mae would be up for icecream tomorrow...I didn't mean to ditch her but I was never going to let a mistake of meeting her brother happen again.

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Two days had gone by and I had avoided the hotel lobby at all costs and subtly snuck in and out without watchful eyes. Upon two occasions had people come knocking on doors asking for anyone named Claire to come down to the conference room. Both times I had been gone in the city sight seeing. Lydia had asked each time was I the mysterious Claire a 'famous' Alpha was asking for.

"I'm pretty sure the Claire they are looking for doesn't want to be found..."

"Claire if there is something you're not telling me you might as well say it now before I go poking around asking Samson questions."

"I am positive there is nothing to hide Lydia."

Olive green eyes invaded my mind and I fought the urge to go back to the hotel where people had been searching for the evading Claire. I was not going to face him. Telling myself that I wanted to be single and live a free life was logical, however I knew it wasn't the truth. The truth was that I was terrified out of my mind. I wasn't one to adapt to change so easily, in fact I fought it tooth and nail with mental battles against myself. While a part of me said to suck it up and confront Mae's brother another part of me told me to stay hidden because I knew my life would change even more drastically if I did see him.