Bound by Spirit - Completed

35. What is a Claiming?

THE BROTHERS' POV

We watched her sleep. Whenever a bad dream or the pain from her wounds caused her to whimper we all would sooth her with soft whispers and gentle caresses. Since she can sometimes hear our thoughts we kept silent, content to just watch her rest. She woke a few hours later. She sat up with a cute sleepy smile on her face when she saw us all there. Her voice was so happy, "So it wasn't a dream?  You really are my mates, right?"

We assured her that we are her mates. Her grin grew impossibly wider as she practically bounced on the bed in glee. She touched her mouth with the tips of her fingers. "It hardly hurts at all now." She said in wonder. The two doses of Gray's blood, the healing chant that Van has been reciting off and on throughout the day and the care that Ian took in seeing to her in wolf form had made all of her minor injuries nearly nonexistent. Her more severe wounds were still there but much better. If she gets one more session with Ian's wolf and a few more doses of Gray's blood and she should be as good as new.

She got up on her knees and scooted over to give us each a sweet kiss. She settled back in the middle of the bed on top of the covers with her gorgeous long legs bare to our view and tempting our senses. "So. Can I ask you a few more questions?" We nodded and told her to ask us whatever she wanted but that we have questions too. She swallowed a little nervously, "Are you sure that I am your mate? I mean, your only mate, c-could you have more?" Her mind clarified the question for us as we heard her thoughts. '...selfish...but I don't want to share...'

Gray tipped her chin up and ran his thumb over her lip. "Remember what I said about that lip." She gave him a small smile that brightened as he continued to talk. "We are completely and totally sure that you are our mate and our ONLY mate. If we had another mate, we would feel it. Until we met you there was an emptiness in all of us. The moment we met you we finally felt complete."

Her eyes gleamed with curiosity, "The tingles I feel when we touch, is that because we are mates?"

Van reached over and ran his hand down from her shoulder, across the smooth skin of her arm until he had her hand clasped in his. He watched the trail of goosebumps that spread and followed his movements. "Yes Angel. We feel the same electric thrill whenever you touch us."

She nods thoughtfully. "How did you realize I was your mate? Was it when we touched?"

"Well Little Bird, for me it was when I smelt you."

"What do I smell like?" She gave a self-conscious laugh as she tilts her head to sniff herself, "I hope it's not bad."

Ian leans over giving her an exaggerated sniff as he nuzzles his nose against the crook of her neck, turning her nervous laughter to joyful giggles. He nips at the delicious smelling skin before replying. "You smell as gorgeous as you look. Wildflowers and lilies with morning dew and sunshine. The first time I smelt your fresh sweet and beautiful scent with you in front of me in that gym, I felt like my world stopped and shifted. The sun is no longer the central figure that my world revolves around, it is now you. At that moment I felt such joy because I knew that you were mine. Everything about you is perfect for me and I love you unconditionally, completely and irrevocably." Her eyes teared up and her smile was tremendous. She whispered, "I love you too Ian." Just before she kissed him. Her hands clutched at his shoulders as she darted her tongue into his mouth tasting him. When she released him to catch her breath she sat back down and looked over to Gray. "Was it me smell for you too?"

Gray smiled and closed his eyes briefly in remembrance. "While you do smell delicious to me as well. It was actually your heart and your voice that made you known to me. Your sweet heartbeat calls to my own and your voice is like a serenade to my soul." He reached forward and brought one of her hands to his chest and placed the other over her own. He put his hands over hers, cradling them and keeping them in place. "The moment I heard your heart, mine fell in sync with yours. They are now connected by an unseen and powerful force. We could hear her heart beat faster at his words and his kept perfect time. "Without you I am but a shell, you have filled me with untold happiness. You are, my love, my heart, my soul, my life and my all." She threw herself into his arms, kissing him with fervor mumbling "I love you." as they kissed. A few minutes later she sat back once more and looked to Van. "For you?" she asks breathlessly.