Claws.

8

CHAPTER 8

A guilty feeling set in my stomach like a heavy stone.

Chase bit his lip hard as we walked back to the pack house. I could tell he was holding back tears and I knew he too would feel guilty beyond belief.

I hugged from behind, stretching up to reach his shoulders. I buried my face in his soft blonde hair and sniffed.

"Don't worry, Chase." I mumbled. "He'll be back- he wouldn't leave us forever."

He nodded and finally spoke, "I know, "His voice cracked a little. "But he wouldn't have left us to begin with if I hadn't been so stupidly stubborn."

I walked beside him again and gave his hand a quick squeeze. "Hey, I was stubborn too- it's definitely not your fault, Chase."

"What's not his fault?" A voice asked. We turned to see Aiden, Nick and a girl walking towards us. His fresh scent filled my nose and sighed, needing comfort. He ran up to me and pulled me towards him and growled.

"What?" I queried as he squished me.

"You left me!" He grumbled. "I was so worried."

A new guilt boiled inside me and I whimpered and hid in his scent. "Sorry."

"What's not Chase's fault?" Nick asked, stepping forward and crossing his arms over his chest. He looked around. "Where's Willy?"

I sighed and looked down at my feet. "On our way here," I started, gulping. This is going to hurt him. "We were on our way to our Aunt Grace's house. William was determined to get there, so he wanted us to leave earlier."

"What?!" Aiden and Nick cried together. Aiden gave me another bone crushing hug and let out a low, protective rumble.

"As you can tell, we didn't go!" I pushed his chest in attempt to free myself from his grasp. Then, I turned my olive green orbs to Nick again. "But Will still wanted to go- he left." I swallowed hard.

Nick's mouth fell open. "Oh." He took a few steps back, before turning and walking slowly into the house.

"Why is he so determined to get to your aunt's house?" Aiden asked.

I shrugged and Chase replied "We don't contact our parents much anymore so our Aunt is really close to us. We were meant to go live with her," he smiled a little. "I was happy travelling though. But now I want to stay here."

The girl, who I'd honestly forgotten was here, cleared her throat a little.

"Oh, sorry Lo-"Aiden smiled and went to stand next to the girl, wrapping an arm around her slim shoulders.

She was shortish, and had a messy pixie cut-cap of dark brown hair. Her eyes were also dark brown and she was so pretty, even though she only looked around 15 or 16. I felt a burning in my stomach.

'Wait-' I could hear Leona's smirk 'Are you jealous?'

'No!' I snapped. I crossed my arms over and glared at the girl.

'You are!' Leona laughed.

'Aren't you?!' I retorted.

She chuckled darkly. 'oh yeah- but we can take her.'

"Jamie?" Aiden's voice snapped me out of my daze. "This is Lois." He announced. He hugged her with one arm, and ruffled her hair, causing her to scowl. "My ickle siser."

'Ohhhhhh' Leona said. 'Oops!'

"Oh, hello." I smiled.

She smiled back, but hid behind Aiden shyly.

"Sorry. She's not very sociable." Aiden smiled warmly.

She ran off from behind Aiden and into the house.

"Jamie?" Aiden held my hand. "I'm so relieved you stayed. I-" He bit his lip and looked worried.

'Damn so sexy.' Leona purred.

"I was worried you didn't like it here." He admitted.

Shaking my head, I replied, "No way- you guys feel more like a family than home did."

Suddenly, his dark blue orbs darkened even more and he pulled me close. He brushed his lips against mine, winding one of his hand in my tawny locks, and resting another on my waist. "I'm glad."

He pressed his face closer, letting his breath fan over my cheeks. I felt a furious blush creep onto my face and felt my heart hammer and heave hastily. His nose rubbed against mine, and I could feel his heat seeping from his soft lips so that it set my own on fire. His fingertips at my waist send electric tingles skipping across my skin.

But suddenly he pulled away, leaving me yearning for his touch and a cold draft where he had been.

'Ugh, tease' I complained.