Claribelle's Mate

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Claribelle's POV

I decided to go out the following day to look for the vampires. I hadn't been able to sleep well the night before, thoughts of my mate running through my mind now matter how hard I tried to push them back. I tossed and turned and got barely a wink of sleep and I needed a distraction.

Max wasn't comfortable with my decision to look for them. He was worried about my safety because apparently, Marcus Black's eastern border is quite a ways from our territory. It was only about a five minute run back to Fangs though, so I wasn't all that worried.

I announced that I was leaving at breakfast with my parents, Uncle Eli and Aunt Alice and all my siblings and cousins. My mom only nodded, giving me a small smile of encouragement.

My dad was less enthusiastic. "I don't like this," he stated, putting his fork down on the table. "I think you should take someone with you."

I shook my head. "I don't want to take anyone with me," I told him. "The vampires might get spooked if there's too many of us, especially if I take someone from the pack. I can do this, Dad," I assured him.

He grimaced, taking a vicious bite of his eggs. "I still don't like it," he growled. "What if they hurt you?"

I rolled my eyes. "You, the pack and the coven have all taught me how to fight, Dad, I'll be fine."

He pointed the fork at me. "There's going to be three of them, Claribelle!"

My mom put a hand over his, lowering the fork and his hand back to the table and I saw some of the tension drain out of his body, just from the simple touch. A pang went through my chest, thinking about my mate and how we'd never be able to interact that way, but I pushed it away.

"Claribelle will be fine," she assured him. "We've all trained her well, she's an amazing fighter and there's a good chance the vampires will be willing to hear her out. If not, she's five minutes from Fangs, she knows how to fight and she can take care of herself."

They stared each other down for a while, the entire table waiting in silence to see who would win this round. Finally, my dad sighed, dropping his fork and taking her hand that was still over his own. "Fine," he relented. He turned his attention to me. "You stay safe and be careful," he ordered.

I nodded. "Of course, Dad, I promise," I told him.

He stabbed at his eggs again and muttered, "I'm still not happy about this."

My mom laughed at him a little bit and patted his hand before going back to her own breakfast. Uncle Eli rolled his eyes at my dad, probably thinking he capitulated too easily while Aunt Alice gave my mom a not so discreet high five.

When we finished breakfast, my dad gave me a tight hug, warning me again to be careful. I, of course, agreed, kissing his cheek before he and Uncle Eli went to the office to do their work. My mom kissed the top of my head wished me luck. Michael and Mariella both gave me hugs, Jason only wished me luck before disappearing with Brett.

Max walked with me outside because he had patrol again this morning and he was going to run me to the border. "Please, don't get yourself hurt trying to distract yourself from thinking about that asshole," he pleaded, taking my hand.

I smiled softly at him. "Don't worry, Max, I'll be careful. I'm not only doing this to take my mind off of him. I'm doing it because if those vampires really are just looking for acceptance, I don't want other covens taking advantage of them and getting them killed by a pack out for revenge."

Max smiled back at me. "I understand that," he told me. "I really do, but don't do anything stupid, okay?"

"I won't," I promised him. "I'm just going to find the vampires, offer them a better decision and pray that they take it so the coven doesn't have to take them out."