Claribelle's Mate

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Damien's POV

It was time to talk to my parents about Clari. I wasn't sure how they were going to take it. I know my dad's opinion on mates, he scolded me for the way I treated Clari before, but I wasn't sure if that extended to actually accepting a vampire as my mate and Luna of the pack. I had no idea where my mom stood, but I was hoping she would be on my side.

I had decided to shift and run back to my territory, which wasn't too far. I avoided the patrols, not sure how they'd react to me being in their territory. I don't think the pack as a whole knew that Clari had found her mate and I didn't want any trouble with them tonight.

I had learned so much about Clari tonight, so many things in the short amount of time that I'd been with her. She cared deeply about her family and her coven. I'm sure it was the same with her pack, even though I hadn't seen her with them yet. She was completely adorable and sweet, trying to help find her friend's mate so that he wouldn't have to agree to an arranged mating. She was obviously great with kids if seeing her with little Michael was any indication.

I couldn't have been more wrong about the vampires. They were much like a pack, maybe even closer than most packs that I've seen. They were truly like one giant family and they cared about each other so much that I was amazed. I felt horrible for the way I'd treated Clari in the woods that day. I couldn't have been more wrong about her if I'd tried.

The hard part: getting my pack to see what I'd seen. They didn't have a vampire mate to pull them through and force them to see that their perceptions of the vampire race were wrong. They didn't have the love for their mate to make them want to believe that their perceptions were wrong. And some of them even had memories of the evil vampires we were told about, hurting their families and friends.

I'd just have to take it one step at a time and hope they would listen to me, and to Clari. Clari would have to be my example. When we introduced her to the pack, then they would see that not all vampires are like the ones we've heard about and seen. I had no doubt that she could charm the pack, I just hoped that they'd accept her as Luna.

Wolves on patrol nodded politely to me as I crossed the border onto my territory. I dipped my head in a nod as I passed them and continued on to the pack house where I knew I'd find both of my parents. It was late and they were most likely waiting up for me, wondering where I had gone. I didn't normally take so long on my runs and they knew that.

I didn't have to shift when I reached the door; it was pulled open by my mother who had seen me coming. She was a beautiful woman, standing at about five foot six with curly black hair and a willowy figure. While she looked weak sometimes, you could see the strength behind her eyes.

"Where have you been, Damien?" she asked when I trotted through the open door. "I've been so worried!"

My dad walked through the archway that leads into the kitchen. "I told her you were fine and just letting out some steam, but you know she doesn't listen to me," he joked, laughing when she reached over to swat his arm. He grabbed her arm gently and pulled her into his side. "Why don't you go shift and meet us in the office."

I nodded my head once and took off for the stairs. My room was on the third floor, along with my parents. We had our own suite up there while the other pack members had rooms on the second floor and the first floor was the main area for the pack. The third floor was off limits unless you had permission or it was an emergency.

In my room I pulled on a pair of gray sweat pants and a t-shirt before heading back downstairs to my dad's office on the first floor. It was time to tell them about me accepting Claribelle.