Claribelle's Mate

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Claribelle's POV

Lunch was a relaxed affair. A few ladies from the pack had cooked up some homemade baked macaroni and boiled up some hotdogs to go with it. I sat at the table and ate, easy banter and conversation circling the table as I did so. I participated in some, but mostly just listened, enjoying some family time and planning what I was going to wear to dinner tonight.

I wanted to dress up slightly but not too much. We were eating at his house, so I didn't need black tie clothing, but I wanted to look nice to impress his parents. It didn't take long before lunch was over. Michael had just finished telling us about his day helping my dad in the office when we started clearing the dishes and taking them to the kitchen.

My mom gave me a confident smile as I left the room, heading for my bedroom to get ready. I went straight to my bathroom to take a shower. When I got out, I wrapped a towel around myself and tucked it into my chest so that I wouldn't have to worry about holding it up while I found some clothes.

I went to my closet and perused for a while before taking out four outfits and setting them out separately on my bed. All four outfits consisted of jeans and a dressy top. One top was off white with a belt that went around my waist and a round neckline. The second was a cream button up top with a v-neck and a white undershirt. Third was a pink lacy top with a v-neck and a pulled in waistline. And last was a flowing white tank top with a greenish blue, v-neck over shirt.

After some deliberation, I decided on the pink top with a pair of dark-wash jeans and some bangles for my wrist. It was dressy enough to impress, but not too much for a home-cooked meal. I put on some underwear, lotion and body spray before pulling on the shirt and jeans. I walked over to the vanity in my room and selected a pair of large silver hoops. I finished it off with a pair of pretty pink flats.

I sat down at the vanity and stared at my long, wavy hair. I reached out and flicked on my straightening iron, figuring that would be easier than trying to curl it.

I was completely ready by four o'clock and then I had an hour to kill until Damien was due to show up. I headed downstairs to the living room, figuring there was sure to be someone in there that I could spend some time with until Damien came to pick me up.

I found Michael and Mariella in the living room playing Mario Kart on the old GameCube. I smiled as I sat down beside Mariella. This would be a perfect way to spend an hour.

"Where's Jason?" I asked, wondering where my other sibling was at.

"He and Brett went to a movie with Uncle Levi," Mariella replied.

I sighed, shaking my head. Those boys had more fun with Levi than they should. Levi, no matter how old he actually was, was just childish enough to entertain the daylights out of the two preteens.

When Michael and Mariella finished their race, they added me as a player and we spent the next hour playing a very competitive round of Mario Kart. This was something that we used to do all the time. We never needed any of the fancy game counsels that were popular, just the game cube and a good game of Mario Kart.

When the doorbell rang, we had just started a race, so I let my mom answer the door while I finished up the race with Mariella and Michael. Damien wouldn't mind waiting until this race was over, I'm sure.

I was in the lead when Michael shot me and Mariella with a shrink ray. I watched in discouragement as my kart shrunk down and became super slow.

"No!" I yelled in mock dismay.

"Haha! Eat that poopy-head!" Michael yelled as he zoomed past Mariella and then me.

I laughed as he crossed the finish line with Mariella and I seconds behind him. I ruffled his hair as I stood up and found Damien watching us with a grin on his face.

I walked over to him and threw my arms around him in an enthusiastic hug. He hugged me back, pulling me to him as tightly as possible. "You look beautiful," he whispered, making me blush slightly. When he released me, I turned to say goodbye to my mom.

"I'll be home later," I told her and she nodded with an easy smile.

"Be yourself," she encouraged.

I nodded and Damien took my hand. "Thanks for letting me steal her, Mrs. Walker."

My mom snapped her head to look at him. "Call me Ceci," she insisted. "Mrs. Walker makes me feel old."

I rolled my eyes, tugging Damien's hand to get him to leave. Nothing should make her feel old, we're immortal. "I'll be home later, mom," I told her.

"Fangs!" she corrected quickly. "Training tonight."

I'd forgotten that I had training at Fangs tonight. I looked back at my mom with a contrite expression. "I might be a little late."

She rolled her eyes. "You know Jerome won't mind."

I grinned as I yanked Damien the rest of the way out of the house and closed the door behind us. I looked over at him with a slight smile.

He grinned back. "Are you ready to meet my parents?" he asked, holding open the door to his black truck.

I gulped slightly but nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be," I replied, nerves settling in now that we were really going over there.

"Don't worry," he assured me, closing the door after I was in. He continued talking when he opened the driver's door and climbed in. "It shouldn't be too bad."

I relaxed into the warm leather seat and rolled my head to watch him as he started the truck and turned around so that we could leave. "Where do I stand with them as of right now?" I asked him, wanting to know how much of a battle I had ahead of me.

"Neither of them are really sure what to think, to be honest," he replied, shooting me an apologetic smile. "My dad doesn't like vampires, but also finds mates to be sacred. My mom loves that I found my mate, but she's scared that you'll hurt me, again because you're a vampire. They just need to get to know you and they'll see the same thing I did."

"And what's that?" I asked him, smiling slightly.

He grinned back and reached over to hold my hand, driving one handed. "That you're sweet and wonderful and will make an amazing Luna, vampire or not."

I couldn't help but smile happily as I was infused with warm, fuzzy feelings. I knew that he had come around in his thinking of vampires, but I loved hearing that he thought I would make a wonderful Luna. I wanted nothing more than to be the best I could be for him.

He lifted my hand in his and kissed the back of it, keeping his eyes on the road as we went around a curve. "You gave me faith that we could make this work, Claribelle," he told me in a solemn voice. "Now you have to have the same faith. My parents will see you as I do and, eventually, so will the pack."

"I know," I agreed. "I'm just nervous about meeting them."

He kissed my hand one more time before resting our joined hands on his leg. He didn't say anything, letting that comforting touch speak for itself. He was right. Everything was going to be okay. I would correct their stereotypes of vampires and blow them away. I just had to stay confident and be myself.

~~~*~~~Author's Note~~~*~~~

I hope everyone is having a good day! What did you all think of this week's chapter?

I know things are going a bit slow but the next chapter will be better :)

~Haley~