Claimed For Christmas

Chapter 9-Chester...The Hamster

Carter

‘A rat? Why the hell did you get her a rat?’ I snapped through the link, looking down at the brown furred thing as it blinked up at me.

‘It’s not a rat dude, it’s a hamster. Besides, it was this or a snake.’ He mumbled as Brooklyn sat on the bed with her eyes still closed.

‘Well, get it out of here. I told you to get a puppy.’

‘Do you know how hard it was just to get this? I had to go into some weird guy's basement. I thought I was going to get silence of the lambed down there.’

‘Just get it out of here before she sees it. She’ll probably scream.’

“Can I open them?” My beautiful mate asked, making my eyes widen.

‘Go!’ I linked Walker.

“No, Santa here seemed to have had a little mix up.” I explained trying to act calm, but before Walker could fully turn around, Brooklyn opened her eyes and looked straight at the thing.

“Is that…a hamster?” She asked, seeming surprised, and I felt the panic start to rise.

“Don’t worry about it. Walker’s taking it out of here right now.” I glared towards my future beta as he gave me a sheepish smile

“Wait.” Brooklyn rushed, making us both freeze.

“Can I…see it?” She asked, and Walker and I both looked at one another in surprise.

“Are you sure?” What if that thing tried to bite her or something. The last thing she needs to see is me flinging a hamster out the window.

“It looks so cute.” She whispered, sitting up a little more as her electric eyes sparkled with excitement. It was the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.

‘Show it to her.’ I linked Walker, giving him permission.

He slowly stepped towards her, reaching his arms out as the small creature lifted its paws and began rubbing at its ears.

“Oh my gosh.” She gasped, making my eyes widen as I looked towards her worriedly. “That was so cute!” She added, making me let out a breath of air I had been holding.

“He is, isn’t he?” Walker gushed, clearly just as taken by the tiny rat as she was. Or whatever the hell it is. All I know is that Kilo would eat that thing for breakfast if he had the chance.

“Do you want to hold him?” Walker asked.

Brooklyn looked towards me, seeming to ask for permission. I just nodded my head, trying not to freak the f**k out at the fact that she already felt so comfortable with me. She wanted my permission. It’s like she already knew I was her alpha.

“Put your hands in your lap.” Walker instructed her, and for a second, I felt that jealousy start to push forward when I saw how close he was getting to her.

Walker plopped the little thing in her lap, making Brooklyn let out another gasp as I absorbed every sound she gave me eagerly.

Goddess, I can’t wait to make her gasp like that. But when I do, it won’t be from something small and fluffy…

“Does he have a name?” Brooklyn asked, pulling me from my wandering thoughts.

“Not yet. I was thinking Carter Jr. might be a good fit.” Walker teased and I immediately elbowed him in the gut, shutting him up. He let out a loud oof, when Brooklyn started to laugh. The sound wrapped around me, making my chest tighten as the urge to pull her in my arms grew by the second. It was so f*****g hard not to touch her. I didn’t want to freak her out, so I was trying to behave.

I watched as Brooklyn dragged her finger across the rat's head, petting it. She started down at the rodent like it was the cutest thing she had ever seen.

“What about Chester?”

“Chester? Who’s Chester?” I rushed, wondering who the f**k she was talking about right now. Did I miss something?

‘She’s talking about the hamster.’ Walker linked smugly.

“As a name.” She added, explaining it herself and I cleared my throat awkwardly.

“Oh, yeah, that sounds good.” I muttered, staring down at the thing as it started to sniff around her.

One bite, and it’s game over.

“So I can keep him?” She asked, and that really surprised me. She actually liked it?

“Is that what you want?” I searched her face carefully. My mate seemed like the type of girl who would say she likes something even if she didn’t just not to hurt someone.

“I’ve always wanted one.” She explained, before picking the hamster up, and stared down at it.

It took everything in me not to pull my phone out and take a million pictures. She looked so f*****g happy. I didn’t exactly like the fact that a rodent was the thing making her that way, but I guess I can manage for the time being.

“Then you can keep it.” I whispered, watching in awe as Brooklyn gave me the biggest f*****g smile ever.

‘See, she loves it.’ Walker linked to me triumphantly, ruining the moment.

‘You can go now.’ I mumbled back, not wanting to admit it was a good idea. ‘And take the rat with you.’

“Why don’t I go and put him in his cage.” Walker offered, and Brooklyn nodded in agreement.

“Thank you.” She said, sounding like she was on the verge of tears again.

Walker picked up the chubby rat and left the room, leaving me and Brooklyn alone. The room filled with silence as she just stared down at her hands, seeming like she was deep in thought.

Looking behind me, I spotted the chair I had been sitting in earlier, and pulled it closer before sitting down. Unable to help myself, I reached out, dragging my fingers across her silky hair before moving it to the side.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, realizing more tears were now running down her cheeks.

“Nothing…I just…” She began before stopping herself. I reached out, placing my fingers beneath her chin and turned her head to face me.

“Go on. You can tell me.” I encouraged, fighting that urge to yank her into my arms and hold her.

“You’ve done so much for me. I just wish there was a way I could repay you…or maybe I could give back to the hospital somehow?” She said, and I could see the guilt written all over her face.

I hated the fact that I had to lie to her, but there was no other way to do this lying. Unless I wanted to freak her the f**k out. Clearly she has no clue who I am or what we are, and if I tried to explain it, I might seem crazy. So I needed to do this right and take things slow, even if it went against everything I felt inside of me.

“The program is funded by anonymous donors. This is what they asked for when they gave to the hospital. So we’re not looking for any type of repayment. We just want to make your Christmas memorable.” I said, giving the most generic answer I could. Clearly it was all bullshit, but my dad has given multiple donations to this hospital specifically, so I don’t feel too guilty.

“So everyone received a Christmas hamster today?” She asked playfully, making my lips pull into a smile. Oh, she’s funny too. I like that.

“Let’s just say the volunteers were in charge of getting their own gifts.”

“I see.” She added, before looking up at me with those gorgeous eyes. I swear I could get lost in them.

My fingers were still resting beneath her chin. The contact caused sparks to shoot down my arm. It was almost like the world around us was closing in, making it so just her and I were all that was left.

“So did I do it?” I whispered, glancing down at her full lips.

“Do what?” She asked, her warm breath fanned towards me as the smell of honeysuckle filled my nose. I bet she would taste even sweeter.

Kilo began to stir inside of me. The idea of kissing her seemed to make us both very f*****g excited.

“Make this your best Christmas yet?” I asked playfully, watching as her pretty pink tongue slipped out, wetting her lips.

Her eyes searched mine carefully. The sound of her heart beating picked up in my ears as the smell of something else started to swirl around me. Something that caused this feral need to surge it’s way forward…She was f*****g aroused.

“Y-yes…” She breathed the words, and honestly, I didn’t even remember the f*****g question anymore. I was too far gone.

One kiss shouldn’t hurt, right?

Just as I started to lean into that pull she had on me, I could feel Walker trying to link me something, not realizing I had shut him out.

‘He’s walking in right now!’ His voice echoed through my mind, making me pull back just as the door flung open.

“Brooklyn! What the hell happened?!”

Tyler…what the f**k was he doing here?!