Claimed For Christmas

Chapter 5-Mate

Carter

My gaze drifted across the dimly lit room. The smell of alcohol and sweat filled the air, making the beer I was choking down that much more unbearable. Why were we here again?

Just as the thought crossed my mind, Nate let out a loud laugh from something Walker had said.

Oh right, that’s why. I was guilted into coming here because it’s Nate’s birthday, and we’ve somehow grown a soft spot for the guy.

Suddenly, I felt my wolf Kilo start to stir. The action had me gripping my beer bottle tighter, almost shattering it.

What the hell was his problem tonight? That was the third time since we’d gotten here that he’s acted strange.

‘You good Alpha?’ Walker’s voice filled my head. I just nodded, bringing the beer back to my lips. Yeah it wouldn’t do anything for me, but it was the only distraction I had at the moment.

I started to look around the crowded room, noting the guys dressed in Santa hats and red pants. The lipstick marks covering their torso made me scoff. I had never met a cockier group of guys…and here I thought the warriors from our pack were bad.

“There she is!” Nate rushed, catching my attention as he looked across the room.

Of course it was Clarrissa. She was standing in a line of girls that led to the kitchen.

“Should I go up and talk to her?” Nate slurred. The shot he and Walker just took seemed to be taking its toll.

“Sure, if you want the night to go to shit.” I mumbled.

Walker gave me a pointed look.

“How about we take another shot, all three of us.” He tried to change the subject, making a point to include me this time.

Nate just nodded his head, his sandy blonde hair was falling in his face, and he looked like he was one drink away from passing out.

“Come on, let’s go to the kitchen.” Walker added, and suddenly, the front door came blowing open, causing a burst of cold air to rush across the room.

I froze. The smell of honeysuckle and fresh rain came slamming into me. Kilo started to go crazy in my head. Loud howls filled my ears as I tried to understand what the f**k was happening right now.

Then Kilo’s deep growling voice came trembling through my mind. “Mate.” The word fell from my lips, causing the room to spin as my gaze locked onto the back of a girl with long black hair. I watched as she weaved her way through the room. Seconds felt like hours as dozens of emotions crashed through me.

My mate…she was here.

“Carter, what’s going on?” Walker’s concerned face filled my vision, making me realize he was gripping my shoulders. I leaned to the right, trying to keep my gaze locked on the girl who just flipped my word upside down.

“She’s here.” I rushed, trying to shove past Walker but he tightened his grip.

‘Your mate?!’ He linked, and I just nodded my head once.

“Now move.” I growled, feeling Kilo start to push his way forward.

He wanted his mate.

‘You need to get control of your wolf-” Walker tried to say but I was shoving him to the side before he could finish.

I’ve waited so f*****g long for this moment. Every thought, every dream, every lonely night that I’ve prayed to the moon goddess that she would bring her to me…it all came crashing down in this one moment.

My gaze remained locked on the mysterious girl across the room. Her scent was so familiar and yet the most unique thing I had ever smelled in my life.

Had she not picked up on my scent too? You would think her wolf would’ve sensed me by now.

I moved closer, dragging my gaze up and down her back as I noted every single detail I could about her. She was short, adorably short. She had a thin frame but curves in all of the best f*****g places. Her straight black hair fell to her lower back. The silky strands had me itching to run my fingers through it.

She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and that was just from looking at her back.

‘Go to mate.’ Kilo rumbled, urging me forward before I was only a few feet away. That’s when another scent hit me, stopping me in my tracks. I inhaled even deeper, trying to sense her wolf…that’s when both Kilo and I realized at the same time…

She didn’t have one. There were no signs of a wolf. Was our mate human?

Before I could fully wrap my head around that possibility, she whirled around, leaving me stunned in place. And here I thought her back was perfect…fuck me.

She was stunning. Like an angel sent straight from heaven from the moon goddess herself. I noted her fair skin, and long eyelashes. Then my gaze locked onto the most electric pair of blue eyes I had ever seen, almost knocking me back onto my ass. It was like my soul had left my body for a moment.

Staring into those blue eyes, I felt my brow furrow as reality came crashing down around me. Wait, was my mate crying?

I watched as she pushed through the crowd, passing right by me like I wasn’t even here. Even if she was human, how the hell could she not notice how the world had just been tilted on its axis?

Then I saw something that had my blood boiling…there was a guy chasing after her. Not just any guy either. Tyler Scott, the biggest douchebag on campus.

“Brooklyn! Wait!” He shouted, making both happiness and anger flood through me. I was happy that I knew her name now, but pissed that Tyler was the one who said it.

“What’s going on?” Walker rushed beside me.

“That’s her right there.” I said before walking towards where Brooklyn was about to run out of the door.

‘s**t, the one that Tyler’s following?’ He asked, and I glanced back at him, the anger in my eyes showing exactly how I felt about this. ‘Did her wolf not sense you?’

‘I don’t think she has one.’ I stated, needing to get to my mate before Tyler could.

“She’s human?!” Walker practically yelled out loud, making me shoot him a glare.

‘From what I can tell.’ Obviously I only caught her scent so far. Kilo would’ve been able to reach her wolf by now if she did have one.

It wasn’t that uncommon for a werewolf to be mated to a human. But those cases were usually gammas or omegas. For an Alpha to have a human mate, that wasn’t something I’ve heard of. But honestly, I didn’t give a s**t if she had a wolf or not.

Brooklyn was mine.

Bursting out of the door, I snapped my head from right to left, catching Brooklyn’s scent immediately and went to follow.

‘Dude, maybe you should calm down a little before seeing her. If she’s human–’ Before he could finish, I heard the most beautiful voice ever cry out, making me lunge towards the source where I saw that prick trying to drag MY MATE back to the house.

No f*****g way am I letting him do that!

“No! Stop! I don’t want to!” She cried out, the desperation in her voice caused that anger to take over as I ran to Tyler.

“Get the f**k off of her!” I yelled, yanking Tyler away from her and slamming him to the ground.

“What the hell dude? What’s your problem?!” Tyler rushed, his eyes wide with shock as I glared down at him.

‘Make sure she doesn’t leave.’ I linked to Walker. It was snowing like crazy right now and she was way too upset to drive.

Pulling my arm back, I slammed my fist down, punching Tyler once and knocking him out cold. Kilo wanted to do more…but I knew he would end up killing him if I didn’t pull back.

I went to stand, and just as I did, the sound of tires screeching caught my attention.

‘She just took off!’ Walker rushed. Without a second thought, I started to run after her, not giving a s**t that there were dozens of people around.

‘I’ll grab Nate and get the car.’ He added, and I just blocked him out. Cold air rushed in and out of my lungs, burning with each breath. The further I got away from the house, the faster I ran, following the fresh car tracks.

‘Shift.’ Kilo growled in the back of my mind, urging himself forward.

‘You’re going to scare her.’

‘We're going to lose mate!’ He snapped, and I knew he was right.

Kilo had a better sense of smell and was way faster.

‘Fine.’ I rushed, heading for the forest along the road. Once I entered the treeline, Kilo took over.

My bones began to twist and break, shredding my clothes off completely. The transformation took only seconds before Kilo’s paws were thudding through the snow.

‘This way.’ He breathed, the desperation in each strep growing more intense as the fear of losing our mate took over.

‘Just follow at a safe distance.’

Kilo snorted in response while running parallel with the road. He turned his head, seeing red taillights peak through the trees. Then out of nowhere, the car swerved off of the road, making my heart leap into my throat as panic surged through me.

Kilo ran towards the car, leaping over a fallen log before stopping just at the tree line.

‘Is she okay?!’ I rushed, hoping to the Goddess our mate was safe.

‘Let’s go see.’ Kilo let out a loud howl.

He rushed forward, running out to the car and began circling it.

Kilo nudged into the side, shaking the car, and that’s when the sound of our mate’s sharp gasp filled the air. Before I could stop him, Kilo jumped onto the hood of the car, making our mate scream.

‘You’re going to freak her out!’ I rushed, knowing she had to be scared out of her f*****g mind right now.

‘I want to see her.’ Kilo rushed. He lowered his head, peering in through the windshield.

There she was…our wide eyed mate with blood dripping down her face. She look absolutely terrified.

Kilo began to pull his lips back, baring his teeth and making our mate even more freaked out. ‘What are you doing?’ I snapped.

‘Smiling.’ Kilo responded, and I had never wanted to face palm so hard in my life.

‘Well stop that, you’re freaking her out!’

‘No, I think she likes it.’ He added, and right after he said it…our mate’s eyes rolled to the back of her read and she passed out.

‘Shift back.’ I rushed, surprised Kilo actually listened for once, and I shifted back to human form.

Rushing to the side of the car, I tried to open the door, realizing it was locked.

“Fuck.”

Without a single hesitation, I went to the back window, shattering it completely and reached my hand inside, unlocking the door.

‘Alpha, we’re coming. Nate’s passed out in the back.’ Walker linked, letting me know they were close.

Reaching inside, I slowly wrapped my arms around my mate, feeling sparks shoot across my skin. I let out a shuddering breath. All the blood rushed straight to my c**k, making the situation even more uncomfortable as I tried not to be a f*****g creep right now.

I pulled her close to me, glancing down at the cut on my mate’s head and felt my stomach twist. Then she let out the most adorable moan ever.

“I’ve got you.” I whispered, holding her as close to me as possible.

The sound of Walker’s care came rushing towards us, and I looked out towards the road, seeing the headlights.

I walked us towards the road, making sure to keep my mate as close to me as possible as this possessiveness began to push its way forward.

“Is she okay?!” He rushed after jumping out of the car when it came to a stop.

“We need to get her to the hospital.”

Walker opened up the passenger door, and I placed her inside. “Here, you can wear these.” He added, tossing a pair of shorts at me. I quickly slipped them on, keeping my eyes on my mate the entire time.

Once I was dressed, I picked her back up and got into the car, cradling her in my arms.

Bending my head forward, I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with her scent and confirming what we already guessed…

She was human.

“Should we call your dad?” Walker asked, and I shook my head no.

“Not yet.” I had an idea of what he might say…but looking down at my mate, my mind was already made up.

I was going to keep her…no matter what, she was mine.