A Wolf's Claim

CHAPTER 30

*Stella*

It's been a few days since Zara's attack, and my wounds are finally scabbing. The remodel started the day after the papers were signed with Francisco, and the house has been nothing but chaos. Construction workers were in and out of the house, as well as pack members. They had to discretely keep a close eye on the construction workers, as Jace didn't trust anyone.

The only quiet place in the house was upstairs, and it was starting to become packed with people. Everyone was complaining, already on edge and agitated about their living conditions. I know this was something that bothered Jace, but there wasn't much he could do about it. I can't help but think that if Zara hadn't left, these people would have another house to stay in. I know Jace said it wasn't my fault... but everything was fine before I got here, wasn't it?

It was ten in the morning, and I had just finished getting dressed. I was wearing skinny jeans and a T-shirt, with my hair tossed into a messy bun. I heard a knock on my door and opened it to find Sienna standing in the packed hallway. I let her inside and shut the door behind her.

"Okay, this isn't going to work... The pack is becoming more irate by the minute, someone is going to snap." Sienna stressed, pacing around the room.

"Have you talked to Jace?" I asked.

"Not yet, I'm afraid to add more to his already full plate." She heaved a sigh, running a hand through her tousled strawberry blonde hair.

"What about Adam?" I asked, feeling her worry.

"Same thing, he's so busy with the remodel..." Sienna groaned, burying her head in her palms.

"It's okay," I said, throwing my arms around her, "We'll find time to talk to them. I'm going to help you."

"Good idea," Sienna sighed, "You still have the puppy love."

"Puppy love?" I giggled, pulling away.

"Yeah, you know? The beginning stages of love," She shrugged, "When everything is perfect, the other person can do no wrong."

"Is that a wolf thing?" I asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"No," Sienna busted into laughter, "Just a love thing."

"Oh... I get what you're saying." I rolled my eyes and laughed with her.

"Let's go get some breakfast." She said, pulling my hand toward the door.

We entered the crowded hallway, where part of the pack was lingering. Everyone looked upset, pissed off, or exhausted. I felt terrible for them and wanted to help, but had no idea how. I'm still so new to all of this, I still don't understand all the dynamics yet.

I know Jace is the Alpha of this pack, The Shadow pack. Adam is the Beta, who is the second in command. Other than that, I know nothing about what their pack does. Who they are like people... and werewolves. I have so much to learn, and I don't want to waste another minute.

Sienna and I quickly made some toast and eggs, before leaving to eat outside. We sat at a small round glass table on the opposite side of the house that was being torn down. Even though machines were beeping, people were yelling, and the house was being torn apart, we had a nice breakfast.

Afterward, we went back upstairs to my bedroom. Once behind closed doors, and somewhere more quiet, I could finally ask Sienna the questions that were boggling my mind. I wanted to learn as much as I could, as fast as I could. If I'm supposed to be the Luna of this pack, then I need to know everything.

"I feel terrible for them, they look miserable." I whispered, feeling my eyebrows knit together.

"I know, told you!" Sienna groaned.

"I'll talk to Jace." I assured her.

"Speaking of Jace, have you guys... you know?" Sienna winked, and I felt myself blushing instantaneously.

"What? No! Not yet..." I rambled, and she burst into laughter.

"I was asking because it completes the mating process," She said through giggles, "Then you will be mated to each other, and you will become Luna of the Shadow pack."

"I wanted to ask you a few more questions about that." I nodded, gulping down my shattered nerves.

"Ask away." Sienna smiled.

"What does a Luna do?" I asked, afraid I sounded stupid.

"She assists her Alpha in leading the pack. Everyone will look up to you, ask you for guidance. You make important decisions when Jace isn't around, and even when he is around."

"What does the pack do?" I asked another question.

"Well, technically, we're a supply chain. We grow crops and ship them out," Sienna responded and then bit her lip, "But with this new settlement, I'm not sure. No one has tested the soil yet, it all depends on that."

"I see," I grimly nodded, "There's a lot that was destroyed, wasn't there?"

"Yeah..." Sienna reluctantly agreed, "But it was bound to happen. When Jace rescued you from Solomon, he broke the pact between the Shadow pack and the Midnight sun pack. A war was avoided centuries ago between our packs, our ancestors drew together an agreement. If a rule was broken, then that agreement was void. Solomon would have attacked if The Silbermen hadn't."

"What rule did Jace break?" I asked, curious about their beliefs.

"He broke into their house without permission." Sienna rolled her eyes, "He wasn't thinking clearly, after smelling your scent, and no one dared to stop him."

"That's how he rescued me?" I asked, perplexed.

I was barely conscious when Jace and his pack arrived. I don't remember anything of that day. All I knew was, I was thankful that someone was taking me away from that horrific place. I shivered at the memory of my stay with Solomon, the scars I have to prove my experience.

"Stella? Hello?" Sienna waved her hand in front of my face with a disgruntled expression.

"Sorry..." I muttered, "What were you saying?"

"Jace broke down the door, entered the house and threatened Solomon's pack. The funniest thing about it, though, was no one even tried to stop Jace. They all stood by and watched." Sienna said, pondering her own words.

"What about... Ziggy?" I asked, even saying his name made me shudder.

"You know Ziggy?" Sienna asked, her voice a light whisper now.

"Unfortunately..." I grunted, fighting back the ugly memories.

"Why do you ask?" She responded with a question of her own.

"Because... he did the worst damage... I want to know where he is." I growled, a deep menacing sound that I'd never heard before.

"He's Solomon's Beta, I'm sure they're together." Sienna murmured, staring at me with a look of trepidation.

"Why are they enemies to The Shadow pack?" I asked, choking on the tension in the room.

"There's a lot of old history, but for right now, because they kidn*pped you. Before then, it was just because they're a bad pack. They terrorize humans, threaten to reveal our kind, kill whoever and whatever they please. They live like rogues." Sienna shook her head, with a look of disgust written on her face.

"Rogues?" I asked, confused.

"Yeah, werewolves who aren't in a pack, usually. They roam, causing destruction and chaos in their wake, never staying in one place. They don't abide by any rules, unlike most pack werewolves. They're our natural enemy." Sienna educated me.

"That definitely sounds like The Midnight Sun pack." I softly agreed, feeling myself fall back into a dark memory.

I thought back to my whipping. I can still feel the sting of the whip connecting with my flesh, marking me for life. My cries and pleads still ring through my ears, like I'm stuck in the memory, doomed to relive it forever. My eyes are clenched shut, and I can faintly hear Sienna screaming my name, but I can't pull myself free. I feel her grab my shoulders on either side, and her shouting stops. She soon becomes silent.