A Wolf's Claim

CHAPTER 23

*Jace*

I can still feel our bond, there's a hint of her that remains with me. All I feel is excruciating pain while I'm driving away from her apartment, and I don't know if it's from her or myself. The fact that we still have a connection, though, tells me that she didn't completely reject me. She may have said it out loud, but she didn't feel it in her heart. That's why we're still bonded. I can still feel her emotions, just barely.

As I drove back into the forest, I reminded myself that I wasn't staying at that house. I couldn't. I wanted nothing more than to kill my own mother for betraying me! In order to prevent that, I need to leave. I'll gather some things and head to the new settlement to prepare for the remodel. It had to be done in a timely fashion, to keep the pack together.

I realized Ma was nothing more than a cynical woman stuck in her ways, and she was deserving of banishment. I plan to bring Stella back once Ma is banished, no longer connected to The Shadow Pack. I don't have to ask anymore, I already know that Ma threatened Stella's life. That would be the only reason Stella would leave me, and not completely reject me. I'm holding on to that fragment of a bond, until I get my mate back.

I arrived at Ma's house, where half of the pack was standing outside with a troubled expression. I knew something was wrong, and was instantly mindlinking with Adam to determine what happened.

"What's going on?" I asked through our mindlink.

"It's your mom." Adam was brief, and soon I discovered why.

Ma came shuffling out of the house, shifting into her majestic gray wolf. I shut off the engine of the truck and hopped out, facing her just a few feet away. The entire pack stood outside, surrounding us, creating a circle that enclosed the two of us. Ma's eyes were dark, filled with rage, and I felt mine mimicking hers. I felt my body start to rise in temperature, slowly my bones began cracking, transforming and shifting. Soon I stood in my wolf form, standing much taller than Ma.

"You threatened my mate." I growled, mind-linking Ma.

"I had to do what you didn't have the balls for." Ma snarled, showing her teeth, stepping closer.

"Your beliefs are dated. I'm the Alpha, and you are no longer Luna. In fact, you are no longer a part of The Shadow pack. I'm banishing you." I responded, loud enough for everyone to hear the mindlink.

"You can't banish me, son, you need me." Ma stood directly in front of me, and if I didn't know any better, I'd think she was going to go for the juggler.

"I don't need someone meddling in my affairs, especially when it concerns my mate." I growled, "By the way, she is still my mate."

"She rejected you!" Ma growled, her eyes narrowing on mine.

"Not in her heart." I retorted, pushing past her, until I felt her teeth digging into my back.

I released a loud growl, reaching around and prying her off of my back. I threw her to the ground, snarling, while the rest of the pack stood behind me. Slowly, they began growling at Ma, treating her like the outsider she made herself to be. Ma staggered away, and even though it broke my heart, I knew it had to be done. I won't tolerate her treating my mate with such disrespect. However, this is her house, so we must return it to her.

I shifted back, finding a pair of shorts to put on, before climbing back in the truck. I planned on returning to the old house, retrieving whatever I could. I told the pack where the new settlement was, and asked Adam to call up the contractors for the remodel. For now, everyone is going to be forced to share rooms.

When I returned to the old packland, a wave of anger surged through me. Edgar was stupid to show up unannounced like that, because now I know where to find him too. We're old enemies, for many reasons, but mainly because he killed my father. We have unfinished business with each other.

I gathered what I could, especially the couple of things that I knew belonged to Stella, and deposited them all in the back of the truck. I kept a close eye on my surroundings, making sure I wasn't being followed, before driving towards the new settlement. It was further than the old one, but more discreet and deeper in the woods. There isn't an actual road that leads to the house either. It stops about halfway. I've marked a trail that leads to the front of the house, something only wolves can follow.

The house is massive, a mansion to anyone else, but to a pack of werewolves it feels like a tiny apartment. I know we need a lot more space, but these things take time. Everyone is just going to have to settle with the arrangements. We don't have many other options.

I carried some things inside the house, finding everyone gathered around in the first room. They're all staring at me with wide eyes, and the tension is thick enough to choke on. A small static current lifts the hair from my skin, while a shiver runs across the course of my spine. I shuddered, looking at Adam with troubled eyes.

"What is it?" I firmly asked.

"Your mom... she's headed towards town." Sienna muttered.

"Towards town? You mean... towards Stella." I growled, and turned right back around.

"Wait! Jace, what do you plan on doing? It's your mother..." Adam stepped forward, at first with a strong voice, but by the time he got to the end of his sentence he sounded distraught.

"Yes, Adam, my mother is threatening to kill my mate!" I roared, saying the words out loud felt like a knife to the gut.

"We're coming with you." Sienna strongly added.

"The entire pack can't come, we'll alert The Silbermen and everyone else in town." I shook my head, "Adam, Sienna, and Ford, you're coming with me. The rest of you stay here and signal us if anything happens."

I turned back around, with the others by my side, tying a pair of gym shorts to my waist, before shifting. The four of us stampede towards town, faster than ever before. Dirt is flying up from underneath my paws, as I dig them into the ground with each step. I'm surprised the others are keeping up with me, but I assume it's because they can sense the urgency with me. Stella is in trouble. I'm afraid Ma has lost her mind.