A Wolf's Claim

CHAPTER 20

*Jace*

"Stella, please open the door." I pleaded, but still no response.

I was starting to worry, she hadn't gone this long without talking before. No one even knew what was bothering her. She hadn't talked to anyone since this morning, and I couldn't seem to determine where this colossal wave of pain was coming from. She was fine as of last night, so what changed?

The only person that came to mind was Ma, considering our enemies were at bay. I turned on my heel and stormed downstairs, into the kitchen where I knew I'd find her. She was making some kind of food, as per usual. As I approached from behind, I watched as her body became stiff with my presence, and I knew she was involved. Her mind was closed off to me, which was another indication that she was part of the problem.

"What did you say?" I growled, watching as her body became covered in goose bumps.

"What are you talking about?" Ma asked, glancing over her shoulder with a crooked smirk.

"I want to know what the hell you said to Stella!" I roared, my voice rumbled the cabinets and drawers.

"I didn't say anything to her," Ma sneered, "What are you talking about?"

"She won't talk to anyone, someone said something to upset her, and I don't have to guess to know it was you! You're the only person who doesn't accept her as my mate! I'm not stupid." I growled, my voice deeper than I'd ever heard it.

"You are stupid! A stupid Alpha that's chasing after a weak human!" She spit at my face, and I lost control.

My bones cracked, and I shifted without thinking about it. Ma shifted too, and soon we were attacking each other without another thought. The noise attracted an audience, and soon Adam and Ford jumped in to break it up. We were both bleeding, as this attack wasn't in fun, it was in anger. I know she said something, and no one will f*****g tell me!

After a few minutes, I shifted back and retreated to find clothes. Adam was close behind me, following me into the bedroom that I ran into. He shut the door behind him, and gave me a look that rattled my bones. Once I slipped into some shorts, I was about to ask him why he was looking at me like that, until he covered my mouth with his hand. He nodded towards the window.

I followed him out of the window, outside, and far away from the house. Adam waited until we were approaching the outskirts of Ma's territory, before deciding to open his mouth. I knew it was going to be something heavy, and I was concerned it had to do with Stella.

"Sienna knows something, but she can't say. She didn't say, actually, I felt it before she even spoke about it. I don't know what's going on, Jace, but I know it's not good. Someone is threatening Stella." Adam remarked, gutting my heart from within my chest, because I already knew who it was.

"Ma..." I muttered, shaking my head.

"Sienna thinks Stella is convinced to listen to Zara, she's going to reject you as her mate." Adam reluctantly reported, and I stared at him with confusion and agony.

"What? Why?" The thought alone was enough to kill me inside.

"Because she's being forced to, by your mom..." Adam sighed heavily, grimly stating the facts.

"If it's forced, then it's not real, it's not really how she feels and the rejection won't work." I mumbled, more to myself than to him.

"Maybe... unless she believes it's her only choice," Adam responded, his voice low.

"f**k! I can't believe my own mother would sabotage me like this!" I growled, pacing around the forest.

"She really doesn't like humans..." Adam added, and it brought a faint memory to my mind.

When I was a child, I vaguely remember a woman coming around to babysit me from time to time. She watched over me for three years, until one day, she vanished, and I never saw her again. She was human, aware of what we were, but she didn't care. She was fascinated by us, wanted to learn more about our kind. I remember she was nice, but Ma always seemed to get upset when she came around. Soon, she stopped coming by, and Ma said she left to take care of other children. I was too old to be taken care of, and it was time to move on.

"Yeah, I think I know why." I grumbled, realizing that my father hurt my mom somehow.

"Do you think he cheated?" Adam asked, reading my thoughts.

"I didn't think he was the type..." I murmured, recalling old memories.

When I was young, there were a lot of wars going on between werewolves and other packs, as well as with Silbermen. My father was out fighting a lot, as well as Ma. One night, Ma didn't return home, and I remember dad was worried. She was missing for weeks, until dad met the babysitter. She stayed with me a lot while dad was out, but also stayed when dad was near. I never realized it when I was a child, and never thought about it until now. They had a bond. There was chemistry.

Something inside me ached, and I didn't have to think, to know what to do. My legs started propelling me back towards the house. Stella needed me. I could sense it. I don't care what Ma said, I'm protecting her with my life, and I'm keeping her as my mate. If Zara doesn't like that, then she'll be evicted from The Shadow pack.

Adam followed closely behind, as we ran through the forest and returned to the house. It was quiet, and I felt an emptiness that wasn't there when I left. I glanced at Adam, who sensed the same thing. We slowly approached the house, where Ma stood at the front door like she was protecting what was inside. I followed her stare and found my mate running down the dirt road, towards the vast forest.

"What the hell is going on?!" I growled, turning to run after her.

"She's leaving, Jace. Did you feel the sting in your heart when she announced her rejection of you?" Ma asked, squinting her eyes as she watched Stella disappear over the horizon.

"What?" I stammered, looking between the two of them.

"She rejected you, son." Ma said again, keeping her gaze straight ahead.

I felt another harsh pang inside my chest, but I also felt the urge to run after Stella. She would have told me to my face if she had rejected me, not like this! I turned against Ma's wishes, running toward the direction that Stella took off in. Ignoring the vicious growls that came from my mother behind me.

"Stella!" I shouted, running through the pine trees and following her glorious scent.

"Leave me alone, Jace!" She squealed, and I smirked when I knew I was close.

"Please, tell me what's going on!" I begged, climbing up a few trees and spotting her scurrying below.

"Jace, please! Just let me leave." She pleaded, and I dropped from a tree in front of her.

She yelped and stammered backwards, while I grabbed her hands to prevent her from falling. She grumbled, yanking her hands out of mine, and pushed past me. I frowned, but wasn't about to give up. I jumped back in front of her, as she rolled her eyes and tried to go around me. I continued this until she huffed and threw her bags on the ground, bursting into tears.

"Why are you leaving, Stella?" I asked, watching her dark blue eyes turn into that plum purple I'd seen before.