A Wolf's Claim

CHAPTER 4

*Jace*

It was late Friday evening when I felt the same stabbing pain as I did a few days prior. This time, the pain started on my outer left bicep, but soon my entire body was engulfed. I wasn't sure why this was happening, but I sensed something was wrong. I heard from some of my pack that the Midnight Sun pack was trespassing a week ago, and they've been terrorizing citizens. I planned on visiting them tomorrow, Saturday, but something in my gut screamed for me to go sooner.

"What's wrong, Jace?" Adam, my Beta, asked.

"I feel the urge to visit our enemies sooner..." I admitted through gritted teeth, the pain was unbearable.

"Tonight?" Adam asked, tilting his head in question.

"Yes." I grunted, pulling myself off the ground.

Adam stood beside me, tucking his arm behind my back, helping me walk out of my bedroom. Everyone was standing outside their rooms, watching me walk down the hall, or rather limp down the hall. They didn't have to ask, they could read my thoughts, and I allowed them to do so.

Ford, Blake, and Deker followed closely behind. We left the house, and everyone shifted, as the cracking of bones filled the silent night air. We began running towards the Midnight Sun settlement, which is usually about an hour away, but with shifting it's much faster. I lead the pack, being the Alpha, and sprinted through the dark forest.

It wasn't long before we were approaching Solomon's house, and I stopped dead in my tracks. A scent unlike anything else wafted through the air and into my nostrils, as I took a deep breath. A hint of rose and jasmine perfume. My heart pounded violently against my chest, and my pulse raced, that scent wasn't just any scent. It's the scent of my mate.

The others came to the same realization, and growls started rumbling through the air. I shifted back into my human form, changing into the spare clothes I had brought with me. The others did the same, and we gathered around the perimeter of the house. That's what I've been experiencing, I felt the pain my mate was feeling.

Without words, I walked straight across the yard and up towards the front door of the house. Everyone followed behind me. I could sense them wondering what the hell I was doing, and this time my mind was shut off. I walked up the steps of the old home, and shoved my foot through the front door. The force busted the wooden door in, as fragments covered the floor. Pushing it open, I heard people screaming and frantically running around. While others were growling at us.

"Where's Solomon?" I shouted, my voice roared over the panicking crowd.

"He's wounded-" Someone murmurs, irritated, and another person hushes them.

"Where the f**k is he?!" I demanded, my voice rumbling through the quiet room.

"Upstairs." Someone said, and I turned toward the stairs.

I skipped every couple of steps, until I reached the top, following the scent of Solomon. It led me to a double door, and I pushed through to find a weak man lying in bed. His shirt is freshly soaked in his own blood, and I can't help the smirk that crosses my lips.

"Where is she?" I demanded, stepping beside the bed.

"Who?" Solomon asked, glaring at me.

"You know who I'm talking about, I can f*****g smell her!" I roared, leaning down face to face with him.

"She's with Ziggy, who knows where." Solomon chuckled, coughing instantly and groaning in pain.

"She did this to you, didn't she?" I asked, earning a snarl from him.

"Get the f**k out of my house, Laroux!" Solomon screeched, wincing from pain.

"Once I have my mate." I growled, leaving the room.

I followed her scent, which was soon replaced by the scent of her blood. I hurried down the steps into the basement, where I found her sprawled across the floor. Her bright blonde hair was stained with her own blood, a puddle that surrounded her battered body. She was motionless, and there was no one else in the room with her. My heart stopped. I wondered where Ziggy was, but that thought quickly vanished, when I heard her gasp for air.

I rushed to her side, pulling her into my arms and against my chest. She's barely conscious, just small mumbles and groans are escaping her perfect lips. She's human, that's something that will cause a debate, but for now my only concern is getting her to safety. I pick her off the ground, with her legs across one arm, and her back gently cradled in the other. My men surround us as we exit the house.

"How are we going to get her home?" Adam asked, the same question I was just asking myself.

"I need to find a car." I firmly stated, looking around the yard.

"Let's steal that truck over there!" Blake hollered, and we followed him over to a black pick-up.

Adam got in the driver's seat, while I sat in the backseat with my mate in my arms. Blake sat in the front passenger seat, Ford and Deker joined me in the back. My mate is completely unconscious now, which is probably for the best, as I hear she can put up a pretty good fight. Especially against a werewolf! We're much stronger than humans. I felt proud, but knew she'd be in horrendous pain when she woke up.

I didn't know this girl at all, not before today, and already I feel the need to protect her with my life. Her eyes are swollen and purple, her lips are dry and cut, and her skin is burnt by the sun. For however stoic I may seem, my heart went out to this woman. She's clearly endured quite a bit.

The moon goddess thought this woman was my best mate, a human? I won't question it, I shouldn't, but I can't help but wonder why? What's so special about this human, that she has the ability to be a fierce Luna and help lead my pack? I guess she did damage an Alpha werewolf. That's not an easy feat.

Soon we arrive back home, where the whole pack is waiting at the perimeter of the yard. They follow the car back to the house, still surrounding us like hawks. I growled, and they quickly backed off, allowing us out of the car. I carried my mate upstairs to our bedroom, while Adam fetched the house doctor. He's used to working with werewolves, but he knows humans too.

I placed her on the bed, with her back against the mattress, and her arms at her sides. I sat at the end of the bed, on the edge, and waited for Milton to arrive. Soon, Adam and Milton entered the room. Adam shut the door behind him, while Milton set his bag of tools on the bed.

"What happened to her?!" Milton gasped, studying her condition.

"I don't know, we found her like this." I murmured, staring at her badly beaten body.

"This is your mate?" Milton asked, briefly glancing at me.

"Yes..." I nodded, breaking my stare from her sweet face.

"Do you know her name?" He asked, pulling out a notebook.

"No." I responded, and he had the audacity to roll his eyes.

"Well, that's going to go about as well as we can expect, given the circumstances." Milton shook his head, sighing heavily.

"What do you mean? We rescued her!" Adam exclaimed in defense.

"Yes, but she won't remember that. All she knows is, she's waking up in an unfamiliar bedroom, with a bunch of unfamiliar faces." Milton grimly stated, he's right.

"How can we make this easier for her?" I asked, my eyebrows knitting together.

"Well, knowing her name would have been a good start." Milton grumbled, and I growled at him, enough with the snide remarks.

"She was barely conscious when we arrived. What was I supposed to do?" I snapped, irritated.

"Well, hopefully, we can prove to her that we're different. If she's seen them shift, then your chances of approval are a lot less likely to occur." Milton said, wincing.

"Why is that?" I asked, confused.

"Because she will think all werewolves are bad. She's human, they think a little differently than us wolves." Milton briefly educates me, and I stare at the petite woman in front of me.

Her sun-kissed hair was tangled in a birds' nest behind her head. Her face was black and blue, bruises scattering her dull skin. My mate has been badly abused, but I know there's a beautiful person under the battered skin. My Luna... you're safe now.