A Wolf's Claim

CHAPTER 31

*Jace*

Stress was starting to consume me, and I wondered if Ma was right? Did I need her help? Before I could continue the thought, Adam came running up beside me with a look of horror. I snapped out of my reverie and felt my body flood with trepidation, as my heart pounded against my chest.

"Jace!" Adam shouted, and I ran towards him.

He didn't wait for me to catch up, instead he turned and dashed back inside the house. I followed him up the stairs, where a crowd was standing around Stella's bedroom door. I pushed my way through, stopping dead in my tracks when I saw Stella and Sienna sitting across from each other. Sienna's hands were on Stella's shoulders, both of them staring at one another with a lost stare. A gust of wind blew through the open window in the bedroom, wrapping around the girls in a fluid motion. There was some sort of connection happening, but I wasn't sure what.

"What's happening?" Adam asked, concerned.

"I'm not sure," I admitted, stepping closer to them. "They're stuck in some sort of trance."

Suddenly, Sienna's eyes started turning white, her pupils completely disappeared. Adam jolted towards her, but I held my arm out to keep him back. Something is happening, and we don't want to interrupt it. Sienna is the most intuitive out of the pack, very in touch with her spiritual self. It appears as though they're connecting on a different level, and a part of me almost feels jealous.

After a few minutes, both Sienna and Stella release a heavy breath, and fell backwards onto the floor. Sienna's eyes are back to normal, and they both appear conscious, but out of breath. Adam is immediately beside Sienna, lifting her head onto his lap. She has a distant look in her eyes, and Adam is shouting her name.

Stella was motionless, and instantly I crawled to her, checking her pulse. She's breathing, her heart is beating, but she isn't moving or talking. Same thing for Sienna, and Adam is starting to lose his s**t.

"Adam, calm down!" I hollered, as he glared at me with a growl. "Get them on the bed."

We placed both girls on either side of the bed, lying on their backs. Both of them were staring blankly at the ceiling, breathing heavily, and barely conscious. Adam gave me a pleading look, and I could only think of one thing. I was able to see into Stella's past. I wonder if that's what's happening to Sienna? But why would she be stuck in a trance, both of them for that matter? The only person that I could think of asking was banished...

I sat on the side of the bed closest to Stella, leaning across her petite body to stare into her eyes. She didn't blink, her eyes didn't move at all... she was somewhere else. I felt inclined to lean down and kiss her, and the minute our lips met she gasped for air. Both girls sat straight up, coughing, like they'd been submerged underwater. Sienna looked at Stella with wide eyes, her mouth slightly ajar. They shared a brief look of remorse, before looking at me and Adam.

"What happened?!" Adam shrieked, jumping to sit beside Sienna.

"I... I saw into her past." Sienna softly murmured, staring at Stella with a mortified expression.

"Are you guys okay?" I asked, peering down to see Stella's chagrined face.

"Yes..." Stella whispered, nodding, still somewhat bewildered.

"Now..." Sienna muttered, so low only me and Adam could hear.

"You're covered in sweat, baby. Let's get you cleaned up." Adam said, lifting Sienna into his arms.

Sienna softly giggled, but her eyes never left Stella's, until they left the room. I ushered the rest of the crowd out of the room, shutting the door. When I turned around, Stella was still in the same spot. She stared straight ahead, like she was still lost in a trance, though I knew she wasn't. I sat beside her on the bed again, taking both of her hands in mine. She sighed softly, offering a brief smile.

"Do you know what happened, Stella?" I asked, rubbing her silky soft skin with my thumb.

"Not really..." She muttered, shaking her head. "It was like I was reliving the past... something I didn't want to relive."

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked, as my eyebrows furrowed with concern.

"I just want to forget it." She said, lifting her head to finally meet my gaze.

I nodded, taking her hand in mine. She looked at me with a confused expression, but followed me anyway. We left the bedroom, where the pack was anxiously waiting in the hallway. I steered her outside, away from the loud construction and the rest of the pack. It was starting to feel claustrophobic in there. That must be how the rest of the pack feels.

We walked beyond the pines, to an area I stumbled across early this morning. An open meadow filled with wild flowers, something I knew Stella would love. She gazed around the area, admiring the flowers, before turning to look at me with a grin that ate up half her face. My heart felt warm when I looked at her smile, content, and I never wanted it to falter. Caught up in my emotions, I picked her up and started twirling her around. She giggled, and I set her back on the ground.

"I love this." Stella said, gazing around us again.

"I thought you'd like it." I smiled, looking down at her petite frame.

"My favorite are daisies," She murmured, bending down to pick one from the ground. "They're delicate in appearance, but can endure a lot more than some of the other wild flowers."

"That reminds me of you." I chuckled, holding her hand that was holding the daisy, admiring it with her.

She smirked, twirling the flower stem between her fingers. I could tell there was something on her mind, but I wasn't sure if she wanted to talk about it. I wanted to know, but I didn't want to pressure her. I knew she was overwhelmed, in just a couple of weeks she'd been through a lot. She was captured and abused, found out she's mated to a werewolf, and that her friend likes to hunt werewolves. I can't imagine the amount of shock she's in, but I can only help her if she lets me.

"I'm feeling exhausted all of a sudden, do you think we can go back?" She asked, her face scrunching together.

"Of course, are you okay?" I asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"I'm dizzy..." She muttered.

I felt her body start to slump against me, and I immediately lifted her into my arms, bridal style. Her head fell against my shoulder, as I carried her back toward the house. I wished I could ask Ma about this, because she knew everything about spiritual connections. Not many other people are connected like she was. The only other person is Sienna, and she was learning from Ma. I think fatigue is normal, especially because they were in a trance for as long as they were.

I placed Stella on her bed, tucking her under the covers. She's already fast asleep, and it's only twelve in the afternoon. I left the room and shut the door behind me. I decided to check on Sienna and Adam, but the minute I approached the door, Adam was exiting. He offered a grim smile, before nodding down the hallway.

I followed him down the stairs and outside, where he led me away from the loud construction and prying ears. When he turned to face me, I knew there was something weighing heavily on his mind.

"Sienna told me what she saw in Stella's past. I think it's something you ought to know." Adam grunted.