A Wolf's Claim

CHAPTER 40

*Stella*

We left the market and started walking towards the last building, the tallest building. It resembled a temple. This one had stained-glass windows along the front wall, as well as on the door. Jace held the door open for me, and I walked inside to a small room. There was an old woman sitting at the front desk. She had long gray hair, with light blue eyes that had a film covering them. She sniffed the hair, and a small growl escaped her lips.

Jace stood in front of me, blocking my view, as his body seemed to grow wider and taller. I could hear the woman humming, but they both remained silent. I peaked around Jace's broad torso, and found the woman staring up at him. She frowned, but soon nodded, and Jace's body returned to normal.

The woman stood and walked towards the only other door in the room, unlocking it with the key wrapped around her neck. The next room was too dark to tell what was inside. Jace grabbed my hand and started walking through first, while I followed behind him. The woman stood next to the door, watching me intently. She suddenly stuck her hand out and grabbed my arm, and the second I made eye contact with her, we were thrown into a vision.

Normally, people see my past, especially judgmental werewolves. That's what's happened in the past, anyway, but this time was different. I was watching something that hasn't happened... not yet anyway. There was a group of people standing in an unfamiliar house. The closer we got, the better I recognized the people. Jace, Sienna, Adam, Tex, Edgar, and me.

The furniture has been destroyed, and I'm lying on the ground in the center of the room. Blood surrounds my body, and Edgar is standing beside me. Everything is paused, frozen, while we examine the scene. Until suddenly, it starts to play out. I'm screaming, crying, begging for mercy. Jace is screaming, but he isn't doing anything. Why?

I scan the room to find an army of men standing behind Jace and the others, weapons pressed to their heads. Edgar is screaming, but I can't hear what he's saying. All I know is, it's utter chaos. Everyone is shouting, I'm crying, and the whole room is a whirling wave of madness.

Suddenly, I'm back in the building with Jace. The woman lets go of my hand, her eyes are wide and she staggers away. Jace is looking at me with concern, his hands bracing my shoulders. I'm out of breath, sweating profusely, and tears are streaming from my eyes. Was that... my future?

"Hey, hey-- what happened?" Jace asked, his voice soothing my anxiety.

"That woman... who is she?" I asked.

"She's someone that works here," Jace grunted, "This is the place where people come for spiritual guidance. We celebrate the moon goddess."

"Interesting..." I breathed, not wanting to believe that what I just saw was my future.

"Did she see your past?" Jace asked.

"I don't think it was the past..." I muttered, my eyebrows furrowing with fear.

"She saw your future?" Jace asked again, this time more shocked.

"I hope not." I grumbled, folding my arms across my chest.

"Why, what happened, love?" Jace asked, wrapping me in his arms, his warm embrace always calms me down.

"I... I need to sit down." I muttered, as my body quickly became weak.

"I got you." Jace said, picking me up into his arms bridal style, carrying me out of the building.

On our way out, Jace gave a menacing look at the woman. She shuddered and dropped her gaze, before we were out of the building. He carried me straight to the truck, depositing me in the passenger seat, before getting in the driver's seat himself. I felt like I was going to pass out, as my vision started becoming blurry and dark. I felt my eyes close, and soon my body became numb, I was unconscious.

I woke up in my bedroom in the new packhouse, with Jace sitting right beside me. I blinked my eyes, trying to recall what happened prior to returning home. Jace and I were on a date in a cute little village. Until... that woman, at the temple! She saw into my future! Everyone else sees my past, but this woman sees my future? Why?

"Stella?" Jace asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Yeah?" I softly murmured, staring into his worried hazel eyes.

"What did you see?" Jace asked, wincing.

"It was brief... not too much to remember." I mumbled, shrugging, trying to avoid scaring him.

"Then why the hell are you so distraught?" Jace asked, his voice firm, harsher than before.

"Why did that woman see my future and not my past, like everyone else?" I asked, even though that wasn't what had me feeling anxious.

"I don't know..." He shook his head, grimacing. "I asked the woman what she saw, though... She said she saw you on the floor, in a puddle of blood, with the Silbermen standing around the room. Is that what you saw, Stella?"

My breath hitched, and I stared at Jace with wide eyes. I nodded, watching his face fall from a stern leader, to a wounded warrior. He took a deep breath, lifting his head to meet my gaze again. The minute his eyes met mine, my heart jumped, and I unconsciously moved closer to him. He clasped his hands on either side of my waist, as I stood in front of him, our eyes never wavering. I laced my hands around the back of his neck, and closed the gap between our bodies.

Leaning my head up, as he bent his down, our lips connected again. My body is flooded with excitement, as I part my lips for him to deepen the kiss. Jace growls and lifts me off the floor by my thighs, as I wrap my legs around his waist. He pushes me back onto the bed, hovering above me with dark eyes. He's panting, biting his bottom lip, as his eyes seductively rake over my body.

"I want to mark you, Stella. Then everyone will know you belong to me, and I belong to you." Jace said, his voice rugged and deep.

"Do it." I responded, out of breath.

"Are you sure?" He asked, kissing the side of my neck.

"Yes..." I breathed.

Jace pressed his lips against the crook of my neck, and I shivered with anticipation. His hot breath fans my flesh, while he peppers my neck with soft kisses. He takes a deep breath, and leans up to face me once more.

"It's going to hurt a little," he whispered, and I nodded.

Jace's lips once again met my neck, only his time it was accompanied by his sharp teeth. They actually felt like real fangs, and within seconds they were piercing my flesh. I whimpered, clenching tightly to Jace's shoulders, until I felt him pull his mouth away from my skin.

A crooked smirk was stretched across his perfect lips, and I leaned up to kiss him instantly. I felt an even stronger bond towards him, and I loved the sensation. Before I could say anything, I felt my body fall backwards onto the bed and my eyes closed without permission. Once again, I was unconscious, but this time it was peaceful and completely welcome.