Claimed By My Adopted Uncle

16. Cat's Out

KAEL

I lost her.

The wedding was over. Watching Raven being taken away and unable to do anything was heart wrenching.

I couldn't take it. I stormed out of the place and shifted, shredding the suit Rowan had carefully picked out.

The thought of him losing his mind finding this out almost made me feel better about myself.

I ran for the woods, Odin padded away. My paws landed on the ground like drums being played by a native American.

Minutes turned to an hour. I had long left the pack and ran through unclaimed land where rogues dominated. But for some reason when I thought I would stumble on a few, they were gone.

My mind filled with thoughts of Raven being hurt. I desperately wanted to tell someone that she was mine, to claim her as my right. I couldn't.

I felt like my mouth had been duct taped and my hands tied behind me.

When I slowed down I shifted back to my human form. “She's going to hate us.” He started, his voice heavy with emotion. I nodded, my eyes filling with tears.

For years I hid it, stayed away from her, making her think that I didn't want her when the reality was the exact opposite. If only she knew how many nights I have thought about her, fantasized about the future with her, and watched her sleep.

I had been moments away from stopping the wedding. But someone knew something. They were looking for her, here at home and away.

The silver wolf. The only one existing right now.

I can't risk it.

I stayed here, shutting everyone out of my mind in case they wanted to reach me through the link. Wishing one person had access so that I could feel her pain and share the burden with her.

For the most of the night this was the only place that accepted my flaws. Until it was time to head back. I gave Odin control, too out of it to even run and he took us home.

Rowan was on my neck as soon as I stepped foot into the house. I tried to shut him out but he was too damn close for me to do so.

“What more do you f*****g want? I married her, didn't I?” I finally snapped. He flinched from the sound of my voice but masked it quickly, puffing his chest to make it seem like he was still in control.

“You married her, f*****g act like it. Do you know what people are saying out there? Are you sleeping with that little minx?” Don't f*****g call her that. I balled my fists hard until my knuckles turned white.

I gave zero f***s what people thought about Raven and I.

“That's the only explanation to the way you've been acting, K. You have a wife now. Focus on her. Don't make me lose the deal.” That was all he cared about.

And that was why I couldn't out and tell anyone about her being fated to me.

I walked past them and headed to my room, going straight to the bathroom for a shower. After which I walked back downstairs ready to head out again to train, the one other thing that could clear my mind.

I lowered the walls in my mind, leaving access for anyone linked to me to communicate.

“K… are you there?” It was Drew. He sounded desperate to speak to me.

“What is it?” I asked lazily jogging down the stairs.

“Did you give permission for Soren to take Raven away?” He asked and I stopped in my tracks.

Take her away?

“What do you mean?” My brows were already furrowed, my emotions running high.

“Remember how you asked to keep an eye on her? It wasn't long they left the Alpha's house. I spotted her carrying her things and it looks like they're heading for the border.” Oh f**k no. He wasn't taking my mate anywhere.

I ran to my car and got in for a chase. It was a f*****g lot. Soren had some balls to him.

Drew was right to contact me. I would have lost her to him.

And even though she had just rejected me after our back and forth, she wasn't leaving with him. Not without my permission. And I wasn't giving it.

And now that Rowan had caught up with us, there was no leaving for her. Not when the cat was out of the bag.

Rowan's eyes jumped between Raven and I.

“How? I mean, now it all makes sense. But what? Why didn't you f*****g tell me?”

He yelled, but I didn’t know at who. That voice better not have been directed at me.

I shrugged, more than relieved that everyone knew the truth and I didn't have to hide my feelings anymore. “You should ask your wife that…”

She gasped, placing a hand on her chest. Rowan moved his head in her direction. “You knew they were mates?”

“Yes, I mean no.” She said quickly. “I saw them kissing, okay. Kael and I made a deal. To keep my mouth shut, I made him marry Kathryn.”

“You kissed her? Why would…she's my fiancé!” Soren cut in, enraged but I didn’t know at what. Was it the fact that Raven and I were mates or that she and I shared a kiss.

I turned to him, plastering a smug smirk on my lips.

“Did you lose brain cells? She's my f*****g mate who else was I supposed to kiss, your sister?”

Soren looked red, literally. It pleased me to see that his usual smile had been wiped off his face. We stared at each for a while before Rowan cut in.

“Fine, no one leaves. Not yet anyway. You,” he pointed at Raven. “Get your ass back in the house.”

Raven shifted on her feet, backing up. I hated the distance she was creating. I hated that where she was headed was to Soren.

She shook her head. “No.” She said stubbornly and icily. My insides twisted. What was she about to do? Goddess.

The look of defiance in her eyes shone under the hot sun. Somehow in this f****d up situation, I still found her radiant. “Don't I get a say in all of this? He's married. I don't want anything to do with him.”

No. Anything but this.

Her rejection was still fresh. My heart was literally losing blood and still bleeding. Her leaving with Soren would break me. f**k that. I was broken as a glass on a fresh tile. I would die without her.

“Raven…” I whispered. Even I could hear the sadness in my own voice. This was my fault. If only I had stood my ground and claimed her the day she shifted. I tried to reach out to her but she turned her back on me and let Soren hug her. My chest tightened. Breathing became hard.

Her body was pressed against his. Where mine should have been, shielding her, comforting her. But I hurt her the most.

The fucker even dared to smirk a little at me. His revenge. I wanted to wipe that smug off his face so bad.

Kathryn had not muttered a word since they caught up with us. If anything, she smiled at her brother hugging Raven. I frowned, knowing that she was up to something. Maybe the both of them and I was damn sure it had everything to do with Raven.

“Face it, K. She's made her choice too.” Came Abigail. My hand swung in the hair, claws out ready to hit her. She screamed, covering her face but I stopped mid air. I don't hit women.

I turned to Raven, hoping she hadn't seen this. She was too busy with her new found love to be bothered by the likes of me anymore.

But I'm a patient man, Raven. I will take you back.