Claimed By My Adopted Uncle

14. The Reason Why

KAEL

I'm a fool.

Abigail's words shook me to my core. Asking her that question made me realize that I had been too quick to give her control over the situation, which was unlike me.

She smirked and stepped a bit closer. Somehow I read meaning into her look and that f****d up smile. And yet, like a fool that I was, I held on to the tiniest bit of hope that she wouldn't ask of me what I thought she was going to.

“It's nothing big. But I have to ask. Why did you kiss Raven knowing she's engaged to someone else?” She asked but I was under no obligation to answer that question.

“Are you going to tell me what you want or not?” I spoke through gritted teeth. Odin, at the back of my mind was trying to break free. But if I let him take control, a bigger deal will be made out of this. And I couldn't afford Raven to be dragged into this.

“The way you try to protect her all the time makes me wonder if she's your mate, brother in law….” Her eyes pierced into mine, reading, observing, she was looking for the tiniest bit of twitch from me that would tell her or confirm her suspicions.

I can't let her find out. I stared coldly at her. “I found her years ago. I brought her in. Just because you teo f**k ups raised her doesn't mean you're the only ones responsible for her. I kissed her because I was drugged, thanks to you…” how does this even make sense, K?

“That doesn't…”

“Fine. You caught me. I like her. Okay? I've liked her for years now. And seeing her about to marry someone else made me crazy for a moment. And with the f*****g drug you had Soren give to me, which by the way I'm going to f**k him up for, she was the only thing I could think about. Hence why I came. Happy?”

This isn’t a lie. No matter how much I had tried to deny it to myself, I cared about Raven. I loved her. f*****g hell. Isn’t it too late to admit this?

I wanted to slap myself. This was what those feelings were. Love. The mate bond. Her. Everything was her.

Why did I also have lie about her being my mate or even attempt to hide it?

“She's just a child, Kael. A freak. So here's what I want you to do. In three days, you'll marry Kathryn. I'll keep my mouth shut and hide this taboo secret for you. But you cannot be with Raven or speak to her about the wedding at all. Not before or after. Do we have a deal?”

Abigail took one step back then stretched a hand out for a handshake. I stared at the hand for a long moment. “No one can find out, Abigail. If they do, I don't care if a wedding happens, I'll annul it…”

Odin was restless in my mind, sending feelings of warning to me. But even he had to understand why I was doing this.

“Trust me, brother…” I'd be shooting myself in the head to trust you.

I shook her hand regardless. Even though I sensed that this was going to do more harm than the good I was trying to do.

She smiled, then walked out of the room.

I left soon after heading for the one person I had promised was going to get a feel of my fists on his face.

I searched the pack for him. He was nowhere to be found. Not until evening. The anger should have dialed down as the hours ticked by. Not this time. He had drugged me so that his sister could end up in bed with me, completely taking me out of the way for him to have Raven.

I had gotten ready to head to the training ground to burn off the steam, clenching my fists on my way when I spotted the door swinging open and he came to view.

With the adrenaline pumping in my veins, I made first contact with his chin, knocking him off to the ground. He had the gal to look stunned. He knew what he did. Why the f**k was he staring at me like I had suddenly turned into a monster.

“Kael, what the f**k?” Kathryn exclaimed getting on the ground next to her brother to help him up. I pushed her to the side, straddling him to give him the beating of his life. If he hadn't been taken by surprise, he would have been able to put up a fight. He wouldn't win but still. Now, he lay helpless on the ground while I pounded my fist away into his face, moulding his face to another person.

Kathryn continued to scream, up until Abigail showed up with Roman. Together they pulled me off and even then I lunged at him.

“Enough!” My brother roared in my face. “That's enough. What the f**k is wrong with you?” He turned to Soren who looked unrecognizable. I wanted to smile. It wasn't close to being enough but I was satisfied. He got what he deserved. I had been meaning to teach the fucker a lesson for a while.

“Drug me again and I will f*****g kill you…” I hissed, wiping off the sweat on my forehead with my arm. My fists were bloody and I'd be an i***t to rub his blood on my body.

“What are you talking about? I just gave you a drink she f*****g gave me, something about an apology would be good…”

“He didn't know about the drug okay? Goddess, you almost killed him just now. I gave Kathryn the drink to give it to him. It was all me. He had no idea.” Abigail said with concern written on her face. I seized to understand where she thought she had the right to do that or anything that had to do with my life.

So Soren is innocent after all.

But did I feel guilt or regret for plummeting his face like that? f**k no.

I walked up to Abigail then, so close I could smell her breath. “What gave you the f*****g right to do that?”

Her audacity was appalling. Over the years, after becoming Luna she changed. She used to be the kind of woman I wished had a better mate that Rowan.

Now, she f*****g deserved the asshole.

“I'm Luna of this pack. I will do whatever it takes to make sure this alliance works…”

“And I have no problem killing you… I give Zero f***s if you're Luna. Your f*****g mate knows to keep out of my business. Try this again, Abigail…”

“Kael, that's my mate…” Rowan pulled her behind him, shielding her like that was going to stop me.

“Then keep her out of my f*****g business or I swear to the goddess you will find her in her own pool of blood. This is no threat, brother.” I sneered, glaring at the b***h hiding behind him like a scared cat. “...you know I keep my word…” I finshed with one final look at her before turning to Soren. “I had no idea they planned this. I apologize…” and that was it. It was all he was ever going to get from me.

I went to the field, training like there was war coming and I needed to prepare myself. And from the s**t going on in my life, there might as well be.

Since then, I made myself busy. I kept away from anything that had Raven involved in it. I only entered the house when I was sure she wouldn't be awake. A few times I tried to sneak a peek but each time I stopped myself. Who knew what Abigail was planning after my threat.

And when she informed Rowan about the wedding, he cheered like it was his wedding. I had no emotions to show for it. The day came by too fast. I couldn't even think of a way out of it.

Like a Zombie I got dressed that day. Rowan had seen just how nonchalant I had been about the preparations so he took over getting my suit and s**t.

And between those, I spotted him reading one time. Curiosity dragged my feet to where he was seated, but the man shut the folder he was holding shut. What are you hiding?

He smiled as though nothing was out of the ordinary. And too keep his suspicions away from him, I said nothing and went about my day.

It wasn't until the morning of the wedding came that I stumbled the papers on his desk. I got a premonition to tell him everything. I had a gut feeling to lay everything in the open.

The papers however had me in my tracks. Files on files on old books about the silver wolf laid open on his desk. Staring at them and reading through some of the pages, my blood ran cold. I paled instantly.

He was looking for the white wolf all of a sudden. What did this mean? Does he know something?

I searched the open tabs in my mind. The day Raven shifted, I remembered searching the woods for any sign of life and there had been none.

I was confused. But even more so determined to finish the wedding. Doing that allows me to keep her safe.

Especially since the files came from Howl Moon Pack. Soren's pack.

Perhaps he was the one who knew a thing or two.

I hurriedly left his office, leaving everything untouched. I would get to them soon. For now, I had a wedding to get to.

I dragged my feet to the hall, palms sweating, heart racing. I was about to marry a woman I had no bond with.

“We can always leave. We can protect her…” Odin tried to convince me. But how was that going to work? It wasn't like I could strangle the answers out of either men.

I walked in when the depressing music started to play and waiting for the bride to show up. There was no excitement in the air. And between her walk to the stage, I imagined it was Raven a few times. That, caused my heart to flutter. It stopped seeing who it really was however.

Thr ceremony ended in a blur. The rites were complete. I was married. Kathryn leaned in for a kiss, and I stiffened waiting for it to pass when the door suddenly swung open and Raven came in view.

From where I stood, I could feel her pain. I could clearly read it in her eyes. In her tears were the betrayal she felt.

I failed her. I knew I had. But maybe one day she would see that I meant to protect and not hurt her.

I was going to remained in my spot to finish what I had started. But then she fell limp on the floor and it was as though my world crashed. I jumped off the stage running to her. Kathryn called from behind me but I couldn't hear the words.

Raven please.

People surrounded her and I pushed them out of my way to get to her.

Abigail stood blocking me. “Don't forget our deal…” f**k!

Before and After. She had said and I agreed to it. I couldn't turn back on that now.

I nodded feeling helpless. I backed away and went to the wall, resting my head on it.

By the time I turned, Soren had carried her out. He left with my mate.