Claimed By My Adopted Uncle

3. She's not your kid

KAEL

She didn't understand. She never will.

Being with Kathryn was more than an alliance. Especially after last night. I gritted my teeth at the scene from her shift

Flashback

Fuck.

Fucking f**k.

Why the hell did this have to happen today of all days? I was fine serving the pack. It was a sacrifice I was willing to take at the expense of my mate but did she have to find her wolf and shift today? Why the f**k couldn't that have happened on a different day, like say, after the wedding for example.

The look in her eyes when she realized it almost had me f*****g running to her. I was at a crossroad then. I wanted her to understand.

"Breathe for me..." I had told her whilst she was shifting. "It's okay baby..." At some point these words slipped out of my mouth.

And then it happened. More like in a flash. She gave out being human to her wolf emerging, making mine puff his chest in pride at the sight of her.

She was radiant. f*****g beautiful. Perfect even. But wrongfully so.

Her fur was white as chalk and shiny as silver. A silver f*****g wolf with golden eyes, a combination not seen in how long?

My eyes darted left and right frantically, searching for movement around just to be sure that my eyes were the only ones looking at this wonder right now.

My wolf let me see through his eyes, nothing was in sight except for a few insects creeping away. Good.

I looked at her again, this was another f*****g reason why I needed to marry Kathryn. To protect Raven.

Silver wolves had not been seen in years. If anyone were to find out, she was going to be in danger. I also f*****g doubted that Rowan was going to let her go.

"I need to talk to her..." I told myself and left my room for hers in the morning. I couldn't sleep a wink after what I saw. I had walked us back to the house late at night and she was unconscious and naked. My wolf didn't like the idea of someone getting a glance of her state so he made me take off my shirt and put it on her.

End of Flashback.

And I had spoken to her. I was relieved to hear that she didn't remember a thing. This could buy more time for me. But what would I even do with it? It wasn't like I could completely stop her from shifting or from people finding out.

If we were mated then we could protect her. My wolf sneered at me. He was still upset at the fact that I chose duty over my mate. Even though he of all people should understand why we needed to do this.

I gritted my teeth watching her leave her cramped up space of a room. I couldn't understand how I had been so neglectful towards her not to notice this f*****g place.

After a moment, I followed after her. I didn't know why but I let my legs carry me.

Then I saw him, Rowan towering over a whimpering Raven who was curled like a ball on the floor. He had the angriest expression on his face. But when has he ever had anything other than.

He raised a hand, ready to smack her on the face when I growled at him. The sound was instinctive. "What the f**k are you doing?" This wasn't even me that spoke. My wolf, Odin, had taken complete control over my body.

Rowan's head snapped in my direction, his brows furrowing, anger still clear. "Get away from her, brother."

Power oozed off me. I was Beta Kael but still Alpha blooded. That he got to be the Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack was only because I, Kael, allowed it.

Rowan's hand fell to his side and he took a step back.

I rushed to Raven, her face was red with the mark of his palm. My lips trembled in anger and I turned to my brother who by now was standing a few feet away.

This wouldn't be the first time I had stopped him from hurting her.

"Don't f*****g look at me like that. She deserves to be punished for the nonsense she pulled last night in front of our guests. You should be equally raged because it is your engagement she ruined..."

True.

It was my engagement.

But I didn't want it.

"She finally got to shift and be a normal wolf for once..." I started, pulling her up to stand with me. "So she was a late bloomer, boo f*****g hoo. If you're worried about the engagement, I'll talk to Kathryn. I'm sure she'll understand, brother." I drawled that brother part out in a distasteful manner. So he knew how wrong this completely was.

I scooped Raven into my arms and spun on my heels to leave.

"Where are you taking her?"

"Back to her room where she should have been. Late bloomers' first shift is always harder than others..." Without another word, I walked away with my mate - my niece in my arms and I took her back to her room.

Being in the space reminded me to make changes for her.

She's not an omega like everyone thinks anymore, she shouldn't be in this room at all.

I placed her on the bed and paused to watch her face. That mark was still there, red and surely burning. I would make him pay for this one day. I thought to myself. Tears stained her beautiful face and I felt my heart constrict in my chest at the sight of it.

None of this was her fault. I too believed she was nothing, relieved by that thought but now, she was so much more.

Much more powerful than Rowan and I combined.

She just didn't know it yet. And I hope she never finds out. Not anytime soon anyway.

I backed up and left the room without a word.

When I made it out, Rowan barged into the mind link. "My office, now!" He barked so loud I swear he could have been right in front of me. I hissed, clenched my fists and stormed towards his office.

Without a knock I pushed the door open. He hated when I did that. And knowing it was me who had entered his office he didn't bother looking up and I didn't wait to be told to take a seat.

I sat in front of him with arms folded across my chest. "I didn't appreciate your tone back there..." He started, dropping the pen he was holding and his eyes finally meeting mine. He gave me a hard stare, one I returned double fold. "...Raven is my daughter, and I will discipline her however I choose to..."

What a f*****g joke.

I leaned forward, a smirk stretching on my lips. "Except she's really not, Rowan. You took her in. That doesn't make her your kid. Especially not the way you treat her like she's some pest. And especially not because she's a f*****g grown woman now!"

He jumped on his feet and growled at me. To anyone else, it would have scared them to bits. To me, it was f*****g nothing.

His lips moved to say something when the office phone rang. He pinned me with a glare before picking up. A second later he handed it over to me. "It's Alpha Bridge..."

I took the phone and placed it on my ear. It was odd to have him want to speak to me other than Rowan.

"Speaking..."

"Beta Kael, I hope I'm not interrupting. As my daughter's fiancé, I want to ask if you're okay with having a double wedding..."

What?

Before I could ask he continued. "My son, Soren, has taken a liking to your niece and would wish to take her as a mate and have a wedding on the same day as yours and Kathryn..."

That f*****g piece of s**t!