I Claim Your Love

Chapter 18: My Mate

The giggling and whispering brought Garrick from his deep slumber. He fluttered his eyes and looked at

his surroundings only to find the girl from earlier talking to another woman who resembled her in every

way.

That would be the Mother he thought.

Garrick's pain had subdued and he was feeling light headed, which meant he was ready to go.

"You are awake. How are you feeling?" the older woman asked. The sudden question caught Garrick

off guard and for once he could not form any words, instead he just shrugged.

"I have to let Fayette's father know about your condition. It was good meeting you young gentleman."

With that the older lady left the room.

Garrick looked around to locate his belongings which were stationed on the foot of the nearest table.

He was startled when the girl spoke "You haven't answered the question." Fayette was visibly upset

with Garrick for his lack of gratitude for her mother who had cured him.

Garrick was skeptical about her good behaviour so he reciprocated with a glare.

Fayette was never judgemental about anyone but the way Garrick was behaving throughout, reassured

her that he was not a good person at heart. "I will take that as a yes." she rolled her eyes and went to

pickup the bowl from the table.

"Have the men returned?" Garrick asked not looking at her.

"No." He groaned at her response.

"I knew I should have not relied on them." he whispered to himself. "I apologise for the trouble I have

caused your people but I think its time for me to leave this place."

Indeed. Fayette wanted him gone but out of courtesy she said "I think you should return once Callan

and Archer are back from the mountains."

Garrick scoffed "If they really were so worried about me then they would have been here by now. I

actually don't believe Callan to do anything right. He is just worthless and a good for nothing lad. He is

a big unnecessary burden to our pack."

Hearing him badmouthing Callan made Fayette a bit furious. She had had it with his behaviour. In a not

so subtle tone she replied. "You are wrong mister. Callan is the most reliable and trustworthy person I

have ever known. He is not just a good friend but also a loving and kind soul."

Somehow hearing the girls praises for Callan did not go too well with Garrick and he growled in

annoyance at her.

Fayette gasped and pointed her hand at the door. "Just leave!"

This show of blatant disrespect had made Garrick angry. Who treats their guests this way he thought.

Garrick wore his shoes, took his bag and stood up to leave for the door. As he was reaching for the

door Fayette interrupted. "By the way; you were out for just two hours after my friends left, so even if

they wanted they cannot reach here in this short span of time. Just so you know."

Garrick furrowed his brows and nodded his head before leaving the premises angrily.

After about half an hour from leaving the house he regained full composure and felt alive. He wanted to

wait for Callan but thought against it. Callan can take care of himself He turned into his beast and

sprinted for his home.

The running into the wild would make his mind free and relaxed of any stress or so he thought.

Whatever happened back in the human place was not something to be forgotten easily; it kept

rewinding itself throughout his journey. After insulting a guest and asking him to leave, one should feel

disrespected and utterly humiliated but on the contrary all Garrick could feel was remorse; guilt for no

known reason.

He reached his pack borders in no time and transformed into his human. When he was nearing the

open area he saw a familiar lady approaching from the other side but almost in a battered and bruised

condition. Her clothes were torn, her hair were in a disarray while her legs oozed blood which was a

sight he thought he would never see.

"Rosaline!" Garrick tried to get the attention of the lady. She was visibly weak and fumbled with every

step of hers. Soon her strength gave up on her and she fainted right there.

Garrick ran as fast as he could and immediately linked Einar.

Einar

The panicked voice in his mind made Einar worried Garrick your back so early. Is everything all right?

Yes and No. This reply only made Einar even more anxious. Callan was with Garrick, could it be

possible that something had happened to him; something bad!

Garrick its no time for puzzles. A-Are you both alright? The panic in his voice clearly visible.

Who are you talking about?

Callan of course. You were with him right. Einar stated as a matter of fact.

Its not Callan you need to worry about; its Roseline.. Garrick replied annoyingly. How could Einar still

think about Callan. He was not a child; he could take care of himself.

What happened to her? Einar seemed perplexed.

There is no time to explain. I'm bringing her to the pack house. Could you please call healer Odulf there

and say it is important.

But wha... Garrick closed his connection and ran straight away to the nearest home to find some help.

Luckily for him Marden and Richard had just arrived from their run. Garrick explained the situation to

them and both the men helped him get the woman to the Alpha house.

The woman was brought to the guest room where Einar, his parents, Justus, Peter and elder Odulf

were already present.

"Place her on the bed carefully." elder Odulf started examining his patient.

"So this is Rosaline.." Zelda said looking at Garrick with a worried expression which reflected the same

as her mate.

Garrick nodded at once.

For a long time no one said anything while they were impatiently waiting for the healer to give his

verdict.

"She is fine for now. She might have exhausted herself with the travelling and maybe the fighting. I

have given her some medications, put on some bandages. Once she awakes tell her to change into her

wolf; that will help the healing process to speed up. Her wolf is strong, she will be fine in no time."

"She was supposed to be here last week. I had sent some men to get her here. Clearly there is no sign

of any of them." Ragnar expressed his concern.

Einar looked at Garrick with curiosity. "Care to explain what happened to her."

"I don't really know.. When I reached the borders I saw her at a distance, she was weak and barely

able to stand. Then she collapsed all of a sudden."

"Wait.. you were with Callan right? Where is he Garrick?" somehow Garrick felt the tone as accusatory

and did not liked it. He opened his mouth to reply when Marden broke the conversation.

"Look what I have found with the lady."

He carried a pointed looking sharp metal in front of his audience.

"Its a dart." he said "And there are no points on guessing who they belong to."

Of course it was a known fact that Callan used items like these as weapons for self defence and while

in training. "Now I wonder how they landed here.." Marden emoted his fake concern by clicking his

chin.

Justus and Ragnar's face fell with worry for they had no explanation for this as certainly the boy was in

danger; while Marden and Richard were smirking for they had turned the tables against Callan.

Garrick finally looked into Einar's eyes. I know these are serious allegations but if there is any chance

that there is truth in what they are saying then we must...

Einar cut short Garrick as his nose was assaulted with a familiar but an unwelcomed scent. He flared

his nostrils to put a finger on it. Do you smell that?

Smell what? Garrick could smell no different and was clueless about what his friend was saying.

BLOOD...!

The atmosphere in the room changed as Einar's locket glowed the brightest it had ever been. Einar

knew whose red matter he smelled and he or his beasts were not liking it at all. He growled powerfully

and broke the doors to head out in a hurry leaving behind astonished and fearful faces.

The scent was leading him to the open field and was growing stronger. He changed into his large black

wolf and charged with force towards the open field.

The sight in there was the one he dreaded the most. His mate was defending himself against a group

of five ferals. What caught his eye though was the injured arm which was oozing blood and had

drenched the man in its liquid.

All he saw was Red.

He growled and jumped right above Callan taking his first victim who was near his mate. He chewed

his neck and threw him at a distance with a greater force. The other ferals looked in horror and made a

dash for their life. Unfortunately they had been surrounded by guards covering the open field whereas

some onlookers had also gathered to witness the event.

The ferals seemingly thought that it would be good surrendering to the guards to keep themselves safe.

They ran towards the guards to get caught intentionally.

When the guards were about to apprehend them; Einar growled.

No one touches them. THEY ARE MINE.

The guards retreated. Seeing that there is no root to escape the ferals ran helter skelter around the

field to delay the inevitable.

Einar ferociously grabbed the ferals one by one and relieved them of their misery. It was pure

monstrosity the way he attacked those wolves. Everyone around bowed their head in respect and fear

when Einar growled.

With blood dripping through his canines Einar's sole attention was directed towards his mate. He saw

Callans injury and became even more furious for he failed to protect him.

Einar with his eyes set on Callan's shoulder started approaching him. Though he was angry at himself,

his aura radiated his emotion which affected the entire field; except Callan.

The onlookers including Ragnar and Justus were alarmed with the sudden mood change of the going

to be Alpha. They feared the worst for their beloved boy as he was reaching Callan. It looked as if Einar

was ready to kill Callan.

Einar was inches away from his mate when he heard familiar footsteps.

"No.. wait." Rosaline made it quick to stand in front of Callan and shielded him "Please don't hurt him..!"

Realisation struck in. Analysing the situation Einar thought it was best to leave this place. He growled

once again and sprinted towards the deep woods against the will of his wolf. He needed some time to

cool off.

Garrick was baffled with the abrupt behaviour of Einar which has been going on for days now.

something is definitely wrong with Einar. he thought

Elder Odulf quickly reached Callan and requested the Alpha to get him to the nearest healers cottage.

For Callan the pain was surmounting its level and he could barely hold his cries. He groaned, grunted

and moaned in pain like his life was being taken away from him.

After about an hour later elder Odulf was out of the cottage. He witnessed the Alpha mates, Callan's

parents and Rosaline anxiously waiting outside while Mary barely contained her tears for the tribulation

of her child.

"What news elder Odulf?" inquired the Alpha.

"Well it could have gone either ways. The bite marks are too deep. Given the physiology of Callan he

would need more time to recover. But he is a strong man. I have never seen anyone so mentally tough

as he. We can only hope."

The entire surrounding was filled with despair. Though elder Odulf had reassured Callan's well being

the people close to him knew that Callan was no wolf. His injury meant serious business. They certainly

would give credit to his emotional and mental well being. Going through adversary his entire life had

made the man tough. But his injuries always pulled him down.

Their silence was broken when everyone heard Aurora's strides from afar as she hurried her way to the

cottage. She was not alone.

A tall man with a walking stick was not far behind her. The man had rough beard and small chin with

soft round edges. He stood in front of the alpha, undressed his Trilby and bowed.

"Sabinus!? What a pleasant surprise!" The Alpha greeted the man.

The man was puffed out and sweaty. He waited for his breath to be normal and replied "Greetings

Alpha of the Blue Moon pack. It is a pleasure to be here."

He reached out his hands to greet the Alpha.

"I guess you have travelled all alone but I hope Regulus and Cicero will show up with their mates at the

coronation ceremony."

"They will my lord." he quickly glanced around everyones sad faces.

"So the man really is in trouble. That's amazing!"

Everyone looked at Sabinus as if he grew two heads.

"Pardon me healer of the Rivera pack but what do you find amazing in my sons misery." Justus was

irritated and quick to retort.

"O-oh. I-I apologise head warrior. Ugh... That just came out wrong." he bowed his head as an act of

forgiveness. "When Aurora and I were nearing the pack borders a black bird was hovering around us

and was constantly 'wonk-wonk'ing before settling on Auroras shoulder. Aurora deduced that a man

named Callan is in danger and I thought she was just being paranoid but she sprinted so fast that it

was hard to keep up. I now finally realise what she was saying was the truth. The bird calling for help

just seemed to amaze me."

Everyone nodded in understanding. "Where is Aurora by the way?" Zelda asked after noticing her

absence.

"She is inside. Having a chat with her friend." Elder Odulf replied.

Soon after, Aurora made her presence felt. She was upset with Callan's condition and her watery eyes

showed that she cared for her friend. She regained composure and cleared her throat. "He is asking for

you all."

As soon as the word left her mouth Callan's parents, the Alpha mates and Roseline made a beeline to

the cottage.

Inside the cottage Callan was rested with his injured arm above his chest. It was bandaged but was still

not enough to stop the blood from leaking.

"My boy! My boy! How worried you made me there... What more I ask of you than to be guarded. Next

time you put yourself in danger just think about your mothers heart first." Mary choked.

"Don't cry mother. See.." he gestured to his body "I'm all fine." Callan smiled weakly at his mother to

reassure her.

"Not just Mary and Justus but you had worried us both my dear. I hope you have a speedy recovery."

Zelda expressed her concern as she kissed Callan's forehead..

"Thank you Luna."

"I definitely would love to know the events that led us here Callan but first you need to rest. don't think

about taking too long; you have a lot of work to do before the ceremony commences." Ragnar blinked

his eye with a smile and kissed Callan's forehead. "Get well soon."

Callan reciprocated with a smile of his own. He acknowledged the presence of a stranger there and

recognised her from before. It was the woman who saved him from Einar.

He looked at her and said "I'm really grateful for what you did for me at the field. It was brave of you to

face him. Thank you."

Rosaline just chuckled and shook her head "Its me who should thank you for saving my life from those

monsters back in the forest today."

"But I never..." Callan narrowed his eyes in cognizance.

What was the lady talking about? He never met her. He was in the forest but he never saved a woman.

Rather he and Archer saved a wolf. Unless...

She was the He.

She was the wolf who was attacked in the woods! Callan looked at her in astonishment and nervously

smiled in his own stupidity. How could he be so foolish to miss that!

"You were the wolf!" Callan was taken by surprise when the woman nodded her head in affirmation.

"Words cant express how obligated I am to you. My entire crew had been killed in the onslaught and I

would have been next if it wasn't for you. Thank you." she clasped her hands with Callan's with a teary

eyed smile.

"Your welcome. Sorry I never got your name." the lady smiled at him and said+

"I am Rosaline. I am Einar's mate.."