I Claim Your Love novel Chapter 11

Garrick watched his father lying motionless in bed. The agony and pain had made him unreachable. Ragnar was frantically trying to arrange every help possible while Catherine was helpless seeing the love of her life slowly slipping away from her. Garrick had called lady Odile who was treating the other wounded when the mishap had occurred. When she arrived to check the beta she knew the fate of his survival, there was only so much a wolf could take and the healer knew that any increase in his medication dose would do him no good.

Umberto's condition was worsening. His breaths came in ragged and shallow gasps. His loved ones wanted to save him. His fragile heart was trying to pump in all the life to save him but his other senses were slowly giving up. One look at the healer could deduce the fact that it was far too late to save the beta.

Umberto was breathing his last.

****

When Callan was out of his haze, he could not recall anything that happened. He was on a bed with countless other warriors lining side by side to him. He steadied his wobbly feet and blinked his eyes hurriedly to gain a clear vision. It was chaos in the healers' cottage. The smell of blood and the screams of pain were everywhere around him. He could see that the healers were attending the patients with all their might while he noticed his parents were nowhere to be found. Being one without a mind-link he could not communicate with them and assure himself of their safety. He made his way to Alpha house where all the high ranks were treated in hopes of finding his parents.

On reaching the Alpha house he could hear commotion everywhere but soon they all were silenced when Callan announced his arrival through the doors. The entrance was swamped with people who were emoting mixed sentiments, some of sympathy while others of utter despair. The hatred for the boy was evident in their eyes. But Callan could not assess what earned him this response. Apparently he recalled that he was fighting side by side with the pack. As also he did not put anyone in trouble as far as he could remember.

Distinct noises could be heard from a room which was near to the Alpha's Office; one of the voices he heard was of Aurora. He was relieved that his friend was safe and here so she could now reply to his unanswered questions. He made his way through the pool of people and breached the room. He could see the Alpha, Luna, Beta female, Garrick and some healers including Aurora around a bed. They were all surrounding- UMBERTO.

Callan gasped in shock when he saw the physical state of the beta. His face was marked with claws all over while his wounds down his chest were so deep that the skin was now hanging loosely from his upper torso. One could even see the bones of his rib cage. His leg was definitely the worst hit; Callan could see a chunk of mass missing from his thighs oozing blood.

He took one step to the beta but was thrashed to the nearest wall by a force. He could see two red swollen eyes. Callan did not miss the fury and the pain in the teary eyed face.

"YOU!.. You have caused this. You are the reason my father is suffering. Your reckless behavior has put my father's life at stake. I never believed what people said but you really are a CURSE for the entire pack." Garrick angrily raised his voice. He caught hold of Callans neckband and punched him with his full strength. Callan was dizzy and fell on the floor a bit disoriented. Garrick picked him up with his brute force and punched him even harder than before.

"That's enough Garrick. This is neither the time nor the place for your childish deportment."

The Alpha is right Garrick. Come here, sit next to your mother. Taking deep breaths Umberto communicated through his mind link trying to calm his son.

The betas son reluctantly released the boy with a strong exhale of his breath, snorting derisively. Callan looked at Aurora in confusion who herself masked her emotions and was weakly smiling at him. Garrick's rude behavior took Callan by surprise. Though the betas son was not a friend of Callan but he was never rude to him. Then what had changed all of a sudden?

Callan needed answers.

Looking at the bleeding face of the boy Aurora approached him hesitatingly. She held his hand and helped him out of the room. Aurora took Callan to the nearest available room. She wiped the blood from his face and applied some herbs on his busted lips.

"This will help you heal." Callan frowned at her as she was avoiding eye contact.

"Was Garrick true? Did I have something to do with Umberto's condition? Please answer me Aurora." Callan asked in almost a hushed voice.

Even before the healer could speak, a treacherous bead slipped through her eye running down her cheek. She lowered her head, took a deep breath and composed herself trying to be strong at this moment.

"The beta is in a precarious situation. The healers are trying their best to avoid any fatalities but his injuries..."

"That's not what I'm asking Aurora." Callan quickly interjected "Did I have something to do with the betas attack? Please tell me the truth." Callan was desperate in his request while Aurora was trying her best to gather courage to answer the boy. She deeply sighed to finally face the boy.

"Yes.." her voice broke in a whisper.

Callan almost choked. He forgot to breathe for a moment. He was confused. How could he possibly do that? There had to be a catch in the story.

"H-How..?" The boy was unable to form any other words.

"You were in a.. Haze. When the Elders were performing their enchantments to control Einar, you were drawn to the circle. You were in a different trance, you did not listen to any of our warnings and were about to infiltrate the circle. Umberto tried to save you but at the same time a feral wolf jumped in front of you. Umberto shielded you and took the brunt of the feral's attacks while you just kept moving. As he was trying to shift, you had almost reached the circle and were very close to enter it. Hence the beta decided to help you first.."

"I am trying hard but I am unable to remember anything.." Callan was squeezing his eyebrows to refresh his memories.

"I know. What happened next is what made the whole situation grave. When Umberto was reaching you another feral was about to attack you from behind. The beta pushed you away and shifted. You fell on the floor and were unconscious thereafter. The other feral had now joined his companion while Umberto protected you from their attacks as you were helpless. But the fight was too much for him."

"I don't understand. Why didn't the other pack members help him? Why were they being mute spectators?"

"The beta had ordered them not to interfere. The Elders had not finished their job yet and the procedure required their complete attention. In cases where their own powers have limitations they source their power from the souls of the wolves present; The more the better. Had the other warrior wolves joined the beta, the strength of the circle would have lessened and Einar would have broken the shield. Hence Umberto decided to face the ferals on his own. But till the time the enchantments were over and help arrived; the damage was done."

Aurora was discreet in what she told Callan. She had guessed it that Umberto knew about the Alphas' son and Callan and he was trying to avoid interference of other wolves. Had the other wolves joined in the fight and touched the boy; Einar would've definitely broken the shield in his rage and killed his own pack mates.

The beta saved the pack at the expense of his own life.

Callan was dumbfounded at Auroras revelation. This cleared things on why the people earlier were behaving strange. This also meant that Garrick was right. In a way he did put his father's life at stake.

He could no more hold his emotions and cried his heart out to his good friend.

****

It had been months since the death of the beta. Catherine could not tolerate the separation from her mate and soon followed him to the Promised Land. Ragnar and the entire pack were mourning the departure of their second in command Alpha and second in command Luna. With a heavy heart he appointed Peter as his new beta. The most affected of them all was Garrick. He confined himself in his room and bewailed for days that followed.

Since the day of the mayhem, Einar had been kept in a dark dungeon by the Elders. The Elders had been associated with some powerful warlocks and witches to find a solution to the menace of the beasts inside of the boy. They wanted to keep the beasts at bay until the right time for coronation of the future Alpha arrived. Zelda and Ragnar had been worried about their son and so was Aurora. Somehow she felt responsible for everything that happened and was guilty for the Alpha son's present state.

"Hello Aurora, are we ready to go." Aurora was bemused to see a tall man with curls and caramel skin. It was Elder Odulf.

"Yes. I have made all the preparations and even informed the Alpha and Luna. They will be on their way soon." Aurora said bowing her head.

"Do they know?" The Elder asked nonchalantly.

Aurora did not have to be a highbrow to know exactly what the Elder was talking about "No master. The Alpha mates know nothing about the bond. However I think the former beta might have had his suspicions."

"Hmm... I see. Do the boys know?"

"Callan is naïve, he is convinced that he is born without a mate and thinks that his powers are a result of the bracelet I gave him. Whereas Einar has recognized the other part of his soul."

The Elder was pensive for a very long time before he said "We have to keep them apart till the boy reaches his potential. Only he has the power to control the beasts or else this time even the strongest of our magic spells would not be able to stop the demolition of every supernatural being in the world. We have to be very careful."

The cluster of Elders had always tried to cease the impending probability of destruction of their race. They had always prepared for this moment.

The Alpha and Luna arrived a few moments later. Both of them had been emotionally devastated from the events of the mayhem. Losing their close friends, seeing their warriors fall and more importantly the condition of their only son had driven them to their extremities.