I Claim Your Love novel Chapter 12

5 Years later

It was those spring days with a kiss of coldness and some warmth of the rays of the shining sun. Callan bathed himself with sunshine in nothing but his bare essentials. He admired the nature at its best. The blossoming flowers, the sweet melody of the winged animals, the fresh sweet aroma of the land. These were the things which he loved being part of.

"Are you not done yet? I'm getting bored." A buff tall man with hairs around his entire body was lying lazily next to Callan.

"You are always ingrate about this place Archer. Why do you even follow me here?"

"Being your best friend it's my job to be with you. Always." Archer smirked and held Callan with one arm over his shoulder. "I don't know why you are so fascinated with these kind of places. We could have easily gone to the market in the human village today. It would have been so much fun."

"Even I want to meet Bradyn and his family. It has been weeks since I last visited the human village but I can't as I have to go the Alpha house today. I cannot come with you."

Archer squint his eyes and looked at his friend. "Why do you have to go to the Alpha house today? I thought today was your day off."

"It's a celebration actually." Callan gave a weak and unconvincing smile before saying "Richard has found his mate. Its Aldous' sister Madeline."

The governing age of Callan meant that it was time for his fellow counterparts to search for their respective mates. Almost every member of the pack who was of Callans age had marked their significant other. The ones who were yet to find their mate were sent as goodwill ambassadors to other packs in search for their mates. But Callan was advised to desist any hopes of finding his mate. Ever.

From a very young age he was taught about the customs and rituals about the werewolf community. He always considered himself a part of them. The most enchanting aspect about it was the feeling of being loved, the feeling of belonging and the feeling of acceptance, something which Callan was deprived throughout his very existence. He wanted to have what other people had. He wanted to share the bond, the relationship which his parents and every other couple in the pack had.

He wanted his Soul-Mate.

Justus knew that Callan was different from his peers. He understood that not only he had more struggles in his life but he would also be underprivileged at the boon of a mate by the moon goddess. The day after his sixteenth birthday Callan was devastated with the account from his father that he may never have a chance at a mate or of true love altogether. Callan cried his heart out in the arms of his best friend. The news was annihilation of his very soul, the very aspect of his being, of his existence was missing.

In the years to come he gathered courage to portray a fake façade in the eyes of everyone else. Some people sympathized with him while the others believed that Luna was justified in her doing and not granting him a mate. The irony of it being that every woman in the pack wished that the Luna paired them with the handsome man.

The Alpha celebrated every new bonding in the pack. Callan was happy for them but he used to be disheartened at the same time for he may never have his chance of true love to share with his special person. The only one thing he yearned to have; Love.1

Archer waved his hands in front of Callan to get his attention. Callan blinked his glossy eyes and parted his lips to give another of his fake smiles. But Archer knew every time when the boy was not being true. In fact they were so close that one could discern every emotion of the other, without any saying.

"Don't worry Callan, the goddess must have thought something for you, something special. You will definitely have your chance at true love. Who knows Viola could be the one for you." Archer patted his back in assurance.

Viola was a fellow pack member who was in a relationship with Callan for over a year now. She was twenty nine and had lost all her hopes of finding her mate and hence was forced to settle for an alliance with any other wolf. But like every female she had her eyes for the most desired man of their pack.

"I don't know archer. She is a beautiful and sweet woman. I know she is always there for me but sometimes I feel this is not enough. Like a part of the puzzle is missing. There is a sense of guilt after every time we make love. It feels like I have betrayed someone or something. I don't know why."

"Let go of this feeling for want of a mate brother and look at the brighter side of things. Viola loves you; she is even ready to forego her parents and the pack for you. Her resistance to the pack members and her parents is commendable. I think you should accept her offer of being her mate." Archer tried to reason with his best friend.

Archer was right. Viola had been his strength for the past one year. The girl had suffered discrimination and bad mouthing because she decided to be with Callan: A non wolf. She always encouraged him to be the best as also she was always with him in his times of need.

She was potentially a perfect mate but the only downside of it being that there was still a possibility of her finding her other half. It may take weeks, months or even years but whenever she finds her mate Callan knew that she would chose the bond over him.

"Don't over think it Callan, life has given you a chance and it is up to you what you want to make out of it."

****

The Alpha was seemingly nervous but excited as well. He had called upon the members of the pack who were now filling up the empty hall. He paced around and looked for Justus to enquire about everyones presence. Justus gave a curt nod and closed the doors of the assembly hall. Callan had taken a corner seat aloof from the crowd. As it is, nobody had taken a seat next to or around the boy. The chattering and murmuring resembled the sound of bees. Peter pout his lips and whistled to gain attention of the attendants. The pack was silenced in an instant.

"Thank you for visiting. Let's start with the order of business today. As many of you must have already realized that we are here to celebrate another mate bond in our pack. This generation is very lucky to have found their mates at a very young age. We all know that a true mate bond is difficult to find until you are twenty five while some may even find their mates at a very later stage in their lives. The moon goddess has really been kind to us. Without delaying any further I present to you all; Richard foreman and Madeline Blakewood daughter of our beta Peter Blakewood."

A tall man with smooth black hair and a smug look appeared from the corner of the stage holding hands with a blonde beautiful female. The entire hall roared with a deafening noise of applause. It's not every day that a pack member finds his mate, so it was a reason to celebrate. Amidst the cheering, whistling and hooting the girl blushed and hid herself partially behind her mate while the man was acknowledging the hall with a wave smirking devilishly when he caught eyes of Callan.

The Alpha then gestured for attention of the pack "I have some more good news to share with you all. Einar along with Garrick have completed their training years and have decided to return to the pack as early as next week."

The hall again erupted with a thunderous applause with smirks and happy faces all around. For some reason even Callan was happy with the news. Nobody had seen Einar for around five years now. Ragnar thought that it was time for Einar to be announced as the new Alpha. The smiling faces of the Luna and all the ladies were a sight to behold. The other females of the pack hoped to be the new Luna of the blue moon pack while the young lads were looking forward to be a part of the high ranks and work under the new Alpha. This also meant that the day of reckoning was approaching. Callan had to prepare himself for every member that challenged his position as the head warrior.

****

Back in her room, Aurora was trying some new potions for a more effective cure. She collected all the herbs, a stack of hay, stones and fine ash which were decorated around her in a circular manner. She was about to transport the cauldron from her almirah to the burner when her door suddenly opened making a loud squeaking sound.

"Hello Aurora."

The half healer half witch was shocked by the sudden noise and because of that the cauldron from her hands fell to the ground. She gasped with her hands to her chest while Callan was laughing so hysterically that his eyes were forced to free some of its water.

"Stop laughing will you!" Aurora frowned cleaning the mess on her gown and the floor.

"Ohh.. you should have s-seen your face." Callan managed to utter between his laughs.

"What brings you here handsome? You have been lately too busy to even take a note of your friends well being. Last time I heard, that female warrior was all over you like a leech." Callans expressions changed dramatically. His laughs vanished and a cold concerned look marked his face. He did not have to be a genius to realize who Aurora was talking about. For some apparent reason she did not like him and Viola bonding up but he never understood why. Being his close friend, Callan thought that the healer would understand his situation and be welcoming of it, but he was wrong.

"Why do you hate Viola so much? She is a nice female and wants to spend her life with me. I like her and she likes me."

"She is not your mate Callan. When will you understand this?"

"You have been saying the same thing for every past relationship I had. I am tired looking for that one special person and honestly I don't even think she exists. Viola is a good partner for me and moreover I think she does not have a mate. If there was one she would have definitely been taken by now." Callan frowned with a pinch of agitation.

"You cannot be sure about that. What if her mate is still there somewhere, what if he is searching for her? What would happen if he comes to our pack? She will always choose her mate over you. No one can win over the bond and you should know that."2

"Then what do you want me to do. I don't want to be alone forever; I have to take my chances. She makes me happy; she likes me and wants to be with me as her mate. For some twisted fates if her mate does find her in the near future the decision will be hers entirely to chose but until then we would cherish every moment together." Callan was almost desperately presenting his case cause for him this was his only chance for happiness.