I Claim Your Love novel Chapter 20

Serenity was plastered across Callan's face; his heart thumped in accordance with his slow shallow breaths. The pure innocence on his face could make anyone fall to his knees. His perfect hair balanced above his forehead dancing to his breathing motions.

Einar stared at the beautiful man with content. It was the first time since ages that they were together and regret that he cant touch him, hold him or accept him even when they are this close. Why was the goddess so cruel to him? Callan was perfect in every way; he was strong, determined and always thought about others well being and safety; qualities fit for a luna. With just one exception..

He was a man.

Einar would have readily accepted any girl as his mate. He never had high expectations from the goddess. A royal blood or an omega, shifter from other clans, hell even a human he would have accepted. But of all the pairs the luna made she linked him with a man. Why!?

Einar's thought process was interrupted when his eyes landed on Callan's injured arm. It was supported by a beam of wood attached through his neck. It was bandaged but the stain of blood was clearly visible.

The wolves live for their mate. It is they who make them complete and so it was necessary for every wolf to keep their mates loved and protected; it was the first rule! But all Einar did in his entire life was to treat the man poorly, make him feel unwanted. He was really ashamed of himself but he had no choice.

He failed as a mate.

He sighed with frustration. The metal to his chest glowed. His beasts wanted out, to be close to their mate. This internal battle between his beasts and him made Einar uneasy and a furious growl escaped his lips.

Callan woke in a jiffy hearing the roar, his head spinned and he struggled to find his composure. However it was his arm which was causing all the trouble. "Aw.." he groaned in pain.

"What happened?" Einar asked worriedly.

Callan could not believe what he saw. Was Einar really in the same space as he was! He couldn't even remember when Einar spoke to him the last time. He blinked his eyes rapidly and concluded that it must be a hallucination; the after effects of the medicine.

"Does your arm hurt?" Einar asked again.

He really is here! Callan thought. He was staggered at the surprise appearance of the going to be Alpha. Not just that; Luna had been merciful today for the going to be alpha was talking to him!

"Just say something." Einar growled with exasperation.

"F-Fine" Callan cleared his throat. "I'm fine." he tried to sit up

"No!" Einar said in a jiffy "Don't do that.. You must rest." Einar put his hand on Callan's shoulder motioning him to lie down.

Callan just stared at the man with utter disbelief. This must have been the only good words spoken by Einar in years. But he found it difficult to believe him, there must have been a hidden motive behind his visit he thought. After a long silence Callan looked at his arm and chuckled. "What does it matter; I am soon going to be in a deep slumber anyway. A long long sleep."

Einar's blood boiled hearing his own mate say such a thing. Does he not know how much his heartbeat means to him! His demon and his wolf will disappear if anything goes wrong with the man just like that. Hence it was important for Callan to live. He grinded his teeth and said "Why are you being so pessimistic? You will be just fine."

The anger in his face did not go unnoticed by Callan. But why was he angry in the first place? Even if he had a bad day he should have the basic decency to control his emotions in front of an injured patient. But again one could never forecast Einar's mood, he was furious one moment while happy just right after. Callan calmly replied "I have faced injuries for my entire life. I have worked closely with Aurora to realise the limits of any medication. As also; her face said it all."

Einar lowered his eyes hiding his pain. "So you know that.."

"I am dying.. Yes." Callan portrayed a brave smile and slowly nodded "I am weak and exhausted and this hurts like hell! Never thought I would go this way but I don't have any regrets."

Einar's heart churned and he felt like his life was slipping away. He was never acceptable of Callan getting injured in any way so how could he bear the trepidation of his mates life. Though he never wanted him to be a part of his life but he could never imagine living without him being around. Unknowingly his pain had soaked his eyes and droplets moved freely. "You wont go anywhere.. I wont let you die!" he whispered a promise.

Seeing Einar so vulnerable was something new for Callan. He had always been arrogant, egoistic and boisterous but seeing him care for someone was refreshing. What he could not believe though that that someone would be a person like Callan whom he detested his entire life. When the first bead made its way down to his cheeks Callan asked worriedly "A-Are you all right?"

Einar found it hard to believe the emotional state he was in right now. Surely the actions of his beasts were justified but his ardour to his mate was questioning. Yes he was his mate, yes they were destined to be together; but he never loved the guy. He always execrated Luna for pairing him with this man. This wonderfully beautiful man. Then why was he crying?

Einar vigorously shook his head and kept his emotions at bay. He concluded that his emotions were not his own but his beasts and that he just sympathized with the man and nothing else. He sighed and with a straight-face he said "I want you to listen carefully. I am calling in the spirit and he would heal you but you have to promise me something."

"What?" It was both curiosity and surprise for Callan. What possibly could the demon do in this situation.

"After you are healed, you have to promise me that you would put this locket back on me. You know what he could do right? Coerce him to wear the locket." Einar pointed to his chest where the locket hanged through his neck.

Callan furrowed his eyes "But why would your beast listen to me?" Indeed why. He was no one important. He never had any connections with the beasts. Moreover how was he supposed to convince the monster when he himself was unsure of what was going around.

Einar raised a brow "Believe me; he will listen to you." if in the entire world the beast would listen to someone it would only be you.

Why Einar thought that his beast would adhere to him was beyond his reasoning but what troubled him more was why the son of Alpha was making such a hard decision. It was no secret that Einar was unable to control his beasts and so the locket. Why risk letting them out just for saving a man; an unimportant someone. The plan could backfire and the spirit would be released to this world. It was a huge risk. Callan was confused "Why are you doing this?"

"You are pack. A part of the family. I am just being the responsible Alpha." Besides if anything happens to you I would be dead too.

Callan's forest green eyes were captivating; it captured Einar in a trance and his features softened. He looked at his mate with adoration, admiration and pure bliss. While Callan looked at him suspiciously trying to decipher what was going through the troubled minds of Einar.

Einar gulped and sighed to avoid getting caught "You ready?"

Callan nodded hesitatingly.

Einar slowly undressed his locket and handed it over to his mate. He moved to the end of the room and closed his eyes. His complete focus was now on his shedim spirit. His call for help did not go unnoticed.

Einar growled ferociously as a black mist appeared out of nowhere and engulfed him. His body was lifted in the air while it shook like tremors rocked his flesh. After about a minute or so Einar stopped trembling and was motionless on his spot with his eyes closed.

Callan was scared but was also curious. He gathered courage and sat up straight resting his back to the wooden board of the bed.

"E-Einar. Y-You there?" Callan muttered in his weak shaky voice.

The mist surrounded Einar like a shadow; he raised his head and sucked in lots of air before slowly opening his eyes and landing his feet to the ground. Callan noticed that Einar's veins in his entire body popped up but were infused with the black mist as if dark blood flew through him. But what kept him captivating were the eyes; two completely black globes were now staring at him.

Einar approached his mate cautiously. With every measured step of the beast, Callan's heartbeat just accelerated. Upon realising this Einar smirked and sat on the nearby chair.

"You don't have to be scared of me." The voice was cold, deep and guttural.

Callan sighed and was out of his trance. "I-I'm sorry. I-Its just that." he expelled air from his mouth. "Your e-eyes." he gulped "They are different. Not that I am complaining but I'm just not habitual to see such stuff." he chuckled nervously.

The demon replied with a chuckle of his own and looked at the ceiling flaring his nose and taking deep breaths. He brought his head to level his mate whose eyes were wide like saucers when he saw that Einar's eyes had changed like a normal human being. The sclera completely white and the orbs dark as the night.

"I hope you like them now."

Callan's mouth was hung open, mesmerised with what he just saw. Nobody had seen this side of the beast ever "H-How did you do that?"

The demon smirked ."I can do anything for you my love."

Hearing Einar calling him love just made him uneasy and weird. It was too intimate.

"My name is Callan." he corrected Einar.

"I know my love."

Callan forgot to breathe. It was confusing. The fragment of memories he had of the beast were horrifying and mostly violent. To see this side; the loving and caring part was completely opposite of what he expected.

But why does he keep calling him 'My love!'

Callan was uncomfortable. "Could you please call me by my name."

"As you wish." Anything for you my love.

The next few moments were spend just in a staring contest mostly by Einar. Callan felt exposed to his gaze and found it difficult to carry forward the conversation but Einar did not back down. He wanted to amass every inch of the beauty and fill in those empty years which he stayed away from his mate.