I Claim Your Love novel Chapter 43

It had been a pensive morning for Callan. He took long strides but he was in no hurry. The distance to the alpha house was short but still the man took his own sweet time. The chirping of birds and their melodious singing was making Callan content. However his heart was more joyful as he remembered the conversation from a couple of days back.

He was happy that he cleared things up with Daragor. The night had made him comfortable and he now was no longer afraid of the spirit neither was he dubious about him. He could now be unguarded when in close proximity of the demon.

In a way Callan felt apologetic for the spirit. He was always fed with fallacies that he wouldn’t have any mate. His friends on the other side encouraged him to not lose hope and find love on his own. He did exactly that but his endeavours never succeeded.

Moreover he was angry at Aurora. Though the witch had good intentions for the man still she should have trusted him. She could have at least hinted him about his mate. But she kept it all to herself and let blew the matter out of proportion. A lot of damage could have been averted had Aurora revealed everything.

Callan exhaled a breath of exasperation. He knew that the demon was on his side. He now had to take in the wolf and the human. But how was he supposed to do that? Einar was mighty stubborn while the wolf was another challenge altogether. The fragment of memories Callan had of Orcus were all related to his anger. He remembered his occasional growling, his fit of rage and his murderous glares. Never once had he seen him calm and composed.

Callan’s thoughts were interrupted when he heard distinct footsteps marching in his direction from the front. He could see a large group led by Garrick, Peter, Richard, Aldous, Marden, Tusker, Arthur and his father. Arthur and Justus seemed worried for some reason while the rest of the members were angry. Their eyes full of rage were directed at Callan. But why?

Soon the group reached the man in a rush as Richard fisted his hand and swung it with a force right at Callan’s jaw. The handsome man faltered in his stance as his lips were cut and it oozed the rid liquid. He bent sideways with the power of the punch. Richard held Callan’s shirt and brought him up to level him face to face. He again curled his fingers and hit Callan’s jaw with his brute strength. This time though the impact was greater as Callan fell down flat on his back. In the next instant Richard sat on Callan’s torso to hit his iron fist, blow after blow to the puzzled man.

It took three men to detach a ferocious Richard from Callan. He clutched the shirt of the handsome man with such a force that that the fabric ripped up from its collar while the other people were struggling to detach the two men.

“LEAVE ME. I WILL KILL HIM..!” Richard’s voice trembled with outrage.

Arthur helped Callan stand up as in the next instant Richard landed another sneaky blow. He wasn’t stopping. His friends were trying to control him as his wolf was showing prominence.

“That is enough Richard.” Garrick roared in his authoritative voice.

“HAND HIM OVER TO ME. LET ME KILL HIM.” Richard reached for Callan again as this time he managed to release himself from the clutch while he kneeded his leg right to the stomach of Callan.

“I said STOP....”

Richard’s action came to a rest abruptly. He huffed in annoyance and spit on the face of the puzzled man.

“Let the council decide the matter.” Garrick ordered in his stern voice. He then turned his attention to a bloodied Callan who was holding his abdomen in pain “You always have a knack for trouble Ashton.” Garrick sighed derisively.

He looked at a dejected Arthur and ordered him “Bring him to the open ground.”

Arthur reluctantly agreed and helped Callan to stand on his feet and compose himself. On the other hand Callan was left confused for he was unaware of the situation which was going on “What is happening?” he asked Arthur.

“I am not in the liberty to tell you anything..” He lowered his eyes “But it does not look good for you.”

Callan roamed his gaze around “I need to see my father.”

“He is with Peter. They both are discussing the matter.”

Callan nodded and silenced himself after that. He released the square woven fabric from his shoulders and cleaned himself of the blood; of the spit; of the humiliation. He realised that Arthur wanted to reveal much more than his words but he was not in a position to say anything. He looked around to see a number of people eyeing him with disgust and animosity. However the one look which stood out from the rest was that of Richards. He was mighty furious! His nostrils flared and he occasionally snarled looking at a bewildered Callan.

The group of people travelled together to the open ground. As soon as they reached the place Arthur came up with a chain with shackles and bound Callan’s wrist. He apologetically looked at him before parting ways and leaving the man standing all alone in the entire crowd. Callan swept his gaze where his eyes could see and saw that almost the entire main village had joined him and people had the same look; anger.

Callan noticed the absence of Einar and Rosaline. He knew for a fact that the Alpha was reeling heavily from the resistance of Daragor to his locket. It had already been three days since the full moon and Einar was still unconscious. While Rosaline was nurturing him in his unhealthy state. But even if Einar was in his senses would he come to Callan’s rescue? Would Einar’s presence make the situation any more better?

Callan huffed at his thoughts for the lack of trust in his mate.

He again roamed his eyes to the centre of the ground where he could see a wooden platform and a large chair on it. He saw Marden, Justus, Richard, Arthur and Peter standing on the dais. However his eyes widened as saucers when he looked right behind Peter. Glancing from the side of his body were two eyes who looked sad, who looked apologetic and in that moment Callan understood the entire situation.

The murmur of the crowd was silenced at once when Garrick stood up from the chair and raised his voice “Thank you for joining us. I assume that the matter has reached every wolf by now.” He gestured his hand at Callan “The man in front of you is said to have broken a very sacred law. In the absence of alpha Einar the previous high ranks have given me responsibility to carry out the proceedings.”

Garrick looked intently at the Elemental “Callan Justus Ashton do you agree to the allegations put on you by Richard Foreman? Do you agree to have broken the laws and dishonoured the moon?”

Callan again side-glanced at the person behind Peter and exhaled in defeat. He slowly raised his chin “I agree.”

Garrick gritted his teeth “Then by the powers vested in me by the holy spirits of our land I pronounce you guilty. Since you have wronged Richard, it is his right to choose the punishment deemed fit as per our traditions. You have no right to object or deny to any of the decisions made.”

Garrick gestured Richard to come forward. He blew out the angry air in petty annoyance as he kept looking at Callan intently with utter hatred “For a heinous act as such the punishment should be of the same measure.. I want Callan Justus Ashton to survive the pit of death.”

Simultaneous gasps echoed the arena while Callan’s mouth was left ajar in shock.

****

The sky above was more bluish than charcoal yet the road ahead still had the black look of the night. In the freezing wee hours of the morning the people of the blue moon pack had assembled around a large hollow ground dug in the open space of the eastern borders. They were waiting for the excruciating ceremony which was destined to end the life of the human of their pack. For the first time in their existence the people of the pack had a pinch of sympathy for the man as he was about to face one of the most harrowing punishments there was in the werewolf world.

Callan on the other hand was accompanied by a few warriors of the pack. His hands were tied by the tight metal rope around his wrists. He looked ahead and saw his destination. The large hollow ground also known as the pit of death.

The punishment was carried out through ancient times in the werewolf history. The culprit was forcefully thrashed into the dig. The pit was then encroached with various atrocities either designed by the wolves or normally found in nature. The prisoner had to survive the death hole from sunrise to sunset. If he was able to breathe till the end he used to be rescued. He was considered blessed for it was believed that the Luna had showered her mercy on him. In reality though, no one ever came alive from the dug hole. The large hollow ground that was dug was meant only for one purpose; so that the prisoner had no way to escape.

Death was inevitable for him.