I Claim Your Love novel Chapter 57

The alpha office resembled a place of quietus. Zelda, Aurora and Rosaline were finding it difficult to control Mary who was inconsolable. On the other hand Callan stood strongly with his father whose head was bowed down in guilt. He couldn’t bear to look into the eyes of his alpha.

Ragnar felt betrayed. He had been friends with Justus for centuries and was always close to him besides Umberto. It was hard for him to believe that his good friend had broken his trust.

“Why did you do it?” Ragnar asked accusingly.

The entire hall was silenced at once and all eyes were glued to Justus; waiting for an explanation. Justus took a long breath and slowly raised his head “I thought that it was the best for my child. At that time I was heavily induced by my passion to make Callan a warrior.”

He pursed his lips and lowered his voice “I wasn’t thinking straight.”

“There is a reason why every single person of the blue moon pack is barred from entering queen Katana’s territory. You of all people know the reason why!”

Justus looked ashamed. He closed his eyelids and nodded. In fact he knew what the alpha was trying to imply. Queen Katana’s island was a place where disorder prevailed. Apart from the queen, there was no other authority in place. Moreover the queen’s mirthful activities was a cause of ire for many. She enslaved members of every species on the pretext of giving them a new lease of life. On the hindsight, her only motive was to gain control over everyone. She was to the further side of disposition and structure.

The ugly part of it all was that the queen enjoyed people’s misery. Her way of entertainment was at the cost of someone’s life. She arranged life threatening feuds for rogues in order to give them a chance to live a dignified life. However the loser was either killed or was tagged a slave till his last breath. These actions of the queen compelled the communities around the world to seclude her from their co-operation. She was left all alone to rule her own kingdom without any outside help.

The blue moon pack like every other pack had banned its members from having any association with the queen. However, Justus thought that Callan’s mettle would only sparkle when he faced the real test. Justus’ passion to see his child’s bright future blinded him from realizing that Callan was indeed a child. Making him enter the feud was a risk of a lifetime.

“I realize what you are trying to say my alpha. As I said earlier, I wanted to make Callan ready for every possibility.”

“By risking the life of your only child!” princess Beatrice bellowed her voice and overtook Ragnar to stand face to face with Justus. She poked her finger to his chest and venomously spoke “You pathetic wolf.. Do you even realize that you were sending him on death missions for several years? A human child!” She turned her face to look at Mary in irritation “Oh! Woman will you please stop that noise! Its aching my ears now.”

Mary sniveled as her crying voice was lowered all of a sudden. She kept her head low while all her well wishers were eyeing Beatrice with distaste.

Ragnar cleared his throat “I think the matter concerns my people princess.”

The princess turned back and huffed at the alpha. Ragnar on the other hand kept his cool “I will look into it if you may.”

“Oh please!” she snickered derisively “What have you done so far? You were blind for so many years. You couldn’t save your beta, you couldn’t stop your own son from being a carnage, you didn’t realize how your own good friend was stabbing your back for so many years.” She huffed.

She stretched the side of her lips “You are a pathetic excuse for an alpha I must say.”

Ragnar’s temper was rising with every passing moment. However his hands were tied for there was truth in what she said. Ragnar fisted his hands and hurtfully looked at Justus.

The blatant disrespect of his father made Einar angry. He wanted to squash the lady’s head to the nearest wall at this moment. He decided to handle the matter in a civilized manner to keep his sanity intact. He put forward his step and stood strong in front of the princess.

“With all due respect princess Beatrice, this isn’t your jurisdiction to look into. My father is capable enough to handle the matter.”

Beatrice raised a brow and laughed all of a sudden “I can see that.” She swiped her gaze all around “Your not a pack of wolves; your a pack of fools.”

The vilification of their pack had caused the wolves to see the princess in a different light. They were angry at her. Einar could sense the emotions of his fellow pack members and he wanted to react but his father sensed the delicate moment and he intervened.

Ragnar cleared his throat and gestured his son to step back. He realized that indeed there was no escape from this. He unwillingly toughened his stance and asked Justus in a stern voice “Do you agree to every claim that are made against you?”

Justus took a pregnant pause and heaved a long sigh “I do.”

“Oh yes you do!” the princess mocked the man “You and this horrible lady wont be able to see the next rising sun. My enforcers would make sure of it.”

“No one dare touches my father!” Callan raised his voice and guarded Justus. His face was red with anger while the bracelet in his wrist glowed. The atmosphere outside had suddenly become dark as the once shining sun was hidden behind the thick dark clouds. Winds started gaining speed while the trees made a whoosh sound of resistance.

Aurora was afraid for what Callan’s anger might turn this place into. She quickly made her way towards the man and pulled him back a little. The handsome man eyed the witch with anger but soon his temper died down when he noticed his glowing bracelet.

“Oh my darling these are the rules of the wolves.” Beatrice dramatically softened her expressions and went near Callan. “I know you are blood related but they wronged our culture. They disobeyed a direct command.”

“I don’t care.” Callan gritted his teeth “I will burn everything down if even a single strand of hair of my father is harmed.”

“Back down Callan.” Justus held his sons hand “We would be the one to pay for our sins.”

Callan looked at his father in hopelessness “If I’m the one who has been wronged then I forgive you. I don’t want any justice.”

“Its not that easy boy.” All eyes were directed to the booming voice of the alpha “Your father broke the rules when he was in position. He breached our trust.” the alpha looked at Justus “You know what’s coming your way.”

Justus nodded curtly “I’m ready.”

Ragnar looked at all the concerned faces around and swiped a treacherous bead of hurt and compassion for his friendship. His heart was heavy but his duties demanded him to be just. He inhaled a long breath and with a heavy voice he spoke “By the powers vested in me by the holy spirits of our forefathers.. I Ragnar Gregor Knight condemn the acts of our former head warrior and hereby declare that he shall no longer be a part of us. He along with his mate shall be debarred from the blue moon pack till their last breath.”

The uttered words shocked the alpha himself. He cried from the sorrow and painfully looked at his dearest friend. Justus exchanged the same look and weakly nodded at the alpha assuring him that indeed he did the right thing. The once silent room was filled with murmurs and whispers. The echoing gasps of the sudden upset resembled the shock which the people all around felt.

Rosaline kissed Mary’s cheeks while Zelda refused to leave the lady alone. Arthur and Aldous were quiet all along but they knew the situation was dire. Though Callan had been his arch nemesis Aldous felt bad for Justus; his former teacher and predecessor. Garrick and Einar looked at each other with a bit of fear and an unknown expression.

Einar was terrified to look at Callan for he knew the reaction of the handsome man. The look of Callan said it all.

He was a disaster.

His lips moved and his eyes welled up a stream of water. A strong sentiment of his resentment.

“No!” Callan shook his head vigorously “No! No!” He whispered in trepidation “I cant let this happen.”

The handsome man clutched the hands of his mother and father tightly and brought them to his chest. With angry eyes he looked at everyone around as if he was warning them to be away from his parents. Like a precious toy of a kid was being snatched away from him. Indeed his behavior was childish but he didn’t care. He couldn’t think about his conduct right now.

“Stop it Callan.”

A concerned Mary grabbed Callan’s attention as she cupped her child’s face “Your father and I knew that we would have to face the justice of the goddess one day.” She bravely smiled through her teary eyes “We don’t regret being your parents. I hope you don’t regret being our son.”

Callan looked at his mother with a burnt heart and sorrowful gaze. His insides were shaking. The emotional turbulence he felt right now was beyond comprehension. He gulped his agony and looked at his mother “What kind of a justice is this? I am not leaving you alone.” He almost pleaded “I’ll join you. Please..!”

“This is your place now.” Mary shook her head lightly while Justus overtook his mate “Serve the alpha and be a good boy.”

Justus held Callan’s hand and kissed the back of his palm, tapping it profusely in a gesture of promise and assurance “Everything will be fine.”

Justus’ red eyes were swollen with the amount of self restrain he was showing. It wasn’t easy for him. He had served the alpha house for centuries and now he had to leave everything behind. The alpha house was like a family to him. Deep down he knew what he did was right for his family. Yet there were consequences to his sacrifices and he was willing to pay for it. He closed his eyes and took long breaths before focusing on the mother-son conversation again.

“I don’t care about the pack anymore.” Callan sniveled “All I want is you mother. Why should I live without you and father? This isn’t fair to me..”

“I know my child.” Mary kissed Callan’s cheeks “But you are strong and have a good heart. You will survive this.”

His mothers words splintered inside Callan causing him pain. The murmurs and voices around him were inaudible. His vision refused to hold anyone else other than his parents. When he couldn’t hold back anymore he hugged his mother tightly and cried his heart out. His mother responded by embracing Callan strongly in her arms.

The emotional moment between a mother and her son made everyone speechless.

Mary lovingly ran her hands on the back of Callan, trying to soothe him of his pain while the handsome man sniveled at every interval. Justus on the other hand raised his chin and planted a deep kiss to his son’s forehead. His constricted eyelids flew the tears of his sorrow.

It was the message of farewell.

Both of his parents backed away a little and looked at their son for one last time. Callan wished for the moment to freeze. His breaths came in short gasps while his uttered words were broken because of his crying. He subconsciously stretched his arm forward to gesture his mother to hold his hand and not let go.

Mary could no longer look at the vulnerable state of her loving child and she hid herself behind her mate. Her muffled voice of pain was not cloaked from anyone. With teary eyes she looked above and asked the goddess for her son’s safety and happiness. Justus held Mary’s hand to give her the strength she needed. He swiped his gaze all around, smiling at all of his former companions before briefly nodding at his son.

The couple retreated their steps and soon left the alpha’s office. Callan stood there with his gaze stationed at the door. He couldn’t contemplate the situation before him. He felt like a helpless loser. His parents were the most precious thing to him. They were his pack, his only family and now they were taken away from him. Aurora held Callan by his hunched arms and turned him to leave for his room.

As soon as Callan moved his footsteps he saw the beta and his guilt ridden best friend. Callan gestured Aurora to leave him while he marched at Einar with accusation and anger in his eyes. He closed the distance between them and glared at Einar with utter hatred “This is what you wanted right? I hope you are happy now.”

Einar couldn’t look into the eyes of Callan and he bowed his head in shame. The handsome man hatefully gazed at Einar and Garrick before storming his way out of the alpha house.