I Claim Your Love novel Chapter 61

"I was thirteen and naïve when it came to stepping out of the village. I wanted to see different places, roam around unchartered territories. I still like that." Fayette kept gawking at the open field with Garrick tagging himself to accompany her under the shade of the big tree.

"Callan was a friend of Bradyn, my brother. He did became accustomed to the life of the humans. Both Archer and Callan frequently visited the village and we got to know each other better."

The girl's smile vanished which worried the wolf "What happened?"

"I had an argument. My parents were not allowing me to leave the house and play with the boys. I couldn't understand why. To be honest I did not want to understand. My rebellious nature was proving too much for them to handle. They locked me in my room." She scoffed

"I didn't know humans could be strict with their children."

"I managed to free myself from the shambles and release myself from the confinement. It liberated me. My first break out. My fragile mind had only one thought at that time.. I wanted to do what the boys would usually do. I stepped out of my village and that was the biggest mistake of my life."

"Why?"

"On my way to reach Bradyn I never realized that I was being followed. I stopped my strides to pick up an unusually decorated red stone when I heard the earth shattering growl. It brought chills to my spine. I turned around and there it was. A big ferocious lion."

Garrick's eyes flew wide. It was a dangerous world they lived in. More so it was never easy for the humans who belonged to the lower grade of the food chain. "Was he a shifter?"

Fayette nodded "He looked hungry and his predatory eyes were robbing me of my confidence. It was like I was seeing death face to face. He ran towards me and I stood there still; frozen due to the immense fear. Unable to comprehend what I should do. I was scared for my life"

"You survived."

A small bead of water escaped through Fayette's eyes "It was Callan. I don't know how or when but he stood between me and the lion. He halted the animals strides with a small dagger. He was scared too but I was more scared than him. Without thinking about himself Callan jumped on the big animal. It was all defense. I took my opportunity and hid behind a rock. I was watching how the boy was trying to dodge the lions attacks." Fayette sniveled. Her nostalgic mind was rewinding the scenario in front of her as if it had happened just yesterday.

"I realized one thing at the moment" She turned to look at the beta "In a zest to save my life Callan had taken my place! He was tired and out of breath. His body was oozing blood and soon he was about to pass out but he looked at a frightened me and he stood up again. He didn't give up. Before the matter got out of hand, my father came in with reinforcements. The lion was killed eventually."

Garrick scowled in confusion "So you owe the human your life?"

"You still don't understand, do you?" Fayette snorted derisively "Everything changed between the both of us from that day. It was an unestablished bond. He was my savior. His act was selfless. He didn't mean anything to me back then yet he saved me by putting his own life in danger. Have you ever imagined that if it hadn't been for that human than you would've never had a mate in the first place? I would've been dead long ago."

"Don't say that."

Fayette could see the worry in Garrick's eyes. His features were calm but his heart was broken and Fayette could sense it. She awkwardly smiled at him and changed the subject "I know you blame Callan for your parents death. That's wrong."

Garrick exhaled a long breath and turned away his face "He was responsible."

"Had your father died saving the mother of Einar, would you have said the same thing?"

"That's different. It would have been an honor to die while trying to save the Luna."

"Then your father died with honor. He saved your future alpha's mate."

Garrick gritted his teeth "They don't belong together."

"And we do?"

Garrick was speechless for a moment. The comparison seemed unfair to him. Moreover he was unable to understand why the lady could not comprehend a simple fact that the men were going against the laws of nature. He looked with conformity at his mate "We are different from them."

"Because we belong to different genders and we can reproduce. That's what you want to say?"

The growing anger in Fayette was making Garrick anxious but he had to try and make her see reason "It is more complicated than that. Einar is the alpha. He needs an heir to carry on his blood line. Whereas Ashton is a male, a non shifter. No one would be acceptive of them. They will make the pack unhappy."

"And what about their happiness?"

"Einar is an alpha first."

"What about Callan?"

"What about him?"

"Doesn't he deserve a chance to be with Einar; with his mate"

Garrick shook his head firmly "He doesn't."

"Why is that?"

He abruptly stood from his place in anger "Because he is cursed!"

Fayette giggled at Garrick's foolishness "He is more than that."

"Your are blinded and so you would never see the truth."

"And what truth is that?"

Garrick's temperament was refusing to hold the barrier. He tried hard to be normal but seeing his mate defending Callan was making him angry. "Why are we even talking about him? Its between you and me. Why cant you give me a chance?"

Fayette slowly stood from her place and faced the wolf with defiance "For the past several years you have knowingly unknowingly tortured my friend. You have hurt him time and again with your words; with your actions. He didn't say anything because he felt responsible for your parents death which he was not. Even after so much you've put him through, he still thinks good about you."

"No he doesn't."

Fayette scowled her eyes a bit more as she shook her head in disagreement "I have never liked you for how you treated him. Yet he is the one, who still comes up to me to tell me how good of a person you are. How you would love me through eternity. He wants me to be paired with you because he thinks I cannot get a better husband than you."

"That cant be true." Garrick shook his head in disbelief.

"He has high regards for you. Time and again you are breaking the connection of love between Einar and Callan. Your not just hurting my friend but you are hurting your friend as well. You cant bear to see the rejection in my eyes. Have you ever imagined what it must be like for those two! Your meddling in the way of your goddess. You cant see them together because you don't have a good heart."

It was a big blow. It was clear that Fayette did not see him in a good light and that was breaking his heart. Garrick kneeled in front of the woman and pleaded with his crying eyes. "Please don't say that. I promise to love you forever. I will give you all the happiness in the world. I can fight anyone for you. Just please don't leave me."

Garrick held Fayette's hand in his and looked at her with hope. At this moment he was vulnerable. He didn't care if he was seen as weak or selfish. It was happiness he desired whose roots led to the person in front of him.

Fayette pulled her hand back in a jiffy "You are pathetic!" she scoffed "You are trying to woo me when you are separating two loving souls! How can I be happy knowing that Callan is not happy? How can I accept the man who is hurting my friend?"

Garrick's lips moved but he couldn't utter a word. His lips shivered while he bit them to compose himself. The answer was evident. Garrick was a wolf first, he was forced to see the best of his pack. For him Callan was a person who could bring the downfall of the pack. He couldn't force himself to like him. The defiant human would always protect her friend as he would protect Einar.

Garrick sighed in defeat and slowly raised his body. He sniveled and looked at the lady with silent weeping.

"I am glad we talked." Fayette took a pregnant pause as she braved herself "This will be the last time we ever do that. I can never accept you. However if you still have some shame left in you, please don't come in between Einar and Callan. Please.."

The lady picked her bag and gave the wolf an apologetic look before retrieving her steps to march towards her destination. All this while Garrick stood there stunned; lost in his own thoughts. Watching the only hope in his life diminishing away at a distance.

****

The muscular man seemed puzzled. He looked at the man he loved in disbelief and a bit surprise. After a few more gasps, Einar's smile turned into an astonished laugh "I don't think that's a good idea."

"It doesn't hurt to try." Callan shrugged with a smug look on his face "Moreover it will establish the fact once and for all that I am stronger."

"I never said you were weak."

"But you said I have limitations."

"That was completely another context."

"Stop blabbering and get on my back."

Callan squatted his legs and gestured Einar to get on his back. Though it was a simple task to do the muscular man wasn't in favor of doing it. "Are you sure? I am heavy."