Claimed

Chapter 7: Palace Wolves

CHAPTER SEVEN:

PALACE WOLVES

[THIRD PERSON’S POINT OF VIEW]

    HENDRIX FELT IT before he could even heard it. He and his men were all ready to head back to the pack house when he felt something eerie, giving the man to step back in hopes of looking for something that might connote that the place has people surrounding it. Never had he felt something like it—seemingly like an intuition or some sort. A part of him wanted nothing more than to be cautious, wanting to be near to his mate.

    Just by the very thought of her made him frown—there was something wrong with his wolf and new to experience, he wasn’t sure what he should do.

    His wolf was relentless as if it was cautious of something.

    He doesn’t know what it was, however.

    That very thing is driving him crazy.

    There was something inside the palace that his wolf wanted to dash out there and run for something. The urge was too strong that he was fighting hard to regain his form and even the need to control his wolf. It wanted nothing more than to snap into control, wanting to shift before the eyes of his men. For the first time in years, he was finding it very hard to control his wolf. The task was excruciating, but he found a way to alleviate his wolf. It wasn’t the time for his wolf to take control of his body—but it was hard to contain it back to its shell.

    Especially now.

    The wolf has found his mate. He will become territorial and wanted nothing more than to have more time with his mate. Hendrix knew that their mate would probably the only reason why he’ll find it hard to control his wolf—and even if it was safe to keep him released with her presence, he still wasn’t sure to what she feels about wolves.

    She still wasn’t conditioned to tame a Lycan Alpha if needed.

    “Alpha, are you okay?” asked one warrior, noticing the distress in their Alpha’s face.

    His eyes only stay rooted in the pack house, looking for any signs of damage happening before it. No other warriors in the pack house was aware of any trouble so that was slowly helping him calm down. Upon finding none, did he only offer a response, “I am not sure, my wolf is getting restless.”

    “Should I alert the warriors?” Jordan asked, worried.

    Hendrix holds out his hand when he felt like his wolf wanted to jump out into control. With little to no effort, he then heard a little voice from inside the pack house. With just a small concentration and little to no noise, he had heard it now.

    It was loud and clear.

    There in the pack house was filled with the scream of his mate, echoing inside the pack house—seeking for his help. She was screaming his name with urgency and it was enough to make his body work in such a haste.

    Not having full control of his body, he dashed through the walls of his house to look for a specific woman. The noise had stopped, so there was nothing other than her scent that serves as his anchor to the whereabouts of his mate. It was hard to look for Savanna as her scent was all around the palace, signifying that she had her mini-tour in the castle. When another scream bubbled in her lips, that’s when Hendrix knew what was happening.

    She found her room.

    s**t.

    He just talked to everyone about this.

    Everyone—but her.

    “Savanna,”

    His voice cut the tension between the human and the wolf, grabbing both of the female’s attention. Hendrix was sure that with the name that escaped in her lips, the wolf no longer see her as a threat—still, she was curious as to who the woman was. Savanna, on the other hand, was looking at him in full horror; her body possibly couldn’t even move due to the surprise.

    The wolf, however, was angry about how the man managed to hid something so big and why she wasn’t announced with such news. It was his fault for not calling the attention of every single one in the pack meeting.

    The wolf thought that Savanna was dangerous; it was only when she screamed their Alpha's aid did the wolf realized that the woman was an ally—and maybe more than an ally. A loud growl escaped through the wolf, eliciting another scream from Savanna. That only single move made Hendrix shot a look from the wolf, disbelief at how she was acting.

    “Savanna, hey,” he called upon reaching the female, “It’s okay, you’re okay.”

    As soon as he was in arm's length, she was quick to dash her hands to the man and hide behind his body. The fear of being eaten alive at the very second didn't sit well with her. Even if it was her dream to meet a wolf in person, she now believed that being seen as nothing but food isn’t all fun and games.

She whispered, “There’s a wolf in here! It growled at me. It could have killed me.”

    “I know, I apologize for not telling you about her,” he chuckled, looking back at his whimpering woman, “You don’t have to worry about her, tesoro. She won’t bite you.”

    “Is that the one looking for me?” Savanna responded with eyes as wide as they could be.

    He only chuckled, shaking his head at how wild her brain could travel, “No, she was just scared. The wolf just didn’t know who you are so it thought you were a threat.” 

    “She was scared?” Savanna asked with disbelief, “She could kill me in a blink of—wait, she?”

    Savanna stopped her rant upon gazing at the wolf, which was now sitting in front of them. The atmosphere was far different from what it was a couple of seconds ago. Gone were the feral wolf and now sits what seems like a very obedient wolf that was now only gazing up to them while talking. It would seem like the wolf was very careful on her moves—seemingly scared that it would spook Savanna.

    Her heart melted with what she saw, but she made sure to look at the man beside her. Instead of checking of the wolf, it seemed to put all his focus on her. A smile slipped in her lips upon feeling as if the wolf was really nice to be even near to. It has always been a part of her dream to have a friend wolf—so it was making her ecstatic. The way Hendrix addressed the wolf makes her realize that he knows that there is a wolf in here. Unlike before, the predatory eyes of the old wolf were long gone. It was like the wolf was tamed, which was a surprise for her.

    “You have a pet wolf,” she concluded.

    It took a lot for the wolf not to growl at the use of her words, deeply thinking who the woman was and what she was to misunderstand things. The audacity of having someone think that the wolf before them was a pet simply didn't sit well with the animal. Considering that it was their Luna, who seemed human, helped to ease the wolf not to react too harshly.

    The wolf was Princess Ivanshov, the sister of the Hendrix. She was just finished in her shifting when Luna found her. Her natural shifting would always make her wolf territorial—maybe it was the sign that she’s close to having pups. She could only hope that it does mean something close to that.

    “She is family, tesoro,” Hendrix’s rough voice waked Savanna, making her jolt before looking at the man. He could only grin, before offering his hand to the startled female, “Got bored inside the study? The place is much larger for you to explore by yourself. You should have called me.”

    Savanna blinked, never once minding the words that Hendrix uttered. All her mind could focus on was the wolf that's looking at them. Hendrix has a pet wolf, someone who she can actually touch and be friends with. He has a wolf—and he hides it from her! What could have happened if she didn't find this wolf? 

    “Tesoro?” Hendrix called out, worried.

    She only smiled, beaming at the man, “Can I touch her?”

    Hendrix was stunned, surprised by her approach towards the wolf. He thought that she was terrified of the wolf, and never wanted to be near his sister. It was his fear that was eating those thoughts—and here she, wanted to touch the same wolf that caused her fear?

    Due to her family’s history with paranormal, he was so sure that she would be terrified of his kind. It has been the top fear in his mind, thinking that she was brainwashed while being in the family that they deemed as “haunted” through years. Valir mentioned that his wife would tell Savanna stories from war with wolves. Stories like that will make a child quiver in fear with wolves. 

    With hesitant eyes, he says, “Aren’t you scared, tesoro?”

    “I always wanted to see a wolf up close,” she whispered, looking at the tamed wolf with happiness lingering in her golden eyes, “without you know, fearing for my own life. They are fascinating creatures and I always wanted to meet one.”

    “Really?” he asked, surprised to her words.

    A daughter of a hunted wanted to make friends with wolves—who would even think about that possibility? Valir had mentioned that Savanna has no involvement with hunters and she was nothing but a bright child with different views—but Hendrix didn’t know that she was different in this extent.

    She really was meant to be a Luna.

    Savanna only nodded, her eyes brightening at the thought of finally having her dream into reality, “Really, really! I really couldn't hold one before because my mother seemed extremely cautious around them and there really aren’t from the countless forest that we reside in, which was weird.”

    “Not if you knew what you parents can do,” he replied.

    She looked at him, not hearing his babble, “Hmm?”

    “Nothing, tesoro.”

    Hendrix only frowned at her words, knowing full well why her mother was wary of wolves—werewolves in particular. But he knew that the female has grudges with even the normal wolves, it would make a normal person question as to why. It was the kind that she always kills, wolves.

    Sylvia Haute was the one who is assigned to kill wolves, and she never really misses. As long as she has her eyes set on a particular wolf, she would go for a kill. It had been a story that been spread, Sylvia was only a replacement for her other ancestors who had the same job before.

        Even if Hendrix doesn't know Valir quite much, he knew that the man was someone that wouldn't kill some just because of some s**t reason. He could see the willingness of the man to make amends to his kind and was even nice enough to hand his daughter to the man who was for her. The man trusted people whom he feels comfortable—which gaves him the idea as to where his mate inherit most of her personality.

    Slyvia Haute, however, was fairly different from both Valir and Savanna. It was kind of weird to think that she was the mother of Savanna.

    “Hendrix,” a voice called upon him, jolting him into reality.

    “You can touch her, tesoro,” he nodded, moving out of her way to touch the female wolf.

    Instead of the usual fear that she had felt a moment earlier, it was now entirely different. Something inside her trust Hendrix—and that means that he wouldn’t let her hold the wolf if the very thing could kill her if she did. It helps to know that it wouldn't kill you to appreciate the beauty of the brown wolf before her. 

    She was safe.

    The wolf was large, much larger than what she always sees in pictures and zoo. Yes, there was one time that she had fled their mansion and rushed into the zoo—she only wanted to see one thing in particular. Wolves—then again, she wasn’t allowed to touch that very wolf.

    It was quite surreal how she can stand face to face to someone who was dubbed by a natural predator. With no one saying that she wasn’t allowed to touch them or be near them. A smile was automatic on her face, which was making Princess chuckle in the back of her mind.

    Their Luna was a lovely girl.

    “Hey, girl,” she called, offering the back of her hand so she wouldn't scare or aggravate the wolf, “Can I touch you? Would that be okay?”

    Grateful with their Luna’s manner, the wolf jumped in glee before moving closer to her. It was always in a wolf’s pride to be appeased by their leaders—even Princess, who was a leader herself, wanted to have this kind of bond with their Luna. Having the woman that they all needed seemingly amused and interested in wolves makes them all comfortable inside.

    “She’s beautiful, Hendrix,” she commented, smiling at the sight of the brown wolf.

    Hendrix only smiled, looking at the smiling girl before him. He always knew that a sight so beautiful like this would make him utterly speechless—but he just didn't realize that it will come to this extent of him being captivated by her very existence.

    Savanna has her hair fall to her shoulder and down to her waist. The female was sporting a smile that was making her face brighter than usual, a feature that he only heard from her father. The dimples in her cheeks highlight innocent, if not more.

    He now knows that he will do his best to keep her face glowing this way. 

    Her happiness highlights the beauty that she has.

    He could only nod his head, “You are, tesoro.”

    “Hmm?” She looked back at him, not hearing his words.

    “You’re beautiful, tesoro,” he repeated, looking at her dead in the eyes.

    There was something inside Savanna that stirred, not really knowing that she would hear something like that from the most beautiful man that she had seen. Her heart was beating so fast that she doesn’t know what to do, leaving only for her to look at the man with an expression that was foreign to her. Hendrix holds a power that makes her blood boils—in a good way. 

    Something about Hendrix’s eyes was dragging her into him, and she just couldn’t stop from following the pull that drags her.

    She jumped upon noticing that the wolf retracts herself from her hands. Casting her eyes away from the man, Savanna strutted back to the wolf to gain its attention. Princess could only laugh in her head, amused to see her brother frowning at their Luna. 

    He really is a baby at heart.

[SAVANNA HAUTE’S POV]

    THE LAKE IS beautiful. The very sight of it was enough to have someone awe in the place.

    Looking by my side, I could only offer a smile to the old lady who had been nothing but kind through the whole time that she was to spend with me. A part of me feels like she was a distant relative, the one piece that made me alive for only days that we were together.

    It would always seem like she always knew where the beautiful part of the forest is—which would make sense as she told me that she lived in the forest for her whole life, and traveling and finding beauty of nature had been her number one thing to do in this type of land. Day by day, she would always look to amaze the inside part of me.

    This woman made me love the forest more than I already did.

    “You really make the forest brighter than it should, I am proud,” she said, touching the clear waters that show the perfect reflection of the autumn leaves. The very sight of the clear water was beautiful—adding to that was even the beauty of the land of nature.

    A smile crept into my face, “That seems like a beautiful compliment. Thank you, grandma.”

    “You are always welcome, child.”

    She was urging me to be in some places now and it worries me to see her withering along with the season. It feels like she was aging through the day and every night, she would visit the forest on her own without even letting me know where she is headed. It makes me worry about her.

    The warm glow that she used to cast was far different now.

    She was aging—and it wasn’t even a full year yet. It seems like with a few days that I have stayed with her; she ages every single day. Grandma seemed to be losing a lot of things lately and I am worried about her wellbeing.

    Mother wasn’t though—she was seeing this as “karma” as she said.

    “Are you okay, grandma?” I asked with a frown.

    She nodded her head, “I have done what I was tasked to do. I will be gone soon, Savanna.”

    “Are you going to take me with you? You have beautiful places to visit.”

    “No, my child,” she frowned, tears formed to the corner of her eyes, “No matter how beautiful that place is, it isn’t you time to go there. Not now, my child.”

    “W-why not?” 

    She only looked back at me with a smile slipping into her lips. Even with her weakness, she had always shown admiration towards the person that I am now. She knows that she holds some responsibility to what I own, so she will do what is there to be needed. I will become the woman that she wanted me to be—and more.

    “Please, I need you to resist it.”

    I frowned at her words, confused, as I could be, “What is there to resist, grandma?”

    “I apologize for craving into my anger, sweet child. I was too emotional to think of others and it breaks my heart to put such stake in your direction,” she sobbed, grabbing me to her arms.

    There would come a time where her emotions would get to her—eat her apart. It would seem like grandma felt like she had done something that she shouldn’t do. I have never seen something bad happening to my life—maybe I was more cautious about the moon, but that was it.

    The way she would look at me, with her guilt that always suppresses her eyes didn’t sit well with me. The woman didn’t have anything bad to think of herself—through the whole time that we were together; she was nothing but a bright soul who offered me everything that she could—and more.

    She is torturing herself, and I do not know why.

    “Are you okay?” I whispered, worried about her.

    “I am so sorry, Savanna,” she continued to sob.

    With a smile, I patted her back, “It’s okay, grandma. You are wonderful.”

    Only her cries surround the forest, breaking my heart to her distress. There would be days that she will only cry and apologize to every single thing that she have done. She never tells me what she had done to me—all she does is ask me to resist it.

    Resist what, you ask? I am not sure. I could never be sure to what she wanted me to do. All she does is distract me, in her way it makes me resist it. Whatever it was—she was keen on making me forget me. It was like she wanted me to make sure to never remember her even saying that I needed to resist something.

    The pills that she made me take, what does it do?

    Does the pill help me to resist it?

    “Grandma, what do the pills do?”

    She froze, holding me back in her line of sight making me see the lining of fear in her eyes, “You remembered? Oh dear, I told you to resist! Oh no…”

    Grandma was now in full chaos, screaming and holding her head while she says words that I couldn’t understand. It seemed to be foreign, that was for sure. Instead of a calming times when she says them, it would feel like right now was nothing but rage. She began pacing back and forth, continuously saying words that don’t make sense. It was only when she looked back at me was when she stopped. Her eyes seem like it's seeing something that wasn't supposed to be there. 

    The fear became predominant as she backed away from me.

    “Savanna, you have to wake up now,” she said, scared at whatever was going inside her mind.

    “I am awake,” I answered, baffled.

    “No, listen to me child—”

    A scream rippled into my lips when someone stabbed her from behind, letting her blood to ooze from her body. The perpetrator was wearing a mask that seemed to look like nothing—like a pale face and nothing more. Her blood smeared flat into my face, making me feel the warmth of her scarlet blood. My body drops to the floor as I looked at the perpetrator behind her, seeing nothing but the evidence of my nightmare.

    Utter fear covered every inch of my body as it gazed onto me, a knife still instilled with its hands. The very knife holds one piece of evidence but my mind is too hazy to even focus on it. It seemed like a familiar face, but everything was becoming blurry to even think of who the person was.

    “I told you not to listen!” It screamed to me, showing me the knife which contained the blood of the old woman who it just stabbed—the old woman who served as my grandma for months. Anger and hate circled to the person before me, “Do you see what will happen if you just behaved and f*****g listen, Savanna?!”

    My scream was continuous as grandma holds the person who owns the knife, telling that person to stop whatever they wanted to say to me. Even with her body being frail due to the damage that she had received, her eyes followed mine with regret. Her mind was filled with the huge guilt to me that she was swallowed by it—even by her death being near.

    “Run, Savanna! Remember to resist it!”

    “No, Grandma! I have to—”

    Another scream rippled into my mouth as another knife sliced through grandma. It was enough to make someone like me run away in fear, knowing that the person will kill me next. Even with the exhaustion, I continue to run for my life.

    He will catch me.

    I will die.

    Oh, my heavens.

    “NOOO!” I screamed when someone tackled me, holding me immobile to the floor as their lips twisted into a grin that speaks nothing but horror into my eyes, “NOOOO!!!”

    “This will only last for a second," the voice seemed sadistic before the person laughed. This person seemed crazed and out of his own damn mind. Looking back at me, he moved the knife closer to my face, "Savanna, you poor thing. You listened to it, I almost believed that crazy woman that you’re healed.”

    My eyes shed tears, fearing for my life as I thrashed around the person. Continuously begging for my life, crying not to be stabbed and killed. I couldn’t help the screams to escape from my lips even if I lost my voice or my capacity to talk. 

    I will not die.

 .

 .

    “SAVANNA! WAKE UP!”

    I froze, opening my eyes to look at the familiar voice that called my name. Towering before me was Hendrix, who seemed panicked at something—or rather, someone. He was looking at me with fear flashed into his beautiful eyes, a sight that seemed to be foreign to his eyes. I could my hand holding onto him, hard as they should. My eyes moved around the surrounding and almost sobbed upon realizing that I was in my room.

    It was a nightmare. 

    Why did it seem so real? 

    Why does it seem like I could still feel grandma's blood on my face? 

    “Thank the f**k,” he muttered before grabbing me into his arms, making sure to have me settled into his warmth, “What happened to you, tesoro? You woke up everyone in the pack with your screams. Please don't do that ever again.”

    My hands automatically circled him, still shaken up about the dream that happened before my eyes. It seemed too vivid—and it was the same older woman who my mother was talking to.

    Was she killed?

    By whom?

    “What happened, tesoro?” He asked again, trying to retract himself away from me. When my hand tightens onto him, did he froze, whispering in my ears, “Is everything okay? What did you dream about?”

    “Is someone trying to kill me, Hendrix?” I asked with a sob.

    It seems like he wanted to look at me dead in the eyes, but I didn’t want that. Fear still creeps inside me, urging me not to detract from the man. My hands were like an iron grip on his hips, not letting him move away from me. He was like a reminder that I was safe, that no one will danger my life as long as I have in arms length. I trust in his words that he will do everything in his power to keep me safe.

    He was my own sense of security—which I haven’t felt in a long time.

    “Tesoro,” he called.

    “Someone was trying to kill me. He will kill me.”

    “Now that is where you are wrong,” he answered softly. His hands were coating my head as he lets me get comfortable to his side, “I will never have you in harms way, Savanna. You can count on me on that one.”

    “He almost killed me before.”

    Those words seemed to snap something off of him, as he was facing me in a snap of a second. His eyes were calculative, looking at me as if he wanted to make sure that he heard right. There was something in his eyes that speaks volume—whoever that person was, I was sure that it was the reason why I needed to run away from home.

    “What do you mean, Savanna?”

    “I saw him before when I was young. He was towering over me, holding a knife to my face.”

    “That’s just a dream,” he says with a frown.

    “He will kill me,” I sobbed, crying at the thought of that happening.

    Hendrix frowned at my cries, trying his best to wipe the tears flowing from my eyes but he couldn't even let them stop. His touch was warming my face, allowing me feel the ounce of sparks jolting into my body. True and behold, it's helping me to ease softly. 

    “He will never touch you, okay? I have tons of people ready to protect you at any cost. Not a single fiber of your body will be touched by anyone else,” he coated my worries while he wipes her tears which seemed all too constant.

    “I’m scared,” I muttered, shivering at the very thought of sleeping and having that same dream again.

    “Do you want me to stay here? I could watch you while you sleep.”

    My eyes searched for his, whimpering, “That wouldn’t be a problem?”

    He only smiled, shaking his head, “Not a problem at all, tesoro. Your safety is my priority.”

    “I would like that, please.”

    Hendrix nodded his head before grabbing his phone, ordering another person to bring his files into my room. Even if it would be uncomfortable for the man, I hope I have someone here to protect me. My father still does the same thing if I ever encounter nightmares.

    Hendrix is helping—a lot.

    “Here you go, Alpha,” one of his men voiced out, making me look at the man. He was looking at me with cautious eyes, his mouth seems like he wanted to say some things, but he doesn’t know how to utter them.

    Hendrix looked back at the man with a frown, “Everything okay, Jordan?”

    “Uhm,” he stammers, looking at me.

    “He’s wondering if you’re okay, Savanna,” he explains softly.

    My eyes grew wide, surprised at the reason why he was looking at me in that way. Immediately facing the man, I offered a small smile, “I’m quite okay. Thank you for your concern.”

    “As long as you’re alright, Luna,” he replied with a smile before looking at Hendrix, “I will alert the others as soon as I can, Alpha.”

    As soon as Jordan disappeared into the room, Hendrix took a place that looks like he was giving me space. The chair was in the far back of the room, and it didn’t make me at ease—not at all. I wanted him here because his touches were keeping me calm—him being away sparks something bad in my mind. He seemed too far to aid me. 

    “Is there anything wrong?” He asked, making me notice that he was looking at me with a frown. 

    I nodded, pointing at the distance between us with a frown etched on my face, “You’re way too far, Hendrix.”

    "Will you be comfortable having me near?" he asked.

    I frowned, "What do you mean? You will keep me safe, right?" 

    "Yes," he answered immediately. 

    "Then why would I feel uncomfortable having you near?" 

    Hendrix flashed a smile before nodding his head, mumbling a soft agreement to my words. It took him a couple of seconds before placing a chair near my bed. He has a folder in his hand which has a lot of paper inside it. 

    “I wouldn’t intrude?” I asked again, feeling apologetic.

    Hendrix shook his head, pushing my hair out of my face, “Not at all, tesoro. Take your rest; I will watch over you.”

    A smile slipped into my lips, looking at his gorgeous eyes. Understanding that Hendrix isn’t a threat made me feel comfortable towards the man. I still know that he is dangerous enough that he is ready to kill.

    However, knowing that he is in my side helps.

    “Thank you, Hendrix.”

    “Anytime, tesoro.”