Claimed

Chapter 2: Task at hand

CHAPTER TWO:

TASK AT HAND

[THIRD PERSON’S POINT OF VIEW]

    HENDRIX IVANSHOV FROWNED upon hearing the screams from upstairs, already knowing the problem that will follow suit. He didn't see this one problem coming, never had he thought that there would be something in relating to this that could endanger his need to be with his mate. The idea of finally having his mate indulged the man too much that he didn't think of all the possible things that could happen. When he thought that Valir would be his best enemy to having his mate - he must have miscalculated.

    He never thought that the mother would be the most unbearable problem. 

    It seems like no matter how on board Valir was with the plan; his wife was another force to be reckoned with. As much as he wanted to explain things to her, he knows that he doesn't have enough time to do so. Hendrix knew that something was of the essence at the very moment, and that is the safety of his mate.

    "It's getting late," he all but says, looking at his clock and feeling the surrounding of the forest behind him.     

    As he was on neutral land, one that doesn't belong to any Alpha - any rogues can just pass through the forest whenever they like. No one can kick them out as this forest belonged to no one. That could mean that he couldn't just claim his mate to have everyone back off.

    His mate needed all the help she could get from him.

    And he'll be more than glad to offer a little help or two. 

    His beast was raging from inside, fighting his human self for control. He wanted to be left out, enraged - to shift and find his own mate. Kill whoever tried to touch her and hunt anyone who dares to even think of being near her. To be able to finally see his mate only to receive news a couple of moments later about her being in trouble doesn't sit well with the beast. The wolf inside him wanted nothing more than to be exposed. He wanted to hunt whoever dared to whipped his mate away from them.

    He was restless and worried about his mate that he acted in haste, contacting his best men to locate anyone that’s leaving the estate. Hendrix was too frantic about the situation that it slipped his mind that he had contacted his best assassins and not his usual trackers.

    It was too much for him to think about his mate being outside at this time of night. Today was a full moon, which means that this night would highlight every power that any paranormal has—which then says that she is in the mercy of anyone that can find her attractive.

    That could only mean that every f*****g werewolf, vampire or any paranormal has every means to do anything to her and fragile little body couldn't even say no. She couldn't scream or let her scent trail. It would take months or years before he could see her again. 

    f**k, he couldn't help but curse in his mind. The way his mind morphed into something that he didn't like didn't do him any good. Picturing his mate defenseless and in pain was enough to make him growl. 

    He wouldn't let anything near her.

    Not now.

    Not ever.

    He will kill anyone who dares to touch her.

    “Alpha Hendrix, I have to apologize on behalf of my wife,” Valir started upon running to where the man was.

    Unlike the fear that was usual to Hendrix, he almost smiled to see that Valir was worried about Savanna rather than fearful towards the man before him. That was a good thing and he was more than glad that his mate's father was worried about her wellbeing rather than his. Most fathers that had faced Hendrix looked like they were ready to offer their offsprings just to have a shot in life. They are nothing put pitiful men, one who shouldn't have been blessed by such wonderful children.

    Hendrix internally thanked Valir, knowing full well that his mate had lived a wonderful childhood having a caring father like Valir.

    “It seems like my wife decided to put things into her own hands. Do not fret. I will fix her mess.”

    “You will not touch my daughter!”

    Hendrix followed the screeching woman on top of the stairs, her face morphed in nothing but anger and violence that he couldn't help but be frightened to how his mate had lived through her care. A frown settled in his lips, seeing little similarities between the mother and his mate. Unlike Valir, who has the features of his mate, the female seemed like nothing like her daughter.

    Except for the thick black hair.

    If he didn't know better, the woman looked like a distant family rather than his mate's mother. The woman seemed fierce and unwell; her tears and anger were consuming her mind and Hendrix knew better than not to touch a woman who was enraged. Not that he was scared—heavens, it was the complete opposite.

    The wolf inside of him was restless. He was angry at the woman who was keeping their mate out of his grasp. He has been deprived of a mate for seven years, and he wouldn't let anyone to get in between him and his mate. To think that the one trying to separate them was his mate's mother was f*****g irritating. 

    Much to his annoyance, Hendrix knew that killing his mate’s mother is out of the discussion. His beast, however, didn't see anything wrong with the context. The animal was full of rage that the obvious doesn't make sense to him.

    “Sylvia,” Valir sighed, carefully instructing someone to take her to her room so she wouldn't sputter nonsense into the man who can possibly hold her life in a thin thread, “Stay in your daughter’s room and cry to your decisions. I got this mess to clean up, thanks to your impulsiveness.”

    "No! Don't you f*****g dare, Valir! Stop! Don't touch me! That monster doesn't have the right to take my daughter away from me!" Sylvia pushed others out of his way, but their strength didn’t match hers, causing her to get dragged back, “Don’t you dare, Valir! He can't have her! He should stay away from her!”

    The wolf inside him wanted to shift. It wanted nothing but to cause destruction and end the person who was getting in between him and his mate. Full moon only increased his wolf's anger, wanting to let out and feast on the cause of his agony. 

    Hendrix, however, was strong enough to block out the wolf out of his mind. He didn't even need to say anything upon seeing how distressed Valir was. It was enough to make him realize that the man was affected by her words.

    The human part of Hendrix understood what was going on. 

    No hunter would be more than willing to hand their daughter to the kind of "animals" that they hunt for a living. To him, it was still a surprise that someone like Valir - who is supposed to be the leader of the hunters who go in the name "Haunted" was willing to listen to his side of the story.

    Hendrix was more than surprised that a hunter was willing to listen to the man who speaks that he was to get his mate out of the care of this household. It still didn't cross his mind that there would be hunters who would oppose to something like this - but he didn't think that it would be his mate's mother. 

    Then again, he understand her completely. 

    Besides, it was only a couple of minutes ago when the man before him was also finding a lot of conflicts of handing his daughter to the dangerous wolf of the generation. It was only when he finally realized and understood everything that Hendrix stand for, that is the moment when Valir was more than sure than Hendrix ever did.

    Valir wanted nothing more than to let Hendrix take care of his daughter.

    It was because he knew that no one else in the world has the power to keep Savanna safe. In the brisk of every single paranormal hunting him and his family - he needs all the help that he could get to keep his daughter safe. And as of right now - no one, can offer that. No one, other than Hendrix himself. He is the only man who would stand in the way of the bullet for his daughter, Savanna, and would do everything in his power to keep her safe. And unlike Valir's aging body, Hendrix was much stronger than he ever was. 

    Maybe even much more when he was still a warrior for his father. 

    “I have to apologize for her, Alpha. She has been acting rather strangely ever since Savanna has been born. I usually let her be, but I now realized the error in my moves,” Valir sighed before ushering a butler into their direction, “See to it that I will have the name of every driver’s license that gets in and out of the estate. Hurry and be sure it hand it to me in less than five minutes.”

    The butler nodded, bowing at them in respect, “Of course, sir. I will hand them in a second.”

    "As soon as you can, Steven." 

    He then nodded, showing his respect, "As you wish, Sir Valir." 

    "Why is that necessary?" Hendrix asked with a frown, looking at the descending figure of the butler who seemed to be dashing on his way to wherever he needed to be. Looking at the man who was reading some files, he couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure we're not wasting time here?"

    "No, I am sure that this is quite necessary for this to be fixed as easily as we could. We will find whoever has her in no time," Valir replied sternly.

    He sat in his office chair, his hands were quick on the computer as he checked every security cameras placed in every exit of the estate. No matter how many times he had refreshed the tab, every single thing was disconnected. Only his office door and the sights inside the house that Savanna didn't go through was the only one available to see.

    A sigh escaped through his lips upon noticing that just what he had predicted, Sylvia had done the most dangerous thing she could have ever done. She had blind the tapes to ensure that Savanna would disappear in their sight. His wife had chosen a dangerous path to have her plan going, never really thinking what could have happened if they had been ambushed.

    Making their tapes blind would mean that other people could have conducted something without them knowing, and no other people would be notified but those who attacked them. He wouldn't be surprised if someone had already infiltrated his mansion without him knowing. Even with this surveillance on for almost 24 hours, there had always been someone who had to outsmart the device and infiltrated his house.

    This is why they continued to move out every time he realized that something is wrong.

    Sylvia took that risk just so she could whip his daughter out of the house. 

    "The tapes are tampered?" Hendrix asked, confused at how some tapes were nothing but static.

    He sighed, "Maybe, for now, I am not sure if all of these are my wife's doing or something else tampered on it. She didn't know what dangers she would have brought us." 

    "What was she thinking?" Hendrix all but asked. 

    "That is not to my knowledge. She had always done things that made me question what goes through her mind, but she told me the same thing - it was for our daughter's safety." 

    Hendrix looked at the tapes very closely and see that most tapes are available but on one spot that he had gone through to get to this office. Slowly pointing on it, Valir did nothing but zoomed on it. The last tape was when he went through the door and into his room. After that was done, his wife followed soon after and must have listened through the door. 

    "She looked through the camera," Hendrix all but noticed. The wife did nothing but walk out of the frame and not a second later - everything went into static. No other recorded was to be replayed. 

    "That's my wife's doing," Valir replied before closing the tabs, "Do not fret, Alpha. I placed tons of security precautions for my daughter. A lot of those are out of my wife's knowledge."

    A smile slipped in Hendrix's lips upon hearing the man's words. Valir seemed like someone who knows a lot of things about security, making him curious about the scenario placed upon him. Their kind had feared the Haute family aka the "Haunted" for generations.

    Unlike the usual greasy older men who were strict and stupid, Hendrix found himself surprised to see a gentle father who only cared about his family. He didn't let the fact that Hendrix was a wolf to cast hunters into his direction. Instead, Valir welcomed the man with open arms. 

    Something was odd here, and Hendrix couldn't pinpoint what.

    "Why are you hiding, Valir?"

    The man stilled, facing the Alpha with a serious expression printed in his face, "Unfortunately that is something I couldn't tell yet. Rest assured, I do not intend to fight with your kind anymore. All you need to focus on is keeping my daughter safe, while we try to mend things to where they used to be."

    "You wouldn't have to worry about that. Her safety is my number one priority," Hendrix replied.

    Valir smiled, nodding at the brooding man, "I know that. I couldn't thank you enough for coming to such a great time, Hendrix. I am glad that my daughter has someone like you."

    "We're on the same page, old man."

    Valir chuckled, shaking his head in nothing but comfort to the man. 

    In a way, he now sees Hendrix as someone who is bound to be his daughter's wife. 

    He was already nothing but accepting of his daughter's fate. Besides, he couldn't even ask for someone better than Hendrix to be with his daughter. 

    Even with they are supposed to be having nothing but a "resentment" for one another, the two bonded like son and father. Something so precious was appreciated by Hendrix, as it had been years since he had experienced something related to father bond - he was more than pleased that his mate's father was nothing but good. It was only when the butler called them did they stopped talking and faced the problem at hand.

    Just like he was instructed, Steven was quick to hand out the copy of the license that was confiscated upon entering the estate. Everything was in their proper order of time so it was quick to determine what vehicle and who was in charge of handling his daughter. It was a precaution that Valir implemented when his father was murdered in their very home and they have little to no evidence as to who could do such a thing. It always keeps his mind at ease upon knowing that he will have every record of every person that was inside his estate. 

    "Here it is," Valir announced, showing a license to the Alpha, "He has my daughter."

    Hendrix looked at the picture before frowning, seeking if he knows the person presented to him. However, due to the poor copy, he wasn't quite sure of the face. All he had was a name and the type of vehicle that was addressed to the man. The man was licensed to have a small car that can only carry a load of food from the estate and nowhere does Savanna can fit in such a small space. 

    "How can you be sure that he is who we seek?" Hendrix asked with a frown.

    "The scheduled delivery was yesterday. The driver couldn't be back this soon when he just delivered yesterday. Besides, he was the only one who had access in and out of the estate after you have arrived." 

    A smile slipped into Hendrix upon realizing what the man has just said, nodding at him in understanding to his assessment. The man was nothing but precise in his works. Valir was good at how he handle and analyzes things. Furthermore, he knows everything that runs inside his estate. 

    That is one thing that Hendrix can respect for it always take a lot of toll on people in knowing everything that happens in his own land.

    He should know was he was an Alpha - that was a part of his job.

    Furthermore, Valir was quick to have found things. It only took him seconds to identify the car and the driver that had taken his mate away from him. 

    “You’re good,” Hendrix commented before dialing someone into his phone. While it rings, he took the chance to cast some advice to the father of his mate, “I got it from here. I will have her soon, be sure not to let your wife know that I have her. I would hate to have conflict in our way, Mr. Haute.”

    Valir nodded in confirmation, understanding the intensity of his words, “As do I, Mr. Ivanshov. I trust you with my daughter’s safety. Please keep her happiness glowing and never let her out of her sight. That is the only thing that I ask of you.”

    “I will take care of her, do not worry.”

    Hendrix left the estate while calling his people on the other line, handing them the license and the man who was behind the wheels. While he was walking out of the estate, he did nothing but grin upon getting a familiar ring from his people. Looking back at his clock, he was nothing but proud. 

    It didn't even take more than five minutes before he received a confirmation that his mate was secured, even telling him that the exact time they are to arrive in the place of meeting. Just like how Mr. Haute was able to handle his problem, Hendrix managed his issue with ease.

    “Where to, Alpha?” ask his driver with a solemn tone. 

    A smile slipped onto his lips, “We're heading home.”

    FIVE HOURS SEEMED too long for Hendrix as his anxiousness to meet his mate in person was eating him alive. He had only seen her from a distance, but he was already nothing more but captivated to her charms. The female was a beauty, he already knows that. Her curly black hair flows through the wind, as her lips were set into this mesmerizing smile that he wouldn't get tired of looking at. 

    Aside from that, her smell. 

    It was one thing he couldn't cast out of his head. For years that he had search for a smell foreign from others, he was almost stunned upon realizing the smell that engulfed his nose. It was unlike any other, and he wanted nothing more than to smell her for hours. She smelled so little of her scent but it was enough to keep him nothing but high. 

    The glint in her eyes was something he couldn't wait but to see in actual, seeing her eyes mold every emotion that she could utter. How would she look if she was happy? What if she was angry or sad? Even it was weird, he was waiting to see every side of his mate. For years, he had wondered how the sparks feel when you touch your mate or how someone’s heart would flutter just by thinking about them.

    Hendrix has been denied the beauty of having a mate at the age of 18. 

    He admits that by only seeing a glimpse of his mate was something that kept him undone, all his mind could think of was her. The way her smile compliments her face, he couldn't wait to see her smile in his direction or to flash a smile because of him. 

    She was his.

    He finally has her.

    After seven years, he finally has a mate.

    “We’re here, Alpha," announced the man who was driving the car. 

    He didn’t need another word from his driver, uttering a fast thank you before getting out of the vehicle. The man moved fast, immediately dashed out of his car and walking straight into the car of his men. Unlike his luxurious vehicle that he used to bring around at every meeting, his men who usually carry his dangerous mission was carrying a pickup truck that was build to be driven in the woods. 

    They bowed upon seeing him, calling him in his title.

    “Where is she?” Hendrix replied to their respect, looking at the back of their car but frowned upon not seeing a glimpse of a woman. His wolf, who was already on the edge, has already a ton of bad ideas driven into his head, "Did you lose her? Don't tell me you f*****g lost her or you will both lose your head." 

    Ashton, who was the head assassin ushered to the back door, confused about the way their Alpha was speaking to them. The man should know better than his assassins might be a lot of things - but losing a bounty was never a thing that they had done, “She is asleep, Alpha. We would never lose the target.”

    That seemed to calm him down, finally knowing that she was lying on the back hence finding it hard for him to get a glimpse of her. He couldn't stop the frown that settled into his lips upon knowing that he couldn't see her eyes anymore. The way her face would morph into nothing but sort of emotions upon seeing him. 

    Hendrix, however, nodded in understanding. 

    To his mate's defense, it was already 4 am by now. It is evident that she will be out like a light during a time like this. Hendrix has already heard from Valir that even at the age of 21, Savanna needed her time of sleep like a little kid. No matter where she was, rest was a necessity to Savanna. 

    He didn't really mind for he has all the time in the world to look at her eyes. 

    “I have just been informed that the plane is ready, Alpha,” Red mentioned upon dropping the call that he answered. His eyes searched for the female before offering his help, “Should I carry the female to the plane, Alpha?”

    A snarl escaped his lips, looking at the man before him, “It’s Luna to you, Red. You will not f*****g touch her.”

    Both of the men before him froze, not registering the words that were released from their Alpha's mouth. Their eyes followed the sleeping woman who was inside the car, never once comprehending what their leader had uttered. They were already used with the Alpha snapping at every single wolf during the full moon as it intensifies his wolf into anger by having no mate beside him. 

    Looking back at their Alpha who has his eyes almost shifted into his wolf, they were all nothing but confused. While it was true that the Alpha would always snap when he was in a bad mood - never had they seen him very protective of another female other than his sister. 

    It almost seemed foreign to see him jealous by now. 

    While little snarls were escaping from Hendrix, his men only showed a smile. 

    "Luna?" Red started, looking at the female while blinking as if he was thinking if this was nothing but a part of his dream. 

    “Have you finally found her, Alpha?” Ashton uttered, smiling at the thought. 

    Red then finally grinned, passing a smile of his own, “We finally have a Luna? f**k yes! It's about f*****g time!”

    Hendrix only walked past them, dismissing his wolf completely. 

    Upon opening the car door, he was welcomed by a sleeping form of his mate. She was a beauty, that is for sure. He has heard how gentle Savanna is, and he wonders how someone like her would react to what will be offered to her. Carefully leaning down, Hendrix couldn't stop the smile from escaping his lips upon having to face the woman who was destined to be his. 

    His mate.

    His luna.

    His Savanna.

    “I consider myself lucky, my Luna. All the wait is worth it,” he whispered before pressing a soft kiss on her forehead, smiling at the feeling of sparks flowing between them, “I will treasure you to the best of my ability.”

    Savanna only shifted in response, but he was more than ecstatic than ever. Upon seeing the frown that settled into her face, Hendrix could finally see that uncomfortable position that she was in. The car can barely keep her body to rest well, and he doubts that the seats could offer her comfort at all. Ever so carefully, he lifted the female into his arms and stilled.

    In his hands was his mate who was lighter than his usual weights. The female must have weighted too little for him to feel like he was carrying nothing but air - or maybe, he was way too tough on his weights. Either way, this female is nothing but light. He needed to fix that, so he should learn cooking. 

    Hmm, maybe. 

    Savanna was shifting into his arms, seemingly looking for a comfortable position to sleep in. He didn’t interfere with her plans as he only stays still for her to relax. He didn't meddle with her movements, not once interfering to how she wanted to sleep into. It was only when she finally has her comfortable place, that was the only time that Hendrix started to walk towards his plane.

    “I can’t believe we finally have our Luna,” Ashton beamed upon looking at Savanna with a twinkle in his eyes. Not only does Hendrix glad that he had found her, but everyone in the pack will be at ease knowing that they finally have a Luna, “You must be ecstatic, Alpha. She’s a beauty. Makes you realize that good thing does come to those who wait.”

    Hendrix looked at him carefully, not letting his wolf to control him for once. It was easy enough to do this though, knowing that Savanna was in their arms and with a slight movement, he can wake her up from her deep slumber. His wolf was also purring at the scent of their mate, so he wasn't at all worried that his wolf would be livid enough to care that someone was complimenting his mate. 

    It was intoxicating.

    She was f*****g perfection.

    There had been times where he had wanted nothing more than to pray for the moon goddess to bring his mate to his arms. He wanted nothing more than to ask her if he was mateless but seeing now, the woman who belonged in his arms - he was more than thankful that she was given to him in a right time. No matter what happens, it was right to never judge the time of the moon goddess.

    “You’re lucky you’re three years younger than she or I have kicked you out of the plane, Ashton.”

    Laughter bubbled up from both of his assassin’s lips, founding his demeanor nothing but amusing. Due to him finding his mate quite recently, he is nothing but understanding of his Alpha's position quite perfectly. It was normal for newly founded mates to act so possessively of their mates. 

    However, he never has seen someone of his Alpha's kind to act when they first find their mates. Since he was nothing but possessive in nature, they are all nothing but questioning if he would be a lot possessive than most - or would be someone who needed to adjust for his mate was a human. 

    Whatever the case must be, the result must be nothing but amusing. 

    Everyone in Hendrix’s pack has found their mate upon reaching the age of 18, no one was an exception. For 18 was the natural age for a wolf to find their mates. No other wolf in his pack had experienced the same thing - and he had to bless every couple that goes in his way. Even his sister found her mate earlier than him. 

    All wolf in the pack knows that he was grieving and sad. 

    Furthermore, heat is terrible for those who don't have mates. But never did their Alpha tried to be with other females who were mateless. All of those times that he was in heat, he made his beta to lock him in the dungeon with silver chains to his body to keep him nothing but defenseless to his own cardinal desires. 

    Even his wolf was nothing but approval of this plan - as he wanted no other woman to touch but his. Others had tried to win the Alpha but no one was successful. Well, not until now. It was clear to everyone that Hendrix wanted no one else but his mate.

    He had endured years to get to her - and he will create havoc if she was taken from him, that was for sure. 

    Hendrix was an Alpha, bound to lead a pack and create heirs that would be a great warrior in their kind. It was in his fate to find his mate by the day he turned 18. And when he didn't, let's just say that it became quite a problem. It was a massive worry for the pack that he was now 25 and still, no Luna was guiding him.

    Now, he finally has one.

    “But she’s human,” Red mumbled, frowning, “How long do you think she’ll be comfortable with our kind, Alpha?”

    Hendrix only touched a fraction of Savanna’s cheeks, “However long she wants, Red. She’s mine; she can take all the time in the world. The only thing that matters here is that she’s here.”