Claimed by a Stranger

Chapter Five

My day mostly consisted of crying, but today I have to put on a fake smile, I will have to be strong.

I stared out the window, hoping something would happen. I didn’t want to be in school today. Again, I had to cover up what Samuel did to me. I stink of perfume nowadays it seems, lucky me.

“You okay?” Jason whispered.

“No,” I groaned. The only way for me to get out of being mated with Samuel was for him to die. I cannot allow anyone to kill him, even if he did cross the line. It’s just wrong and selfish even though he did claim me.

“We’ll be home before you know it,” Jason smiled at me. Usually, whenever Jason smiles, I smile. Not this time, I can’t even think of any upsides about today.

Dad left me to figure this all out and I depend on him a lot. He was supposed to help me when I was in need. Wasn’t that what it says in child care books? Do they not teach that anymore? Help your child when she was completely lost, like I currently was.

Jason slung his arm over my shoulder and said, “Cheer up. I hate it when you’re sad.”

“How can I be happy with my situation?”

“Could be worse,” he spoke quietly.

I hate talking about personal problems at school. Mostly everyone was a werewolf and since I am the Alpha, people tend to want dirt on you. They think they can boss us around whenever they know a secret.

“We should talk later about this, to figure it out,” I said and Jason sighed.

“Figure what out? Are you two finally dating?” asked Amanda, she was the pack gossip and was the most annoying person in the pack.

“No, we are just friends,” Jason and I said in unison.

“Whatever. I know your keeping secrets. I will figure out what you’re hiding,” she growled. I’m not sure there was person I disliked more than her.

“Whatever Amanda” I said. I thought my day couldn’t get any worse. Now I have Amanda prying in my personal life.

“I will find out,” Amanda’s high-pitched voice rang out as we walked away from her.

“I don’t know what to do,” I groaned. School was finally over and we went to my house. I was glad my dad and sister were out. I wonder where Kade ran off too. I haven’t seen him since Samuel attacked me.

“You can’t be with him. He is Samuel Redding,” Jason said when we made it to my room. “Also, there is a warrant out for him.”

“I don’t know him.” I shrugged. The conversation already wearing me out and we hadn’t evens started. Yawning I sat on my bed. My body ached and my eyes felt heavy.

“Jason, I need to speak with her alone,” dad said as he stood in the doorway. I guess he wasn’t out.

“Yes sir,” Jason said giving me a smile before he left.

“Savannah.” dad sighed before sang, “I understand it was wrong of me to abandon you in your time of need, I shouldn’t have.”

“Dad, don’t apologize. It is my fault. I knew there were rogues, I knew I shouldn’t have been alone, and I was way too close to the edge of the forest.” He smiled at me.

“What do you want to do about Samuel?” he asked.

“I don’t know. He is my mate, but I don’t like him.” It was mostly true. I didn’t like him and he didn’t have permission and maybe if he had talked, we could have been friends or more than that. I couldn’t help but feeling that was a fantasy thought. “Did you tell mum?” I asked.

He shook his head and said, “If you would like, we will do our best to keep him out of our borders. If he crosses and we catch him, we are in our right to end his life.”

Taking a deep breath I stood and walked over to the window. They replaced the broken glass. The window and frame were whiter than the other windows. I used to love sitting and staring out my bow window, but now I never made time for it.

“I don’t think he should be killed,” I said turning to face dad. “I know it means I will never re-mate. I don’t think he is our problem to deal with, well, your problem.”

Father furrowed his brow. “Death of a mate means you can re-mate,” he said.

“No, I don’t want him killed. I don’t think killing other wolves, even if they trespass, is fair.” Often, this idea would be viewed as weak. And if the pack views me as weak, I would be glad to accept their challenge.

“You cannot spare every rogue,” dad said. “I will decide what to do if he trespasses again.”

I rubbed my eyes. Was this my father I see in front of me? Am I hearing things? Dad was always the first to spare the lives of others.

“You need time to think about the possibilities. We will talk later,” he said as he walked over to me. “I love you and I won’t decide anything until we talk more. But don’t forget about who he is. The Senate may not be as kind as me.” He kissed my head and walked out.

“Hey Sav, I am needed home. We will talk later, okay?” Jason said through our mind link. It took practice to block everyone out, but I had a hard time keeping Jason out. As soon as we were done talking, I would block my mind link again. The pack doesn’t know about the problem at hand.

“Okay, thanks for all your help,” I replied.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow.” I blocked everyone out again.

I don’t want to talk later. I don’t want to do anything. I wish there were easier ways to get out of things. Samuel was a problem, but he was my mate, whether or not I agree.

Kade popped back into my mind, the brother I haven’t heard from in three days. I hope he’s okay. I hate when he runs away, he always drags his mate with him. I left my room and walked down the hall into his room. The scents in his room were stale.

“Kade!” I called to him, through our mind link. The movies often force wolves to only be able to communicate through wolf form, but we can talk in human and wolf form.

“I was wondering when you would remember me,” he said chuckling

“Where on earth have you been?”

“Okay ‘mum,’ I have been at Jesses’ house. Dad and I are not good.”

“I miss you, you should come home now.”

He laughed, “I will see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Sounds good. I have a lot to tell you and you missed a lot these past three days.”

“Okay, you’ll have to catch me up. I love you and I will see you tomorrow.”

“Love you too.” Once again I blocked everyone out. Kade and I were always close when we were little and now we are even closer. He was fifteen, three years younger than I am. Kade and my dad never really got along. My mum said it was because they were too much alike, but I think it’s because Kade never backs down, even from dad, the scary Alpha, but even I don’t back down and I get along with my dad. Maybe it’s just Kade. I suppose their relation got worse when Kade got mated to a human. Dad doesn’t really like humans and they “taint” the bloodline.

I will not kill Samuel because he claimed me and I hate to admit it, but he was my mate. I don’t have to accept him. I will just have to be mate less forever or possibly marry a human. No I can’t do that. Dad hates humans, he thinks they’re weak, which there are, but I have some human friends and they are trustworthy when you meet the right ones. Now maybe I can get a good night’s sleep.

Yawning I left Kade’s room and went back to mine. It was already late and my bones ached more than this morning. I changed and slipped under the covers.

“Savannah, sweetie,” a soft voice said. “Savannah” her voice hardened.

“Yeah,” I grumbled.

“Good, you’re awake.” Was that mum? I thought she was at the south end pack making alliances’ with them.

“Mum?”

“Yes.”

“Am I dreaming?”

She chuckled, “No, I’m back for now sweetie.”

I smiled before sitting up. Mum was kneeling on the floor looking down at me. Not sure how I ended up on the floor. I hugged her and said, “You were gone for too long.”

“Your father told me what happened,” she paused.

This sounds like we are going to “talk” later.

“We will have to discuss this later,” she said. I was right.

I got to my feet and glanced over at my end table, it was three in the morning.

“You were having a nightmare,” she said. I nodded before she kissed my forehead and left my room.

Nightmare? I don’t even remember it. I smiled and crawled back in bed. Mum was finally home, Kade was coming home today, and I will be discussing things later. The first two may make the last one tolerable.