Claimed by a Stranger

Chapter Six

School again. Taking a deep breath, I smiled. I pushed the main door open and entered the cold building. They ran the AC year round because most of the people who attending this high school were werewolves and we hardly feel the cold.

“Hey, how did everything go with your father?” Jason asked, slinging his arm over my shoulder.

“Awful. We didn’t get anywhere,” I said.

“Oh. What happened?”

“He mentioned killing him if he crosses our border again.”

“Your father? That’s uncharacteristic.” I looked at him he was smiling.

“Don’t tell me you like the idea.”

“I never said I did.”

I poked his ribs, “jerk.”

“Hey, he needs to learn he can’t come and go claiming girls as he pleases.”

“He doesn’t. It was just me,” I said.

“Says you,” he muttered.

“Says you, who?” Amanda asked.

“Go away,” I said growling.

“Seriously, Amanda, get a life.” Jason glared at her.

“I have a life,” she said crossing her arms..

“A life that doesn’t involve me harassing me and listening to our conversations. Is there really nothing better for you to do with your time?” I rolled my eyes.

Her mouth fell open. “That was rude. I have a life apart from you. I don’t even need you.”

“Sure, whatever,” I said grabbing Jason’s hand and walked past Amanda. “I have no patience for her right now.” Being kind to her took most of my strength. I’d love to kick her to the curb, but that’s frowned upon.

“Understandable, I am sick of her too.”

Lunch time, finally, I am so sick of school already. Thank God it’s my senior year.

“Savannah,” Amanda sang. “I know your secret,” she said sliding onto the bench beside me.

“Okay, I’ll bite. What is it?” I asked poking at the vegetable on my plate.

“So, you know Samuel Redding, right?”

I stiffened before shrugging. “Who?” I asked.

“What? You know him, I know you know him,” she furrowed her brow.

“Does he go to our school?”

“No. I know you know him,” she growled. “He was an Alpha’s son.”

“Samuel Redding,” I said it a couple of times. “Oh, that Samuel Redding. Yeah his father lost a fight with another Alpha and then he was never heard from again. That is the Samuel Redding you’re talking about, right?” I am smooth. I deserve props for that.

“Ugh. You’re so annoying,” she said.

“Yeah, you’re one to talk.”

She growled again before getting up and walking away with her friends.

Jason started laughing. “What a snot. I would hate to be the one mated to her.”

Mates, that topic was depressing. How did she know about Samuel Redding? There was no way Jason told her. I suppose he was wanted, but no one, aside from Jason and I, keep up with pack politics.

School was over and it was about time. Anymore and I would have screamed.

“Have you seen or heard from Samuel since your dad last talked to him?” Jason asked.

“No,” I said. He smiled. “Jason, I just kind of want to be alone today to sort things out.”

“Okay I understand. Call me if you need anything.”

I nodded.

“Talk to you later,” he said before he kissed my head. I waved before heading toward home.

Hopefully Kade will be home. I really want to talk to him. Home. The large white house came into view.

“You never understand,” I heard Kade yell. It hasn’t been twenty-four hours and they’re fighting already.

“It’s not me that needs to understand. Look at yourself and your girlfriend,” dad shouted back. Oh no.

“Stop it. There is nothing wrong with her,” I’m sure the whole town could hear the two of them.

“Just look at her. She is going to taint the bloodline,” he growled.

“It’s too late. I claimed her. She’s mine,” Kade said

Shaking my head, I ran toward home. Kade stepped outside and walked toward the road.

“Knock it off,” I shouted.

“Not now Savannah,” dad snapped. I did my best to ignore his command.

“No dad, you need to get over this. You can’t change it so get used to it.” I was so sick of everyone yelling.

“You are not the Alpha. Look at the position you’re in,” he said before his eyes widened.

I know I am pathetic excuse for a future Alpha. Tears streamed my face and a growl rumbled through my chest. He knows how venerable I am now.

“Erik, knock it off,” mother said.

“I’m sorry, Savannah,” dad said.

I get we have anger issues, but that was unnecessary. I am so sick of this, I wiped away my tears.

“No, dad. Not this time. I am sick of Kade having to leave because of you. I want my brother and his girlfriend. I love them both very much.” I paused raising my hand to them before continuing, “Aaron left. Lily is human, two facts you have to get over. She will never be a pure werewolf, and no, I will never compare to Aaron. But I thought you were there for me, I need your support. If you’re not going to help me, stay out of my way,” I growled.

“I shouldn’t have Savannah. I was angry. There is a lot going on with the pack, rogues, and my family. I’m sorry. The weight of Alpha is not a light load.” He rubbed his temples.

I had a hard time finding sympathy for him; if he allowed me to shoulder some of the responsibilities maybe it would be easier. Too bad I’m not Aaron. Dad hasn’t been the same since he left.

“If you’re going to keep acting like this, make someone else the future Alpha,” I said before turning and walking down the side of the house, toward the woods. Anywhere but home was where I needed to be. I heard Kade’s footsteps behind me.

“Are you okay Sav?” Kade asked before grabbing my arm and pulling me into a hug. He may be younger, but he was much bigger than I am.

“I hate my life,” I said into his chest.

“I know how you feel.” He paused before asking, “What was dad talking about? What situation are you in?”

I pushed out of his hug and headed into the woods. We walked in silence for a few minutes before we came across our broken down tree fort. The ladder was still intact and I tugged on it to make sure it would hold us. I climbed up and opened the slanted door before stepping inside. The wood was covered in mossy green foliage and our small plastic chairs were still here.

“I don’t think those chairs are going to hold my weight,” Kade said with a half smile. He grabbed his blue chair and slowly sat down. The chair creaked, but didn’t break.

I said across from him and looked down.

“Spill.”

It took forever to get to the end of the story. Halfway through Kade’s eyes would darken and I’d have to calm him down before continuing. I knew Kade was an emotion over mind guy, but I didn’t realize how much he cared.

“You know everything now. You good?” I asked.

“Yup,” he said, his hands in a ball.

“Do you remember Samuel Redding?” I asked.

“I don’t.” He sighed. “Was he the one Aaron always hung out with?”

I nodded. Aaron and Samuel were pretty close back in the day, but we were never allowed to hangout with them. When they got older Samuel stopped coming around.

“I can’t believe he claimed you,” Kade said, his voice low. His eyes darkened.

“Calm down,” I swatted his arm.

“He’s a monster,” he growled.

“Anyway. I don’t know what to do. It’s bad enough that I don’t know him, but the Senate wants him,” I said. “Dad said he would kill him if he crosses our border again, but I can’t let him do that.”

He nodded. We were a lot alike.

“Dad has been going crazy the last few days.”

“Yeah I know. I hate the fact how he can’t accept Lily for the wonderful person she is,” he said They were so cute together.

“He needs to let go of the past. Aaron is gone and he isn’t coming back,” I said chanigng the subject.

“I know you don’t believe that.”

“It doesn’t matter what I believe. I wish he could be here instead of me. He wasn’t a screw up.”

“You’re not a screw up. Life just sucks.”

I nodded clasping my hands together. The smell of wet wood filled my nose.

“Lily is waiting for me,” he said standing. “You should rest. You’re starting to get dads bags.”

“You’re a jerk,” I said chuckling. I stood and stepped out of the fort before climbing down the ladder. Kade jumped off the fort and landed beside me with a thud. “Thanks, Kade.”

“Anytime Sav,” he said hugging me. “I know you’ll work it out. You always do.”

“Don’t let Lily wait forever,” I said before turning and walking toward the house. Kade was gone. Probably halfway to Lily’s house by now.