Claimed by a Stranger

Chapter Eleven

“You missed,” Jason roared with laughter.

“Whatever,” Kade grumbled.

Kade was the best bowler in our family. He never lost a game, but against Jason, who truly sucks at bowling, he was losing and Jason was loving it.

“I’m winning,” Jason sang.

“I am letting you win,” Kade said.

“I’m sure you are, not.”

“Jason, stop before he goes wolf on you,” I growled.

“Fine. You’re no fun. You always let him do it to us.” Jason crossed his arms.

“It’s different. We are good sports.” Lily and I both laughed at my comment.

“I hate you guys,” Kade said before adding, “Not Lily though.” Of course not Lily.

“Aww, we know you love us,” I said.

“No. Not right now,” Kade said crossing his arms.

“We can’t help being awesome,” I said.

“And funny,” Jason added.

“Fine. Maybe if you were to apologize, I might consider forgiving you,” Kade said, his arms still folded across his chest.

“Okay. I love you Kade. Will you please consider forgiving me?” I asked smiling wide.

He nodded. “I forgive you Savannah, only because you are my sister.”

We all burst with laughter. The people around us to glanced over and furrowed their brows. This was a much-needed break. They could give me all the dirty looks they wanted.

“Oh. Hello Savannah and others,” Amanda said. I hate her. A severe, burning, intense loathing of this woman.

“Hi,” I said without looking over at her. I was having much needed family time and didn’t need her ruining it.

“Hello, Savannah. I was talking to you,” Amanda said, her voice hard.

“Amanda. What do you want?” I growled.

“Rude much” You’re one to talk.

“Do you have anything important to say?” I asked, my lips in a straight line.

“I thought Alpha’s are supposed to be nice when being told information.”

I rolled my eyes. Give me a break Amanda.

“I thought you were supposed to be respectful to Alpha’s,” I said as I turned to face her. Her face dropped. “Amanda, what “Information” do you have for me?”

She hesitated a moment before continuing, “Real mature. Anyway.” she cleared her throat, “I heard that Rogue’s are coming here to get your family. Apparently the Rogues have some sort of thing against your father.”

“Where did you get that information?” If she was lying, she will get it.

“I was in the woods and happened to see a sandy coloured rogue talking. I was alone, so I didn’t attack them, but I already told your father.”

I hope that’s not my sandy coloured wolf, I mean Samuel.

“Okay, thanks,” I said.

“No problem. Just thought you should know.”

“I better get home,” I said stepping toward the door. “You too Kade”

“Fine,” he groaned. “Come on, Lily.”

“Dad,” I yelled, once I was inside the house.

“Office,” he said.

“Is it true about the rogues?” I asked, while Lily, Kade, and Jason stepped in behind me. He was leaning on the back of his desk, across from my mother, who was seated in his large leather chairs.

“I’m afraid so. Jason, please, this is family business,” dad said taking a deep breath.

“Yes, sir.” Jason nodded as he left.

Did he just classify Lily as family? Maybe he was trying. Usually he would say something about how” humans have no place in werewolf business.”

“They want to get to me, meaning they will start with people close to me.” He took my mums hand into his. “We need to have our guard up. I will speak to everyone else after this.”

“Do we know who the rogues are?” I asked. It couldn’t be Samuel.

“No. As far as we know, they have a grudge with me.” He stood up and asked, “Where is Hannah?”

I forgot about her.

“She and Jack Hallings went for a run. I told them to bring guards.”

“Very well. We need to her home and safe. Which area of the woods did they go for a run in?”

“I’m not sure” I should know this stuff, I should have asked. Aaron would have asked.

“We need to find her. If the rogues are in our woods everyone, is in danger.”

“Sir, we have found Hannah and Jack they are safe,” David said as he stepped into dad’s office.

Everyone sighed.

“Good. Bring her here,” dad said.

It wasn’t long before Hannah joined us in the office.

“David, where is Lucas?” Dad asked. Lucas was our Beta. He was hurt in a fight a few days ago, but he should be better by now. Wolves heal twice the speed of humans .

“He’s on his way,” David replied. I always thought David should have been Beta.

Silence fell over us as we waited for Lucas to arrive. Hannah sat next to mother and fidgeted with the end of her white t-shirt. Kade stepped forward to stand next to me and Lily was holding his hand on the other side of him.

“Hannah, you need to stay out of the woods,” dad said, breaking the silence.

“Okay, dad. Why?” she asked.

“Rogues. I will explain things to you later.” Which was his way of saying, ‘go away, you’re too young to know’.

She nodded before getting up and slipping out of the room. Was she feeling okay? Hannah doesn’t often accept that for an answer. The Livington’s were feisty, certainly not ones to lie down and accept the hand we’re dealt.

“Savannah, make sure she stays out of the woods.”

“Okay, I will,” I said.

“Erik,” Lucas said. About time he showed up. Lucas was the only person who calls dad by his first name. “What’s going on? The pack is beginning to stir.”

“Hey, Savannah,” his son Damon said. I hate him. He thinks he was so much better than everyone because he was big, strong, and girls fawn all over him.

“Hey,” I said without looking at him.

Lucas and Damon looked a lot alike. Both tall, strong, had dark coloured hair, same blue eyes, their features were identical. Both had a square jawline, high cheekbones, and annoyingly easy to listen to voices.

“Come with me. Savannah stay,” dad said as he left with Lucas and mum. Why do I have to stay? I am future Alpha. This was probably Lucas’ fault, he never wanted me to be future Alpha. He wanted Damon to be next on line; he was also fine with Aaron being next in line. He’s never said it, but I know he thinks I will make a weak Alpha.

Damon snickered and I my arm whipped out and smacked him on the shoulder. He grunted before clearing his throat, as if it didn’t hurt. Pretentious jerk.

“How are you supposed to be ‘future Alpha’ if you can’t stand in with his meetings” Damon sneered.

“Be quiet,” Kade growled. He hates Damon too. Damon doesn’t like how Lily wasn’t a werewolf, just like my father. I don’t get it. Sometimes I feel like my dad would rather have Damon as Alpha.

“Make me,” Damon smirked.

“Don’t temp me,” Kade said.

“Enough,” I shouted using my commanding voice. “You are so immature. Grow up Damon.”

Damon looked away from me. It’s hard not to know who was next in line. Hiding his face to pretend he was unaffected, how male.

“Kade, you should probably leave.” I didn’t want to tell him too, but the last thing we needed was Damon goading him too far.

“No. I’m fine. I won’t let him get to me.”

“This isn’t some game. There are Rogue’s who plan on attacking us. I expect you both to behave,” I said crossing my arms.

“Okay, I will do my best Savannah,” Kade said, nodding, which was to spite Damon.

“Yes, mother,” Damon said with a half-smile.

“Not now, Damon this is serious,” I growled.

“We can easily take out some rogues. Our pack is strong enough.”

“Our pack. No this isn’t our pack. This is my parents and my pack,” I said. “And they are a threat, no matter how big or small they are.” I raised my hand to silence him before continuing, “What if they have gathered hundreds of rogues, what then Damon? My pack was strong, just not that strong.” If the rogues have a grudge against my father, that most likely means he knows who they were.

“My dad’s Beta,” he said and added, “And we can get help from other packs.”

“It’s not that easy. We would have to warn them before hand and even if we did it doesn’t mean they will help us.”

He crossed his large arms and said no more.

Our parents stepped out of their private meeting room a few minutes later. That room was sound proof, which was the latest instalment in the house.

“We have just received word that Grant has been attacked. The rogues that attacked him have already fled,” dad said. “They are getting closer.” His voice was soft as he spoke, which means he’s worried. If he was worried we all need to be worried. I hadn’t noticed before, but he had dark bags under his eyes. Dads brown eyes look worn, this must be the father I see when his guard was down.

“How long have you known about this?” Damon asked.

“A few weeks now,” my dad replied. “It became worse when Amanda Sandal saw them in the woods. We have been trying to work out how we will get rid of them without alarming the pack.”

How come I wasn’t told any of this?

“If they continue to get closer .to our borders, not only will our pack members be in danger, but also the humans”

“The humans shouldn’t even be here. This place used to be strictly wolf territory,” Lucas said.

“Enough Lucas. We can’t change the past,” dad said.

“No, Erik, but we can change the future. If you’re so worried about the humans, make them leave.” He paused, “If this turns into a battle, the humans will most likely get killed. Not all of them, but they will also see what we are.”

“We will have to evacuate if this gets any worse. If we do get rid of the rogues, we will not get rid of the humans,” dad said.

“Think about it. We won’t have to hide anymore, everyone will be safer.”

I hate him. Lucas was such a jerk. Not every werewolf mates with another werewolf. Look at Kade for example.

“No, Lucas, drop it. We are not forcing the humans to leave. Do not bring it up again,” dad growled.

Lucas raised his hands and said, “Okay”

“You’re dads a jerk,” Damon whispered.

“Back off,” I growled at him. “Don’t forget whose father is Alpha.”

“What did I do?” he shrugged his shoulders. “Someday mine may be,” he whispered with a smile.

“Don’t play your dumb games with me,” I said. How dare he speak like that. My stomach twisted, if I could slap his face, I would.

“Damon, Savannah, enough. Damon, if you wish to disrespect me further, I suggest you leave before I do something I regret,” dad said. About time someone told him off.

“Yes, sir. Sorry. It won’t happen again,” Damon said looking down.

“It better not,” He shot Damon a warning glance, “Lucas, if you continue to fight with me, I will reconsider your position in the pack.”

Yikes. Dad just threatened to replace Lucas, didn’t see that coming. Go Lucas, fight with him some more.

“Yes. Erik,” Lucas said nodding. “Come, Damon. We are done for now.”

The two turned and left. If they had their tails out they would be between their legs.

“I am sorry, Savannah. I have been meaning to tell you, but we haven’t been getting along very well,” dad said.

“Don’t apologize. It wasn’t all you fault,” I said even though it kind of was.

“No. It was I shouldn’t have acted that way.” Dad was required to show others that tough exterior, but he was just a big old softy.

“I forgive you.” I looked over at Kade and Lily, who were still holding hands. “I would like to speak to dad alone please”

They nodded and left.

“Dad, I want you to consider forgiving Samuel his past crimes.”

“Savannah.”

“No, please hear me out.”

“Okay, carry on.”

“He may have a bad past.” Which I don’t know about, “but he is probably a good person. Please re-consider forgiving him, even if you have to put him to work to undo his damage. He needs to repay, but not with his life.”

“I understand he is your mate and I will think about it.” He sat at his desk and looked over at mum. “But it isn’t just up to us, the Senate must also deal with his crimes. I can only do so much,” he said. “I may be able to convince them to allow us to deal with him, but I cannot guarantee his safety.”

I nodded and said, “I noticed you didn’t bash Lily. I’m proud of you.”

“I am learning to accept her, but it will take time for me.” He was actually being reasonable.

“Thank you,” I smiled at him and left

“Savannah,” mother’s soft voice filled the hallway.

“Yes,” I said.

“I know you have a hard time understanding him, but it is how his father raised him. His father was strict and ruthless.” She took my hands and added, “Please give him grace. Undoing years of learning doesn’t happen overnight.”

“I know. I am glad he’s trying,” I said smiling at her.

She hugged me before we exchanged goodnights, then I up the stairs and to bed.