Fighting Fate (Runaway Angel book 3)

Wolfy Claim

**Amelia's POV**

I haven't studied much for finals. I really didn't need to, somehow I never struggled in my studies. I even hardly paid attention in class because once I learned something, it stayed with me easily. Roman had been trying to 'tutor' me, but lets be honest, even though he is a senior and I am a sophomore, I am so much smarter than him. Technically I didn't even need to take the finals, my grades were excellent and I would still pass with an A if I ditched, but my parents would kill me. Plus, I still haven't decided if I wanted to go to college so the test scores would surely help. 

Roman is taking me shopping today to get anything I want for the trip. Really the only thing I need is a new swim suit. I outgrew the one from last summer. My breasts were getting bigger, and I felt weird about it. I know the other male wolves have noticed so I try to wear baggy clothes to not gain any extra attention. Its already bad enough that even in baggy sweat pants you can still see I have a pretty big butt. Roman has already beat up majority of the guys that look at me the wrong way. He says that the other males mind link each other a lot about what they would do with me if they had the chance. I think he over exaggerates, but the last time I told him that he had to go on a run for over six hours to calm his wolf.

I have yet to meet his wolf, Ares. Roman says that Ares wants to claim me already even though I have not accepted him as my mate. My dad said that a mate has to be accepted, a forced claim is painful and the bond is not as strong. So for now, I can't meet his wolf until Ares understands that I'm not ready. Plus, my dad would murder Roman for completing the mating bond before I was at least eighteen and married. Something about my virtue being protected.

I once tried to talk to Roman about the dreams I had of going to a human college somewhere out of state, somewhere I can feel normal and not worry about my destiny that had been decided for me. Of course, he freaked out. Saying that he would never let me go somewhere alone and unprotected. At first I believed he was just worried that I would be around other guys, but after finding out that there is another Alpha trying to kidnap me, I know he was just worried for my safety. I, however, still haven't put that dream aside. I want to live my life how I want, so if I decide to become the Luna, its because I wanted to and not because I was forced.

I'm still laying In bed, constantly overthinking and over analyzing. I have always been that way though. I like having a plan, knowing what I want to do even a week ahead. I look at the time and see it almost nine in the morning. Roman said we would be leaving around ten so I guess I need to get up and get dressed and eat something. He has a fit when I don't eat. About a year ago, Roman found diet pills in my medicine cabinet when he was looking for my Midol. They were some I found on the internet that make you sick after you eat so you don't gain any weight. I begged him not to tell my parents and he didn't, but he lectured me for a full three hours about a healthy diet and exercise was safer and that I was beautiful the way I was. However, he helped me learn a few work outs to tone, but not be overly skinny. He loved the way I was, but I felt huge compared to the fit she-wolves I see walking around all day.

Finally, I am done self wallowing and get up to have a quick shower. Madison and Brandon are gone on a training camp with our cousins. They do this once a month, and usually they invite me to go. I went one time and never went again. They mind link a lot and it always makes me feel out of place. I know they don't mean to, but sometimes I feel like they are talking about me. They're all wolves so they have so much more to talk about with each other than me. I think they only invite me out of pity.

After I finish with my shower, I go into my closet to find what to wear. It's rather warm outside so I pick some regular light denim shorts, a white muscle crop top, and my white converse. I head to the vanity Madison and I share. I brush and tie my long hair into a high pony tail, letting a few of my baby hairs loose to frame my face. I apply some mascara, a little blush, and lip gloss. I grab my phone and head down stairs. I run into one of the pack warriors who is coming up the stairs. 

"Amelia, looking good as ever." He smiles as he eyes me up and down. I should have just wore jeans and a turtleneck. They always look at me in a weird way and it makes my skin crawl and my chest tighten.

"Marcus." I nod and try to move around him. 

He blocks my way and continues to look at my slightly exposed belly. He reaches his hand up and trails his finger along my waist. I flinch away and slap his hand, but he only laughs. "Don't act like you don't like it. I see the way you walk around here. Swaying your hips, dressing to show off this sexy body."

I feel like I'm going to be sick. I don't walk any kind of way, and I definitely show less than any of the other girls around. Marcus is in the same grade as Roman. They used to play with each other when they were younger, but when Marcus called me some foul names, Roman beat him up and they never talked again. I always knew he was a creep. He tried to touch me again, but this time he was yanked away from me. 

"Touch her again, and I'll rip your whole f*****g arm off." Roman growled. He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him. "I could hear your heart. Are you okay?" I nodded, unable to find my voice.

"Roman, always coming to the rescue for the pathetic human." Marcus laughed. "How was your date last week with Tiana? I hear you both had a great night." He winked and walked away. 

I looked at Roman confused but he just shook his head and lead me downstairs. He made me sit on the barstool in front of the island while he made me an omelet. I wasn't really hungry. The incident with Marcus made me lose my appetite, and then hearing about Roman going out with Tiana just made me sick. Even though he can do whatever he wants, did it have to be Tiana? She's also in Roman's grade and has been following him around like a lost puppy since he was fifteen. She hates me of course, but I avoid her at all cost. 

Roman sets the plate in front of me with a glass of orange juice, but I push it away. "I lost my appetite." I look down at my clothes again. My shorts aren't that bad. They cover my butt completely and are high waisted, so my belly button isn't even showing. My shirt doesn't show any cleavage and it reaches just above my waist. I only have about an inch of my abdomen showing, so I don't know what Marcus meant by I dress a certain way. "Maybe I should go change." I whisper. 

Every time something like this happens I crawl back into my shell. I don't know why the guys here are so perverted, and I definitely don't know why they take such a disgusting interest in me. I have seen girls my age and older dress so much worse and yet they aren't hit on like I am. 

Roman comes around the island and lifts my chin up with his finger. "Even though I do not like the way other guys look at you, it isn't your fault. You could walk around in a bikini and they should still respect you. No one asks to be groped or looked at like a piece of meat. You are such a naturally beautiful person. Don't ever feel like you have to change the way you look or dress because some pervert doesn't know how to act." He gave me a hug and a kiss on my forehead. "You ARE beautiful." 

I smiled up at him shyly. Its moments like this I wish I loved him the way he loved me. I hope one day my feelings for him will grow. He is such a great person, and a sweetheart. I just don't want to be with him because he is the right choice, but because I truly love him and want to be with him. 

Roman stares into my eyes, and then at my lips. I see his eyes changing. I know his wolf is fighting him for control. Fighting to claim me. His hands cup my face and his thumbs stroke my cheeks. His grip tightens a little as his hands move from my face to my shoulders, down my arms, and then rests on my waist. 

"Roman?" I whisper. Lightly placing my hands to rest on his forearms. 

His eyes snap to mine and I see his eyes. They look like they are almost glowing. Not Roman. Ares. His eyes look at my lips again, and he squeezes my waist. I moan a little. Not form pleasure, but from discomfort. His hold on me is getting a little too strong, and if he tightens his grip any more then I might bruise. 

"Ares," I whisper. His eyes snap to mine and his breathing quickens. "You're hurting me." 

Immediately his grip loosens and he leans his head down to rest in my shoulder. He trails his nose from my shoulder, up to the crook of me neck, to behind me ear, and back down again. My hands tighten on his forearms, unsure of what to do. I know he would never hurt me, but I am still unsure of how I feel so this is more awkward than anything. 

"I want you, mate." He groans. "I want to claim you, and let everyone know you are MINE." My heart begins to race and I know he can hear it. He takes a deep breath and inhales me scent. "But I will wait. I'll wait forever for you." 

He kisses me softly in the curve of my neck, where the mate mark is supposed to go. I shudder at the contact and finally his hands fall from my waist. I look up and his eyes are back to normal, but he looks like he is in so much pain. 

"I'm so sorry." He whispers. "I tried to keep him from taking control, but I looked at your lips and imagined kissing you. He took advantage of me being off guard." He wouldn't look up at me he was so disappointed in himself. "I'll never let him gain control again, I swear."

I didn't know what to say. I know it wasn't his fault. My mom told me that it is hard for a man to control his wolf around their mate. Even though Roman and I aren't mated, his wolf knowing all these years that I am his is making it harder and harder to control. I'm still only fifteen. Can he control his wolf another three years? The encounter with Ares wasn't all bad. I wasn't scared, just felt really vulnerable. 

"Roman, it isn't your fault." He wouldn't look up. "Hey, look." I cupped his face and made him look at me. "Ares didn't hurt me. He didn't do anything." 

Roman smiled slightly, but then frowned. He leaned forward and smelled me. "He scented you." He shook his head. 

"Scented me?" Now there is something that I haven't heard before. 

"When there is an unmated female, a wolf scents her to smell like him so other wolves will know not to come around her." He shrugged his shoulders. "I guess he just wanted to make sure other males knew you weren't available. It's another way of claiming you without actually claiming you. Of course he isn't supposed to scent you without your permission so I'm sorry."

I thought about what he said. Claiming me so other males would stay away. "Maybe that isn't such a bad idea." I whispered to myself, but Roman heard me. 

"What do you mean?" He tilted his head to the side. 

"I hate when the guys around here corner me or approach me and talk to me all pervy. You hate it when they do that too. What if Ares does that wolfy claim so they stay away?" I explained. It would keep him and his wolf calm, and it would give me my space. Win-win.

Sadly Roman shook his head. "No, it isn't a good idea."

"Why not?" I groaned. I just wanted to walk around here without guys making me uncomfortable, and without Roman getting all crazy. 

He took a deep breath and sat in the barstool next to me. "When you smell like me, it's kind of a turn on. As a wolf there is nothing better than our mates smelling like us. Knowing our claim is there. Ares would be harder to control if he got tired of only half claiming you."

"Or maybe he would be easier to control because the claim is there. It would also give him time with me so he wouldn't be fighting you so much." I countered. I know its a risk, but I would rather try then keep dealing with having situations like what happened with Marcus. 

"How about I go out on a run and talk with him about it after we get back?" Roman said as he stood up and took my hands in his, making me stand. "We still have some shopping to do."

He lead me outside and onto the four wheeler. We could take a car, we have a garage full of selections, but this was both of our favorite way to travel. I wrapped my arms around his and we drove off in the direction of town. I can't wait to get back, I hope Ares and Roman can work something out.