Chapter 30
Clair -
My mind wander off into my own thoughts, I laugh to myself, and I daydream about teasing my brother Cameron. He is always so uptight, and, because of this, Cameron is always such a joy to tease.
After pulling up in front of the packhouse, I see a lot of pack members going in and out of the building, all lost in their own private conversations. After getting out of the car, Xander grabs my bag, and we walk into the packhouse. I smile and whisper into his ear, "You look so sexy with the luggage in your arms, your muscles pop out from everywhere." I bite his ear.
In the meantime, I am heading to see my brother first, Xander. Could you please bring those to my room for me? The last thing you want to see is what I do to my brother." I laugh.
Xander -
I laugh, Clair will never change, I love the fun loving Clair. I do not want to be the recipient of her prank. I could crown Clair the prank queen.
"Clair, I will await your return as I bite her ear right back. Plan nothing for a couple of hours, we have some negotiating to do in bed.”
Clair -
When I think I am done with Xander, I peck him on the lips and head to my brother's office. However, Xander twirl me around in a circle, bringing my lips closer to his lips, burying his tongue deep into the caverns of my mouth. There is a short period when I almost forget we are making out at the packhouse's entrance. "Xander," I groan, and push myself away from him.
While I ignore the stares, I am sure they are wondering if I am Xander's next big fling. To be honest, I cannot say that it doesn't make me mad, because it makes me extremely mad. I am going to visit my brother shortly.
The office door to my brother's office is open. This means he has some free time. While my brother is immersed in his paperwork, I slip my way in, tiptoeing around him. In silence, I sit on the couch, staring at Cameron. As I walk over to a side table, I grab the watering can that is on the table. It's amazing that Cameron has not noticed that I have entered the room. I walk behind Xander and water his head. Xander jump up so fast you would have thought his office is on fire.
I fall on the floor laughing, holding onto my stomach, Cameron always gives me the biggest laughs.
"Cameron, didn't you miss me?" I keep on laughing.
Suddenly, I hear Cameron growl, "Clair! If I could ground you to your room, I would! Do you even care that we worry about you? They kidnapped you, then you had to fight off rogues and then you just disappeared.
It has been about a month since you were last seen. Have you ever thought: "When are you going to grow up? “?”?
"Cameron, now, now. Is that anyway to speak to your future queen?”
Cameron -
"So, it is true, Prince Xander is your mate. Clair, why didn't you let us know?”
Clair -
"Remember the week before you ordered me to go to the ball, and told me if I had found my mate, the law stated I had to leave with my mate? You lectured Quote and Unquote it is the LAW. So, at the ball, when I realized Xander was my mate, I ran. I wasn't ready yet. That is when my twin who thought I was dead pulled up with the kidnappers. I jumped in because he looked exactly like me. Thus, my adventure began. I have had a great time. Anyway, I wasn't ready for the mating process then,”
Cameron -
"Are you ready now for the mating process? "
Clair -
I giggle, lifting my hair that Cameron could see my neck. Cameron looks in shock, and starts mind linking Mom, dad, my brothers.
Cameron -
"Clair, mom is going to be so mad. You are supposed to adhere to traditions, like having a mating ceremony. Did Xander force you to be mated?”
Clair -
"In all seriousness, Cameron, there isn't anybody in the world who can force me to do anything I don't want to do. Because of this, I know I drive you and the other twins crazy.”
"It is quite exciting, isn't it? It's quite exciting to find out that I have my twin now, isn't it? Oh, and Cameron, if this is regarding me being mated, I strongly advise that Xander is also down here; I have him in my room."
Cameron's mind links to an Omega to get the prince.
It is only a matter of time before all her brothers, along with their mates, start gathering into the meeting room that Cameron has moved everyone into. They are all staring at me as they all walk into the room. This meeting is going to be more of a lecture than a meeting, from what I can tell.
Xander comes walking into the room as usual with a straight face. At least until he sees me, and he smiles and winks as he comes to sit down, lifting me up and putting me on his lap. It is awkward as now the entire table is staring at us.
Once everyone is seated, I stand up, motioning Cameron to sit down; it is answers from me after all they need. I swallow as I look at all my family in the room. They look like vultures about to jump and eat their prey. Xander notices I am stressing and stands with me, rubbing my back.
I wave to my family around the table, catching up with little pleasantries, like why Beavis and Butthead were not in Italy? They state the Alpha sent them back and told them to go to Alpha's training. I chuckle inside; I can see that one coming.
"I know you all think that I'm impulsive, somewhat spoiled, outspoken, and some might also add that I'm irresponsible as well. I disagree with the last one, however I can understand why one would think that way. In the past, when I worked for the king setting up security for the palace, the prince and I would have phone conversations about who had the most fun prank on the other.
I know really mature, right? In the end, Cameron tells me I have to go to the ball, and if I find my mate, I have to go with my mate. It is in the law. However, I am not comfortable with that. After seeing my brothers break the mate bond before it could even form, I know how difficult it would be to form it myself. My hatred for being able to form a mate grows. So, when I get to the ball and I realize who my mate is, my heart stops. He is called the King of Whores."
I draw my attention to Xander, who is trying to contain his anger as he looks at me. The way I look at him is one of apology. I turn my face towards my family and continue to speak. "I felt the world suffocate me. I would become queen and have an unfaithful mate who had control issues, and I was so sick of control issues it made me sick."
In fact, my brothers have me so tightly strapped that I couldn't even go shopping alone. Hence, I dart out of the castle without thinking. A coincidence has it that the twin I thought had died was getting out of a car and was just as amazed to see me as I was. He opens the door and let me in. Without a second thought, I gladly accept, and the only thing on my mind is to run away.”
As they are about to question me, I look around to see if they have more questions for me; I put my hand up to show that I had more to say.
"Anyway, Colt and his sister had been kidnapped, and his sister was being tortured if he did not comply with their orders. He therefore needed to kidnap an Alpha, so that the rogues would have something to bargain with. What they got was me instead of Cameron. There was a massive shock from the rogues when I helped everyone escape.
Then I get ahold of Xander so you could go get Colt and his sister while I am still not ready to return home. I end up in a small town, living in a suite that is run by the moon goddess, without my knowledge. I work as a cable internet/technician. I feel empowered. Xander keeps chasing after me, however we didn't recognize one another as the moon goddess hid our actual identities. Even with that, we still fell in love, and that is when we knew who the other was. I marked him first. I am an emancipated woman. You may ask questions you have for me now." Xander sits down, returning me to his lap.
My mother sighs, looking slightly disappointed, she likes the whole tradition thing.
Constance -
"Clair, why are you so against traditions? You aren't a regular she-wolf, and your mate is a future king of the kingdom. There are protocols, so that the kingdom can celebrate your union."
Clair -
"How about we still have the mating ceremony, which will only comprise us marking one another? I am sorry but marking and mating in front of the entire kingdom NOT HAPPENING. The Kingdom does not need to see the porn.”
Constance -
"I suppose so, we can still have a ceremony. Clair, you get we are wolves a very sexual and naked creature? We celebrate our sexuality.”
Clair -
"I would want no one to see what belongs to me. Xander, and all the elements of his sexuality, belong to me." I laugh.
My mother shakes her head but accepts rather reluctantly my stance on werewolf traditions.
Everyone around the table has questions, so Xander and I answer them all. We end the questions by letting everyone know it has been a long drive and that we ought to get some sleep now. After hugging everyone goodnight, I notice my mother always keeping Colt next to her. I cannot believe that it is her best friend who handled Colt's disappearance. When Xander leads me out with his arms around my waist, I follow closely beside him.
During my visit to the daycare, I notice a little girl playing with the other pups. The little girl also seems shy and maybe withdrawn. As soon as she appears, I feel like I have seen her before. Then it hits me, this is the little girl who had been tortured, Colt's little sister. When I wake up in the morning, I will meet her and see what I can do to make her feel as if she is at home.
The moment that Xander enters my bedroom, he calls his father to check in, and I walk out to the balcony to watch the moon rise. As I watch the moon rise, I have this nagging feeling that someone is watching me. During a loud thundering of golden wings, I jump back, and then, just like before it has vanished.
I feel as if I am going crazy; I mean how is it wings keep appearing out of nowhere and then disappearing the same way? I look over at Xander and he is still talking away, he never hears it. Shaking my head, I have decided I have gone completely mad.
As I walk back into the room, deciding I am not getting enough attention, I strip off all my clothes and I pretend to drop something. This catches Xander's attention. As I turn to Xander, I challenge him to beat me into the shower.
