I Claim Your Love

Callan looked at his father who nodded in approval before meeting the eyes of his Alpha "I want a ceremony on the full moon day to announce Viola as my chosen mate."

Einar tightly knit his brows as his mate continued to stare at him with hopeful eyes. He squeezed his nose every now and then. His hands twitched and he could feel a vein pulsating in his forehead.

"What did you say?" he menacingly whispered as his nostrils flared. He grinded his teeth while his eyes flickered from brown to devilish scarlet.

Callan could deduce that the Alpha seemed infuriated by his proposal. He did not miss the glint of hatred, the rage and tightening of the alpha's jaw muscles. Einar seemed angry beyond control..

But why?

"I-I chose V-Viola as my mate.." Callan uttered with his withering confidence.

Burning rage hissed through Einar's body. How unashamedly could Callan profess his wish to mate someone else? No one was allowed to touch him, to caress him, to be with him other than Einar himself! It was like someone else staking a claim on what rightfully was his..

White knuckles formed from clenching his fist too hard, he gritted his teeth from an effort to remain silent. His hunched form exuded an animosity which was burning; slicing; potent. His face was red with the suppressed rage and when he saw his mate's desires directed at someone else, he snapped.

He held an end of the table and thrashed it to the wall on the left, breaking it in the process. The papers flew in air like swarming bees. He reached for Callan swiftly and clutched his throat by his bare hands. The circumference of Callan's jugular was being strangulated by the palms of the alpha.

"How dare you even think of mating any other wolf!" He said venomously.

The aura which emanated through Einar forced the spectators to reluctantly transfer their body weights to their knees. Even Ragnar was not untouched by it as he tried his best to fight this submission and help his dear boy come out of his fury. Justus on the other hand was helpless and shedding tears of misery for he knew that his only son was on the verge of being slaughtered.

Callan however was in his own trance. Though his trachea had been tightly gripped by the Alpha with great power, he hardly felt anything. He on the contrary stared at Einar with defiance. He slowly brought his palm to hold Einar's hand and threateningly whispered. "Leave me."

The feel of his touch helped Einar to regain his control. He rapidly blinked his eyes. He gasped and slowly released his hands from the man. Soon after, the men were on their feet and trying to create some distance between Einar and Callan. Though many people stood between them, they stared at each other like they were battling with their eyes.

Einar clicked his thumb with his middle finger and pointed at Callan. "Listen carefully Ashton.. I wont let you mate with Viola or any other wolf. EVER!"

This statement fuelled Callan's anger and he was about to say something when his father and Peter dragged him outside the chamber forcefully. Ragnar hinted Garrick to take Einar away and so he did.

****

Back in his room, Einar's frustration was declining to alleviate. His bed was turtled upside down while all the lamp posts had been thrashed. The chairs and tables were broken while glasses were scattered wound into small brittle pieces all around the floor. He paced in anger while smashing his things at the wall.

Garrick stood at a corner and patiently waited for his friend to cool down.

"How could he..." Einar threw a glass at the entrance door. He clenched and unclenched his fist and muttered just those words "How could he.."

"How could he what?" asked Garrick.

"HOW COULD HE EVEN THINK OF MATING SOMEONE ELSE!" Einar gritted his teeth. "He has no right to even look at someone. Who does he thinks he is? I will not allow this." he blabbered through his rage.

"Calm down Einar. I am sure he will realise that he cant mate any wolf."

"You don't know him!" He breathed harshly.

"And you do?" Garrick asked accusingly.

Einar in his own thoughts paced around and replied without filter "Yes. He is very stubborn. He will leave no stone unturned if he desires something."

Garrick realised that his friend was distracted and found it a suitable opportunity to broach the subject he always avoided. He knew that Einar would not willingly accept everything and hence he decided to use a different approach - Jealousy.

"On second thought. The lady Viola has not found her mate for a long time now so she can demand to have a chosen mate."

This raged Einar even further "She can have anyone else. ANYONE BUT CALLAN."

"And why cant she choose Callan?" Garrick raised a brow and narrowed his eyes.

"BECAUSE HE IS...." Einar stopped abruptly and his body trembled as he tried to calm himself. He swallowed his anger when he realised what he was about to reveal.

Garrick stepped closer to his friend and looked him to his eyes "Because he is someone special to you.. Someone close to your heart.. Someone you yearn to be with.. Someone you desire the most.." He almost whispered "I know he is your mate!"

In that very moment Einar knew that he was busted. His hands trembled and his lips quivered. He suddenly moved back and faced the window. "W-What are you saying? T-That's not true."

he shouted "I know he is your mate. I see the

implied was not wrong. The guilt to have kept it hidden from his best friend had made him blameworthy over the years. Alas! It was the moment of truth! He closed his eyes and slowly turned his back to his friend. The rage and anger in him was long gone and replaced by fear and regret. His head low

"A while."

"Have you told anyone?"

by the question "I am not the one who hides secrets from his best friend and I am not the one to spill the beans either." He scoffed. He held Einar's arm and turned him around to face him "I am your best friend Einar! I have told you everything that has transpired in my life. Even the minute of the details. But you.." he huffed "You have concealed the biggest and the most important truth of your life. Why? Was I not trusting? Have I ever failed you? Betrayed you? Or were we even friends to begin with?" Garrick's muscle in his chin trembled, he looked to his friend as if he could sooth him. The strong exterior he portrayed collapsed in that instant and he broke down

much worse than betraying him. He held a vulnerable Garrick and tried to stabilize him on his

by

"Uncle Umberto."

could sense that his mate was deliberately trying to hide something from her. The desperation and helplessness in his eyes

a long breath. He wiped his cheeks and closed his eyes to compose himself with a sigh. He looked at

at the window again. "I confirmed my doubts on

Garrick recalled that Einar and Callan were never close. "But as far as I remember as children you stopped playing with him when

is what you remember Garrick." Einar

"How?"

smile "Even as kids I liked to spend time with him. In fact were always together; almost inseparable. I used to share my food,

at the dining table you would insist that he sits with you.

Garrick "Did you know

surprised by the new information "I never knew that." he whispered

"Its not your fault actually. Very few people know that. As kids we used to celebrate our birthdays together. He was at my side for the entire day. On one such fateful birthdays my father presented us with two identical wooden

"What did you do?"

toy and got in a tussle with him." He bowed down and

the reason he doesn't celebrate

to let him play outside of the Alpha house. Away from me." Einar sighed and paused for a moment "I felt remorse when I saw the bruises on his lips and jaw. I thought this was

hanging out with me." He

proved a great distraction. It wasn't as if I forgot Callan. It saddened me deeply to not be with him but I knew we were happy this way. I used to talk to him on occasions but that was

as kids Einar and Callan would play separately. They never showed interest in each others company while they talked only when it was necessary. "What happened

eyes narrowed "It was all good for the following years until that tragic

Einar was talking about and gasped

slowly "My senses were on a high alert that day, like my life was in danger. Something inside of me was pulling me towards the deep woods. I dragged you with me and we found an injured Callan trying

council failed as the spirit was forced to awaken to save its

I had killed someone but it felt good. How twisted was that!" He chuckled in sarcasm

for a moment before raising an eyebrow "Callan? Impossible!!

me crazy." He gritted his teeth as if even mentioning that delicious scent of his mate was making him weak to the knees right now. "When he was in the healers cottage he asked for his friends company- The witch.

attacked Callan when he was on his own in the woods. Callan was helpless and could not defend himself because he fell down and broke his leg. Garrick scowled and looked at his friend "His leg was so

frustrated. The desperation to see him healthy and fine overtook my senses and I visited him.

then! For mates to do that

in our case I guess." Einar

go through such a trauma would have been hard. What worried Garrick the most was that his best

was confused and scared. I did try to tell

to him and expressing his weird feelings and happenings when was around Callan. Back then Garrick thought that he was bluffing or playing tricks on him. He

it was all in the past and he continued "After that incident, I became wary of his closeness so I decided to stay away from him to clear my mind. But it never happened. The more I was away from him the more deranged I was becoming. I was so mad when the news of his shifting base reached my ears, I threw a tantrum at my father that we need to move our Alpha house to the western borders. It took days for me to calm down." Garrick squeezed Einar's arm to control his emotions and give him support which he so longed "I still remember that I used to wake up early and do my chores before time to sit

for Callan to arrive.

flickered around his body. He wanted him!" His nostrils flared as he gritted his teeth to calm his beasts. "I was working on my self control those days but I was skeptical at that moment. The douche than just launched himself at Callan and they fell back to the ground. He

had a reason to hit him that day. Roderick was so scared that he

done. I realised I was becoming a bad person;

to repudiate all allegations that were imposed on his best friend but he knew there was truth in what people said

holding myself that day. It was as if a thousand gallons of water could not quench my thirst. I wanted Callan so bad. I managed to somehow control myself during the gifting but when we were on the run, uncle Umberto

you sensed

lets just say that it was the most dreadful moment of

"Why? What transpired."

anger. "The woodcutters girl stole my first kiss with Callan. I was devastated, heartbroken and enraged at

very next day of the incident near the river. "Don't tell me you had something to do with her death." Garrick questioned his friend but Einar never responded and kept his

of my right. So I went after her that day and attacked her. She begged for mercy and even apologised but I was not having

taken aback. "But she never knew! How could you do that!?" he roared.

down from the corner of his eyes. "I know and I feel deep remorse for the killings but I could not control