Claimed

Chapter 34

Xael: "Winnie I told you to wait in the bedroom."

"I was worried. Hi Gabriel."

Gabriel: "Winnie it is truly great to see you."

He smiles at me fondly, but a low growl deters us from staring at each other.

Gabriel: "Xael, I am happily mated and a father. Calm yourself. Winnie is a second daughter to me."

He chuckles, patting Xael roughly on the shoulder as he walks out of the home.

"Where is he going?"

Xael: "To get the sack filled with stuff he carried with him. Make yourself decent."

"Do not take that tone with me Xael Caius Orrin Alesandro. How's my mother?"

Xael: "She is alive, that's all that matters. All wolves are accounted for. Some slaves have passed. The castle can and will be repaired."

"Yes, but people died. My people died."

Xael: "Winnie those people have never been your people. You were never a slave. I made sure of that."

"I was never a slave, yet I was addressed for years as such. You make no sense."

Xael: "And you are testing my patience. Go put back on the lavender dress. We are leaving everything is in dismay at Drintis.

"So am I to play slave at this new kingdom where the majority of the royal werewolf family lives."

Xael: "Winnie I beg of you, can we just talk about this at another time. My people at neighboring kingdoms are dying as we speak. My duty is to them right now, not us."

"You are so selfish."

Tugging the ring off my finger I chuck it directly at him as I turn away, running to retrieve my clothes. Slamming the door to the room I go straight into the bathroom quietly slipping on everything. Finally dressed I wipe away stray tears that have fallen before holding my head up high. Untangling the mess of uncombed hair with my fingers in the mirror, I can hear knocking on the bathroom door.

"Winnie it's me Gabriel. May I come in?"

"Yes."

Still in the mirror I can hear the footsteps of Gabriel behind me as he comes into view."

Gabriel: "You really hurt him Winnie."

"I don't care right now. He wants to keep me hidden like his little treasure, his doll. He is ashamed of me. He doesn't think I am capable of knowing things and helping his people."

Gabriel: "He doesn't want anything to happen to you. Werewolf women have wanted the Luna title for years now. If you were to suddenly be introduced as his mate what do you think would happen?"

"....."

Gabriel: "They would kill you and he would die of a broken heart."

"I understand what you are saying, but my anger is just."

Gabriel: "You need to forgive him."

"I will. Just not now."

Gabriel: "Understandable. I guess you two need space. Xael left a couple of minutes ago, so we need to leave to catch up with him.

"How does he know which way to go?"

Gabriel: "He knows the way. Now come on, your mother needs you."

Trailing behind him we exit out of the home. Gazing up at the sky the stars catch my attention.

They twinkle so brightly and light up the sky. If only life could be this simple and beautiful.

Gabriel: "Turn around so I can get undressed to shift into my wolf form."

Following his instructions I stand there quietly, rocking back and forth on the balls of my heels as I twirl a strand of hair around my finger. Loud howling breaks my concentration as I notice it is coming from the distance and not from Gabriel.

It must be Xael.

Peering over my shoulder I see a tawny colored wolf, not as big as Xael, but not normal size either. Lying down on the ground with a sack in his mouth he awaits me to mount him. Once situated I hold on tight to his fur as he takes off running into the woods. Leaping over logs and ducking under low hanging branches, his pace never slows. The howling amplifies, as we get closer. Sitting in the distance I see Xael's wolf waiting patiently for us. Gabriel switches up his pace to a trot before laying down in front of Xael. Whining he circles around us before giving me a tiny lick to the face. Stepping backwards he tears off a piece of my dress with his teeth before running forward disappearing in the brush. Gabriel drops his sack out of his mouth onto the ground in front of him. Taking this as a direction to get off I do so immediately turning around. The cracking of his bones causes me to flinch as a gust of wind leaves me breathless.

Gabriel: "It is safe for you to turn around now. I'm clothed."

"Where are we? Why did Xael leave? And why did he rip my dress"

Gabriel: "We are at the outskirts of the kingdom. We are traveling by foot now. And Xael left to be at the kingdom before our arrival. He ripped your dress for the scent. Your scent to be exact."

"What aren't you telling me Gabriel?"

Gabriel: " You are living with me for a while."

What?

Author's Note

Thanks for all the adds, comments, and votes. It really means a lot to me. I'm back to weekly uploads of the story. I promise. So to get you guys more engaged I wonder what your thoughts are on what is going on so far in the story. Also if you are shy about leaving comments on my chapters feel free to send me a message with your thoughts. I will respond in a timely manner.

Love you guys!