Claimed (5 page)

Chapter Eight

"You look like shit," Jace said, staring at Taden.  "Most mated wolves I know are always fucking glowing and shit.  You look like you have the flu."

"Feel like it," Taden grumbled.  "Let’s go over figures, now.  I need to go, got to help Deyon with something." He referred to one of the boys he fostered.  "I need Kristen to say yes.  We need to finish mating before I lose my marbles.  It's been too long.  I plan to ask her this weekend."

Jace looked less than convinced.  "I'll stay single.  After watching you, Isen, and Raythe go through all the shit, it's not worth it."

"Yeah, it is." Taden shoved his hair back with both hands.  "I need a damn haircut."

"Baby won't let you cut it," Jace reminded him.  "Maybe now that's she's mated, she'll loosen up on being so bossy."

"Taden, you can't cut your hair!" Baby rushed in and within minutes had his hair pulled back with a rubber band.  "There better." She kissed him and sniffed, her face close to his.  "You haven't been with her in days.  You need to get over there and talk to her.  I bet she's pissed."

He slammed both hands on his desktop and tore the rubber band from his hair.  "I'm out of here."

"He's testy?" he heard Baby tell Jace.

"Yeah, needs to get laid bad," Jace replied.

"It's been two days and I haven't heard from him." Kristen's worst fears had come true.  Once she'd allowed Taden into her heart, the chase was over, he didn't call or come by.  She'd texted him asking him to join her for dinner that night and he'd replied he couldn't, was busy.  No reason given.

Jamie shook her head.  "He's busy, I mean he's been spending so much time with you maybe he fell behind at work."

"Nope, our dates ended before eleven most nights, he was gone in time to work."

"Oh."

The bell over door tingled and both looked to find Taden's sister Baby walk in.  In her usual pink, the petite beauty seemed to prance more than walk to the counter.  Every male in the room watched her with rapt attention.  Baby didn't seem to notice.  When she swung her long pink-tipped strands behind her shoulder there were audible releases of air behind her.

"Hey there, ladies.  I'd like a vanilla latte please."  She winked at a man who walked up with the pretense of getting a refill.  "Hi there, hunky man."

The guy's eyes bulged and he sputtered hello and walked back to his table.

Baby giggled.

"Must be nice to have men eating out of your palm," Jamie said with a laugh.  "You are too funny."

"Men are such interesting creatures." Baby looked over her shoulder.  "Some more than others."  She met Kristen's gaze.  "I came to get you, can you come with me for a few?"

This was it, Taden's family was going to tell her they didn't approve and wanted her to stay away from him.  Kristen looked to Jamie who nodded, a silent message she thought the same thing.  "Yes, of course.  Jamie, do you mind covering for me?"

"Not at all," Jamie said, her worried eyes going from Kristen to Baby.

"Jeez, girls, it's not that bad to hang out with me is it?" Baby frowned.  "It's going to be fun. I promise."

Somewhat relieved Kristen smiled.  "Let me grab my purse."  She went to the back and grabbed her pastel pink Coach purse, knowing Baby would love it.

Once ensconced in Baby's custom painted VW Bug, she waited for what Baby would say. 

"Taden may not be too happy about this, but I had to get you and take you to see him tonight.  There is a side of my brother he doesn't share, but as his mate you should know everything."

"Is it bad?"

"Not at all.  He is just protective of this part of his life.  Doesn't let any of the guys in the pack near them.  A wolf sometimes adopts a family.  Taden has taken this family under his care and as far as the wolf is concerned, they are his.  I know you don't understand." Baby was talking so fast her head spun. 

Taden had a family?

She continued talking as they pulled into an elementary school parking lot.  "So what you need to understand is that no matter what, he will not leave them.  But I don't think you'll have a problem with it.  He might growl." She laughed, the tingle of it making Kristen blink.

"I'm so confused right now, I don't know what to ask."

Baby frowned.  "Yes, I know, I always get Isen confused too.  I can't get my point across sometimes, especially when I'm excited.  We'll watch him from a distance.  Although since he's semi-mated with you, he'll probably sniff you out pretty quickly."

They walked across the parking lot into a side entrance of a cafeteria.  It was noisy with what looked to be a science fair in progress.  Children stood proudly behind three sided cardboard displays. A trio of adults with clipboards walked from table to table to hear the presentations.

She spotted Taden standing beside a young boy.  The display on the table was impressive and colorful.  Pictures of rainbows on it with large words
, The Color Spectrum,
across the top.

The boy said something to Taden and he put his hands on the boy's shoulders and spoke to him in a father-like manner.  Next to the table in a chair sat a woman.  She didn't pay any attention to either Taden or the boy, instead she talked into a cell phone.   Her ebony skin set off a bright yellow outfit and matching earrings and sandals.  The boy and Taden straightened and moved together to stand beside the display when the judges came to the table.  The boy spoke to the trio of adults with Taden seeming to join in with a few words.  Finally the judges moved away and the boy hugged Taden with a bright smile.

Kristen's heart melted when Taden kissed the top of the boy's head.  He turned to say something to the woman in yellow, she smiled and went to the boy giving him a quick hug before going back to her phone call.

"That's his family?" Kristen asked Baby who clapped at whatever a little girl explained about her display.  "Baby?"

"Oh, yeah." Baby looked to where Taden stood now staring towards them.  "That's them.  Oh-oh.  He's spotted us.  Run!" She grabbed Kristen's hand and pulled her to the parking lot.

"Stop!" Taden caught up to them at Baby's car.  "What are you doing here?"

He growled, just as Baby said.  His eyes were a strange silver hue when meeting hers.

"We should talk." Kristen was not about to be intimidated by the big bad wolf.

They moved a few feet away and he swung to her.  "I won't give them up."

"I would never ask you to.  Are you and the mother involved?" she asked straight out, needing to rip off the proverbial Band-Aid. 

"Who?  Oh, the boys' mom?  No.  I meant I won't give up the boys."

"Boys?"

"There are two, his brother is in middle school," he explained glowering.

"I think it's great, that you care so much for them."

"Mr. Wolfe!"  The boy came running, and threw himself between them pushing a ribbon into Taden's face. "We got first place!"

"Yes!" Taden hugged the boy, pulling him off the ground and turning in a circle.

Kristen knew there and then. She was falling in love with Taden.

Not wanting to interrupt more than she'd done so already, she turned to head back to the car.  Taden had not called her, nor had he made any attempt to spend time with her in the last few days.  Although she appreciated Baby bringing her to see this part of him, she didn't see how it helped the current situation between them.

As they drove off, her cell phone chirped with a text message tone.  It was from Taden.  "I will speak with you tonight."

She replied with a simple "ok."

"What should I expect now?  Is it true that Taden has a permanent bond to me now?" she asked Baby who fiddled with the car stereo.

Her bright blue eyes met Kristen's.  "Oh yes, you are.  Things are a bit more complicated for Taden. He's been waiting for the wolf council to get back to him recognizing your mating.  If they don't recognize it, he can't continue to be alpha of our pack."

Kristen closed her eyes.  "Why would he choose to be with me.  It can cost him too much.  I will tell him tonight we need to end this."

Baby pulled over, jostling across the uneven shoulder of road.  "You can't break up with him.  You're bonded.  Besides, he already held a pack meeting and chose a predecessor in case.  Everything will be fine." Baby waved her hands in the air, her sparkly bracelets jingling.  "We should plan your wedding.  What are your favorite colors?"

The woman's erratic conversation made Kristen blink with confusion.  "Baby, tell me about the pack meeting. Can this bond thing be undone?"

"What?" Baby gave her an incredulous look.  "Oh, he chose Jace as his replacement in case he loses with the council.  But they'll say yes.  He explained the wolf chose you."

Kristen pulled up at Taden's cabin later that evening.  The lights on the second floor shined across the lawn. The first floor seemed dimmer.  Only the light fixture in the entrance was on.

Dressed casually in jeans and a white T-shirt, Taden was barefoot when he opened the door.  Immediately he took her into a tight embrace and nuzzled against her neck.  "I miss you."

That was news to her.  Kristen kept from saying the words out loud.  Barely.

"I thought you'd want to meet somewhere more public to discuss us."

He leaned away, his ice blue eyes stark.  "Why?"

"Because it's hard to keep from tearing our clothes off when we're alone," she told him matter-of-factly.

"True." His lips curved up at the corners.  "Although that's a good thing in my book.  You're beautiful." His gaze roamed over her simple long sundress.  "And much too covered up."

Her body tingled.  "We should talk.  Baby filled me in about the council."

"Ah," he said moving back just enough for her to walk past to the living area.  When she sat, he joined her, his leg touching hers.  "I should have talked to you about it, but they demanded no communication until I received their answer."

Kristen frowned.  "Does the council control everything you do?"

Taden brushed his hair back with an impatient scoop of his hand.  "Not all.  They approve territory lines, business ventures, matings, and serve as the human equivalent of police and judicial system."

It made sense, since shifters did not fall under most human systems of government.  "What did they decide about us."  Kristen held her breath.  She thought herself prepared to let him go, but now looking at him, watching the expression flit across his face, she decided rather than let him go, she'd fight to be with him.

"They gave a tentative approval.  It's good news, doubtful they will deny now." He lifted her hand to his lips.  "I'm sorry.  I know it's different for you."

The worry in his eyes made her press a kiss to his lips.  "It is very different."

When he let out a sigh and looked down, she couldn't keep from reaching for  him.  "Taden.  I--I can't let you go.  I thought to come here and break things off, but I can't.  I want to fight for us."

His eyes rounded with surprise at her words.  "You mean that?"

"Yes.  I do.  I feel so much for you  I think I'm falling in love." A huge weight lifted from her shoulders and she cupped his face.  "The council will approve us, because we are meant to be."

His lips curved into a smile.  "They better. Because I am never letting you go." Taden fell to his knees and held her hands, his eyes locked on hers.  "I love you."

"I planned to do this in a more romantic way, but..." he shrugged and kissed her knuckles before looking into her eyes..  "Kristen, will you be my mate? I want to marry you."

She let out a happy scream and wrapped her arms around his neck.  "Yes.  Yes. Yes!!"

He laughed and kissed her, the kiss promising a night of very little sleep.  Her entire body trembled with want. 

This was definitely the wolf for her.

The End
.

Thank you for reading
Claimed
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Devlin Beach does not exist, but it's based on the smaller beach towns in Florida, with quaint homes and cool hangouts where locals and tourists mix. 

H.M. McQueen