I Claim Your Love

The rays of the morning sun were done evading the darkness of the night. The light heat was penetrating the ground and filling it with its warmth. Einar gradually moved his head a little and forcefully opened his eyes to look at the big orange globe rising itself. He parted his lips and smiled. Last night had the been the best night he had ever experienced in his entire existence. He slept without a worry, only happy thoughts swarming his mind. He slowly rubbed his eyes but stopped in his movements when his elbows came into contact with something.

His body electrified and an unknown spark flew through him. He looked bewildered and his mind was awake all of a sudden. The first thing he noticed was the lack of clothes on his body however the more shocking fact was that he was lying besides another naked body.

Einar was resting in the arms of his mate!

The muscular man gasped in a jiffy and caught hold of himself. He stood upright and looked at the situation in absolute surprise. Even before he could answer the hows and whys his mind was distracted by the perfect well built body lying on the ground.

It was the creation of gods themselves. Every muscle fiber of the man was sculpted with dexterity.

Einar roamed his eyes mindlessly through the head towards the abdomen before stationing his gaze at the length of the man. An unknown giddiness swarmed his stomach. His mouth went dry and he wet his lips. As if that wasn’t enough his own manhood craved the flesh and he gasped loudly in his lust.

Callan slowly opened his eyes with the satisfying sound and looked at the muscular man in delight “Good morning.” he stretched his arms and legs and get rid of the morning laziness.

Einar was out of his daze in that instant and he realized what he was doing. He bit his lips hard and closed his eyes. His hands were shaking while he breathed heavily. Callan was disturbed to look at the painful sight and he stood besides the muscular man in worry “What’s wrong?”

Callan kept his hands on the shoulders of Einar when the latter shrugged it and retreated his steps in anger “What are you doing Ashton?”

Callan smacked his palm to his forehead and rolled his eyes with a sigh “Ohh.. Not this again!” he whispered to himself.

“Why are we not wearing any clothes..?” Callan kept gawking at the man with an unknown expression

“ANSWER ME DAMMIT!”

Callan scoffed and bit his lips “Just a moment ago you were sleeping like an angel in my arms and now you have a problem with us being naked. It didn’t seem to bother you last night.”

“Stop this nonsense! I am asking you something.”

“Alright.” He raised his hands in mock surrender “I’ll stop.”

Callan slowly stepped forward without withdrawing his gaze from the man in front while the muscular man fumbled and stepped back “W-What are you doing?” he asked in trepidation.

“What do you thing I’m doing.” Callan smirked. He slowly raised his arm and lightly touched the bare skin of Einar. The dark thick eyebrows, the hard lines of his jaw, his muscular arms; Callan was feeling them all. On the other side Einar couldn’t stop himself from relishing the touch of his mate. The contact brought shivers to his body and he heaved dry breaths.

Callan smiled at the man “This is the first time I am watching you in the shining rays of the early sun. I am sorry but I cant help touching your perfect skin.”

“Stop it.” Einar spoke with a withering confidence. His body was not agreeing with the words he spoke.

Callan closed the gap between them and whispered in his ears “Make me.”

“This is wrong.”

“Not a single drop of blood in your body believes you.”

Einar gulped loudly and pushed Callen away “I have a mate.”

“I know” Callan smirked and folded his hands to his chest with a smug look on his face “He is standing right in front of you.”

Einar stay put in his place like a statue. His mind froze and every wisp of his breath was knocked out. The only moving part of his body were his eyelids which gradually grew perhaps in horror. Einar’s heart beat spiked and he was rendered defenseless all of a sudden. He couldn’t formulate a future course of action. The smiling face of the handsome man said it all. Einar was busted. He knew a day as such could arrive but he wasn’t prepared. Moreover the situation was shaking him to the core.

Callan waited and waited for any response but when none came he shook his head in amusement “Come on say something!” he snickered “I assumed that you would at least resist me at first.” he shrugged. Einar stood glued to his place. He even forgot to blink his eyes for he knew not what was happening. He was clueless.

“Fine! let me speak your words.” Callan cleared his throat loudly and stood with a stance so as to reflect and act as Einar “You would say things like ‘Stop talking nonsense Ashton. You cannot be my mate. I don’t want you.. Think about your parents; think about my family; what would the pack say! blah blah blah..’ and then you would curse me some more and say things to break my heart.” He laughed a little “See.. I simplified things for us.”

Einar gazed at the man for the longest before uttering in surprise “How long have you known?”

“Since our birthdays.. All my life I was waiting for that one special person but now I have three.”

Einar growled in jealousy while Callan giggled at his reaction. “Relax I was talking about the demon and your wolf.”

The muscular man bowed his head in shame and embarrassment. The very moment of truth was shaking his insides. He barely kept his resolve intact for it seemed that Callan was enjoying himself. He felt humiliated and a bit angry “I was a fool.”

“That you are.”

“You played me.” Einar gritted his teeth “You had the audacity to hide such an important thing from me for so long. How dare you!”

“Uh uh. We shouldn’t go there.” Callan raised a brow and shook his head “As far as I remember you hid being my mate for almost eight years! Compared to that I have been lenient with you. I am even ready to let you go with an apology. So go ahead, say sorry.”

Callan took two steps ahead with a childish pout and mischief in his eyes. Whereas Einar was not in his own “You think this is a joke. I wont apologize for anything.”

“Ever so stubborn. Now since the big secret is revealed. There is no need for your fake cover.”

Einar brushed aside his fears and cleared his throat “I stand by my decision Ashton.” he looked at Callan with determination “I don’t want you. I reject you as my mate!”

The words stung Einar but he had no choice left. Callan was hellbent on a destructive path. A path which had no future but only obstacles to their union. The glimmer of hope which he saw in Callan’s eyes needed to be squashed for it was for his own good.

Callan saw the hesitation and anxiousness behind the hard lined face of Einar. Owing to the proximity for the past several weeks Callan had learned to discern the features of his mate. He knew Einar was hurting himself and he also knew that he wont budge from his stand. However this time Callan wasn’t going to back down either “I wish it was that easy. Your determined to push me away and I’m certain to get you one day.”

Einar huffed and looked to the other side which made Callan slightly infuriated. Callan knitted his brow and looked fiercely towards the man in front of him “Listen here Einar Ragnar Knight” The tone in his voice was stern “I don’t know what stupid excuses you would create in the future or what plans you make to get rid of me. Put one thing in your thick hard skull. You are mine! We belong with each other. You will surrender and I will embrace you in my arms. There is no other way.”

Einar forgot to breathe. This was the only thing which he feared all through his life. He had seen the will and determination of the man in the past and he knew that Callan wasn’t among the warriors to bow down. Once he set his eyes onto something he would garner all his energy until he gets that and Einar was witnessing the same madness in Callan’s eyes

“You’ve lost your mind” Einar whispered “You don’t know what you are talking. Don’t you understand? I WANT YOU OUT OF MY LIFE!”

" I am not going anywhere.”

“Know your place Ashton.”

“My place is with you.”

Einar was speechless. There was simply no winning with the stubborn nature of the man. He deduced that the conversation right now was pointless for Callan was in no state of mind to see reason. Einar pushed past Callan to look for his clothes and dressed himself as fast as he could. Without looking back he marched his steps in long strides to create a large distance from the man.

“Fine.” Callan raised his voice “You don’t accept me as your mate then let the council decide.”

The words halted Einar in his tracks “No!” he turned his back to look at his mate in horror “Don’t do that.”

However even before he could speak anything else his strong ears could hear the pained voices of Justus and Mary accompanied by the mirrored voices of his parents. The wolves were nearing “Cover yourself..” Einar said in a jiffy.

Callan battled Einar with his eye but later did as he was told. He wasn’t happy by the way Einar was treating him. At this point of time though it was his parents who diverted his mind. He could see a concerned Mary running like her life depended on it only to thrash her body straight to the body of her son. She embraced him in a tight hug and cried a river.

Ragnar was close to his son next and looked at him with worry “Where were you? We were so worried!” Einar was perplexed for he hadn’t seen his father in this state before. The seer sessions must’ve done done something to him he thought. Zelda rubbed the palm of her son to soothe him when she herself was in the need to relax her motherly senses.

“Are you alright my son?” Ragnar inquired again. Einar smiled and nodded his head to his parents. The alpha acknowledged his son and looked at the Ashtons “Come lets go.”

****

Einar’s mind was in two minds for the entire journey back home. On one side he was delighted that the human of the pack was acceptive of him while on the other hand he was worried for Callan’s madness would cost them dearly. He kept his cool and strong headed façade a bit more but he wanted his best friend by his side now. That was the first thing he wanted to do after reaching the pack.

As soon as the Knights stepped inside the alpha house they were taken aback by the horror they witnessed inside the house. It looked like a storm of high intensity had passed by and wrecked every single piece of furniture. The large mahogany tables, the doors, the decors, the chandeliers were all dismantled from their places. Charred dust of glasses and broken pieces of wood decorated the entire floor.

Ragnar was worried by the sight in front of him but he was perplexed by his servants who stood in a line bowing their head in shame or fear he could not understand. He wanted to discern the truth from the omegas but even before he could do that he heard footsteps from above the stairs. Zelda and Ragnar bowed their head in respect while Einar looked at the figure with anger.

“Ah! Welcome! Welcome alpha family.” Beatrice said as she slowly stepped her foot down the first stair “I was waiting for you.”

Beatrice was followed by her guards who looked as fierce as the son of the alpha himself. She stood in front of the family while one by one the alpha and his mate bent on one knee to kiss the back of her palm. Beatrice focused her attention to Einar who was knitting his brows in anger “Where are your manners sweetie?”

She raised her palm mid air and gestured Einar to do the deed. Einar on the other side swallowed his anger and reluctantly bent on his knee to kiss the palm of the lady with disgust. He stood in front of her and both of them stared at each other with animosity. The aura they projected was compelling the entire place to submit or run away. Ragnar took control of the situation and cleared his throat.

“What a pleasant surprise princess. I hope you have made yourself comfortable.”

“That I have but I would’ve loved if the alpha was here to receive me.” she smirked “I hope you know the purpose of my visit Ragnar.”

Addressing an alpha by his name was a blatant disrespect and Ragnar’s wolf was not having it. However the royals were a strong force to reckon with. They were someone who shouldn’t be messed with. Ragnar was aware of the fact and hence kept his pride at bay “I know.” He slowly said.

“Lets get started then.”

“But princess..”

“What.” she said indifferently. She closed the distance between her and Ragnar and whispered challengingly “Do you have something to say alpha?” Ragnar gritted his teeth but took deep breaths before bowing his head in negation.

“Follow me.”

The alpha did as he was told and followed the princess to his office.

Einar caught hold of Garrick who was waiting impatiently for a single glance from his best friend.

You were supposed to be here a few days back.

Something came up. We need to talk.

Garrick noticed the desperation in Einar’s tone What’s with you?

Einar swept his gaze all around Where is Rosaline?

At Mabel’s. Lets meet in the woods.

****

“You didn’t do anything! How is that possible!” Archer looked at Callan in disbelief.

“Of course we kissed.” Callan sighed an an unknown smile plastered his face “We embraced, touched each other but right after we undressed ourselves he passed out.”

“What a bummer!”

Callan agreed with a nod “I think the butterflies had drained him of his energy and so he passed out. Besides he doesn’t remember anything.”

“Or he does not want to remember anything.”

“Maybe.” Callan shrugged “It doesn’t matter anymore. I have made my intentions clear and there wont be any more hiding.”

Callan was pensive again when he remembered the wonderful night he spent with his mate. It was the first time since knowing Einar that the handsome man was able to be this close to his mate. It was as if the night was meant to be. Callan colored himself within the embrace of Einar’s affection. The muscular man was true to his feelings and it felt absolutely amazing to be in the arms of the man who loved you the most in the world. That night cemented the belief in Callan’s mind that he was meant to be Einar’s mate.

“You are blushing.” Archer pointed to the flushed skin of Callan’s cheeks “I can see the depth of your feelings for him.”

“I couldn’t comprehend when the sting of love bit me.” The handsome man said in a low, shy voice

“I don’t think you should pressurize Einar. Give him some time so that he can come to his senses.”

Callan shook his head “He had ample of it. Besides I cant wait my entire life waiting for his first move.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“What else.” he shrugged “I would express my feelings to him again and again till the time he caves in.”

Archer raised a brow in understanding “That’s another way to do it.”

“Yes but first I need to convince Daragor to give Einar another chance.”

“And how would you do that?”

“Its simple. I would say the words that evaded my mouth time and again. There wont be any escaping now. I would reach his arms, engulf him in my embrace and finally say the words he has been waiting for.”

Archer was happy to see the sate of mind that ruled his best friend these days. He was content that finally Callan was getting what he deserved. Happiness.

He leaned forward and teasingly blinked his eyes “And what words are those?”

Callan pursed his lips but snorted at Archers playful tease. He sighed deeply before gathering his courage to come out of his sweet embarrassment “That I love him.”

****

When the beta and Einar penetrated the woods they discussed all that happened in their absence and talked at a stretch. However it was the news from Einar that shocked Garrick the most. He sweat with fear while his heart beats raised in nervousness “This cant be good.”

“Indeed it is not. I don’t know what I am supposed to do.”

“Did you accept him?”

“What do think Garrick?” Einar retorted in anger.

“Ah. Yes. Right.” he nervously nodded “That would’ve been foolish.”

“We need to make Callan hate me. Do something for which he could never forgive me.”

Garrick understood the pain his best friend was going through right now. After all Callan was his mate. Even though Einar may not love him, Garrick never wanted any wolf to go through this predicament.

“Do you even understand what you are saying?”

“I am quite sure Garrick; besides this is the only way.”

Garrick paused for a moment and went pensive. After a few moments though his eyes sparkled and he hesitatingly looked at Einar. “I have something in my mind. However I need to know if you really want to go through with it because there wont be any turning back.”

Einar looked at the options in front if him. Should he accept Callan as his mate the entire world will be after the handsome man. He would make enemies from every parts. The royals would have the leverage to finally declare the pack as absolute. More importantly the world will know that the man has a weakness. His enemies will take advantage of the fact that Callan was after all just a human; Incapable to defend himself in the times of need. The constant fear about his well being and safety would divert Einar’s mind forever and he wont be able to fulfill his other duty.

Shall he deny Callan his right there was always a possibility that Callan would put forward his plea in front of the council. It wouldn’t be hard to find out that indeed the man was true and Einar has a male mate. Even if the council was not involved the man would leave no stone unturned to get what he wants. The determination and focus which he saw in Callan that night was baffling Einar more and more. Callan’s eyes reflected a madness of its own kind. He had been waiting for his mate for years and when he finally found the one he wasn’t going to back down from claiming him.

This meant that Einar had only one option left. Make Callan realize that Einar was not the right person for him. That he would never find happiness with him. That mating him would lead to nothing but pain and agony. Only then would he come to his senses and relinquish the thought of being together with him.

Einar was pained at his decision but he had to do the needful. He cleared his throat to say the heavy words which were killing him from the inside.

“I am sure. I want Callan to hate me forever.”

********