I Claim Your Love

Chapter 7: A Birthday to Regret

The Alpha had invited the entire village as it was a special occasion for the Knights. Not only was his

only son turning sixteen but also he was now eligible to search for his mate. Unlike other wolves an

Alpha wolf can recognize their mate at the age of sixteen and not the usual eighteen. Everyone

seemed excited by the thought of having a new Luna in the pack.

Huge amount of wood and bales of straw were gathered in the centre of a large open ground. It was

time for the festivities to begin. However Einar was still vexed at the disappearance of his soother. He

looked around the cheerful faces of his fellow mates and other members of the pack among whom

were some pretty girls who vied for his attention. They hoped for being the new Luna of the pack. But

Einar did not care for any of them. His mind was clouded by thoughts of someone else. He was in such

a sour mood that instead of being the merrymaker he could lash out his anger to anyone who

approached him at that moment. Even Garrick was keeping his distances from a foul mood Einar.

He missed Callan.

He took it upon himself to know the whereabouts of the boy. He pushed his mind link to the head

warrior hoping for some answers.

Hello Justus. Is everything alright with the security? Do you need my help?

Everything is perfect here Einar. You need not worry.

Have the guests arrived yet?

The chiefs of some villages have already arrived while the others are on their way. I have mind linked

them all, they will be here soon.

Einar was finding it difficult to ask Justus about Callan. It was like asking a girl's father for his

permission to court his daughter. This was weird for him. The awkwardness was there but the curiosity

to see Callan was showing dominance now.

Could you please send Callan to the arsenal? I wanted to show the place to my friends. I want to make

sure everything is organized.

Callan has not arrived yet. I will send Peter to do the job don't worry.

Einar did know that Callan was not present here but he wanted to assess the reason for it.

Actually I was insisting for Callan because he knows the place better; but if he does not want to do the

job then its fine..

That's not the case Einar. Callan has been visiting his friends in the mountains and the human village.

But he assured me that he would reach the Alpha house before the feast begins.

Einar knew exactly where the boy was and he hated it. It was his so called best friend who used to

always stick with him. The boy spent almost all of his time with his friend when not in the alpha house.

One could smell the were-bear all over Callan and that aggravated Einar. Just thinking about the boy

with someone else was making his blood boil. His beast was restless and wanted out. Einar thought it

would be best if he calms the beast and return for the celebrations later.

He was about to turn when he bumped into someone and clumsily fell on that person. Both of them

were on the ground with their torsos kissing each other. Einar's mood saw a dramatic change; he was

pleasantly content from within. He knew that only one person could bring these alterations in him.

It was Callan.

His hair was in disarray, his skin was pale and smooth while his eyes were staring at his culprit; at

Einar. It was a perfect piquant situation for Einar. He could not help but stare at the alluring deep green

eyes. He was perfect.

When Einar heard some commotion around he regained himself and quickly stood up. "Watch where

your going Ashton. I hope your not blind." Einar spat with venom in his mouth and pain in his heart. On

the other hand Callan could not believe that instead of apologizing the egoistic douche was blaming

him.

"If I'm not wrong you bumped into me while I was on my way and not the other way around."

At this point a few people had already gathered around the two of them.

"Are you saying that it was my fault? That I purposely fell on you." Einar scowled.

Callan opened his mouth to revert but he looked around himself and saw people taking interest in their

conversation. He did not wanted any disorder today; not on his birthday. He knew he was right but to

avoid any conflict he lowered his head in submission.

"Exactly what I thought." Einar snorted.

Among the people surrounding them were Marden, Tusker, Richard and Aldous. These boys belonged

to respected families of the Alpha village. Like many in the pack, they detested Callan for being a non-

shifter and unlike the other pack members they were vocal about it. They were of the opinion that

Callan should be banished from the pack as he was not one of them. They degraded Callan on every

chance they got.

"You don't cease any opportunity to cause trouble. Do you Ashton?" The tall blonde boy with sharp

features said.

"It's not his fault Tusker. He's a loner and therefore he wants all the attention to himself." Aldous said

derisively.

"But he always gets away after putting our future Alpha in trouble. Remember the last time when Einar

was confined in his room for a week. It was all thanks to this spastic." This time it was Richard's turn to

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Callan was agitated and equally pained at the offensive words used against him. Einar did sense

Callan's dejection but he felt powerless at the moment. If he stood by Callan, people would doubt his

motives and on the other hand if he hurts any of these boys, the pack could get suspicious of his

behavior. His father would be angry and may even punish him.

He tried to pacify the situation. "It's aright Richard; the boy will not hurt me again. He knows better."

Einar hoped that the boys would understand and back off. Instead he saw hatred and mischief in their

eyes when Marden spoke. "It may be alright for you but we won't let the offender go scot free. This guy

has an enormous pride for supposedly being the 'best' in combats, that's the reason he considers

everyone below him including our future Alpha. He thinks he can outsmart us. He needs to learn a

lesson. He must apologize to Einar Traditionally." Marden spoke venomously ever so slow.

There was silence everywhere. Callan was shocked at the statement. A traditional apology was outright

humiliation. It was a stab to his honor. Even if he wanted to he knew he should not do this as his

conscience would never forgive him. He was shattered from within. He looked around for support but it

was futile. The onlookers agreed with Marden in unison as for them the Alpha was their leader, he

should be regarded with utmost respect. As a future alpha Einar should've been respected.

"I think you are blowing the matter out of proportion Marden. I have already apologized. What else can

I do?" Callan pleaded his case.

"We have already told you what you must do. Mere uttering the words mean nothing, you should beg

for forgiveness and endure it. Even Einar agrees with us." Aldous looked at Einar who was holding

back his anger and frustration for what was going on. He wanted to save the boy badly but he was

conscious enough and knew that every effort he makes towards the boy will garner suspicion from

others. With a heavy heart Einar nodded and reluctantly agreed to the punishment.

"You are at fault here Callan. Just take your punishment and leave." Einar was ashamed for every word

he said. He was in pain. He knew it was his fault but peer pressure around him was urging him to part

ways with the boy.

Callan gritted his teeth and looked sideways. He did not want to show his teary eyed face to anyone.

He reluctantly composed himself and with his head hung low, he moved in front of Einar. He then

slowly was on his knees with his hands at the back; he bowed his spine and rubbed his nose on each

shoe of Einar. He moved in such a gesture as if his motion was cleansing the dirt from Einar's shoes.

He gritted his teeth and forcefully kissed his feet with pursed lips. This was a low blow for any man,

wolf or not. At this moment Callan was shattered a million times. He valued his honor too much but it

had been trampled cruelly by these inconsiderate people, especially the moron in front of him.

He straightened his back with his head still low; he took sharp breaths and uttered the words which he

dreaded at this moment "I apologize son of Alpha, I was not careful enough. I would make sure that I

don't repeat this mistake again. I beg for your forgiveness."

Marden and Tusker smirked with their arms crossing their chest while Richard and Aldous were

whispering to each other with a smug look on their face.

"I-I accept your apology Callan." Einar almost choked while saying those words while his face was on

the verge of betraying him, leaking all his emotions. Surprisingly his wolf was calm at this juncture.

Callan stood up and wiped his tears down his cheeks. He was hurt and angry. He clenched his teeth

with a scowl, closed his fists and turned his body to make way through the crowd and be away

someplace alone. He certainly did not wanted the day to progress this way. It was his birthday after all.

On the other hand Einar hated himself for what just happened. He wanted to protect the boy, hold him

in his arms and make him feel safe but he went against it. What shocked him to the core was the fact

that his wolf loved the submission of the boy. The wolf swelled with pride when Callan was on his feet.

Einar was disgusted with himself. He thought of apologizing to Callan later.

****

The sky restlessly grumbled. The clouds soon gave in and poured down the burden of water with a

roar. Aurora was at a distance of a few yards from her door when the droplets of water were on her

face. It was a downpour. Something about these rains seemed odd to her. She quickly grabbed the

locket from inside her little bag and found it glowing. She rushed her way to the Alpha house in search

for the cause of this thunder and lightning. Her posture was weakening by the weight of her wet

clothes.

Callan was sitting in a little shade in a far away place from the feast. The memories of earlier haunting

his imagery. His shoulders were slump and his face was wet with not just the rains but all the crying as

well. The rains were blurring his vision. Streaming tears mixed with the rain cleansed his face.

He was in grief.

When Aurora reached Callan she was amused to see the beads of water forming a cocoon of blue

color around him in a transparent oval manner. It was a sight to behold. She was near Callan and could

see the dejected face of her favorite boy. He had been crying all alone for a long time. It seemed as if

the sky was saddened with the pain and agony of Callan.

"Hey little boy." Aurora entered the cocoon and sat beside him.

Without lifting his face Callan swiftly turned and hugged Aurora in an embrace. He was crying

profusely, laying his heart out. He revealed everything that transpired in the Alpha village.

"Shh.... Hey it's fine. I am here for you Cally."

"Why does this always happen to me Aurora? I never asked to be different. I want to be able to laugh

and play like everyone else. If I had to choose I would have never opted for this life. Why do they all

hate me? How am I at fault for being without a wolf? They should question Luna for this and not me. I

was BORN this way. I only want acceptance from them Aurora. Is it too much to ask? The killing of my

honor was the last straw. How much more should I suffer and why?"

Aurora could not hold her tears back. Callan's pain was making her heart swell. She knew answers to

some of his questions and was speechless for others. It shocked her the most to know that Einar was

the one who had caused so much suffering for the poor boy. Even Callan was unaware of the fact that

his outburst was more of a result of betrayal from his mate. She was irate with Einar's behavior.

She expected more from him.

Aurora witnessed that the wristlet on Callan's hand was glowing and she realized that she had to

console Callan soon otherwise his emotions would be responsible for a holocaust.

"Look at me Cally. Don't think that everyone hates you. Your parents love you the most in the world.

You have Archer and the entire Kemp family, your human friends, the other shifter friends. Even the

Alpha, Luna and the elders adore you. You are not alone. And when all else fails; there's me. I'll always

be there for you Cally."

"Do you promise?"

"I promise Cally. Believe me you did not need any promise to keep me with you. I would've never left

your side anyways. I can't resist your charm you know." She playfully winked at Callan to which he

chuckled.

"Do not ask for acceptance from others Callan. By doing so you are questioning Luna. You are what

you are. You are special my boy. You don't have to prove anything to anyone. Soon everyone will

realize your worth and they will regret their doings." Aurora was conversing in a different context all

together. But naïve Callan thought that Aurora was talking about the incident that occurred earlier.

He composed himself and wiped his tears.

"Thank you for the talk. It helped me a lot." Callan smiled at the lady.

Aurora observed that the sky was now translucent and the moon bathed the ground with its light. The

rains were long gone and water was swallowed by the ground. She got up and gave a hand to Callan

who looked at her perplexed.

"Let's go."

"Where?"

"To the Celebrations."

Callan hesitated "To be honest I don't feel like going there after whatever happened."

"You have to go there to prove everyone that you are not a loser. You are much stronger than they think

and they cannot break you."

"I don't know." Callan was reluctant and unsure.

"Common Cally. I promise you are free to leave once you gift your present. Please do it for your

parents."

Callan heaved a sigh of defeat and held Aurora's hand.

Aurora was right. In his growing years Callan was always taunted and tortured for him being himself.

But it never mattered to him back them. He had seen worse than this. Then why were his emotions all

over the place tonight? What was so special about tonight that affected him so deeply?

Callan concluded that it must have been the years of anguish and sufferings that must have finally

erupted today. He felt light. Contented.

On the other hand Aurora knew that Einar had recognized the early signs about Callan being his mate.

But was pensive for why he was denying the pull or not acknowledging his mate. She was hopeful that

everything would be fine once Einar and Callan meet tonight.

Little did she know what awaited them at the Alpha house..