He’s My Alpha by Cassandra M (Jake & Clair)
Chapter 77: THE CLAIMING
Clair
“Enough Gavin. Yield now. Your Luna orders you to do so.” I said, softly enough for him to hear, as tears dropped from my eyes into Aeon’s fur, while my arms gripped his wolf’s neck in a tight hug.
Gavin looked at me with regret in his eyes before he tapped the ground beside him. He submitted, as I told him to do.
Alpha Aeon’s wolf loosened its hold on the Beta’s neck and slowly moved away from his body, dragging me along as I was still holding on to his neck. I let go of my arms around him, and in an instant, I fell backward.
As soon as he completely let go of the Beta, I scrambled back to my feet and took the Beta’s coat. I dropped to my knees and covered his naked body. Blood trailed down on his shoulders and torso as he whimpered in silent agony. I cradled his head in my lap, doing my best to keep him awake, tapping his cheek gently, cooing him with words of encouragement. “Gavin, please please…”
“You disappointed me, Clair. I fought with my life to claim you and yet you took time to cradle my opponent into your arms?” Alpha Aeon’s strong words hit me, but I couldn’t tilt my head to look at him.
Instead, I moved the Beta’s head gently away from my lap and laid it on the ground. In seconds, Matteo and Harrold went forward and a*s*sisted the Beta, placing him carefully on a stretcher.
Matteo looked at me with sadness flitting in his eyes, as if he was trying to read any thoughts that I might have, before finally nodding at me. “We’ll take care of him.”
Still, on my knees, I continued to clutch my heart as if it could protect me. My eyes darted at Alpha Aeon as he walked towards me. He was already fully clothed. His men were walking away from the arena. They had probably given him clothes while I was busy with the Beta.
He took his steps slowly, and his gaze did not wander away from mine. He stopped in front of me and extended his hand for me to take, “Arise, my Luna.”
I looked down at the ground, slowly rising to my feet while holding my breath.
“My name is Clair, Alpha Aeon,” I answered respectfully, but I refused to look at him.
Frustration started to roll off of his aura before it changed into anger.
I swallowed hard as bile threatened to rise from my throat. This was so wrong.
“Have I done anything to despise you? Were my actions not enough to let you know how much I wanted you? How much my pack crave for you as their Luna?” I felt his hand snake around the nape of my neck as he took one more step forward, our bodies brushing against each other.
He leaned closer, his breath touching the skin of my neck while his thumb gently rubbed the spot where a mark should be.
“My wolf is so close to claiming you, Clair. And I can a*s*sure you it will be painful. I am the only one standing in the way of him doing that. Submit, and we will make it less painful for you.”
He moved his hand to my jaw, forcing me to look at him while I maintained my silence. “Look at me. You will be mine, and all others before me will be forgotten. Am I understood?”
I closed my eyes and let the tears fall once more from my eyes.
I was losing this battle. There was nothing left to do but to submit and accept this life with him.
I took a deep breath with my eyes closed, ready to bob my head when a ferocious growl stopped me.
His growl marred the air around us, shaking the ground.
And then his smell hit me, the intoxicating smell of forest and pinewood. Something I never thought I would be able to smell again.
“I dare you to touch what’s MINE!!!” My Alpha roared. I felt his Alpha aura rolling off all over the arena, but my head felt light. I didn’t even have a hard time tilting my head up.
I snapped my eyes open and turned my head in his direction.
He’s here.
He came for me.
My Alpha came for me.
He moved with a lethal grace that awed me despite the fear in my heart. He approached where we stood, his eyes not leaving mine. And for the first time since I was taken, a real smile curled on my lips.
If I die now, I would die willingly in peace, knowing he came for me.
“Isn’t this fascinating? An Alpha and his Beta aiming for the same woman?” Alpha Aeon let out a sarcastic laugh that took me out of my reverie.
Jake stopped a few meters away from us. He ignored Aeon’s words and instead reached out his hand in my direction. “Clair, come here.” His eyes were gazing softly into mine, pleading for me to take his hand.
I took a step forward too eagerly, but Alpha Aeon was fast. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back, earning a growl from my mate.
I shoved Alpha Aeon’s hand off me and the moment his hand left mine, Jake launched forward and, in a split second, had him pinned on the ground, his hand coiled at the collar of Aeon’s shirt while his body hovered over him in a crouched position.
“I warned you not to touch her!” He bellowed at him. His face was maddeningly red with anger.
A sarcastic smile curved on Aeon’s lips. “F*uc*k!
Jacob! Let’s do this the right way. You’re already at an advantage in this position. Let me go and let’s get this started.” He mocked him, both his hands holding Jake’s hand upon his collar, halting it from being pressed on his throat.
Jake loosened his hold on him and rose to his feet. He gave me a glance. His eyes softened again as he met my stare. I wanted to run to him and fling my arms around him, but I stopped in my tracks as I saw Aeon crouched in position, ready to attack.
“Enough!” Aeon bellowed, and the moment Jake snapped his head back in his direction, he lunged forward, striking hard and fast. His face warped with rage, and I heard a bone snap as his knuckles hit Jake’s jaw.
“NO!” I screamed as blood splattered out of his mouth. His head swung to the side, but my mate did not falter from his position. A loud beastly snarl vibrated from his chest as he wiped the blood off his mouth with his arm. His eyes followed Aeon’s movement as the latter circled around him.
It happened so fast that I didn’t notice when Jake leaped and attacked back. All I saw was bodies gliding through the air, battling for supremacy.
They were almost the same height, but Aeon’s built was nothing compared to my mate’s. Jake had the stance of a real warrior, and with every blow he connected with Aeon’s body. Aeon, by far, was still a young Alpha compared to him. I’ve seen how Jake fought in his human form and knew that there was no way Aeon could hold against him.
But no matter how I trusted my mate to win this battle, my traitorous heart couldn’t stop thudding loudly, in fear of losing him again, losing the possibilities of us being together.
wwwvw –
Jake
Rage rolled off my whole body the moment I saw Clair being held on her neck by Aeon. A minute later, it might have resulted in her being marked, and that was something I could never live with.
“Clair, come here.” My eyes begged for her to choose me, and the moment she did, the f*uc*king Aeon pulled her back so hard that I was not able to control my wolf as he let out a growl while my legs sprang forward and pinned the bastard on the ground.
“I warned you not to touch her!” I roared at him, my eyes blazing with fire.
“F*uc*k! Jacob! Let’s do this the right way. You’re already at an advantage in this position. Let me go and let’s get this started.” The c*oc*ky bastard had the nerve to smile when he knew I could end his life in this instance.
I loosened my hold on him and rose to my feet. I looked at my mate for a second, to check if I didn’t drag her along when I lunged at Aeon. My breathing went back to normal when I saw her safe and found her eyes were on me all this time.
“Enough!” Aeon bellowed as he launched forward and caught me off guard.
The f*uc*ker hit me hard. I tasted blood. But that would be the f*uc*king last time.
Aeon circled around me as my eyes followed his movement. Patience, I told my wolf.
He grinned at me before he leaped forward. He had pulled back his arm, clenching his fist as he attacked. His fists flew at furious speed. I saw his every movement, and then his eyes, but I was aiming for his nose, to eliminate his vision.
I coiled my hand into a fist and aimed for the front of his nose. I met him in mid-air. He hit me again, but I felt no pain. I didn’t stop until my knuckles hit the one I was aiming for. Blood splattered all over as his body was hurled backward and hit the ground.
He grabbed my arm and twisted it as I swung again. I recoiled in pain but immediately got up and got over it. This has been going on longer than I thought.
I turned to the side and brought his forearm up to counter his incoming attack. My knuckles rammed into his stomach. It pained him. I had been targeting his stomach all this time. He finally recoiled from the punch and dropped to his knees. He growled back at me, baring his teeth as his fangs elongated.
“Shifting on your wolf now?” I did not conceal my smirk as I brushed the hair off my forehead.
I should cut my hair a little shorter because it is annoying me now.
Aeon aggressively tried to get up on his feet, but I knew his defense had faltered. I surged forward and attacked his face head-on.
His body dropped to the ground, and with my injured elbow from his twisting, I slammed it hard on his chest, jerking his body forward.
He was hurt, but I kept going. I wanted him to be unable to move by the time I was done with him.
Blood oozed out of his mouth as I stood up from his body. My foot stepped on the soft spot between his shoulder blade and his neck.
I spat out blood from my own mouth before I caught his eyes. “Give me a reason why I shouldn’t end your life,” I told him coldly, hatred coursing through my veins.
Aeon might be a friend, but everything stops here. I couldn’t look at him and see the Alpha I grew up with. And if there were no spectators around us, I would end his life now.
No one touched what was mine.
A rumble of snarling growls revebrated from his chest, but not a muscle of his body moved. His hostile eyes never left mine. I dug my foot deeper. I could feel his shoulder blade cracking slowly.
He winced in pain before he raised his arm slightly and tapped the earth to surrender.
Suddenly, I heard movement on the grounds a few feet away.
I should let him go. He surrendered, but I was not done with him yet.
I pressed my foot deeper into his skin, more bones snapped before I issued my last warning. “You will never come near my mate again. Put your hand on what’s mine, I will make sure to give you a painful death. And I’ll follow you to hell if I need to and make sure you’ll suffer more.”
His men came forward, and it was only then that I let go of his limp body, wiping the blood off my mouth and cheek with the back of my palm before turning around to face my Alpha Female, my mate, my Luna.