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I see all the guys exchanging looks, and not impressed ones. I ball my fists up by my side as irritation gets to me. Are they not hearing what I’m saying?
“You guys had an education, right?” I continue through gritted teeth. “So, you must know about curses and things like that. There’s absolutely no reason why we should think that this is any different. This could really be one of those moments. We could do some good here.”
“Do you really think that this is the way forward?” Cain asks while leaning his hands on the table. I know he’s very gung ho when it comes to violence and he always thinks that’s the answer, but I don’t agree with him this time. As the alpha, he’s going to have to listen to what I want. “I don’t know if chasing after some necklace is going to wind up being a big waste of our time. Couldn’t we try and coax them into our pack in other ways?”
I narrow my eyes angrily at him. He doesn’t know Clara like I do, he doesn’t have the same connection to her that I do. He hasn’t really seen or tasted her, he doesn’t know that she’s my mate and I really feel like I would do anything for her.
“This is the way we need to do things,” I insist through gritted teeth. “There is no other way. I’m being serious. This is what we need to do…”
“You know, you might be right,” Sledge suddenly interjects with a thoughtful air about him. “Because the amulet in the necklace was glowing in a weird way when the ceremony was going on. It did seem like something I haven’t ever seen before.”
“Yeah actually, you might be right,” Adam agrees, much to my relief. “It was odd. Maybe weshouldtry and get the necklace. Then at least we can try and see if this is real. If there is something to it. And it stops any more violence for the time being.”
I can tell that Cain doesn’t like the way that we’re all in agreement, but this is what needs to happen. The sooner he comes to terms with that, the better as far as I’m concerned. I try to stop the slightly smug smile from spreading across my face, but it’s hard.
“So, this is what we’re going to do. We’re going to keep on going as we are, while focusing on the necklace. Discretely, we need to get hold of it, to run some tests, or maybe to see if it’s real. Then if we can destroy it, and that does break the curse then so be it.”
“And what do we do if she fights against that?” Cain demands, exasperated. “You might be shocked to learn that I actually don’t want this to end in violence. I don’t want things to escalate badly, but if Clara doesn’t want to have the wolf taken from her, then what?”
I part my lips, but I don’t have anything to say to that. I guess I really didn’t think about that. I wasn’t worried about Clara not wanting to give up her wolf side, but we might need to deal with that. I really am going to have to come to a decision on that option at some point. But now doesn’t have to be that moment. Now we can just be okay with the choices that I’ve made, especially with Sledge and Adam on my side.
“I don’t know,” I finally answer. “We will cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, we just need to concentrate on getting close enough to Clara to get the necklace. Unfortunately, right now, she’s not best pleased with me, so I can’t do it…”
I’m pretty gutted as I say this aloud. I didn’t want things to go so south with Clara. I wanted us to have an adult discussion about it, but I fucked up bad. I didn’t handle it in the right way, and I sent her running for the hills. Judging by the way things went, I don’t think she’s going to be coming back any time soon.
“Okay, soweneed to find a way to get close to her?” Adam asks. Is this just my paranoia, or does he sound a little too happy about this? “What do we do?”
I stare at Adam, hoping this is just the hangover talking. I don’t want to eventhinkabout him having feelings for Clara, too. That would really complicate things. I haven’t really seen Adam with a woman, so I don’t know what his type is. I don’t know what he likes, who he likes. I don’t know what to do about everything.
He’s taken me back a little, but I keep thinking that I don’t need any more drama, especially when it might not be real. I lean back in my seat and just watch for a moment, trying to see them working out what they need to do.
“I think we just need to be friends with her and the pack,” Cain jumps in. “Act like we care for her and her wellbeing.”
“What if she leaves though?” Sledge asks. “The whole pack? They don’t very often stay in one place, do they? I remember Brian talking about that a lot.”
“He did, but he’s gone now, isn’t he?” Cain reminds everyone. “Clara is in charge now, and she might be easier to keep in one place while we sort this out. I think if we can act like her friend and make her think that we’re looking out for her, then she will stay. Unfortunately, Mason, you will have to keep your distance.”
I nod along even though that kills me. “I know. I don’t want to send her running. I think this is something we really need to do, you know. I think this necklace could be key to a lot of things. Obviously, we need to try and do this without violence, but if wedoend up doing thiswithviolence, I don’t want any hands on her. Clara needs to stay alive.”
I try to let them see how firm I am with this. I want them to know that they can’t touch her because she’s my mate and I need to keep her around. No matter what is going on, I need to keep her alive. I can’t let her slip away. I can’t lose her, that’s the one thing I’m certain of.
“Okay,” Adam finally agrees, thankfully taking this seriously. I don’t know if he hears my hidden meaning to this, as in I don’t want anyone to touch her in any way. I don’t want their hands on her at all. She belongs tome. We are the only ones who have that connection. Right? “Yes, I agree, Mason, this is the best way to do things. We have to get our hands on the necklace and to work things out from there. Make a plan when the time comes, and we have more information.”
Finally, we’re all in agreement. It even seems like Cain has come around to my way of thinking. Once we get our hands on the necklace, then we can really work things out. This woman might have my head all in a spin, she might be driving me a little bit crazy, but I’m hoping it’s all going to work out in the end. I’m praying that somehow this will all work out. We might be skating on thin ice at the moment, this may well all be a hope and a prayer, but things may well work out, and that’s what I need to hold onto. The prospect that somehow, I will end up with my mate, with my happy ever after.
I’ve never been a romantic guy before, I’ve never wanted anything serious and long term in the past, but that’s because I’ve never met my mate before. I’ve not met Clara until now. Now she has my heart and she’s changed me forever.
11
CLARA
Shit.I can’t keep doing this. Not in secret any longer. I can’t keep hiding this because people are starting to work it out. Daniella has started asking questions, but then I would be the same if she was spending every morning with her head in the toilet, throwing up.
I have a horrible feeling that I know what’s going on, but I don’t want to admit it yet.
The sickness isn’t the only sign that I might be… well, the P word that I don’t want to admit out loud, even to myself because I’m absolutely terrified. I’m also having weird food cravings and I’m nauseous all the time. Also, I’m late, which is the one sure fire sign that my body might be doing something it isn’t used to. My body runs like clockwork, usually, so I really do feel like I have something to be afraid of here.
Oh God,I lean back in the bathroom and grip hold of my thumping head.What the hell am I going to do? If I really am… well, pregnant, then what will I do?
