Chapter 16: Chapter Sixteen

Axel

"I mean … what the heck was that?" Cat shouted once they got into Axel's truck. "We were all dancing and having fun, and then someone screamed. Did either of you see who? And what was with the lights? You think the animal got someone?" Cat asked, nearly jumping with adrenaline.

Claire gave Axel a sideway glance and shrugged. "I don't know," she said. "We heard the same thing—"

"Where is your shirt?" Cat asked Axel.

Axel cleared his throat. "I lost it while dancing—"

Cat gave him a deadpan look. "Were you trying to hook up with my friend? Because I think you should know that I don't approve of this. She told me how you treated her in high school, and I think it'll only take two seconds before you go back to dogging her. You keep your penis to yourself."

"Oh my gosh," Claire said, covering her face. "He wasn't trying to have sex with me. He's telling the truth. We were dancing and—"

Cat sat back and folded her arms over her chest. "You two were dancing? Did Mr. Bully get ballsy with his hands?" she asked.

Claire sighed, clearly embarrassed.

"No," Axel answered for her. "I wasn't. She wanted to dance, and we danced. Get over it, unless you want to walk home."

Cat rolled her neck as if she planned to tell him something, but Claire shook her head. "I don't want to be stuck in-between the two of you arguing all the way home. Come off it."

Cat sat back down. "Hmm. Well, anyway, I haven't heard anything about what happened," she said, checking her phone. "But when I do, I'll let you know. That was the party to beat this semester, for sure. The lights. The screams. I can't imagine anything better even for Halloween."

Axel kept his mouth closed and dropped Cat off at her dorm room, then drove Claire over toward her apartment. He didn't want to leave her, and by the way she clasped her hands together, he didn't think she'd want him to leave.

He parked in the parking lot and glanced over at her. Her hazel eyes were wide in a way that told him she was scared. "Are you scared?" he asked.

She tucked a hair behind her ear. "Would you think I was a baby if I said yes?"

He chuckled. "No. You just saw a lycan, again, even closer this time. I think it's safe to say you aren't a baby. You didn't pee yourself, did you? Because I think I might have the first time I saw one."

She laughed, and he loved the way her head fell back against the headrest.

"Do you want me to stay the night?" Axel asked. "I don't mind sleeping on the couch again."

"You promise you don't mind?" she asked.

Axel turned off his truck and pulled out the key. "Of course not. Let's go."

He walked with her to her apartment building and unlocked the door for her. The silence felt unsettling after everything that happened that night, and she sensed it too because she turned on her TV. "Are you hungry? I think I want a little snack."

"I could have a snack," he answered. "I need to make a phone call first. Do you mind if I step outside? Holler if you need me."

"Go ahead," she said, waving him on.

Axel stepped out into the breezeway and pulled out his phone. His mother had already called him several times, and he knew what it was about. Someone told the pack about the lycan attack. Most likely some wolf on campus. He'd passed a few from neighboring packs, but no one he knew personally.

"Hello?" his mother nearly yelled into the phone. "Are you okay? I heard about the lycan attack. Did you see him or her? Did you get a good look? Where you at the party?"

"Knock it off," his dad said from the other end of the line. "Give the boy a chance to speak, Helen."

She huffed but went quiet.

Axel rubbed his palm down his face. "I found him, and I fought him at a party tonight."

His dad sighed, and his mother gasped. "Were you hurt?"

"He broke a couple of my ribs, but I'm fine. They've healed already."

"Did he hurt anyone this time? How did you see him?" Mom asked.

"I was with Claire at the party—"

"Who is Claire?" she asked.

Axel opened his mouth to lie, but he hesitated, and she knew. She knew he found her and hadn't told them. Foot meet mouth.

"Axel Mitchel Davers!" she shouted, making his ears ring. "You found your damn mate, and you haven't told any of us? What's her name? What is this? Why wouldn't you tell me? I've been asking for weeks—"

"She doesn't know she's my mate," he blurted out. "She knows I'm a werewolf because I saved her—"

"She's human?" his dad asked.

"Yes."

He imaged crickets chirping in the background, but it didn't last long. His mother squealed at the top of her lungs. "Finally! You've found your Luna. I can't wait to tell the other shewolves. They've been worried that you wouldn't find her—"

"Wait," Axel said. "She doesn't know. I don't want you to tell anyone yet. Okay? I need to make a run to the pack house tomorrow, and I'm bringing her because I'm afraid to leave her alone here. She's escaped the lycan twice, and I can't risk it. She works tomorrow morning, and after, we're coming. As far as the pack is concerned … she's just my friend."

His dad stayed silent, but his mother scoffed. "Axel. Why haven't you told her? You trust her with the secret of being a werewolf, but not being your mate? That's absurd."

Axel closed his eyes and rested his forearms against the railing of the stairway. "Listen, it's complicated—"

"You knew her?" his dad asked. "Before college."

"She went to school with me," he admitted. "And I wasn't nice to her."

"Axel," his mother hissed. "I raised you better than that."

"I know," he said. "She's forgiven me, but I don't want her to like me because of the bond but because she actually cares for me. I'm going to have to earn it with her. So can we not tell everyone until I tell her?"

"Fine," his mother said, annoyed.

"We'll have a pack meeting tomorrow when you get here," his dad said. "We'll make accommodations for you and …"

"Claire Summers," he said. "Thank you both."

"Well talk when you get here," his dad said sharply, which told Axel he was pissed.

"Okay."

"Love you, son," his mother said. "Please be kind to your Luna."

Axel rolled his eyes, not taking the time to explain anything. He'd worry about it tomorrow. "Love you, Mom."

He hung up the phone and walked back into her apartment. The smell of chocolate covered popcorn lingered in the air. Claire sat on the couch with a bowl in her lap and another one on the living room table.

She looked naturally beautiful with big hazel eyes and a mess of blonde hair on top of her head. She'd changed into pajamas with her bare feet tucked underneath her. "You like popcorn?" she asked.

Axel kicked off his shoes and took a seat beside her, grabbing his bowl. "Of course."

"So … you don't like eat raw meat?"

He rolled his eyes. "No, but I have a very heavy meat diet. I like an occasional snack."

She smiled. "What about scary movies?"

He glanced at her small flat screen on a tiny entertainment center. Netflix was up, and a list of scary movies listed across the screen. "I'm down. Is this your attempt at Netflix and chill with me, Claire?"

She lowered her gaze to the bowl of popcorn in front of her. "No—I mean, if you want it to be—I was just thinking it's Friday night, and—"

Axel chuckled. "Claire. It's fine. I didn't give you a chance in high school, and I'd like to get to know you. Is that okay?"

She nodded and tossed a piece of popcorn into the air and caught it. "Sounds good. Pick a show," she said, sliding him the remote.

Axel picked a random movie, not caring which one, and glanced over at Claire. "I need you to come to the pack house with me tomorrow after work. We're having a meeting, and I don't want to leave you here. Are you okay with that?"

The popcorn in her hand fell to her bowl, and her eyes widened. "You mean to meet your family?"

Axel studied her face and nodded. "Yeah, my parents and the other wolves. Is that okay? Are you scared?"

Claire smirked. "Are you going to protect me if one of them gets after me?"

"I've protected you so far, haven't I?"

She nodded. "You have."

"So you'll go?"

"Sure," she said softly. "I'm curious to see where you grew up, but I need to be back Sunday. I'm going to see my Aunt Demetria. You know if you show up at my house with me, my dad and aunt are going to think we're together," she said.

Axel shrugged. "I can play the dutiful boyfriend if you need me to."

Claire smirked. "Can you?"

He eyed her, controlling the urge to smile, he tossed a piece of popcorn at her face. "I can. Your dad will love me."

She snorted. "Don't hold your breath. He's a little on the reluctant side of me dating."

"You're his baby girl—of course he is," Axel said. "But I'll be on my best behavior if you are on yours."

Claire chuckled. "I don't have bad behavior, Axel."

"I don't believe that," he said. "I think there are some bad thoughts that travel through your mind."

She blushed a deep red and averted her eyes to the TV. "We're missing the movie."

Axel smiled and turned his attention back to the screen. He found Claire more entertaining than the TV. Everything new he learned made him regret what he did and pulled him closer into telling her the truth.