Chapter Forty-One

Claire

The feeling of surprise and fear sucked the voice from her throat, making it hard to breathe. Whoever slung her over their shoulder was most likely male due to the ease and the broadness of his shoulders.

When he took the first step, Claire's voice returned, and she screamed at the top of her lungs. Swinging her limbs wildly, she caught the post of Axel's bed with her hand and jerked them both back.

"Help!" she screamed, praying Axel could hear her plea, or feel her fear.

This bastard was not taking her anywhere.

He grunted and jerked Claire until her fingertips slipped from the post, and he hauled her toward the open bedroom window. Fear snaked its claws down her spine, shoving her into survival gear.

She kicked and pulled until he struggled to keep her in his arms. The bedroom door swung open in a loud swish, and Axel stood in the door like an Avenger.

Claire could hardly see through the darkness of the room, but she knew it was him. She smelled him and felt him near. His showing up fueled her kidnapper, and he leaped forward, flinging them both out of the window.

If the guy was supernatural and just in his human form, he didn't shift and save them both the hurt of falling from the second story. Thankfully, she landed on him, but the breath was knocked out of her quickly.

Axel's silhouette materialized in the window above her as the guy lugged her up and began to run. She knew werewolves were guarding the woods, so she wasn't sure how he got inside the property, or if he pretended to be on duty to blend in.

Either way, Claire didn't care. She wasn't going with him. Not today. Not ever.

She began to kick and scream, claw and bite, which made him call her every name under the sun. She didn't recognize his voice, but she wasn't sure she would with her adrenaline pumping into her veins.

Axel landed against the ground several feet behind them, and she knew he'd catch them easily. She wasn't sure what this guy's plan was considering he was surrounded by hundreds of wolves and unarmed apparently.

It all seemed odd and out of place.

The guy made it to the woods when a blast came from the front yard, a bright light surged the area, circling the pack house like lighting. The light hit both Claire and her kidnapper, knocking them both back onto the ground.

Claire groaned, feeling a sharp pain in her leg for the first time. Axel's warm arms lifted her up, and he glanced down at her. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"My leg," she said.

He nodded as three wolves from behind him swept past, chasing her kidnapper into the woods. Axel lifted her up into his arms and stroked the side of her face, pulling leaves from her hair.

"How did the other wolves know to come?" she asked.

He began walking toward the infirmary. "It's a mind-link. Wolves within the same pack can communicate that way."

Claire clung tightly to his neck. "Could I speak to you that way?"

He glanced down. "I'm not sure. You're not a wolf, not that we know of, but you have something in your bloodline or the lycan wouldn’t want you this way. When we find out what that is, it'll be easier to know if a mind-link is possible."

Claire closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. When they arrived at the infirmary, Aunt D, Grace, and who she assumed was a nurse stood there waiting.

"Are you okay?" Aunt D asked, running over.

Axel sat her down on the patient chair and stood back, running his palm over his head.

"I'm fine," Claire said, embarrassment crawling up her neck. "I just hurt my leg," she said, looking down for the first time.

It was scraped with blood and dirt clinging to it.

"Did you get a look at him?" Axel asked. "I didn't recognize his smell, and he kept his hood up. The wolves said they chased him to the river, and he disappeared in front of them."

That gave Claire shivers. "I didn't. I didn't recognize his voice either. I'm just glad he didn't get me. I was so scared he'd take me, and … I don't even want to think about it."

Axel growled lowly from beside her. "Don’t think about it," he said, rubbing her cheek. "Let's get your leg better so you can relax."

The nurse began wiping off her leg and patching it up.

"Were the bang and bright lights from you?" she asked Aunt D.

She smirked. "You know I like to go out with a bang. Have you ever known me to be subtle?"

"Not since I've known you," Claire said. "Have you had time to see about my bloodline?"

She sighed. "I started it, but it takes time. I plan to get back to the house in the morning and work on it. Is it okay if I stay the night tonight?"

Grace patted her shoulder. "Of course, you can. Kerry will show you where to stay."

Aunt D cringed. "Not with him, I hope."

Axel snorted. "Yeah right, you're not marked, and that's not happening here, believe me. I've tried—"

Grace hit his chest. "Excuse me for sticking to pack rules. Kerry is outside guarding the place if you're ready to settle down for the night. You look dirty from your …witchery."

Aunt D laughed. "I am dirty. Let me go get cleaned up. I'll see you in the morning, babe. Call me if you need me."

"I'm going to talk to Kerry about how the guy got in before they run off. I'll be right back."

He jogged out of the room, leaving Claire with Grace and her nurse. Grace walked over and put her palms on Claire's cheeks. "We are going to get through this together. We're going to put an end to the lycan, get you some combat training, and you're going to enjoy college before you start your luna duties. You're going to grow old with Axel, have babies if you want, and be happy. This is just a small bump in the road, okay? We will get through this."

Tears began to stream down her eyes, and her bottom lip trembled. The fact Claire hadn't felt motherly love overwhelmed her. "Thank you."

Grace leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Now, let's get your leg fixed up, so you can actually take a nap. And it looks like you may need another shower. This time, Axel can take one with you."

Claire's cheeks turned bright red.

"Mom," Axel said from the doorway.

Grace lifted her arms into the air and chuckled. "It's not like I don't know you two are doing it now that you're marked—"

The nurse, who'd been quiet most of the visit, patted Claire's leg. "I’m saving you. Your leg is bandaged and ready."

"Thank God," Axel groaned, gesturing for Claire to follow him. "Do you need me to carry you?"

"I've got it," Claire said, stepping outside with him. "What did Kerry say? Do we know how he got inside the property?"

Axel shook his head. "No one knows if he blended in because he was in human form or not. But it won't happen again. The protection spell is up, and we're protected for now."

"What now?" Claire asked.

Axel swallowed. "We're calling Delia's dad. I can't let this bastard get to you, and if he will exchange information for Delia, then so be it. He can have the hunter if it brings us closer to where the lycan is hiding."

Claire glanced around the yard, and back at the pack house. "Is it safe to go back? I need another bath."

Axel's eyes danced in the moonlight. "Dad ordered several wolves to watch the house tonight. We're safe. Come on, I think my mom had a good idea," he leaned in and whispered, his breath dancing along her skin. "I think I will join you this time."