I Claim Your Love

The old woman was short with a fair complexion. Her wrinkles and grey hair clearly showed that the woman had crossed her peak long ago. But still one could see the spirit and enthusiasm in her as it was a special day. Among the many grandchildren she had, she admired Callan the most and he was with her today. Not only was he kind and loving but also he would regularly visit the old couple every chance he got.

The old Ashton was not still; she baked and had conversation with her grandchild simultaneously. But what stood out most was the happiness and content which she was experiencing in her otherwise mundane life.

She served him a full meal of beef, pork and her famous muffins. Callan was surprised at how the old lady could still manage to perform her duties in the kitchen. He savored every bite of the meat with hunger, eagerness to consume it all. He moaned and rolled his eyes every now and then indicating how delicious the meal really was.

After the meal, both of them went straight to the garden where the old lady was eager to show the man her new plantations and the blossoming flowers when Callan suddenly asked.. "Why don't you come with us grandma? I miss you so much! I feel really bad when you can't visit me on my birthdays."

"I wish it was that easy my child. When your grandfather passed on the mantle to your father he really was not relieved from his duties." The old lady replied.

"How can that be possible?" Callan was puzzled as to what the old lady was referring to.

"The King invites people around the world who have relinquished their positions to their successors. Every couple of the esteemed high ranks has got to stay in his lands."

Callan sighed and said "I know about this grandma but father told me that it was your choice if you really want to go or not then why do you wish to stay here?"

The old lady chuckled "Believe me my child if it was really a choice we would have never chosen to be in this place. The King does not 'enforce' anyone to be a part of their land. Not directly though."

She snorted with her head hung low as if she remembered something unpleasant. "He wants the high ranks to join him so that he would always have an upper hand on their respective packs. The elders of the pack are a treasured lot due to their knowledge and experience and without them most of the packs would collapse."

She plucked some flowers and deposited them in her basket. She stepped ahead of a beautiful violet rose and closed her eyes smelling the divine essence of the flower. "When it came to the blue moon pack, Ragnar's father and Umberto's father, the then Alpha and beta were martyrs for their land as they died saving all of the pack. Both Ragnar and Umberto had to take the responsibility of being an Alpha and Beta at a very tender age. Thankfully he did not change the positions of the other ranks for quite a time until which he mastered himself on all accounts through administration and warfare."

She looked at her grandchild and smiled weakly. "The King was getting impatient because there were no representations from the blue moon pack as Ragnar refused to appoint new people as the successors of the respective jobs. The King deemed it as defiance to his laws and started creating problems for Ragnar. He forced other packs to revoke their treaties. The blue moon pack was disbanded from attending the royal palace. Means of livelihood and trade were disrupted systematically while the King refused any help to the pack in case of adversity."

She moved one step further and caressed the cheeks of Callan with admiration and love. She lowered her gaze, turned her back to pick out some more fresh flowers. "Ragnar was brave enough to overcome all the difficulties without any outside assistance. He successfully created a strong army and with the help of his shedim spirit he never lost any battle. He created job opportunities for his men in the pack itself. The pack was self sufficient and prosperous all on its own. It was strong enough to face any army; even the King's!"

Callan huffed and asked "Then why are you still here?"

The old lady sighed, she paused for a bit and then said "Zelda was pregnant for the very first time. Everyone was excited for the arrival of the baby; the future Alpha; the heir to Ragnar's throne." She closed her eyes and a tiny drop escaped her eye.

"What happened?" Callan asked worriedly at the disheartened look of his grandmother. She slowly opened her eyes and gathered her strength with a deep breath.

"Zelda's pregnancy news spread like wildfire everywhere and with that followed a systematic attack routine of the ferals and some rival packs alternately. It was like everyone of them wanted to eliminate Ragnar's child. And that is what happened eventually!"

Callan stopped in his tracks when he heard the sentence. "W-What do you mean?"

"In one such battle... Zelda lost her first child."

Callan gasped in shock and pictured a distraught and shattered Luna Zelda. This meant that Einar was not the first child of the Alpha couple.

"The entire pack was devastated, especially Ragnar. That was the beginning of the series of misfortunes the pack had to endure."

"You mean there were more people who died! Who?"

The old lady weakly nodded "The loss of the child brought bad luck to the pack. There were no new mate pairs as not a single pack allowed their members to associate with us. The hunting grounds became limited due to encroachers as also the water source was almost depleting. In this great apathy it was poor Zelda who had suffered the most. After her first child she lost three more children..!"

Callan could not believe his ears. His eyes were wide while his mouth remained hung open in shock. There was only sympathy and compassion within him for the Luna. Unknown to him the weather around the place suddenly become cloudy with light showers pouring on the land.

"We elders took a tough decision and decided to accept the offer of the King to reside in his land to save the pack of some misery and bad omen. Ragnar and Zelda revolted against our decision. They urged us to stay and be united in those adverse times but we had made our minds. It took weeks to make them see reason but they finally understood our plight and let us go."

around were quite ironic. While every other person praised the emperor the Ashtons were not impressed by him it seemed. "You always say that the King is not to be trusted.

and all the packs around the world. Every elder knows that this man wants to rule the world and would not shy from going to any lengths to achieve his dream. He has created hatred among people about a particular community and united the rest of the people. Now he is misguiding them into believing his every

we suspected that the King had something to do with the attacks on our pack. In fact there were

bit sad thinking about the ordeals alpha Ragnar had to go through

their respective packs. As long as we stay in this

mate had left for the market. She connected him

****

reasons he did not have any scent on him but this did not deterred Einar from finding his way. He chased the smell of the horse which Callan was riding on his way here. He was led

but who could she possibly be? He frowned at the thought of someone being this close to Callan It doesn't matter.. As long as she is after my mate

was about to crash the entrance when he was dashed by an elderly man with all the strength he could muster. This movement caused Einar to

you just once... STAY BACK." The

that Einar could easily overpower the old man in every aspect. Still the elderly was not moving and adamant in his stand

challenge and he growled. His sound creeped fear into the spine of the old man and he realized that the man in front should

it was

grabbed the old man by his collar and thrashed him towards the nearest wall. His hands curled around the old

instant. Her stature was collapsing before she weakly pointed her index finger towards the door. Callan panicked and was worried for his grandmother. He followed her direction and opened

made his eyes wide with

of Einar and the other one on

immediately. He blinked his

heavy. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes open but thankfully the old man survived the assault as his

hot furious face. He stood up and turned to look at the culprit. The wind was now

And indeed it was.

back. Callan could not believe how Einar would possibly

his mate brought excitement and anger to Einar's wolf. He was about to confront Callan when a small petite hand on Callan's shoulders stopped

"Don't be angry son."

to meet were his grandparents! That the special female was none other than his

old man silenced

she recognized Einar by his looks and communicated her mate about the same. He felt guilty and angry about himself as he could not recognize

you. I thought of you

Einar. It was his grandfather after all. Moreover Einar

beasts were cowering inside of him with shame and disgust. Instead of apologizing he could only utter "It-It is alright Mr. Ashton" he held his head low "I-I think I should leave." He turned his back and strode hurriedly. Shame was stinging his soul as

while the old lady nursed his mate

here?" the

"I don't know."

with your every visit. Surely the girls must swoon on your every move." The old man chuckled and slapped his shoulder

blushing smile vanished when his grandfather

his lips and lowered his eyes while his silence answered the

my child you will find her soon."

a he?" the question took both Callan and his

are you implying?" the lady

mate might be a male. There is a possibility for that and you know it." The old man tried to reason

people experience I have felt none, neither with any woman

you saying this all of a sudden?" Even Callan wanted to know why his grandfather was broaching