© Claimed By Him ~ Elektra Thea

*|Sam|*

"I thought you were the butler." The father inquired when I threw his expensive cape to the floor into a messy pile. Luna with an already pale face, just got paler as soon she caught me following her family close behind. She narrowed her eyes on the iron grip of Comtesse Mystique on my sleeve.

"Oh God..." She muttered under her breath that only my sensitive hearing could muster. I dared not to look at anyone else's face except for the father since he so willingly believes I'm nothing but a bloody slave. It angers me! Do I look that pathetic?

"I don't serve anyone." I growled down him.

Luna continued to cry silently. "This can't be happening."

"Hugo he's a friend of the the king's..." Mrs Mystique started stepping right next to her husband. She gave me a once over and must have made the assumption that I'm dangerous. Good at least someone here has some common sense. I'm the dangerous big bad wolf! Fear me! Don't look down on me! I look down on you!

"You don't recognise your cousin?" Curtis more pointed out then questioned. We all looked at him. Boy knows too much. He's purposely torturing me and Luna, for someone who seems to have such a deep crush you'd think he'd help his beloved. This just shows how bitter he is. I kept in mind that he is still better for her and shut the dark possessive beast inside me up.

Luna panicked her heart racing. Then she did the most astounding thing. "Of course you wouldn't. It's at least been half a century." She stated with a big smile. She gulped. She twiddled her fingers nervously at her sides meaning she's losing confidence in her lies. My eyes widened stunned at her foolishness. She is still going to carry out the family act? This is the end now do I run away or stay for the beating?

"What are you talking about?" The father asked. His dark eyes scanned me over then glared down at his daughter. As if she were a complete an utter nuisance, I couldn't find a loving speck on his body that showed he cared about her. Neither member of her family even went over to greet her or even hug her. They should be fretting or at least the mother should be a worrying fit for her daughter.

Mrs Mystique glared between Luna and I suspiciously. She suddenly threw her arms up being just as dramatically drastic as her daughter and the frilly sleeves helped her case. "He's my cousin's cousin! Oh look how much you've grown!" She took my hands and checked me up and down.

Unbelievable. "Not the little trouble maker any more." I said feigning nervous.

"Why haven't you come around to see us!?" She carried on even cupping my face and pinching my cheeks with a lot of force. 

"Luna wanted it to be a surprise."

"Now the surprise is ruined." Luna threw her arms up exasperated. I see where she learned her dramatic behaviour.

"Don't you recognise your own family?" Mrs Mystique scowled at her husband.

"Of course I do. Good lad, grew up well..." He conformed to the lie only because he was afraid to be the odd one out. He never wants to be the clueless man which must work in the ladies favours.

"What an interesting reunion." Mrs Crowly uttered walking over to Mrs Mystique. "Come now we have lunch all prepared."

Mrs Mystique looked ready to bite the head off a chicken. "We're here just to collect. But thank you so much of your kindness my dearest friend. You and your family have been wonderful with caring for her back to health."

"She was no trouble at all, now you must stay for lunch I will not let you go until we fill your bellies! Come along my husband is probably waiting about the dining hall now..."

They all greeted each other, Bloomy and blondie, Luna's sister and the father. All the awkwardness seemed to be ignored for the time being. Everyone was fooled apart from Curtis and myself as we are dead set on being polite until further notice.

"Oh Curtis or Mr Nightly do help Luna." Mrs Mystique waved her hands at us. Then she shared a look with Luna. Luna all of sudden seemed distressed while her mother smiled. I didn't understand it.

Curtis walked to her smiling and offering his arm. She narrowed his eyes on him. "I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own."

I chuckled. "No you're not," I walked to her side intertwining our arms and pulled her along past Bloomy. She tried to pull her arm away. I refused to let her go. She shot me a glare only recognisable to the victim holding the stare. Maybe she shot a glare at her mother too for some unknown reason.

"This sudden boldness will all come at a cost I hope you realise Sam." She whispered.

~*~*~

*|Luna|*

Lunch. I can't believe I made it through lunch. I am amazing. I mean I was sitting at their long mahogany table right between Ella and Sam, across from Curtis and Evan and watched curiously by Arielle my life-saving mother. The parents are all distracted in upcoming events and the theory of the beast-Alpha. The King is not taking the monster seriously, that's the fiery topic that everyone is fretting about. I hid away into a dark parlour with polished floor and a grand fireplace with a moose head above it. I had to get away to grab my bearings.

"That's disgusting." I muttered at the head. I jumped when the door creaked open behind me.

"I swear I have pants exactly like that." Curtis muttered to himself. I hid my mouth with my hand hiding my bewildered smile. I thought about Sam's legs, the pants he was wearing of course!

My dream wasn't just a dream Sam had come to me last night. Now he's in Curtis clothes? That I don't quite I understand and I can't bare to look at him in such attire. It makes me blush how every muscle is bugling through the fabric. Curtis must be very puny compared to Sam. Now that's a wicked thought.

"You scared me Curtis."

"Sorry." He slowly closed the door behind him and placed his hands together in front of him awkwardly. The hilt of the sword winking at me.

"The beast won't come here Curtis. I think you're worrying everyone with the rapier."

"No one seems to notice but Sam and yourself." I cocked my head to the side unsure if I should be taken back.

"It does make me nervous but I'm sure others are too afraid to question it. It's only me Curtis why carry it in here?"

"I didn't realise it frightened you."

"I see the silver and I think of his fangs." I did not want to say so I giggled. "I've heard how clumsy you are I don't want to be accidentally decapitated."

"I can assure you I am very skilled with a sword." He paced around the room often glancing at me then suddenly looked away. I watched him with my body and would turn around on the spot until he leaned back against the unlit fireplace. I swayed, dizziness washing over me but stood my ground as much as I could.

"Are you alright?" I questioned. He doesn't look alright. He looks deep in thought and the thoughts mustn't be pleasant. He shifted position to lean his shoulder against the fireplace with his head hanging low, staring up at me through his lashes. He is trying to search for words. I wish I could help him however I don't know what words he's looking for. "I'm beginning to think you might have caught my fever." I stepped forward and pressed my hot palm against his cool head. He removed my hand. He held it between us. I stared at our hands then at the door then back at him. Uh oh.

"I've never felt your skin before. I used to envy the gloves you wore. How privileged they were to feel the smoothness of your skin." He voiced softly rubbing circles on my hand with his thumb. It was soothing when it should have been unnerving. It's like he's under a trance and I'm slowly being dipped in it.

"An odd thing to be jealous-" He pressed his lips on my hand. I understood the jealousy as he tilted closer. My eyes widened as he kissed my cheek. I couldn't move. He kissed the corner of my mouth. I still couldn't move. When he aimed for my mouth I shook my head letting out a shaky breath, he grabbed my waist drawing me close until I was pressed tight against his lean body. I rested my forehead against his and closed my eyes knowing he was watching me. "Of." We swayed against each other. I kept my eyes shut completely lost. He's not like other men but yet he is. I cannot see him as more than a friend I really can't. I don't want to hurt him, I like him even with the baggage of Mr Crowly always tagging along everywhere he goes. He's embrace is comforting. 

I'll abuse it for as long as I can.

 I rested my head into his neck so his lips were far from mine and he tightened his hold around me propping his cheek against my head.

Someone cleared their throat. My eyes snapped open and I pushed Curtis back staring at Mrs Crowly in the doorway. When I glared back at his face I felt anger swirl. The expression on his face is cool and collected. He knew she was standing there all along what exactly is he trying do? He saw the spark of fury, he didn't quite understand it. "Luna." Mrs Crowly began.

I coughed. "Yes?"

"Are you well enough to go home? You know you are most welcome here if you need more time." Mrs Crowly beamed at me then her eyes trailed to Curtis. I know the look all to well. That's how one of my best friend's got married off and now she's all the way in England. Mrs Crowly's mission isn't just to marry off her disturbed son and I realise now I'm officially a target. I will never embrace anyone in a comforting hug ever again.

"Diana you can't keep my daughter." My mother saved me from somewhere in the house, possibly still in the dining room.

"I wish I could steal her from you." She called back. Then she smiled teasingly at us. "Shall I close the door?" She whispered.

Firmly I said. "No." I got out of that spell bound room and away from Curtis.

My face all red and hot.

~*~*~

*|Sam|*

Luna was coming my way while I hid behind one of their marble posts. Her expression seemed flustered, sad but mostly tense. I was about to step out until few sly words had hissed. "If you hadn't been sleeping with the devil wolf itself you wouldn't be so ill and toxic." Mr Crowly had snuck out from another post behind her. Her back straightened as her face darkened. It is incredibly seductive, her killer expression.

"You little-." I growled finally stepping out from my hiding spot. Before I could rip out his tongue someone's hand snapped to my wrist. It was Luna and she held our hands behind her back stepping slightly in front of me so Evan couldn't see it.

"Interesting conjecture Mr Crowly." She said holding her chin high. "What has Mr Bloomwood to say to your insolence?"

"You can't use my own blood against me Luna. At some point he will see what filth you are."

"And at some point Evan when you get yourself in trouble with your own words you will find that you will be facing that dark road alone and helpless." She tipped forward almost collapsing onto him so I held her up by her waist and she leaned against me for a split second before standing on her own. I could tell she did not want to seem weak in front of him. I respect that.

"Don't think I'll forget what you did to me today Mr Nightly." He sneered spitting on my boots and stormed off. I wanted to toss Luna aside and run after the pest. Then I realised these were only Bloomy's boots.

She fell back into my arms and I held her limp body up as she pressed her face into my neck. I felt her lips turn up into a smile and I rested my head on top of hers. "What have you done?"

"I was defending your honour." I answered.

She snickered as if to say 'what honour?'. "Why?"

"Why? Why? Are you really asking me why?"

"Don't mock me." She giggled. It made me tense. "What did you really do?"

I pressed my lips in her ear her aroma getting the better of my senses. "I warned him."

She sighed shakily the close proximity getting the best of her. "Of what?"

"Why do you smell so sweet?" My hands trailed up from her stomach till I felt her breasts, they swelled as she sucked in a shocked breath.

She turned in my arms her nose touching mine and her mouth barely a centimetre away. "It's called bathing." She slapped me. "You should try it sometime." Tears came to her eyes as my face remained painless. I know how much pain she must be feeling in her hand right now so I tried to take it. She pulled herself away from me and unintentionally I grew mad at her defiance.

I wrapped an arm around her waist and forced her close to me again putting my lips close to hers but stopping myself from making them touch. Using whatever self control I have left to keep myself from doing what we both may regret. I shuddered. I think she did to. "How's your fever?"

"It's gotten hotter." She stuttered unable to stop her eyes from averting down to my lips. I did the same, feeling my fingers dig into her waist making her hiss in pain.

"Shall we find you a bed?"

"No." She quickly exclaimed appalled and pushed me away. "We shall find you an exit before my father comes to the conclusion we're not actually related. What's a good reason for you to leave so suddenly?"

"I'm rude and disrespectful."

"That will work." She nodded. "What is with you men today? Mating season is not supposed to effect humans."

"Well I am only half." I grinned. Because it wasn't Bloomy's name that she had called in her slumber. It was mine. I froze for a moment processing what she had uttered. "Wait a minute... Men? Plural? What-"

"Enough Sam. I'm so sick of this nonsense I don't need it. I have other things to worry about than your animal hormones and Curtis's hunt for a wife. I'm sick of you men trying to force yourselves on me and push me into conforming into the respectable woman that always dies unsatisfied!" It all came out in a rapid rush as her face flushed. She looked ready to collapse clutching her stomach as if it were about to fall out. She gazed at the doorway back to the parlour. "Let me handle everyone."