Lycan's Mate (His Claim) Chapter 96

Fiona's POV

Seeing my current state, and no doubt sensing it, Blake pulled me close against him, trailing small circles around my lower back in a soothing manner. I snuggled against his neck, breathing in his scent and immediately feeling my body fall at ease against him.

"I'm nervous," I murmured against his shirt, gripping the material tightly between my fingers as I pulled myself closer to him

I nearly protested when he pulled himself away, but clamped my mouth shut nonetheless.

"Why would you be nervous?" he asked curiously, tilting his head in an adorable manner

I looked down, intertwining my fingers as I felt his heavy gaze on me. Taking in a deep breath, I looked back up and whispered,

"Because I left and I don't know how they-"

"They will love you, just like they always have," he said seriously, the intensity in his eyes nearly becoming unbearable. He reached forward and traced his thumb against my cheek. I leaned against the palm of his hand, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Don't think about the past, okay beautiful? It's not worth dwelling on.

I opened my eyes and stared at him for quite some time before the sound of the car door opening behind me startled me." Marcus leaned against the door with a small grin as he stared down at us. Well doesn't this seem familiar

"Sorry to break the two of you, but your mom is getting impatient," he said with a knowing smile. Yup, definitely familiar.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed his hand as he helped me out of Blake's dad's big SUV with little to no difficulty. I began to make my way to the trunk of the vehicle before I felt a hand grab my shoulder, steadying me as soon as it made contact. I looked up at Marcus in bewilderment before he explained,

"We'll get your things later. Right now, we have a party to attend to."

I lookd up at him apprehensively before I felt the familiar warmth of Blake's body step beside me and maneuver his arm around my small frame. He gave me an encouraging squeeze before leading us towards the door. With every step I took, my nerves increased in volume. My hands felt clammy, my heart was racing a mile a minute, and my breathing sounded as if I was suffocating under water. Is it hot in here or is it just me

As Marcus reached for the door, I closed my eyes and took in a steady breath, willing for calmness to wash over me at that very second. It was wishful thinking, I know, but it didn't hurt to try, right? And then, he turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, revealing the inside of the house

As I stepped through the frame, I couldn't help but notice how the house hadn't changed one bit. It was exactly how I remembered and I couldn't help but smile at all the memories that flooded in as I made my way through a few pack members that wore bright smiles on their faces and bowed in respect as I passed by. I returned their smiles, my nervousness decreasing some until we entered the large living room that was literally packed! No pun intended

I froze mid-step, staring at the familiar faces I have come to recognize as they all turned to me. An awkward silence settled among the small space we were all standing in. I began to fidget under their gazes, avoiding them at all costs as my eyes lingered over the furniture

Sneaking a peak at the pack members from behind my hair that was now a protective curtain over my eyes, I was surprised, no, shocked even , to see them all smiling warmly in my direction. Clamping my mouth shut, after realizing that my mouth was hanging open at this point (how humiliating), I returned their smiles with a small wave. Immediately, the sound of their voices welcoming me filled the silence in the air, the atmosphere lessening as my body relaxed along with it. Many people approached me and bowed respectively at Blake and I. They began to converse with him, but I paid little to no attention exactly what they were even saying. It might sound rude, but this all felt like dèjá vu all over again.

I was overwhelmed by the amount of people in this small, confined space who were eager to catch a glimpse of me or pull me in their arms as a welcoming gesture. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but I could feel my mind spinning uncontrollably inside my skull.As the couple standing in front of us waved goodbye to speak to a small family sitting on one of the couches, I heard a familiar squeal erupt from my left, making me flinch by instinct. Turning around, a broad smile enveloped my features as Linda came rushing past some of the pack members with a bright smile of her own. In a few small strides, she pulled me into her arms, the familiar scent of her light perfume filling my nostrils as I hugged her in return

Pulling away, her smile remained on her face as she gave me a once over, making me feel self-conscious all of a sudden. "Fiona! It is so nice to see you again. My, you haven't changed a bit!" Suddenly, her smile turned into a frown as she looked down at my body once more.

"But you seemed to have lost weight! Don't worry, we can fix that," she said with a wink.

I giggled in response before she turned to Blake who remained at my side the entire time. She placed both hands on her hips with a serious expression on her face.

"And what about you? No hello to your mother after being away for a month?" She asked with a raised eyebrow

I looked up at Blake just in time to see him roll his eyes heavenward before leaning down and hugging Linda tightly. I had to hold in a small bark of laughter after seeing how microscopic she appeared beside her son. Is that how I always looked next to him

Turning back to me, Linda's eyebrows pulled together as her eyes stared intently at the side of my neck. I immediately cupped it with my hand, trying to decipher what her stare was all about. Did I have a bug or something

Her heavy gaze landed on Blake once more as she crossed her arms over her chest, making her tiny frame seem to tower over the both of us despite her height

"What?" Blake asked, clearly just as confused as I was

"Why is there no mark on her neck, yet?" Linda nearly screeched, earning the attention of a few people surrounding us.

My cheeks flushed a bright shade of red as I stared down at the floor, fidgeting under her heavy gaze that had suddenly landed on me. I felt Blake tense at my side as his arm, now currently around my waist, tightened

"She's not ready," Blake said through gritted teeth

I looked up to see Linda's expression never once waver at her son's tone.

"Not ready? It has been 2 years already, Blake! You should have-"

"Not put the spotlight on the poor girl after being away for so long," a deep voice boomed over the loud voices in the room

The room grew eerily quiet as everyone's attention turned to Westley stepping through the doorway with a small smile on his face. All around us, everyone bowed in his direction and I fought the urge to do the same. His eyes settled on me and his smile broadened as he made his way towards us. Okay, this night definitely feels like a full out version of dèjá vu.

He stopped beside Linda, sending her a warning look before turning back to Blake and I.

"It's so nice to have you back home, Fiona. You have been missed," he said sincerely, his smile nearly reaching his eyes

I smiled in return.

"Likewise. It's so nice to be back home." And I literally meant every word

He nodded in response and turned to Blake.

"And it's nice to have you back as well. I hope you didn't have much trouble with the Alpha of the Lincroft Pack"

If I thought Blake was tense before, he was a lot more now after his dad's words. The atmosphere immediately changed within our small circle and I tried to break away from his now trembling form, only to have him pull me harder against him. With his arm secured around my waist, I felt the sudden urge to hug him and try my best to calm him down any way that I could. Shifting my body so I could now be facing him, I wrapped my arms around his waist and held on tightly, pressing the side of my cheek against his chest. Seconds later, I felt his body stop trembling, but never did his hold on me lessen

I looked up to see Westley watching Blake with a raised eyebrow before his eyes looked at me.

"Why don't you stay with Linda while Blake and I talk in private?" He asked in a light tone, but the seriousness in his eyes told me otherwise

At the sound of his words, Blake let out a small growl, making me look up at him. "I'm not letting her out of my sight," he said through gritted teeth, pulling me up against him, if that was even possible. Hey, I was pretty much squished in between his arm and the guy and I had no idea how I was still breathing at this point