Claiming Her (#3 Southern Werewolves Pack Series)

Five years ago,

Liam Blake sat on his Harley Davidson bike in front of the motel, thinking hard. As he remembered that he hadn’t seen his sister, Anita, for a while, he figured out he wanted to spend some time with her before she went to college.

Anita attended a boarding school right after her tenth birthday. She made it clear that she much preferred surrounding herself with the humans and wanted to live as normal as possible. Even though their parents disagreed with her, Liam persuaded them that it would be best to let her live the life she wanted. Eight years later, Anita continued to stay around humans. Unlike Liam, Anita didn’t have any duty obligation other than following the rules and laws in the pack. To the new pack members, they wouldn’t know Anita at all. They would have thought Liam was the only child in the Blake family.

Fast forward, here he was. Liam traveled nine hours on his Harley to attend her eighteenth birthday in the countryside. Anita and her best friend, Jazmine, arranged the whole thing to have fun with all their friends before everyone started college. Liam ordered Anita to inform him of everything with the party arrangement, including the rooms where all the guests would sleep. With him around, he made sure no boys came near his sister. He knew she had a boyfriend who was going to be at the party too.

He heard a lot of things about Anita’s best friend, Jazmine Diaz. The two girls met during their time in the same boarding school and had been inseparable since. Whenever Liam was video calling Anita, she would tell more about Jazmine, but Liam never met Jazmine in person. He only knew her through Anita’s stories and the photos that she posted on her social media.

Liam started his bike and rode down the road in the direction of the cottage. With trees covering both sides of the road, the air was refreshing. The air in the city was nothing compared to the sweet aroma of the countryside air. This was why he honored his origin. As a werewolf, he spent most of his time in the woods rather than in the city. Nature had always been his second home.

He kept riding the motorbike down the road for about thirty minutes until his ears picked the loud music. Cars were already filling the driveway. People were coming in and out of the cottage, which had a view of a lake behind it. As soon as he appeared there, everyone stopped, especially the girls. He was expecting that, but sometimes he hated it when he gained a lot of attention. He understood that his body was larger than any of those boys in the cottage. Born with a good-looking appearance, Liam often got himself into trouble when it came to women. There were times where someone would find him intimidating because of his physique.

Liam couldn’t recall how many times the townspeople of his hometown thought he was a part of some dangerous gang. He would laugh whenever people gave him weird looks. A few times, someone would call up the police on him when he was enjoying a short time alone in a cafe. That was one of the many reasons why Cohen asked everyone not to spend much time mingling with the humans in the town that the Kingsley family practically built.

Liam sighed as he looked at the pre-party, as Anita called. Several expensive sports cars parked outside the cottage, indicating there might be some rich kids at the party. Anita ran out of the cottage a moment later to greet him as soon she saw he arrived.

“Liam, you’ve made it!” Anita said happily, bumping against his body.

“Well, I paid for everything,” Liam scoffed and ruffled her cyan-colored hair. “I hope you didn’t max out my credit card for this party.”

Liam used to tell everyone how he barely helped Anita in anything. But the truth was, he spoiled her rotten. He just hoped she didn’t turn into a bratty kid.

“Hey, not the hair!” Anita swatted his hand. Then, she took out the black credit card that was signed under Liam’s name. “I didn’t max it out! Come on. Do you really think I’m that bad? Plus, you earn more than me.”

“Just because I earn more doesn’t mean it gives you the right to max my credit card.”

“Pfff,” she huffed in annoyance. “Fine, I’ll find some part-time job and pay you back.”

Liam ruffled her hair to annoy her. “Forget it.”

Anita sat on his bike, touching anything she could. “How long are you staying?”

“Three days max,” Liam replied. “There are some things that I haven’t settled on.”

“How’s mom and dad?”

“Well, dad is busy taking care of my duty while I’m here on vacation. I’ve tried to persuade them to come along, but you know how it is.”

When Anita voiced her intention of staying out of the pack and attending a boarding school, it didn’t sit well with her parents. Even after Liam’s persuasion, the parents were still adamant. Until now, she didn’t speak to her parents. Liam was the only one who cared and paid for everything for her.

Staying out of a pack means Anita had zero obligation to return there even if her family was still a part of the pack. She knew Cohen understood her intention and that she didn’t wish it ended badly.

Anita jumped off the bike and pulled Liam as she said, “Come on, I want you to meet some people.”

“No, thanks.” Liam moved in another direction, heading to the cottage next door. “The real party isn’t here yet, so I’m going to spend the time sleeping.”

He was a high school student once, but he was never a big fan of his sister’s friends. He knew that not all these teens were old enough to drink booze, but who was he to care? It was their own problem if they got busted.

Anita pouted. “Okay, fine. Wait here.”

She ran back into the full-house cottage and came out with two people. A black-haired woman with grey eyes and a blonde guy that Liam assumed he worked out to impress. But it wasn’t the guy that worried him.

The black-haired woman worried Liam the most because the moment their eyes met, he was doomed. It felt like the whole thing was on pause, and it was two of them there.

“This is just tragic,” Liam said under his breath.

But she wasn’t just a random girl who befriended Anita. She was Jazmine Diaz, the girl that Anita always talked about whenever Liam video called her.

“This is Jazmine Diaz, the one and only. She’s my best friend and roommate.” Anita gestured to the black-haired girl. “And, this one is River Clooney, my boyfriend.”

Then, Liam’s eyes darted to the hand on Anita’s waist. Quickly, River pulled his hand away and was looking all awkward. Sure, he was a big guy in his group of friends, but his physique was nothing compared to Liam’s. He could break the blonde bloke with a snap of his fingers.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Blake,” River said as he extended his hand for a handshake.

Liam accepted the gesture but intentionally squeezed his hand harder. “I couldn’t say likewise. Not yet.”

“O-Of course,” he stuttered.

Liam broke the handshake and looked at Jazmine, “Nice to meet you, Jazmine.”

Blushes crept on her cheeks. “Y-Y-Yeah, nice to meet you too, Liam.”

His body stirred at the way she said his name. How was he going to explain to his parents that he had found his mate? And, that his mate was too young for someone at his age? This wasn't proven very easy, even if he only thought about it.

“I’m going to rest a bit. I had been on the road for quite a while,” Liam excused himself, heading to the cottage next door. “And try to keep the noise down. I don’t need the police to come around and book all of you.”

“You’re no fun!” Anita shouted.

Liam rolled his eyes as he made his way to the porch. He took out the keys and unlocked the door before he kicked it open. Then, he closed the door and rested his forehead on the door. He was groaning in frustration. He didn’t come here for this because he wasn’t prepared to have a mate yet. Not when there were wars that threatened his pack. If it were up to him, he would have missed his sister’s birthday. It was Cohen’s persuasion that made Liam come here while there were wars.

Now that Liam found the one woman who was destined to be his mate. He needed time to think things through. Obviously, Jazmine was a human and didn’t know anything about him or Anita were werewolves.

Liam went up the stairs and entered the master bedroom. Dumping his backpack on the floor, he took off his jacket and shirt. He plopped on the bed, looking to the ceiling. Granted, he had been looking for his mate for quite a long time, but this wasn’t how he expected it to be.

He sat up with his elbows on his thighs and sighed heavily. Once again, he saw her. Great, now her bedroom was across from his. Liam stood by the window, not to show his presence as he watched her. While her friends were partying downstairs, she looked like she was in her own world. Jazmine picked up a sketchbook and began sketching while she was sitting at the window seat. Liam watched as the beauty sat there and ignored the loud music in the cottage. The more he looked at her, the more frustrated he became.

Shaking his head, he realized that he couldn’t claim her. No, he couldn’t let her get entangled in his world. Being a werewolf in a pack with so many enemies, Jazmine would be a target if he claimed her.

But Liam wasn’t so sure himself if he could let her go. No, he promised himself that he would never let go of his mate when he found her. But right now, Liam felt like he had to break that promise. He couldn’t bring Jazmine into his world.

Jazmine was the same age as his sister while he was thirty. At that age, she probably hadn’t experienced life yet. Liam could tell that there was a lot that she had yet to experience. He didn’t want to rob her freedom just because she was destined to be his mate.

Liam hated that it had to come this way.

He hit his forehead against the wall and said, “I’m sorry, Angel.”