The Defiant Claim - The Claim: Book 2 [LGBTQ+]

Two more weeks passed. When Sam walked into the infirmary Wednesday morning, he saw Alpha, Luna, and Cameron talking with Dr. Waaban and Eloise in hushed voices in the hallway.

He paused in his tracks and took in the sight before him. A mixture of emotions reflected on their faces, their hunched forward postures, and scents wafting down the hallway—anger, fear, anxiety, sadness, regret.

Their hushed conversation ceased as all eyes turned to him.

Oh no. What happened? What’s wrong? Did I screw up somewhere? Is Luna okay?

Heartbeats quickened as he put one foot in front of the other until he reached them and stopped. “What’s going on?”

Luna Aki looked ready to throw up. “Sam…” she grimaced before turning away, doubling over, and vomiting on the floor.

Everyone reached out to her, but Alpha reached her first, blocking everyone from her with his back. “I told you to stay home,” he whispered.

“He needs me!” Her voice was a strained whisper.

“I’m taking you home.” Alpha scooped her up in his arms, bridal style, ignoring the vomit splatters on her clothes and turned to Sam with a controlled mask on. “I’m sorry Sam. Aki isn’t well today.” Turning to Cameron, he said, “I trust you to tell him.”

“Tell me what?” Sam asked.

Luna whimpered, drawing Alpha’s eyes to close with pain lining his face. Sam reached out to try and give her a touch of comfort, but Alpha snarled and pulled away.

“I’m sorry, Sam,” he gritted out through his teeth. Turning, he tromped away as Luna’s soft sobs muffled into Alpha’s shoulder.

Feeling hot and embarrassed, Sam swallowed and tried to shake off Alpha’s aggressive reaction. These last couple of months had been rough on them with Luna Aki’s debilitating health. Only the infirmary staff knew how difficult this had to be for them. Alpha had to maintain appearances of strength, control, and leadership when behind closed doors, he felt only fear, weakness, and utter helplessness when there was nothing he could do to ease his mate’s constant nausea. She was losing too much weight with this pregnancy. Everyone hoped that once this phase passed, as it usually did after the first few months, she’d put on weight and return to her usual self but no one could blame him for cracking under pressure around the few wolves he could trust to be his true self.

“So, what’s going on?” Sam repeated his question, turning his attention to Eloise, Dr. Waaban, and Cameron.

“Your training is canceled for today,” Dr. Waaban said.

Sam’s eyes widened. “What? Why? Did I fail something and I have to make up for it before we can continue?”

“That’s not it, hun,” Eloise said as her eyes met Dr. Waaban’s before excusing herself and walking into the infirmary.

“We will resume tomorrow morning as normal—if you feel up to it,” Dr. Waaban told him. “Just let me know if you can’t come in. We’ll understand.” He gave Sam’s shoulder a gentle squeeze before turning and following Eloise.

Sam turned to Cameron in exasperation. “Honestly, what’s going on?”

Cameron rubbed his face. “Fuck. I hate that I have to be the one to tell you this.”

“Tell me what?” All this dancing around the subject was making him more agitated.

Cameron’s face contorted in distress. “It’s Mik.”

Sam’s muscles and joints locked up. This couldn’t be good. “What about him?”

“He…” Cameron grimaced again and heaved a sigh. His shoulders deflated as he hung his head. “He’s putting the moves on a female in the gym…”

Sam’s blood ran cold. He heard his heartbeat skip before kicking back up into high-gear and struggling against the constrictions in his chest.

Turning on his heels, he ran out the way he came in, across the pathway to the other building and climbing the stairs two at a time. His heart jumped in his throat. Sweat poured from his pores. Cameron called out behind him, far and away, muted by the blood pounding in his skull.

Up to the second floor, he picked up Mik’s scent on the door of the combat training room.

Taking a deep breath in, he pulled it open.

Darkness encapsulated the room, save for the streams of light peeking through the cracks in the drawn curtains of the windows.

Off to the side, more light poured in through the gap in the curtains, illuminating the two figures in a lovers’ embrace. Her hair, shining gold in the sunlight, cascaded around her face in soft waves. Her ass on the window sill. Her legs around Mik’s waist and arms wrapped around his neck. Her eyes pierced into Sam’s soul over Mik’s shoulder. His back to Sam and face buried in the curve of her neck.

Sam stood frozen in place. Panting. Lungs grasping for air in the crushing confines of his chest.

Can’t breathe.

Slowly, agonizingly so, Mik pulled away from her neck and looked over his shoulder.

Spinning on his heels, Sam turned and fled. Dodging Cameron standing in the doorway. Down the stairs and out the door. Across the open field to the trees.

There was nowhere to run. Nowhere to escape. Home was filled with the stink of betrayal. There was nowhere he could go where Mik couldn’t find him.

Nowhere but Freedom.