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

After finishing his soup, Sam took Dr. Waaban’s advice and went back to the dormitory and showered up. When he returned to his room, he found Cameron there, looking at the picture of him and Andrew on the dresser.

Cameron gave him a small smile. “Hey, I just got here. Hope you don’t mind that I invited myself in since I don’t live here anymore. Thought maybe you were in the shower since I didn’t find you in the infirmary. You’re looking better. Is he awake?”

Sam didn’t miss the nervousness that shaded the edges of Cameron’s words and the slight slouch of his shoulders. An unfamiliar odor for Cameron wafted off him that Sam tried to decipher as feelings of guilt.

Giving Cameron a small smile, he slapped his arm lightly. “Hey, cut it out. I forgive you, okay? Your nose is looking better. Sorry for punching you. And yeah, he’s awake. Grumpy and miserable as can be, but he’s awake.”

Cameron brushed his fingers over the bridge of his nose and smirked. “Yeah. Still can’t believe you did that, but it’s cool. What’s up with your mate? The nurse huffed when I asked about going into the back room and see you and she told me to look for you here instead.”

Turning, he closed his door and hung his damp towel on one of the back hooks. An image of Mik strapped to the bed, snarling, and throwing harsh words in his face flashed in his mind.

‘You are worthless! Get out of my sight!’

‘Go away. You make me sick.’

His stomach twisted into knots as he wrapped his arms around himself. “He hates me.”

“I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t help, but I knew something was up when he wouldn’t stop for you. Was he expecting his mate to be female?”

“I think so.” I disgust him. Just like I disgust my father.

“Want me to teach him a lesson?”

Scowling, Sam turned to his best friend and crossed his arms. “And do what? Punch him a few times? How am I going to win him over if someone threatens to beat him up?” He shook his head. “I think Alpha might be right. It will take time but I think the only way to convince him to give me a chance is to be patient, loving, and kind. Alpha seems to know more about him than I do, so maybe he’s right.”

Brows knotting, a contemplative frown held Cameron’s face as his honey-brown eyes looked into his. Reaching out, he put his hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Have I told you recently how fucking brave you are?”

Heat snaked up Sam’s neck and he lowered his gaze. He raked his teeth over his bottom lip as it curved into a smile. “It’s been a while.”

“You’re so brave. Everyday. You can do this. I know you can. I’ve seen you get through horrible shit before. I know it’s going to be rough in the beginning, but I know you. I know you will find a way to get through to him and make things work. And if you ever need anything, don’t be afraid to come to me, okay?”

Despite the heat radiating from his neck and face, he lifted his eyes to meet his best friend’s. “Thanks, Cam.”

“Come on, let’s celebrate with some screwdrivers because you’re getting screwed someday!”

Sam grimaced. “Ew, don’t ever say that again. And what the hell? You promised Olivia you wouldn’t drink again.”

"Virgin screwdrivers,” Cameron smirked.

Sam wrinkled his nose. “Isn’t that just orange juice?”

Grabbing his hand, Cameron tugged him toward the door. “Come on! This one’s on me!”

Sam couldn’t help but grin and shake his head, knowing that Cameron was trying to cheer him up and take his mind temporarily off his grim situation.

Letting Cameron pull him out the door, they went to the pack lounge where Cameron ordered two virgin screwdrivers. The bartender stifled a snort as he caught Sam’s eye briefly before turning around to pour out the drinks.

While they waited, leaning over the counter and swiveling from side-to-side on the barstools, Sam asked him how things were going with Olivia.

A smug grin spread across Cameron’s face. “Better.”

That was all he would say, but Sam got the hint. He got laid.

“So, she’s coming around to the wolf thing?”

“I think so. It might take some time for her to feel comfortable about it, but she’s getting there.”

Two flute glasses with sugar-lined rims were placed before them. “Here you go, guys. I added some sprite to jazz it up.”

Cameron scrunched his nose. “Dude, I asked for a screwdriver, not a mimosa.”

Sam tipped it to his lips and hummed. “I like it.”

Cameron rolled his eyes. “Of course you would.”

“Don’t knock it until you try it.”

“It’s fine. I just didn’t want something bubbly. Could’ve brought you back to my place but I needed to get out of the house.”

“Still unpacking? Need some help?”

Cameron shrugged, his gaze falling on the flute glass before him. His voice lowered. “It’s just lonely. They should be living there with me.”

Sam’s heart dropped for him. “They will soon.”

“I know. I’m trying to be patient...”

Cameron used to live in the room next to his in the pack house. Since finding—or rather, reconnecting—with his mate, he was given his own house in the pack land to raise his family. Due to circumstances, his family was not with him yet.

Sam pulled out his phone from his back pocket and checked the time. “You got another hour before bedtime stories, right?”

Cameron glanced at the clock on the wall over the barkeep. “Yeah.”

“So, you’ll be with your girls soon.”

“I know but... It’s not the same.”

“It won’t be like this forever. Just a few more weeks. You guys have come this far, absence will make the bond that much stronger.”

With a shake of his head, Cameron muttered, “Just wait and see. You have no idea what you’re up against when it comes to the matebond. It’s going to drive you crazy.”

Looking down at his drink, a small bubble popped along the edge of the glass. “As if I didn’t have enough problems to deal with.”

Sam heaved a sigh as two pairs of wolves entered the lounge. One of the males went up to the bartender while the other three grabbed a pair of loveseats by the fireplace. A pretty female cozied up on the lap of a strong-looking male while chatting with the other female sitting in the loveseat opposite them. Claim marks peeked out from the narrow straps of the females’ tank tops.

Silence fell between Sam and Cameron as they glanced at the couples living normal lives from the corners of their eyes. They were between Sam and Cameron’s ages, eighteen and twenty-seven. Laughter resonated from their souls, alight with joy brought out in each other’s company.

A pitcher of beer and four glasses were brought to their table as the second male settled down with his mate after she poured out the drinks.

“That will be us one day, Sam,” Cameron whispered. “It might not be beer, but it will be four friends spending time together and having fun.”

Pulling his gaze away from the happy couples, Sam turned back to his bubbly orange juice. “I hope so.”

It was true. He did hope so. But he had a hard time envisioning it as a reality.

He wasn’t what Mikwam wanted. He wasn’t female.

They chatted idly as they sipped at their drinks. The laughter behind them growing in intensity as more wolves trickled into the lounge and more beer was poured.

Sam curled into himself, feeling out of place among the older, more jovial wolves.

Cameron heaved a sigh and suggested they go out for a brief run to stretch their legs. Sam agreed, having not shifted into his wolf since Saturday. A run would do him some good.

Half an hour later, they parted ways, Cameron returning to his house at the far end of the valley with the forest behind it and Sam to the infirmary.