HE’S MINE TO CLAIM: STRANDED WITH MY BESTFRIEND’S UNCLE

MAYA

Sitting by my window in my lonely one-room apartment couldn't be any interesting for this coming holiday. I had nowhere to go and no one to spend Christmas with. I wasn’t living in my pack but a foreign pack for school, without families and friends. I could only imagine how Christmas would turn out in my hometown at Denver Pack.

I'm just here at Hollyville Pack for college, the cost of traveling back would be quite high for a college student like me but I wasn't even planning on going back. I would stay here till the new year, celebrating it all by myself.

I blinked my eyes, sighing as thoughts of a mate came through my mind. It would have been pretty much romantic with a mate by my side. Christmas will mark my end of being eighteen and yet I couldn't stumble upon a mate. Werewolves usually find their mates by eighteen, only rarely do they find above this year. Without a mate after eighteen, it would seem in the eyes of everyone she's cursed or not a virgin. Here in the world of the werewolves, these could be the possible two reasons.

“Goddess. This is sad!” I shook my head sadly.

Almost dropping to my bed, my phone buzzed.

Who's it?

I peered through it and it was my best friend, Cheryl. The only friend I had here in Hollyville. My face lit up with an expectant smile. She is the closest person I have here in Vermont. Without her, my stay here would be gloomier.

I tapped on the Accept button quickly.

“Hello bunnie,” I chuckled. I loved calling her bunnie when I'm not calling her real name, she loves rabbits so much, loves using their emojis.

“Yesssss,” she dragged, ending in a chuckle. “I have a request, can you spend this Christmas with my family and I?”

Goooo!

My wolf suddenly came up. I shrieked.

“Is this really a coincidence?” I questioned myself. I was just thinking about this and now it's happening. She's inviting me over to the countryside. First thought that came to mind.

Would I find a mate over there?

It seemed I was just unlucky in the city and changing location could bring a turn of luck.

“Yessss!” I didn't wait to reply, I couldn't hide my excitement as I jumped up, squealing and dancing.

“Wowww,” Cheryl's voice came up, stunned as I showed so much excitement. “It's three days until Christmas week. I'll be driving to pick you up the day after tomorrow. Get prepared.”

I giggled, nodding.

Christmas in the Province of Vermont, here in Hollyville, was acclaimed as the most beautiful adventure to experience. With the calm, serene atmosphere, blessed by perfect green fields and valleys extending to the borders of the pack, it stood out as unique. The streets barely had a car or people walking, it’s pretty much calm and reserved than the buzz of city life, the noise and loud music. Being an introvert, I much prefer this. Christmas in such a setting was sure to be memorable.

This was where Cheryl lived with her mom and dad, she's the only child. Being here before, I couldn’t decline making a visit again.

Without a delay, I packed all that I would need for the journey, got my travel ticket at the train station. When the train drops me off at the station in the countryside, Cheryl would be here to pick. I couldn’t let her drive all the way, about three hours to come pick me in the city after eventually traveling to the countryside.

When I arrived, just as I expected, she was there. She got my stuff into her boot and then we were off. Thirty minutes later, we arrived at her home, Cheryl packed the car at the garage and we stepped out. Snow had already covered the ground and the sun was already up shining brightly on the snow-covered ground and tree leaves.

Before us stood her parents, they were already there to welcome us with smiley faces.

“It's the start of a bright day,” I said to Cheryl.

“Uhmm–”

“Yes, it is.” She uttered with a bright smile, then came over grabbing my luggage and walking ahead of me to introduce me to her parents.

They were quite pleasant and welcomed me warmly. “Guess, you will add to this season's spark, homie?” Her dad said, laughing.

“Of course,” her mom affirmed. “We were only three, now we have you and one left to complete a five, our cherished number for this Christmas.”

“Really, one other will join us?” I got excited and curious which relative it would be.

“Yes, my uncle.” Cheryl replied.

“Wowww!”

“Wishing you don't fall for him when he arrives, he's arriving today.”

I narrowed my eyes, giving her a witty look. “I don't fall for older men,” I chuckled.

“You may be shocked, he’s a charming prince.” I laughed it off. She turned around, walking out of the room with a witty smile.

“Let's get us what to eat.” She said.

We later settled in the dining room having our breakfast when the doorbell rang. I elbowed Cheryl.

“It must be her uncle,” her mom volunteered, rising up to go answer but Cheryl stopped her.

“Mom, don't worry. I'll go.” Saying this, she sprang up immediately. I kept on eating, composed to meet this new relative of hers.

Cheryl opened the door. My heart instantly froze as I looked up to see the uncle she was talking about.

Seven feet, muscular, slim young man with a cute, charming face which looked masculine from the other angle. A rare beauty. Natural pink lips. Short spiky haircut that looked so perfect on him. His strong scent of hyacinth mixed with his deep cologne scent, together pulling a scent that turned me on. I clapped my legs tight feeling some sensation rocking my core.

He first scanned the room, upon hugging Cheryl with a greeting that showed his perfect set of white teeth. I was already imagining how kissing him would feel but more of what I needed to deal with was my emotions which were scaling at an alarming rate together with my wolf that was giggling inside of me.

His face turned and the first person his eyes landed up turned out to be me. I flared up.

What?

My fork fell off as my eyes came in contact with his sea-blue eyes. I jerked back, pulling in a deep breath. I caught Cheryl grinning from behind him while his lips spread a bit, his pupils dilated.

Did he just react to my nervousness?

“I told you!” Cheryl seemed to tell from the way she looked at me with an amused smirk.

I shook my head to make the tension go away but I was rescued by Cheryl's mom as she stood up to greet him. “Little bro, welcome back. You've been in the city all through the year.”

Woww, so he's her brother.

I thought he's gonna be her dad's brother or something.

Until Cheryl returned to sit beside me, I never noticed. My eyes kept on following this gorgeous man who looked like the prince charming from my favorite Japanese Anime series.

Beauty was an understatement for him.

From Cheryl's mom to dad, he exchanged pleasantries with them. Cheryl rose up, elbowing me as he walked towards us. I stumbled almost falling on his chest if not for the fact that he grabbed my arms to support me.

Goosebumps instantly popped up, my blood boiled.

Cheryl chuckled, pulling over her hands to suppress the laughter. She wasn't even helping matters. My cheeks reddened with embarrassment.

“Uncle, this is–”

“Donovan,” he said. “Be informal for once.” His smile captured me, his voice was really gentle and deep.

“This is my shy best friend,” she chuckled. I hit her, narrowing my eyes. Cheryl's uncle, Donovan, as he introduced himself as chuckled.

“Woww, nice meeting you.”

She pulled Cheryl and myself into a light hug that sent sparks flying inside of me.

“Let me go in to shower and pack into my room, I'll be back to join you guys.” His deep voice loomed, making me take a quick breath. It would surely be another battle when he comes out.

My mind suddenly shifted to imagining him in the bathroom naked. No! No!! No!!! Away with the dirty thoughts.

I couldn't afford misbehaving any further, my body was starting to shake as my wolf really got excited. Really glad I put on hoodies and joggers that really covered me, her parents would have surely noticed.

“Has he been here before? I heard him talking about his room like he knows it already.”

“Yes–” Cheryl took a sip of her drink.

“Maya baby,” she casually said. “The room opposite yours is his room. We have only two guest rooms here. In the future, we'll think of expanding.”

“What?” I gasped, cocking my head.

Cheryl's parents paused eating, giving a curious look.

I chuckled, quickly thinking of what to say to cover up the awkwardness. “I mean from the outside, this seems like a very big house. I didn't know there were only two rooms.” I forced my voice into sounding amused.

Donovan returned thirty minutes later in a sleeveless white jersey and a pair of black trousers with tiny droplets of water trailing down from his hair, down his body.

He must have been too eager to join us without drying his hair well.

When he sat to join us, my eating mode changed, I was picking up on my food. I did this, anytime I was nervous or distracted. Right now, I was fighting with both.

“Hurry up, Maya.” Cheryl pressured. Her plate likewise that of her parents was almost empty now, only Donovan who joined late.

What now?

“We are going outside on a trip around the countryside. You may join us later.” She said with sarcasm. “You slow eater.” Her catching fun of me has always been an enjoyable part of our friendship until today where I watched her leaving me behind with Donovan.

“He can bring you along when you're done,” Cheryl's mom said, patting my shoulders.

Goddess why? Don’t tell me they are doing this to me!

“Sorry,” Cheryl's dad cleared his throat. “We are supposed to meet with our friends who are back from Christmas in the next thirty minutes before the trip begins.”

“We don't have to disappoint–”

I cut him short. “Don't worry, I will come later.” This slipped off my mouth without thinking but deep within I was begging them not to leave me, just at the same time my wolf was screaming hard for them to leave.

“I will bring her along.”