Apprehended By My Mate novel Chapter 47

I haven't felt this happy is a long time and I find myself becoming more like the girl I was before I ever met Derek. I am laughing so hard that I didn't see Conner until I was swept up into his arms and his soft yet gentle lips touch mine. We both pull away smiling at each other as Alpha Felix calls everyone for lunch. We both stand in the water for a while before we walk over to get lunch.

At the moment we are eating lunch in the shade. I am sitting in-between Conner's legs while Grace sits in-between mine. I finish feeding Grace and lean against Conner chest watching the endless blue of the ocean.

"It's peaceful out here." I close my eyes as Grace play's in the sand.

"Yeah, it really is." He kisses my hair and I smile. The sun starts to set and everyone starts to pack up. I pack up our bags and Conner carries a sleeping Grace in his arms. We grab the car seat from Richards's car and place Grace in it. We head back to the house with smiles on our faces. Everyone gets out, while Conner and I walk back to our room putting Grace to bed.

We both stand there watching her as she sleeps peacefully in the large bed.

"We are having a bonfire tonight. You want to go?" I turn and face Conner who is putting on warmer cloths.

"Sure." I change out of my short and shirt into jeans and a jacket. We both walk outside and into the woods where members of the pack are all sitting around the bonfire.

"Conner, you made it." Felix says coming over to greet us. I go and sit next to Ivy who is talking to the twins.

"Clare." They both yell at the same time causing Ivy to laugh.

"Hey Karen, Lucy, Ivy." I turn back to the fire and watch as the smoke and ambers float up into the air in speckles of red, orange and grey.

"Hey, you ok?" I look at Karen who is smiling at me even though there are worried lines across her face.

"Sorry just thinking." We are all talking nonsense and I am enjoying myself.

"He is so good looking." Lucy sighs and I turn to see her looking at Conner who is laughing with members of the pack with a beer in his hand.

"I have to agree, our beta is smoking hot. What do you think Clare?" I can feel myself blushing which causes the women to laugh.

"It's ok Clare. I know Conner and he will wait for you." I smile at Ivy who than changes the direction of the conversation, and I am glad for it.

A few hours later Conner comes over to me as I feel my eyes slowly starting to drop. He sits down with us and pulls me into his lap kisses my head. I lean against him as we listen to pack stories until eventually I fall asleep.

I am basked in sunlight when I open my eyes to see that we are still outside sitting around the dying fire. I stretch my arms over my head accidently hitting Conner in the face causing him to wake up.

"I am so sorry." I whisper trying my best not to laugh. He rubs his face with a wide grin spread across his beautiful face. He hums closing his eyes pulling me closer into his chest, like he is trying to mould our bodies together.

"Morning." His voice is husky as I feel his chest vibrate with the simple word.

"Morning." I look around to see everyone still asleep either curled up in their mate arms or in wolf form. It has been a long time since I have associated with pack gatherings. Derek never allowed for me to go keeping me inside to socialise with only the walls that held memories one wishes to forget. I remember asking Derek if I could go and he laughed at me and left me alone in a cold, dark room. The bitter memories fill me leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

"You thinking about how Derek never allowed you to come to pack gatherings?" I was lost in thought that Conner's question startled me. He seems to be picking up when I think about what Derek and what he did to me.