Free Claiming Clara by Cherie Nicholls

crazy sister-in-law.
    “Your dad and brother have Wall out in the garage, have had him there for like an hour.” Laney shrugged. “Now I personally think whatever they are doing he deserves, but my mother called.” Laney rolled her eyes. “Apparently I had to tell you or ‘she was coming out here.’”
    Clara didn’t ask anything more. She shot off the bed and out of the door. The entire time she prayed that they hadn’t done anything too permanent to Wall.
    She got to the garage and threw open the door. Skidding to a stop, she looked around the room, stared at each of the three men standing there, talking and… Dear God, were they drinking beers?
    “Evening.” She nodded, trying to act as casual as they seemed to be.
    “Hey, baby girl.” Her father smiled at her, opening his arms wide.
    Clara stepped into her father’s embrace. He engulfed her. No matter how grown up she was, her father always made her feel five years old.
    “What are you doing here, Daddy?”
    “Duke called and told me about your troubles and asked for my help. Your mother thought it best if I swung through and checked out the mess you and your brother had gotten into.” He winked at her. “I really can’t leave you two alone for five minutes before one of you starts up a fight.”
    “We are fine, Daddy. You didn’t need to come out here,” Clara assured him.
    “Fine?” Her father pulled the neckline of Wall’s T-shirt away and looked down at the mark Wall had left there and the bullet wound, which was no more than a faint scar now.
    “Yes, Daddy, fine.” Clara stepped away from him.
    “I got to that clearing just before you started scuffling. Little Karina filled me in on the plan. That fox always picks the most advantageous places for her shots. Her daddy taught her well.” Her father smiled. “So I stayed out of the way, but I was there for you, baby. You know that right?”
    “I know.”
    “Your brother tells me Wall here is a pretty nice guy.” He sniffed.
    “He is.”
    “Until it comes to you; then he seems to lose his mind.”
    Clara didn’t look away.
    “I love him,” she stated simply.
    “That’s all I wanted to know. Come on, son.” He lent down, kissed her forehead, and walked off. Heath stopped in front of her.
    “I was so looking forward to kicking his ass.” Heath bent and kissed her forehead too before following their father out the door.
    She turned to watch them leave, conscious that Wall had not moved. He was still leaning on the wall behind her. She was suddenly too shy to face him.
    “Did they hurt you?” she asked instead.
    “No, although I think they were planning to before you came in,” Wall said.
    “Probably. Although I think getting you drunk first was high on their list.”
    There was a silence again, the only sound that of their breathing.
    “Did you mean it?” Wall finally asked.
    “Yes, they were definitely planning on getting you drunk.” She shrugged.
    “Not that.” He moved and stood behind her, close. “When you told them you love me? When you said it when you had me chained in that motel room?”
    Clara’s heart missed a beat. Did she love him? Of course she did. More than her next breath.
    “I love you,” she said again as she turned to face him.
    The air seemed to rush out of him. For a second, she was worried he would stop breathing, but then he grinned at her.
    “I love you too, my own.” He took a step toward her, but she stopped him with a raised hand.
    “The next time you mark me, let’s not do it in front of the pack, and most definitely not in front of my brother and daddy.”
    “I swear that will never happen again. I am so sorry. I just lost my mind when I heard the shot, and then you were there alive, and my wolf took over.”
    “I can’t believe you thought I would go after Alberto without a plan.” Clara accused.
    “I can’t believe what a shot your friend is.”
    “Karina is a sniper. It’s the family business.”
    Wall frowned and Clara