Casmas Clan: Josiah and Clara
Prologue

~ Clara Clara walked through the house, wondering what she was going to do now. The town was completely flooded by the recent typhoon. Her basement was full of dirty water over four feet high because of said storm, and her father was

after her for their moving plans. Yet none of that was what was bothering her now.

Looking out the top floor window, Clara closed her eyes as her hand lowered to her stomach. She was so screwed. She couldn't tell her father, he would totally flip out over it. And the father of her child, with whom she did have a long term relationship, decided to dump her shortly after he found out.

"Don't tell anyone it's mine and stay away from me. If you see me, don't approach me, just walk away."

Were his exact words. What great parting words, from someone who once said they cared greatly for you. What a load of crap. Sighing deeply, Clara opened her eyes and stared outside once more. Oh great, there was her father, heading inside the house. Probably still searching for her. Closing her eyes once again, Clara relaxed her mind, a great feat considering, and focused her attention on the outside. At a slight bump under her feet, she opened her eyes and looked around. She was now standing outside, the slight breeze rustling through her shorn blonde hair. Smiling, she decided to go for a small walk.

Even with the storm that just passed through, the small town Clara lived in hadn't really suffered from any true damage. Just some slight flooding in the basements of the few houses that had one. The whole town was basically beachfront property, so it wasn't much of a change. The only difference was, this small coastal town was owned by the Casmás Clan. A Clan of shapeshifting felines who scared the crap out of everyone. Clara of course was not the exception; she was absolutely terrified of all animals. Though felines were not the highest up on her list of 'frightening animals'. Those would be canines. She shuddered just at the thought of a canine being around.

At the end of the block rested a large playground, for adults and children. In the middle of the playground sat a double, side by side, sandbox. They were four feet wide, by twelve feet long. Clara wasn't quite certain why they needed such a large sandbox, much less two, but perhaps it was because of the sixty-year-old man, wearing a Speedo, attempting to swim in the sand. She shook her head and turned her attention to the sitting area of the park. Where a small food cart sat, serving the park's guests.

And there he sat. Tall, sandy brown hair, brown eyes, and just so tempting. But no, she would not succumb. He no longer wanted anything to do with her. Lifting her head higher when his gaze rose to meet hers, Clara turned on a heel and started to leave the playground.

So much for staying away from the house and her father for a while. She might as well just return home and find out when he was planning their move. Perhaps she could use a bucket to clean out the water in the basement? Anything to take her mind off of him. So much for trying to get something to eat as well.

Clara hadn't made it halfway down the sidewalk before someone had grabbed onto her arm and swung her around to face them. She had to look up, way up, considering she was only four feet tall and he was well over six, to look into the face that had been haunting her dreams this past month.

"Josiah..." She couldn't help but whisper.

Shaking her head to get a grip, Clara yanked on her arm to force him to release her.

"Let me go, Josiah. You have no right to touch me."

"I don't?" Josiah raised a cocky eyebrow, causing her anger to rise that much higher.

"No, you don't. You were the one who decided we were nothing. You were the one who said I couldn't be anywhere around you. Let me go, and leave me alone from now on."

"It's not going to happen, Clara. Now come, we need to have a discussion."

As if he gave her any choice in the matter. Josiah gripped her arm tighter and led her down the sidewalk to where an empty newly built home sat. The paw print beside the door made Clara balk. "What are you doing, Josiah? This is the Casmás den!"

"Don't worry, Clara. It will be ok."

~ Josiah Josiah led Clara into the middle of Dermet's home. He wasn't quite sure of why the Clan leader decided to make his new den right across the walkway from Clara's house, but now it would come in handy. Now that he finally went to Dermet and explained his relationship with Clara. Now that he finally got permission to be with her. Now that he probably screwed up his relationship with Clara so badly that she may never forgive him.

Josiah closed his eyes and sighed deeply. How was he supposed to know that day two months ago that Harvey wasn't there to harm Clara? That the Clan had known for some time he was with her? Or even that the Clan knew of his impending fatherhood long before he did, all because her OB-GYN was a member of their clan?

Josiah opened his eyes as he shook his head. Man, he screwed up so badly. His only defense, if you could even call it that, was he hadn't known how the feline Clan dynamic worked. He didn't know they accepted, and even welcomed, relationships with humans. In his old pack, before he was thrown out for wanting to challenge the Beta for his position, they would kill any humans any pack member even contemplated speaking with.

Josiah had hated that life, that pack, and had hoped when he took the position of Beta, the Alpha would listen to him and his ideas. Perhaps then their views would slowly change. But that didn't happen. His supposed best friend ran directly to the Beta when Josiah foolishly told him of his plans. Unheard of among other packs, the Beta with the Alpha's permission, used the entire pack to 'teach him a lesson and his place.'

He had nearly died that day and probably would have too when they threw his bloodied, broken body into the river if Dermet's Clan hadn't swum in after him when they noticed his unconscious form bobbing in the swiftly flowing currents. They cleaned his wounds, healed him back to health, then shocking him to the core, because he was a wolf, allowed him to join their Clan ranks. Josiah hadn't been happier since. At least, not until he first saw Clara and she finally agreed to go on a date with him.