Not Like The Others

Chapter Twenty Nine- Mate

Mel POV

I had no idea what to do.

Okay, no scratch that, I was completely freaking out and my mind had gone on strike, leaving me a shaking, confused mess, twenty metres up a tree.

I couldn't speak, couldn't think, couldn't control my quivering limbs. I couldn't shift, let alone control the situation life had decided to dump me in, leaving me to fend for myself with no assistance from miracles, good luck or guardian angels.

I was just a cat stuck up a tree.

Who'd have known, wild, fierce, untamed Mel would become a broken mess? 

I don't think anybody could've seen it coming.

I certainly didn't.

As soon as the distance between us closed enough for me to inhale his delicious scent, I fled, not looking back. As soon as I had set my eyes on him something had burst inside of me and it took everything I had in me not to let it expand and cocoon me with its soft warmth and plush ignorance.

I had to keep my wits about me if I was going to survive in a place like this, and receiving and accepting an Alpha mate was not going to do me ny favours. I planned to dissolve into the background and slowly disappear. An Alpha mate would certainly not let me achieve this. It would do the complete opposite. It would thrust me in the limelight, giving me tasks, responsibility and power over people who I wanted to forget about me.

He wouldn't accept me anyway, not after everything I had done. I was a monster. I wouldn't accept him. He was better  off without me, I would be doing him a favour.

A switch suddenly flicked inside of me.

Thoughts settled. My limbs relaxed. My body finally became my own again. 

As soon as I had come to a decision everything became crystal clear. Of course. I shook my head at myself for being so stupid. Of course!! This wasn't going to change anything. Having a mate would not set me back, I simply wouldn't let it. I had a life to live, and so did he.

I shifted slightly on the branch that I was perched on, looking though the leaves into the pitch black sky. It was about three am. Wow, I've been out of it for ages, I mused, admiring the stars. The night sky was clear and crisp, with the only remnants of winter left in the occasional chilly night. Spring was here.

I closed my eyes and inhaled the fresh night air, relishing the silence. I suppose that's what you get when you are twenty metres up a tree at three am. 

Satisfied that I was safe and alone, I started to clean myself, wincing when my shoulder protested. That had been one hell of a tackle, and I knew I was going to have a nasty bruise on my shoulder. I scowled. All thanks to my mate. That was his fault. I would have never been in that position if he had no distracted me. He made me weaker, he was a distraction. The bruise was a sign of weakness, something that never would have been seen on me when I was at Lovac's.

I gave myself a thorough cleaning and checked over any sore spots, making sure they were properly looked after. I went over my face, grinning when I felt a nick in my ear. That Rachel sure was something. Her skills with a bow were unbelievable.

I yawned, feeling exhausted from the day I had just had. Trust you to get thrown the mate card like that, I scolded myself, sharpening my claws on the tree trunk.  

I sat in my tree for another half an hour, loving the peace and quiet, breathing in nature. This is where I needed to be right now. I closed my eyes and dozed, ears occasionally flicking in response to some noise in the ground.  Something was having a good snuffle on the ground, I could hear it really going for it, they were probably checking out my scent and wondering where the hell it came from.