What About Now?

Chapter 6- Mate Meeting

I can't feel anything. It feels like I'm fighting for my life, and when I open my eyes, I am.

The battlefield encompasses wolves tearing each other's throats out. The two sides stand out vividly.

The wolves with the red-rimmed eyes radiate anger. The anger becomes unbearable as I painfully clutch my chest. However, the wolves with eyes reflecting the purity of the moon display determination and loyalty. It's such a beautiful feeling, a beautiful power. But what makes that power so beautiful? I wonder silently. I can't comprehend it.

Before I can ponder the thought any longer a woman appears in the middle of it all. She walks down the battlefield slowly, as if trying to prolong something.

Every wolf immediately stops in their tracks as she passes them. Her white dress sways gracefully across the floor  as she continues to make her way down the pathway.

I squint my eyes to get a better view, but realize I can't see much besides for the tears slowly descending her eyes.

Why is she crying?

I wake up with tears in my own eyes as I remember the pain the woman felt. I clutch my chest painfully, remembering her pain. It's as if she felt torn.

"Are you alright?" A quiet voice soothingly mutters.

I jump with a jolt, dropping my hand and backing away from the bed I'm lying in. I stare at the man with wide eyes, watching him study my expression. Why is he looking at me like that? 

My attention quickly diverts toward the pain in my arm and leg as I wince at moving it too quickly. Glancing down, a look of surprise clouds my face at seeing bandages wrapped around them, but my usual guarded look creeps back up when I feel the man's eyes on me, staring at me so intently as if I was a rare diamond he just found. 

"What do you want?" I ask gazing at the man fearfully.

I feel his power choking me from where I stand, which can only mean one thing, alpha. However, this alpha's power is different than any I've ever encountered before, not to mention the fact that he's making my wolf act up again. I need to put as much distance between us as I possibly can. 

He is near my side in an instant, nuzzling his head into my neck. I feel a spark go through my whole body, jolting me backwards once more.

"Stay away from me," I whisper weakly. I try scooting myself back using my uninjured arm, keeping frightful stare trained on his confused expression. 

He appears hurt as I watch his eyes swiftly harden; watching me closely as I try to scramble away from him. I admit, it's a pathetic attempt. But for some unknown reason to me, his touch has the key to releasing my wolf without my consent.

He comes closer. I shake fearfully with each step he takes, but it isn't from him, it's from his power to wake her up; to unlock the power that I've been trying to keep at bay for years now.

"Please, No! Just stop!" I keep my trembling hands up.

The hurt is evident on his face, but he quickly shakes it off, moving toward me once more, taking my hands in his. He kisses each hand gingerly, causing electric bolts to shoot throughout my body.

"I Will Never Leave You Mate."

Those words make my heart incessantly pound, but it's not from his gesture. It's from that word. Mate. I remember that word; I've heard that word before, but where?

Looking into the man's beautiful black eyes I question skeptically, "what's a mate?"

His expression turns dark and irate. He swiftly stands up and storms out of the room.

That night loud howls of anger echo throughout the castle and for some unexplainable reason causes my heart to ache.