Mated by Chance

Injuries

I groaned in pain as I blinked my eyes open.

Instantly there was a golden face in front of me looking over me in worry. "Are you okay?" he asked touching my forehead making me erupt in sparks forgetting any pain that coarsed through me.

"I'm okay Roman." I said trying to sit up. "What happened?" I asked as he helped me sit straight.

"You're still considered an unwelcome wolf to my pack remembers. The ones who were doing patrol thought you were a rogue wolf and took precautionary steps to eliminate a threat." he spat sourly. I looked around the large room I was in. It was old and manly. And it smelt like Roman. His room was adult. He had little pictures of himself and people of the pack around. As well as lotions and hair product but he also had an outfit thrown astray.

I turned to face him and saw his face was tight and he had grabbed my palm. "When I knew it was you, that lie there hurt at the hands of my pack members...I felt like I had failed you." I frowned as I touched his cheek.

"You didn't. You're here now. You came and stood up for me. It's not your fault." My words didnt even move him. He shook his head.

"You have to understand your injuries. You're skull was fractured. I could have lost you." he spat looking lost in a memory.

I saw how broken he was and felt my lips straighten. "Well. I didn't die. I'm still here." I spoke softly touching his broad shoulder gingerly.

"I can't even bare the thought of you out of my sight. I'm extremely possessive over you. I don't know how to explain it. The welcoming ceremony will take place tomorrow night. Wear white." he said as he stood and walked toward the door.

"Wait!" I called making him stop. "Where are you going?"

"Out." he said simply as he closed the door and left.

I scoffed and folded my arms over my chest in anger as I replayed his answer over and over again.

"Out?" I spat. "Unbelievable." I sat in the room for a few minutes glaring at the wall before I got bored. I stretched my lips to a straight line and turned to stand up. Whatever pain medicine I had received was numbing some of the pain making it easier to move, however the pain was replaced with a tight feeling in my muscles. I opened the door to Roman's room and instantly my nostrils filled with the sweet smell of Italian food. I followed the smell down a long hallway with mahogany doors placed on each side about teen feet apart from each other. At the end of the long hall, I was surprised by dozens of eyes staring at me in awe.

"It's Luna!" some small girl with blonde hair piped smiling at me in adoration.My eyes widened into saucers when they all started to bow and look at me like I was some prophet. All I could do was stand there and watch them like they were crazy! I was freaked out. I had never interacted with a pack, let alone be ogled and idolized by one.

"Uh.." I breathed out feeling anxious and strange. "I have to go!" I whispered rushing past them and heading out of the door. I ran to a part of the territory that seemed isolated at private. And judging by the "Alpha Only!" sign, I knew I could be alone. It was beautiful and scenic and private. It seemed like a place one would go to , to clear their head. I walked past the beautiful meadow of wild flowers growing in a disorderly array and sat by the little stream that flowed with a quiet pattern and sighed.

"What am I doing?" I questioned myself over and over trying to find the answer but I couldn't find one. All I felt was this overwhelming sensation of anxiety and it seemed like the only way to let it out was by doing the thing I hated the most crying.

I sat there feeling sorry for myself for what could have been hours. I didn't feel time. I only felt the itchy, wet tears dripping down my cheeks making me feel that for once I could be free away from peering eyes...or so I thought. I felt warm arms embrace me from behind as legs spread out on either side of me, I didn't have to question who they were, the butterflies and sparks at his touch introduced himself.

"It's okay. I shouldn't have left you alone. I'm sorry. Please," he sighed almost painfully. "Please stop crying. It's killing me." I sniffled and attempted to wipe my eyes.

"What can I do, Kare?" he asked turning me on his lap to face him. I covered my face shaking my head. I was hating myself for seeming so vulnerable in front of him. "Please, stop hiding from me." I wiped my face on my sleeve and looked at him. He seemed so torn, like he could feel my pain. "There she is." he said brushing my hair out of my face. I smiled a little.

"I'm sorry." he said bluntly. I threw my arms around him and relaxed in his arms until he was hugging me back.

"Don't be. I was just caught off guard by your pack. I never saw so many people looking at me like a...."

"A leader?" he asked looking into my eyes. I frowned and nodded.

"Like a bunch of Cali's expecting me always know what to do and say and...and I'm not ready for that." I scrambled.

"Hey." he cooed grabbing my cheeks. "It takes time. I didn't take the throne over night. I was trained and taught and prepared. I can help you...if you let me."

"No." I said shaking my head. "I can't do it. I can't run a pack. I can barely run without getting hurt or almost killed!"

"Hey." he said again smiling at me. "You'll be a wonderful Luna."

"How can I do that? I can't even tell Cali the truth." I said shaking my head. "This relationship was doomed before it started."

"I told her today." he said tucking his lips into his mouth.

"What?" I yelled.

"I mean, I didn't tell her it was you. That's your job. You have to come clean about it, but she took it well. She didn't cry...however"-

"What?"

"She asked me if it was you."