The Trial

Chapter 7

For a moment all I can do is blink at him. He wants me to pretend to be his mate. Yet I still don't understand what a "mate" does.

"What do you mean by 'instincts'?" I ask him not enjoying the awkward air surrounding us. When I look to Will for help all he does is stare at the dirty plate before him. Greyson clears his throat while rubbing the back of his neck before he answers,

"The wolf that is a part of me," he swallows hard, "would feel instincts to protect you and he would feel a pull towards you that is impossible to ignore." His eyes meet mine before leaving them again, "The mate of a werewolf is the love of his or her life."

"I have to pretend to be the love of your life?" I yell out the sentence like its a statement not a question. As Greyson raises his eyes to meet mine I see the guilt hidden in his hazel orbs. All of the fight leaves me, but my anger boils to a simmering heat. I barley know him, how can I pretend to love him?

"I know that this isn't what you want, but it's the only way to keep you safe." Greyson tells me with his entire face no longer showing guilt, but the stern leader I know him to be. No words come to mind so I just sit there trying to calm the frenzy of thoughts going through my head.

"And I'll be around all the time so it won't be so bad," Will shrugs giving me a small smile.

"'All the time'?" I repeat his words as a question. There is no way I will have to be around Greyson all the time.

"Mates are inseparable, especially after they accept each other. And most mates don't reject the other, especially wolves in Greyson's position." Will states while he stands up to take the dirty dishes to the sink. His tone tells me that it's common sense, but I would have never known. When I look to Greyson he sits back running a hand down his face in aggravation.

"In your 'position'?" I echo Will's words in Greyson's direction. The pieces are not fitting together just yet. I'm missing something. His eyes meet mine as he straightens himself in the chair,

"I'm the Alpha of the pack, the leader, my mate would be the pack's Luna. To keep my pack strong it needs a Luna, and my mate is specifically equipped to help run the pack so it would be stupid of me to reject my mate." Will starts the running water to wash the dishes, "So we would accept each other from the beginning for the importance of the pack. That would start the inseparable stage of the mate bond."

My head pounds with all the information. If I don't do this then I am a sitting duck to The Beginners. It doesn't matter where I go because they will hunt me down to that exact spot. But if I go where Greyson and Will goes then I could stand a chance. They know a lot more about this world than I do, about the rules and the people. If I try to take off, on my own, I will not succeed. I need help and it seems that being Greyson's mate is the best option.

"What is in this for you?" I ask Greyson feeling my clouded mind clear. He looks at me with slight amusement as Will snickers from the sink. The hazel orbs I've become so accustomed to being like steel sparkle with life,

"If you run away they will come looking for you and the first people they will talk to is Will and I. They will know if we lie and will torture us to find out where you are. Or kill us after they kill you." The sparkle in his eye turns cold again. It's so cold that a shiver runs down my spine at the thought of being his mate. If I want to ensure my safety the best way would be to trust someone who's life is on the line as well. He will protect my life to save his own, I can count on that.

"Okay, I'll do it," I shrug and Will shoots me another amused smile reading my mind, "but I want to go visit my parents first, since I doubt I will have another opportunity to go after all of this. And," I start quickly almost forgetting to make this point, "I want to be kept informed on all things that might concern me while this is going on."