Among The Wolves

Vakusi

MATE

Mate

mate

The words echoed in my head. I was sorely confused. Yet only for a minute. Memories of what Bal'Tiq told me rang clear. "We find our mates by the matebond. It is described as an intense attraction felt by both parties."

I could tell that whatever I was feeling, this black wolf felt it too. He felt the matebond.

  Matebond. 

My breath shook as fear replaced all other emotions I had. If this wolf laid claim on me, then no doubt I would be forced to stay and have no way of getting to my sister. This can not be happening.

Obsidian had a strange look in his eyes, he took a step forward, and then another. "NO!" The word ripped out of my mouth.

With the last bit of control I had over myself, I took a step back. Tripping over a stick, I fell back on my rump. The wonder that it was, the feral werewolf was actually set back. The hum died down and my joints stopped throbbing. I could apperceive some of my senses returning.

The black wolf took yet another step forward when I fell. I could see concern clouding his eyes. I held my hand out. Some of my fear was replaced with anger. I could not let anything stop me from getting to Vakusi. "No! Don't touch me!"

He stopped, taken aback.

I scrambled with the ground. Trying to stand up as quickly as I could. Once up,  face him again. "Don't you ever touch me again!"

With that declaration, I turned and fled. Worried that even this gentle wolfblood would turn beast and fight then force me to stay against my wishes. Tears fell as I maneuvered around bushes and leaped over the creek. I never ran so fast. It seemed that only two seconds ticked by before I found myself whizzing past the border fence. I did not even look back; I kept on running while pain beat with my heart, growing with every leap I made.

Then suddenly, rationale hit me. Obsidian had been nothing but kindness to me. No doubt he'd be willing to discuss the ins and outs of this bizarre happening. Not only that, but I hated to leave on sour terms with him. I thought of my last words to him. Why'd I do that? I need to go back!

I skidded to a halt and looked behind me. I could see the worn fence through the trees. Although, from where I was, I could not see Obsidian. It's too late. I'm over the border, I can't go all the way back.

Deciding to see if it truly was too late I walked slowly then quickly back toward the fence. When I reached it, I scanned the area where my interaction with Obsidian took place. I checked each tree, log, and bush. He was gone. I gasped, and my tears fell a little faster. What did I just do? He was once a friend, and in a split second, I practically made him an enemy. I looked into the trees again, hoping that he had not truly left. But he had... and with it left a hole in my heart. I had treated him so unfairly, and my opportunity for reconciliation was gone.

I covered my face. Did it even matter? I did not plan to see any Wos'Theian ever again. I was going to go rescue my sister and grandma and then disappear... somehow.

I wiped my tears away and turned eastward. I had to move forward. Forget Wos'Theon, forget the whole "Nu" thing, forget the matebond, and I would try to forget Obsidian. My heart ached even more at the thought.

I swallowed hard against my feelings and looked around me. I was in Vakusi. I made it, after a year with cursed wolfbloods, I was home.

Home, the word seemed empty. I did not have the euphoric sense that I had expected. In all honesty, the trees here looked just the same as in Wos'Theon. Home was with family and I had to get to them. I snuck a peek over my shoulder, saying a mental goodbye to everyone I had grown to know and trust. And then turned away before the sadness would turn into a hum.