The Unkowns

Once Upon A Time

-Chapter 10-

"Why were you in your chamber so early in the afternoon?" I asked Hunter suspiciously, struggling against his grip on me.

After Torfus had left, Hunter felt it was necessary to engulf my body with his scent, and pulled me into a tight embrace. He revealed that with his scent covering me, no male would dare approach. I outwardly objected to such possessiveness, but secretly loved how protective he was over me.

"I was waiting for the return of my mate," he replied, lowering his face to my neck.

Tingles erupted as Hunter placed light kisses onto my collar bone.

All I could respond with was a mew of pleasure that was rather shameful.

Hunter growled in delight and drew me impossibly closer. The heat radiating from his firm body was irresistible, and I closed my eyes in bliss.

"Submit, sweet mate," Hunter purred.

At such words my temper flared and I slapped his firm jaw, causing him to release me in surprise.

"I shall never submit to anyone, especially not to you!" I retorted.

With that I exited our chamber, searching for the room that my mother resides in.

I finally recognized the ancient symbols etched into the wood and pushed open the door.

The room was dark, just as before, however I could still see into her chamber due to the light from the hall. My mother was hunched over in the corner, muttering nonsense.

Running to her side, I took her arm and began to lightly shake her.

"Mother? Awaken!" I cried.

She began to convulse, uttering screeches that slashed into the air like knives.

Then, she stopped.

"Precious Ara, what is it that you are seeking?" She asked brightly as if she had not been shrieking moments before.

I only managed to stutter a respectful greeting, perplexed.

"Do you find that many times you feel a pull towards Hunter, a sensation that you cannot deny?" My mother spoke knowingly.

"No," I stubbornly replied, pursing my lips and giving her a hard stare.

"Very well. Then I shall never tell you the cause of such emotions," she said slyly.

"I did not wish to know," I snapped, regretting my decision to visit.

After a few moments, however, I reluctantly admitted to myself that I did long for answers.

"Perhaps it might be useful," I found myself saying, giving in to my curiosity.

"Allow me to tell you a story," my mother said, moving over to her own lavish bed and patting the seat next to her delicately.

Sasha used to tell me the best stories. Every night before bed she would tuck me in speak of far away lands, mythical creatures, and treacherous adventures. She had a knack for story-telling, with her soft yet mysterious voice that drew you in and her grand imagination. This talent must have come from her mother.

I sighed sadly, my heart aching from the loss of Sasha. One day I shall find her.

"Once upon a time," she began as I settled near her on the delightfully comfortable blankets,"a powerful goddess approached a small pack of wolves. Her name was Sarafina, and she granted each wolf the ability to turn into a man. Believing to have concocted of one of the greatest creations of all time, she returned six months later only to find that these 'werewolves', as she liked to call them, had discovered the pleasures of women. Their new human forms combined with their wolf instincts caused them to instinctively act upon their urges, and they raped women in village after village, wreaking havoc. Horrified, Sarafina embedded the mating system into their bodies so that they might never harm a woman again. The mating system creates a mate for each werewolf, a female or male that is designed specifically for them. This is why we conduct a Mating Ceremony and gather eligible women each year from nearby villages, so that each wolf might find his or her mate." Mother explained this horrifying tale in such a calm manner that I itched to slap her face to awaken her.

"What is this nonsense? Are you to say that I am to 'mate' with Hunter so that he refrains from raping women?" I asked her incredulously.

"Yes, that is precisely so. Once two mates are discovered powerful emotions of lust are awakened until the mating process is complete."

"And what of love?" I sneered.

"Love shall appear later, as you spend time with your mate and raise your children." Falina smiled serenely.

I turned to leave, utterly disgusted with my mother's words, when she called out to me.

"If you would like to see your precious sister once more, I suggest that you complete the mating process."