Oscars POV
Now I know what you're thinking: how do they know that they're mates? They just have the Same eye colour, how does that make any difference? The truth is, it's more than just eye colour that shows that were mates. It's the ease at which we can compare information. Elm took everything in her stride, she was hardly fazed when I told her what we are. She acted as though pretty much everything was normal to her, as though she had known this for years. Then there's the Connection. The Connection is a feeling that you get when you first meet your mate. A small shiver down your spine, usually when the mate in question speaks. It is completely normal for two Shifters to become mates at unexpected times, take Dena and Lynch for example. They had been friends since they were kids, and then one night, boom! They were mates. But a Shifter having a human for a mate is just unheard of. It has never happened before, N.E.V.E.R!
When Elm and I got back to camp, the mood changed instantly. Elm had wiped the drool (my drool) off of her as best as she could, and I had hastily put my trainers back on, trying not to shift in worry. But there was no hiding the connection between us. I grimaced, as I sat down next to Lynch in our camp circle. Elm looked close to tears when she registered Kaiis' expression. He looked furious. 'Oscar Martinez!' I winced when he used my full name 'What have you done?' I looked down. I wasn't quite sure myself. 'What is your name girl?' I tried to suppress my growl when he rounded on Elm. 'Elm, sir.' Kaiis raised an eyebrow and Quill, Kaiis' best friend and rodent, snickered. Kaiis looked older than he really was, nineteen. Although handsome, he had worry lines etched across his forehead, and a fair share of scars running down his arms. He was tall and muscular, like a bear, his Shifter animal. I put my head in my hands, this wasn't good.
'Elm. Come here.' Elm tensed up. She looked at me, asking for permission? I nodded anyway, telling her to do what Kaiis said. She stood up, and made her way across the circle until she came to face Kaiis. He was taller than her by about a foot, so he bent down to look at her eyes. She flinched away from him, and he put a hand around her chin to hold her head in place. I stood up, shaking with anger. He was scaring her, my Elm, my mate. Kaiis released her and rounded on me. 'Do you have a problem, Martinez?'
'Yes.' He raised his eyebrows at me in mock surprise.
'Oh, I see. And would you mind telling me what exactly is wrong?'
'That's my mate your scaring Kaiis. And don't ask me how she came to be my mate, she just is. So leave her alone.' Kaiis smirked. I knew what he was doing. He was trying to get me to shift so he could see the colour of my eyes.
'Why not just ask?' I questioned.
'Ask?'
'Yeah.'
'Ask what?'
'Ask me to shift.' Kaiis laughed. 'You're smarter than you look you know.' And he turned back to Elm, locking his brown eyes with her blue. She was still standing in the same position that he had left her in. 'What are you Elm?'
'Human.' She squeaked, and I started to shake more violently. A small smile played at Kaiis' lips. 'Human. I see.' He leaned in and took a sniff of her neck, 'jasmine, with a hint of... Is that pineapple?' He looked at me, his eyes wide in admiration. 'I see.' This was ridiculous. I was barely holding myself together, I was pretty sure that if he didn't make a move on Elm soon, I was going to pass out from the effort of trying to stay human. 'No.' Elm whispered. It was soothing to hear her voice so determined. 'No?' Asked Kaiis. Elm turned to face me. 'Don't faint.' I gasped, she had read my thoughts. We really were mates! A small smile of satisfaction was painted on Kaiis' face. He nodded at me, as a sign of permission, and I dropped to my knees. Suddenly, I was lying flat on my stomach, my ears pressed flat against my pointed face. I stood up onto my four legs, and growled in Kaiis' direction. He knelt down and looked me in the eyes. Elm walked over and put her hand on top of my head, between my ears. Kaiis raised his eyebrows in surprise and I growled in defiance. 'She stays.' He declared. And started to walk back to his tent. Elm and I watched him go, the rest of the camp trailing behind him, before I shifted back and she pulled me into a tight hug. She started sobbing, and I peeled her off of me. I caressed her face with my hand, and started to sing:
Down by the river
At the edge of the woods
Bathing in moonlight
Be still, they say
Away from the cities
The two lovers wonder
What holds for tomorrow
Be still, they say
An angel comes down to him
Holding him close
Laughing and crying they go
Down by the river
At the edge of the woods
Bathing in moonlight
The wolves sorrowful moan
I carried on singing until she fell asleep on my lap, then I closed my eyes, and drifted off. Waiting for something to go horribly wrong.
