Scent of a Mate

Chapter 16

We were uncomfortably sitting around the table while ice packs were being passed around to the elders, who gladly accepted them. I glanced around the table as the injured elders, who ultimately had my life in their hands, laughed and chatted.

"Whew! We haven't fought like that in years right guys?"

The room agreed with the comment.

"And Ron's still a pussy, isn't he?"

The room hollered in agreement and laughter except for one dejected looking elder who I assumed was Ron. Stories and playful insults were being thrown around as my anxiety increased. I turned my head towards Nate and Craig and saw that a heated conversation was passing between the two. I couldn't understand a word due to the commotion in the room, but I just the conversation was about me.

As if sensing my intense staring, Nate faced me and I saw profound sadness and panic in his eyes. He tried to give me a small smile but I already knew the reason for his sadness.

They were going to decide to kill me. The odds of me living were too small and Nate knew it.

Craig casually cleared his throat making the entire section of elders stop their chatter and turn towards him.

"I'm sure that the fight was great and thoroughly thrilling; however, I would like to return to the matter at hand."

The elders started to sit up straighter as if they were once again obtaining their business composure.

Craig, as serious as I have ever seen him, glanced over at Nate who in return gave him a slight nod.

"Elders. What is your decision?"

My stomach noted tighter than ever. Sweat started to form on my brow and upper lip.

In a span of two days my life has been placed on the line. It was as if fate was showing how fragile life can actually be. I had never appreciated the little things in life more than I had at that moment.

I turned to look at Nate. His face was steel locking away all emotions that I could smell rolling off of him. He was the mate I never wanted but finally found. I didn't love him. Not yet at least. But I just knew that he could give me all the love and joy that I had been missing in my life, and I, in return, could do the same for him.

I turned to look at the elders and found all their eyes to be on me. A sweet old lady stood from the back. She wore a kind smile and wire framed glasses on her wrinkling brown skin. As she stood her fellow elders glanced at her as if thanking her for delivering the news.

"I believe it's safe to say that all of us here know what is the best and most rational decision to make here," the lady voiced with a firm but smooth voice as the rest of the elders murmured in agreement.

Nate's hand, all of the sudden, grasped my knee under the table. I looked up at him and saw that his hazel eyes were flickering into the werewolf gold. His face was still devoid of emotion but I could smell his anger and pain. I placed my hand on his making his face turn to mine. I gave him a sad smile as if to say:

It's okay.

I knew he didn't hear that but I could see his eyes flicker with sadness and realization.

"However..."

Both our heads snapped back to the lady elder. She held a knowing smile on her face, as if she knew what had transpired between the two of us.

"... elders don't just make decisions using rational thinking. Not only must a Beta acquire his Mate to gain strength but there is something special in that girl that is halting an immediate call for her death."

The whole room had eyes on me. I looked at Nate, who wore disbelief on his face, and then looked at Craig who was scrutinizing my very being with his eyes. Quite frankly, I could have walked out that room completely happy knowing that I wasn't dying today. Not yet at least. I was going to continue to listen though because I was a curious one.

"Do you know what that special thing is?" Craig asked while keeping his eyes on me.

The elder's smile widened as she chuckled. Her eyes looking straight into mine with awe and wonder.

"It seems the Moon Goddess has a special interest in you, young lady."

I couldn't seem to wrap my head around that. An interest in me? The Moon Goddess? To be honest, I didn't believe in spirits and magic seeing that it was completely absent in my childhood. The only thing I knew about the Moon Goddess is that she shipped people and then mated them together, and I liked that about her. I didn't know if she did anything else, and I certainly didn't know she had an interest in me.

"I'm not that special." I spit out before I could stop myself. I felt Nate's grip on me knee tightened but I kept my eyes locked on the elder's.

The elders all seemed to chuckle and the old woman's eyes seemed to soften.

"We'll see about that." She mused.

She cleared her throat and regained her business composure.

"Regardless of the goddess' interest on the girl we can't ignore the fact that war is heading to our doorstep. Because of this fact we have decided that the lanyard must be removed off girl without killing her and before opposing troops reach our pack."

Craig seemed to ponder the statement.

"How do you propose we do that?" Nate questioned.

"There is a known sorcerer living in the Greenville Pack. Go and consult him and convince him to find a way to remove it immediately."

Craig leaned forward and placed his palm on the table with an intensity only an Alpha held. I knew what Craig was going to ask before he even asked it because I was questioning it too.

"The best warriors from my pack and Lake Side Pack have confirmed that Southern Point Pack and the Rogues can have a fully equipped, well trained army ready in a minimum of six months. What happens if this special sorcerer can't remove the lanyard of her by then?"

The older lady looked at me with overflowing sympathy, Nate's hand was most likely leaving fingerprints on the skin on my knee, and I knew that I would most likely puke after the meeting was over.

I guess I didn't care what the elders, Nate, Craig, or even the pack thought of me at that moment because before anyone could say a word I stood up and slammed my hands on the table.

"I rip the motherfûcking lanyard of my motherfûcking neck, Craig! That's what the happens! It was great to meet all you lovely people, but I'm gonna go try to live my shît life because I guess I have six fûcking months to live."

I don't normally cuss but I figured it fit Ricky's personality and the current situation. If they make you feel uncomfortable then, why the fûck would they?

Enjoy,

Torrvi