Mate

CHAPTER 4

"What's wrong with you?" "Bad dream." Katrina asked, her eyes fixed on me, waiting for an explanation.

"nothing,yeah"

I whispered, hoping she would let it go and not probe further. How could I even begin to explain? For the past week, instead of my usual haunting memories, my dreams had been consumed by a black wolf. It was as if my subconscious had conjured up this bizarre creature, relentlessly pursuing me. And what made it even stranger was that at the end of each dream, the wolf would transform into a man, but I could never hear or see him clearly.

I was lost in confusion, unable to comprehend what was happening to me.

"Well, we're landing soon." She said, breaking the silence. "Put on your seat belt."

"Yeah." I replied.

Grateful for the distraction. I didn't want to dwell on that dream any longer. Maybe it was just a result of stress, and this month off would help me decompress before I reached my breaking point. I convinced myself that all I needed was some time away, away from the pressures and demands of everyday life. That's when these absurd dreams would finally come to an end.

As the plane began its descent, I focused on the present moment, hoping that the change of scenery would bring some much-needed relief.

I could sense the gaze on me, my wolf always attuned to the presence of others. It was no surprise when I realized that Camille had been observing me for the past hour.

"I want to be your mate," were the first words that greeted me as I opened my eyes.

"Hmm," I murmured absentmindedly, still trying to fully process her statement. "You want to be my what now?" I asked, needing clarification.

"My mate," she repeated. "You asked me to move in, and I assumed it meant you were ready for a commitment."

I took a moment to let her words sink in. Even though we weren't fated mates, I understood where she was coming from. We were both turning twenty-seven this year, and if we hadn't found our destined partners by now, it seemed unlikely we would anytime soon.

"I may not be your destiny, Cam, but my desire to be by your side remains unwavering," she broke the silence that enveloped us, her words brimming with genuine sincerity. "I yearn for a devoted connection with you, and you alone."

"Oh..." I murmured, sitting up in bed and raking my fingers through my disheveled hair.

As I heard his words, a wave of contemplation washed over me. The implications of his silence left me deep in thought, questioning the nature of our relationship. Why would he choose not to answer? These thoughts swirled through my mind, causing her to wonder about the true meaning behind his actions.

"Cam, I understand that I've allowed you more freedom in the past, without voicing my concerns, simply because I know how you react when I express my grievances. But now, as you ask me to move in, I truly wish to solidify our commitment before we embark on this journey together, before our little ones arrives, and become your unwavering partner."

A heavy silence enveloped us as her words hung in the air like a bombshell. In that moment, I found myself unwilling to acknowledge or confirm what she had just said. "Did you hear me, Camron?" she asked.

seeking a response. I remained silent, but internally, I acknowledged that I had indeed heard her loud and clear. After all, as a wolf, my hearing was sharp enough to pick up even the faintest sound, like the subtle drop of a pin. So yes, I heard her, without a doubt.

As she got off the bed, hastily wrapping the sheets around her, I couldn't help but wonder why I hadn't noticed the change in her scent. It puzzled me, as my keen sense of smell usually picked up even the slightest shifts in aroma. I nervously licked my lips, feeling the weight of the situation, and finally found my voice, raspy and uncertain.

"How far?" I managed to ask. In a soft whisper, she replied,

"Two months."

It caught me off guard, as I had mistaken her physical changes for mere weight gain.

You're aware that I have a mate, right? And if they were to come here, you and your child would be in danger. Do you understand that?

It's in our animal nature to eliminate anything that poses a threat to our territory. I didn't mean for things to escalate so quickly, but this situation is becoming serious.

"Um, you mentioned that you wouldn't search for your mate, and it's our child too. Your wolf instincts would never allow your offspring to perish, no matter what," she said. "Don't try to evade this conversation."

"Yeah, honey, that's precisely why we were so compatible - you never imposed any demands on me."

"But now, you're leaving me with no alternative. A wolf cannot resist the call of its mate, and you know that. Similarly, a wolf cannot abandon its young. What have you put us through?"

I took a moment to process the information, feeling a mixture of emotions myself. As I put on my boxers and paced back and forth, a thought struck me, and I couldn't help but turn to Cher and ask.

"Did you even drink the elixir to prevent this from happening?" I looked directly into her eyes, searching for the truth.

She guiltily looked away, turning her face from me. Frustration welled up inside me as I realized she may have deliberately set me up for this.

"Tell me, were you drinking it?" I asked again, this time with the commanding tone of an alpha.

"I was, until two months ago." She whispered in response.As the realization sank in, my frustration grew.

"So you planned this, knowing exactly how I feel." I said, my voice tinged with disappointment. I began to dress, feeling the urgent need to get out of that room and clear my head. The weight of the situation hit me hard-I was going to have a baby with someone who wasn't my mate.

As I put on my pants and headed towards the door, I suddenly heard yelling in the distance, interrupting my thoughts.