Mate

Five

"The doctor said you were oddly calm about the whole situation when he spoke to you," Julian broke the silence, causing me to sigh. I liked the quiet.

"Sh'yaw. I'm a go with the flow kind of girl, bro," I replied, somewhat annoyed, in a laid back surfer dude manner. He eyed me for a moment.

"How did you know?" He questioned.

"I do my research." In reality, I'm a supernatural creature myself. It's my job to know everything about every supernatural creature there is. Of course, I don't know everything just yet, but my grandma is a master in her line of work. It's sort of like a family business, if you will.

He raised a brow at me. "You believe in the supernatural?"

"Duh. Don't you? I mean, you did inherit lycanthropy-" I bit my lip hard, shutting myself up. Why am I even telling him about my knowledge of the supernatural world? I don't even know him, let alone trust him!

His eyes narrowed. "Tell me everything you know about my kind," he demanded.

I looked out the window. "I just remembered, I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."

"Aspen," he stated, using his Alpha voice on me. I turned and glared at him.

"Don't use that tone with me," I growled lowly.

"I'll use whatever tone I want!" He retorted.

"Not on your mate like that," I crossed my arms. The car suddenly swerved and my eyes widened, my hands flying to grip the consul and door tightly.

"Mother of monkeys!" I squeaked as he got the car under control. I was breathing heavily as he pulled to the side of the road and turned to me.

"Who told you that?" He asked. I unbuckled myself and went to open the door, but he reached over me and held the door closed.

"Let me out," I demanded.

"Who told you?" He asked again.

"Let me out of the dang car, Julian! You could've gotten us both killed! Thanks, but staying in a car with a psycho driver is not on my bucket list," I said coldly, going to open the door again, but he moved to grip my wrists in his hands, turning me to face him.

"Aspen," he said in a desperate yet calm and soothing voice. "Please."

I stared at him.

"Please," he repeated. "Talk to me."

"I don't know you," I told him.

A pained look flashed across his features before he said, "then get to know me."

I took a deep breath. I wasn't planning on telling him this way. "No. We can't be together. It will only hurt more for both of us if we know each other."

He looked broken and it broke my heart to see him look so hurt. His eyes switched between black and their natural warm brown, showing his and his wolf's mixed emotions about what I said. His wolf wanted out. I don't know what he plans to do if he gets his way, but I have a feeling it won't be pretty.

I basically just rejected him. Rejected them both.

He squeezed his eyes shut and I waited, concerned, for what was going to happen. Finally his face set grimly and his eyes flickered open to reveal pitch black eyes. This was no longer Julian. I swallowed.

"I'll do whatever it takes to make you mine, to make you love me," his grip on my wrists tightened considerably and my breathing picked up. Julian's wolf's voice wasn't like his at all. His wolf's was very deep and scratchy, almost as if he was forever growling, yet somehow his voice sent desirable shivers up my spine.

"And I mean anything, little mate," he growled. I swallowed, thinking of the possible meanings behind that.

"I-I can't-" he cut me off.

"You will." He let go of me and turned to look forward, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. I watched him in shock. Did he just threaten to make me fall in love with him? Is that even considered a 'threat'?

He closed his eyes and after a moment, his hands relaxed a bit and he opened his eyes once more to reveal the warm brown of Julian's eyes. Julian pulled away from the side of the road, not saying anything as he drove me home.

I sighed and slumped, pretending to examine my bandaged hands and only slightly bruised wrists. Honestly, I was thankful the topic had changed from my knowledge of the supernatural world, but another truth is that Julian's wolf scared me.

Julian and his wolf seem to be complete opposites. I wouldn't mind having Julian as a friend, but his wolf creates the illusion of a demon hiding inside an angel. Perhaps that's just because of alpha genes, though.

Any other wolf would have left their mate be after being rejected, they'd fall into deep depression and eventually die without their mate. But Julian is an alpha. His wolf is stronger than most others and I suppose his wolf's reacting to my attempt at rejecting him was natural.

They intrigue me. Perhaps I could get to know Julian better. It would be good for me to trust someone besides my grandma with my deepest secret.

I just don't know if it's actually a good idea.

~~~

I know this chapter is a bit fast, as is the rest of the story, but trust me, it'll slow down soon. Also, if you're confused about the whole 'his wolf' thing, that'll be cleared up soon, when he gets a name.