Tales of the Heart

Chapter 1- Get the Hell Out Pt. 1

Alena's mate Carter was furious when he had first met her. He was angered for two reasons, the first being that he was not ready for the commitment of a mate- he was perfectly happy with his first love and long-time girlfriend Angie, reason two- Alena was covered in bruises and had a prominent scar drawn across her face like a skid mark on the road.

It took a week of seeing her gaze at him longingly from a distance and Angie cheating on him with a boneheaded jock to realize what he had been missing out on. It took another two weeks for Alena to forgive him and to move in with him, as was the custom of mates. In his focus on winning Alena back he had never thought to question her about the bruises and scars, he just assumed she had been clumsy as a child and fell against a table or something like it.

What he didn't know was that her home was a personal hell. Her father had turned into a pit of fiery anger and rage after the passing of her mother. He would turn to her when he was feeling particularly hateful and would vent his emotions in the form of his fists. She blamed herself for his hurt, after all her mother did pass while she was entering into this world.

Alena confessed her past hurts and suffering to Carter's sister Sam, whom she became close too after Carter and her became mated. Sam held her close while she let out all her dark secrets to air, and as she did so, she became lighter and happier. The relief she felt from fleeing his home was immense. Her only fear was that one day she would have to return and face his wrath. Sam promised her that her fear would never happen and that Carter would protect her.

Things were going well after that for about a year, until Angie returned with intentions of rekindling what she had once had with Carter. At first it hadn't troubled Alena; she trusted Carter with her heart and knew he would never hurt her. Soon, however, she began to notice Carter seemed more distant. The second Angie asked for something he would be the first person to jump up to fetch it for her.

When Alena brought up her displeasure at his distance from her, and his eagerness to help Angie he brushed aside her hurt, calling her petty and selfish. Still, Alena tried to be patient and hold onto the trust she held in her mate. Until one day...

"Carter, baby! Come here, my back hurts darling. Rub it for me?" Alena turns to glare at Angie as she crooks out for Carter, her Carter to rub her back. Angie turns and smirks at the sweet girl as if to challenge her. It had been bothering her for weeks that Carter had allowed this old flame to stay in their home.

"It's only temporary babe, she needs a place to stay. We can't just throw her out. Give it a few days, just so she can get back on her feet." Those few days turned to weeks and every passing hour was killing Alena. Angie didn't come to their home because she needed help or was down on her luck; she got upset at her mate when he had asked her to help clean. How pathetic. Still, Alena tried to be patient. She was always cleaning up after the messes that Angie made and would try to be as civil as possible, even though the other girl couldn't bother to do the same. And yet, when she had brought up the rude remarks that Angie would hurl at her, Carter would sigh and say "Again with the jealousy babe? Seriously, it's not cute. Angie needs a place to rest and I can't believe how rude you are being."

He never listened. Blinded by his old love, he would overlook his mate's mistreatment and serve his past love on his knees. Alena was slowly getting fed up with the both of them; she might as well get out of their way so they can be together, since she clearly wasn't needed.

"Carter! My Back! Why do you hate me?" wailed Angie. Alena gritted her teeth as she heard the thudding of her mate's feet down the stairs of their comfortable two story home. "Angie I don't hate you, I couldn't hear you from the bedroom." He bent over the back of the couch where the she devil was sitting and began to rub her back like he used to do to Alena. Key word used to. Soon Angie began to lowly moan to herself swaying her shoulders while she made full eye contact with Alena. Her eyes gleaming with malicious intent.