Unspoken

Chapter 10

My eyes flutter open slowly.  I can feel the suns rays on my face and leg.  I am in a bed, but not Joel's.  This one smells like...Mateo.

I roll over to my back and sit up.  I am wearing one of Mateo's shirts that smells like him.  I lift the blanket and thank God, I am wearing my own underwear.  I look around Mateo's room and notice he is nowhere in the room.  I start to get out of bed when the bathroom door opens.  Mateo walks into the room wearing nothing but a towel, and that is just draped over his shoulder.  I blush and turn away.

"Sorry, love.  Thought you were still sleeping.  It's ok, I am decent, now." he chuckles.

I look back at him but he is most definitely not decent.  The towel is now covering his midsection but his chest is bare and I have a mental image of his entire body.  I groan and lay back in the bed.

"Now you know how I feel.  I got to wash your entire, unconscious body last night and even though I wanted to take you right then and there, I knew you would hate me this morning so I controlled myself, barely.  I have not slept, I have taken multiple cold showers and they aren't working any more." he says as he comes and sits on the bed next to me.

"I can see the showers aren't working.  Sorry about last night.  I just couldn't stay awake any more.  I was so tired."

"It's alright, love.  I understand.  I am surprised you were even able to walk home.  I expected to have to shift and carry you back once you ate practically the hole buck." he teases and lies down next to me, on top of the blankets.

"Mateo, can I ask you something?" I ask and roll to my side so that I can see his face, which is looking right back at me, expressionless.

"Of course, love anything.  What do you want to know?" he says as he rolls to his side so we are facing each other, pulling me into his arms so only the thin blanket is separating us.

"Well, last night you and Joel seemed surprised by my white fur.  Why?"

"Well, honey.  It's a long story that I don't have time for since the others have returned are waiting for me downstairs, but I will tell you there has not been a white wolf in over 500 years and the last white wolf was magnificent.  She led the rebellion that freed our kind from enslavement.  It is written that white wolves are only born as a gift from our God, Selene.  Selene is the goddess of the moon and the goddess of all theriomorphs or shape shifters.  It is also written that a white wolf is born to lead and protect our kind when it is foretold our kind is in need of such.  In truth, I know very little more than that but I intend to find out.  When I know more, I will make sure to share with you.  Does that answer your question, love?"

"Yes, Mateo, it kinda does.  So the other pack members are here?  How many?" I ask nervously.

"Well, there are 12 of us that live here, so the other 10 have arrived, plus a few extras may come to see you."

"Me? But how do they even know about me?"

"Well, love, I told them I found my mate and that you accepted me.  They are curious about you."

"Curious, about me, why?"

"Honey, you may not believe me but you are my first.  I have never allowed another female to get as close to me as you have.  I have never trusted anyone to get so close.  Even Joel, love, has never seen me as open as I have been since you arrived.  I am a bit different with others.  I am Alpha so I can't show weakness.  I have to be, well, Alpha in all ways so I was unwilling to allow females to get to close."

I look into his eyes the entire time he is talking and notice he is nervous.  His left eye is twitching slightly at the corner, his breathing is labored and he clears his throat a couple times.  'What is he nervous about, I wonder?'