The Boy Who Cries Wolf

Chapter 3

She continued looking over her shoulder. "It's just.. The other males I'm with are my brothers. And they're very protective of me. You'd have to meet a few people and such before hand."

"Even though I'm your mate?" I asked, a little confused.

She looked back at me and nodded slightly. As she looked back at me, I could tell she noticed my scars across my arms. She went to touch them, and instinctively, I flinched backwards.

"I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't.." I took a breath. "I didn't mean to flinch like that. I'll have to explain some other time."

She looked into my eyes, and I quickly blinked and looked away. I didn't like it when people tried to read me.

"You had a rough past," she stated softly.

I looked back at her, a little surprised. "Yea, I did."

"And no one knows about it."

I was getting a little freaked out. "Well, yea."

She told her brothers to tell their parents she found her mate, and was going to be spending time with him. I told my pack members to head back to camp, and I'd be there eventually.

So then, we were alone. She had be sit down on the ground, and she sat in front of me.

"Take off your shirt. I want to see your scars.." she told me, in a fairly soft tone that I wasn't very use to.

I paused for a moment, and thought, before deciding to slowly take off my shirt, laying it beside me.

Some scars had words on them, some were just designs in my skin. Purple marks, snaking their ways across my skin. Some thick, some thin. Some shallow, some deep. I saw Akino moving slowly towards me and I closed my eyes.

"You don't need to be afraid, Bodolf. I'm not going to hurt you." The words fell softly from her lips.

I nodded slightly, not used to having such a gentle touch. I felt her fingertips come slowly into contact with my skin. With all my might, I didn't my best not to flinch away.

"Bodolf.. Please, just relax," she pleaded.

"I.. I can't.. I'm not used to having someone touch me so gently. It's always been cuts, and bruises, and broken bones.. and.. I don't know what it's like to really be loved.." I could feel tears threatening to come forth, but I did my best to hold them back. But, one tear fell from my eye.

Akino placed her hand on the side of my face, and gently used her thumb to wipe away the tear.

I opened my eyes, which were closed tightly shut, and looked at her. I could see the worry in her eyes. Although we had just met, I could tell that she was starting to love me. I was beginning to love her. But, I was afraid to get attached.

I stared into her eyes, and let her read me, every inch of me, and even opened up my mind to let her witness some of the things that I've been through.

"I can tell you've been through a lot, Bodolf. I can see it in your eyes," Akino said with a type of softness in her voice. "And, I want you to know, I want to be different from all the people in your life. I want to help you."

Her hand was still on the side of my face. I rested my hand over hers, and leaned my face into the palm of her hand. "I believe you.. I can see the truth in your eyes.."

She grabbed my hand and stood up, and pulled me up with her. I went to put my shirt on, and she stopped me. "Don't. I want you to learn to be confident, even with those scars."

"But, my family..." I barely got out.

"They'll have to learn to accept you. They'll see what's happened to you, and how you've stilled lived through it. That's why you're so strong, and so good as alpha."

I wanted to tell her the truth, but she wouldn't believe anything other than what she's told me.

We started heading back to camp. I got up the courage to grab her hand and hold it. Her hands seemed to fit so perfectly in mine, as if they were made from the same thing. The feeling of her skin touching mine gave me a sense of comfort that I wasn't use to. I felt her lightly squeeze my hand in a comforting way. I was a little afraid, but I continued holding her hand.

Through the trees, I could see the pack den-site. I got anxiety, and went for my shirt. Akino stopped me, and she tossed it aside. I tried to go after my shirt, or run off, but Akino wouldn't let me. As she drug me closer, I could see my mother waiting for me, and to meet my mate. My mother stayed when my father "died." Though I'm sure he left us.

"Come on, it'll be alright," Akino tried to comfort me.

I shook my head, trying to get away, but not wanting to hurt her. She drug me closer, until I was in sight, and I made eye contact with my mother. I froze in fear as she approached me with a different kind of look in her eyes..