Mated to the Enemy

Chapter 6.1

Arabella was still shaken from the events of last week. Her fathers death taking a big toll on her, even though he hadn't been much of a father lately, he was still her father. She would usually wake Alexander in the middle of the night from nightmares of her father, drenched in blood and calling out to her. She was unable to eat, having now lost both her parents...all she had now was Alexander and Luca. Other than them, she was alone, and they never quite get along either.

Arabella was sitting on the window seat in Alexander's bedroom. The storm raged on outside; drops of rain racing down the closed window, lightning flashing in the darkness, and thunder shaking the house. Tear stained cheeks and red puffy eyed reflection stared back at her through the window. She couldn't help but feel guilty, that maybe somehow she could have saved all this from happening. She loves Alexander, even if it's only because of the mate bond. They weren't supposed to be mates, it was forbidden, and she should've listened. She sighed, resting her head against the cold glass of the window.

"Ara?" Luca's voice filled her ears and she turned to him.

"Yeah?"

"Alexander's getting worried about you...I'm getting worried about you. You need to eat something."

"I-I'm not hungry."

"Don't make me carry you down to dinner myself. You know I will."

"Luca," she groaned. "Please, I don't want to do this right now. Just tell Alexander I'm not hungry."

"He doesn't need to." Alexander stepped in and walked over to her. She shrunk back and sighed. The look on his face, so determined and full of love and worry. He sat next to her, trapping her body between his legs. He pulled her closer and she rested her head on his chest.

"Listen," he started, and she sat quietly. "I know what it's like to lose someone to a fight...and it makes me feel worse that I'm the one who killed your father. But if I hadn't..."

"I know, and it's okay. If you hadn't-we wouldn't be able to be together, and you wouldn't let him take me away from you." She smiled up at him, a real smile that he hasn't seen in so long. Arabella blushed when he kissed her cheek and hid her face in his chest.

"You're beautiful, you know that?" By now Luca had been long gone as Alexander exchanged compliment after compliment. Arabella blushed and smiled after every compliment.

"Talented." Another smile.

"Adorable." A blush.

"And most importantly," a small smile, "the most amazing girl I've ever laid eyes on." The biggest blush she's ever done.

They sat like that for a while, Arabella enjoying the attention, love and warmth Alexander was giving. A loud burst of thunder made her jump and huddle closer to him. He wrapped a blanket around her and she shifted to her kitten form. She felt him chuckle as she curled herself in his lap, hiding under the blanket because of the storm.

"Would it make it better if I shifted?" Alexander chuckled.

"Mew." "Yes please."

Arabella waited patiently for Alexander to shift, watching him stand and take his shirt off ever so slowly before she shifted into his beautiful wolf, Chase. He then hopped up to the window seat and curled himself around her. Arabella purred in content and pawed at his snout playfully. She mewed when he sneezed and curled herself into a ball between his front legs, her fur sticking up whenever lightning stroke or thunder crashed. She would eventually find herself calm when Chase licked her head and soothed her through the mind link they shared.

Chase?

Yes my beautiful mate?

Are you disappointed I'm a kitten and not a wolf?

No, of course not! You're perfect my love. And your lioness is even more perfect.

But, I'm mostly a kitten...

Yes, all the parts of you are amazing my love. Your kitten, for example, is cute and naive, perfect for protection and love. Your lioness, on the other hand, is perfect for strength and power. Your human self, perfect for Alexander. So innocent and sweet, something he needs after we lost our mother. Arabella, my love, every part of you is perfect for us. Don't forget that.

          Arabella couldn't feel it, but she knew she was blushing and so did Chase and Alexander. Arabella attacked Chase's snout with kisses, mewing and purring in content. She felt safe and loved, but most importantly...perfect. After hearing everything Chase had to say, she no longer felt like she was misplaced and imperfect for Alexander. She felt wanted, needed and loved. It was everything she'd ever wished for, and she wasn't planning on ever letting that go. No one could take it from her, it was hers. And it was hers forever.

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A/N

Yes, short chapter but I wasn't going for length on this chapter. :)