Mates with 1D

┼ Chapter Twelve ┼

Damien

I yawned out as I awoke from my sleep, the forest grounds cold and hard underneath me. Though the sun wasn't still quite out yet, I knew it soon would be, but leaving now would get me a head start.

     Last night after being so rudely kicked out of Wilson's house I had gotten the crazy idea to go out and find Aluna myself. Maybe then I would finally get back Wilson's trust and earn myself the position as the new Alpha.

     Of course I had been stupid enough to decide all of that while I was drunk, and to add to it I had stumbled out of the bar and into the forest. It was very clear that I had no idea where the hell I was going because I was laying on the rock where Aluna and I had had our first kiss.

     The memory was somewhat bitter sweet, but I enjoyed the past more than I did the present. Back then I was so free, I could love Aluna without my step-father breathing down my neck, threatening to hurt my mother if I didn't bring honor to the family and become the Alpha of the pack.

     I still remember the day everything had changed. The day I became the monster Aluna now feared.

     I clenched my jaw at the painful memory and took in a deep breath. An empty beer bottle was on the ground and I wished I had been smart enough to have brought more than one beer with me last night.

     I hated myself for hurting Aluna, for not being strong enough to have protected my mother from my step-father and Aluna from myself.

     Snap!

     My train of thought broke at the sound of a twig snapping. Someone was here, someone was watching me. For how long I was not sure, but someone was here. Their heartbeat was steady and their scent smelled of honeysuckle.

     "Is someone there?" I asked outloud, but there was no response other than the early birds and the angry crickets chattering among themselves. "I don't bite unless you strike first."

     The voice that spoke was soft and quiet, but it was audible enough for me to be able to understand. "I know where Aluna is."

     I jolted up from my spot, my eyes wide with surprise. That was all it took for me to start looking for where the source of the voice had came from. "Who is this?" I asked, my tone giving out how eager and frustrated I was to find her. "Where is she?!"

     No response.

     "Goddammit! Where the hell is she?!" Was I going crazy?? Was it the beer I had consumed last night?? Or was it because I had never gone this long without at least one sip from any type of alcoholic beverage??

     I scowled in frustration and bunched my hands into fists. I didn't have time for this. I needed to get a move on and find Aluna. Now.

I was going crazy. I had been walking for hours now without any food or water. Dammit!! Why had I been so stupid?! Why was I like this?? Why couldn't I be different and remember something so little and yet so important as bring your own damn food?!

     God, even I hated myself, and it was no wonder why my mother would prefer a man who would beat her rather than her own son.

     I sighed and held onto a tree for support. I was exhausted and I needed my rest, but I had to keep going. I had to bring Aluna back home and apologize for everything. Maybe then she would take me back. Maybe she would be the one who accepted me, wartz and everything.

     Maybe.

     I took a step forward when the girl from last night swung a silver bat straight towards my face, and before I could react, the impact was so strong that at first everything was nothing but pain, and then, nothing but darkness.

Aluna

I softly groaned, my head spinning. I had to get up and make dad something to eat before he woke up, but sleep seemed rather welcoming. I stirred in my bed, moving over to cuddle with my teddy bear, Steve, and froze at the same time that cold metal touched my wrists and a stinging pain that was emitting from both of my wrists awoke me from my half asleep state.

     I was cuffed to my bed.

     The realization was making my heart race in fear. "Dad?" I wanted to call out, but my throat was so dry that absolutely nothing came out.

     Where was I? Tears begun to fill my eyes, but I refused to cry. I was stronger than that. I was the next Alphena of my pack and this was nothing compared to what my brother had been through.

     The room was dark and I used my wolf strength to try and break the cuffs, but they didn't break like they were supposed to and it only caused the lashes that the cuffs had made to run deeper.

     I winced in pain and bit down on my lip to keep from crying out. They were probably wolf proof, but it was impossible to get your hands on them. It was illegal. Just having them in your possesstion could get you a ticket to prison.

     "Do you think she's awake yet?" Someone whispered just outside of the room. "He never said we couldn't feed her."

     "He's not our fucking boss. We can do whatever the hell we want." Someone else snarled. "Get Harry and Liam some food too. Knowing Zayn he'll starve them to death."

     "It was my idea to feed her!" The other one protested. "So I should be the one to give the food to her. Besides, you seem more worried about Harry and Liam than—"

     "Niall, just do as I say, please. We both know that now isn't the time to argue about this. If Zayn comes he'll have our asses join Harry's and Liam's and without us she has no one on her side." There was a long pause before he added in, "Besides, she doesn't even remember us."

     A long sigh was audible from where I laid and then who I assumed was Niall said, "Okay, but hurry up. I'm not the best liar in the house and Zayn will get suspicious if you're gone for too long."

     The sound of a key slipping into the lock made my heart slam hard against my chest, but I wasn't sure whether I was afraid or eager. Or both. I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep just as one of my kidnappers stepped inside.

     I could hear his racing heart matching the speed of my own. It was a crazy and scary feeling having to pretend to be asleep while your kidnapper watched you "sleep". But it was also a reality call. This was really happening, I was really cuffed to a bed, and I really had to play it smart otherwise it could lead to very bad consequences.

     "Aluna, baby?" Hearing him closer I realized he had that type of British accent that girls back home would swoon over. "I know you're awake."

     My heart nearly stopped. He knew I was awake?? But how?! That was impossible.

     I made no sudden movements until I realized I was holding my breath. His scent was somewhat comforting, and after a few seconds of pretending to be asleep, I caved in to my curiousity and opened my eyes, except all of the feelings I had expected to feel when I looked at the guy standing in front of me were nonexistent.

     I felt nothing towards him.

     Nothing but fear and hate.