Winter Wolves

Chapter 8

Colton watched through his window how his mate and Hannah interacted. He couldn't help to feel extremely jealous. What was so special about the blind girl that made his mate to trust her so easy? He had tried for weeks without earning anything from her besides her growls and snarls. Yet, there she laid, in front of Hannah, her ears perked up, hanging on every word Hannah said. She ate, Hannah took his mate three foods a day and they would eat together. He couldn't hear but saw the girl chat incessantly, never once receiving the anger that the white wolf seemed to have in store for everyone else.

The white she-wolf was gaining weight. Colton was happy for that, after seeing her in mere bones and skin, and being so afraid of losing her, he was grateful to Hannah for getting the white wolf to eat. But the gratefulness couldn't keep the jealousy away. Having his mate around for so long without claiming her was wrecking havoc on Colton's mind. His patience had grown thin while his aggressive behavior was making its way out. He was always on the verge of losing control, snapping at pups that got in his way or snarling towards Michael, his beta.

Sitka pack tried to understand Colton's mood swings, everyone was aware that the situation with his mate was difficult. She wasn't trustworthy, she was always aggressive towards the pack members, she refused to shift back to her human form, they only knew the bad side to her, one that had bitten a warrior that brought her food. Nobody wanted to uncollar her, Colton didn't want her to escape and the pack didn't want her near the vulnerable pack members like the elders and the pups. So the only answer remained having her collared with silver to the three.

The figure of Hanah trying to place some poles and what seemed to be a big blanket near the tree where his mate was chained zoomed him out of his thoughts. She kept trying to dig the pole deep enough on the snow, to make it stand on its own, but the pole would keep falling. He went out and headed to the tree. The white she-wolf glanced his way and immediately tucked her ears to her head. She showed a little bit her fangs without making a noise.

-What are you doing Hannah? -

-I'm trying to make her a tent, so the snow doesn't bother her anymore. -Even though Hanah looked a little frustrated, she seemed happy. Colton felt hot anger sizzling in his chest, not towards Hannah, but himself. His mate had been at Sitka for a couple of months now, and he never once thought of getting her a tent to protect her against the weather.

-Why are you doing this? No one ordered you to do it... - Colton didn't mean to make it sound so harsh, but it still came half as a growl. He saw Hannah flinch a little.

His mate let go a warning growl.

A pole fell one more time as Hannah tried to place it correctly once more and Colton snapped. He snarled and snatched the pole from Hannah's hand. Hannah yelped at he harshness of his actions and in response the white wolf let out a deafening growl and began pulling like crazy at the collar around her neck. She growled and trashed trying to free herself. Colton froze at his mate reactions until he saw that one of his hands had the pole and the other was gripped around Hannah's forearm. The girl had silent tears running down her cheeks and a terror-struck expression on her face.

The white she-wolf kept trashing so furiously that blood had began oozing from the marred skin on her neck.

Colton realized what he had done and let go of Hannah's arm. As soon as she was set free, she ran to one of the cabins on the clearing, most likely her house. His mate stopped the furious trashing but kept growling at him.

He felt his head spinning with his own thoughts; he knew his mate had accepted Hannah's company, for they ate together every meal. But he never imagined the white wolf would become so protective over the blind girl. He didn't mean to hurt her. He had been overwhelmed by rage. He had neglected his mate.

Once back inside his office, Elder Tyler came in without knocking. Colton growled. The elderman just gave an annoyed puff and sat in front of the Alpha.

-You hurted a pack member...-

Colton remained expressionless on the outside but felt extremely guilty on the inside.

-The girl didn't do anything wrong, she tried to provide for your mate, something that you haven't done, by the way. And she still found herself at the end point of your ire! -

-I didn't mean to, I Was upset with myself. -

-I know it can be hard but you either mark your mate or learn to control your instincts, because if you keep acting this way the pack members will loathe you. -

-She tried to protect her...- It was as if Colton hadn't listened to a word Elder Tyler had said.

- I'm sorry, what did you say?-

-My mate, when I manhandled Hannah... my mate tried to protect her. -

-Of course, Colton, that is what one is supposed to do when family is being harmed!-

-What do you mean by family? -

Tyler gave a deep sight.

-You still don't see it, do you? Hannah has somehow adopted your mate, and the wolf has taken it kindly to return the affection Hannah has been given her-

-But why did she accepted her and not any other wolf that I send to help her? -

- I told you to give the task to Hannah, because she is harmless, your mate is not an angry-vicious-bad wolf, she is just scared, but as most wild animals do, when she's scared, she attacks. You sent warriors to feed her, you tried to feed her yourself. Even if you didn't mean to, you kept sending a message loud and clear: That you overpowered her. That is no way to gain a wild animal's trust. On the other hand, you have Hannah, who approached slowly due to her own nature, she shared the food with your mate, she kept her company and talked to her without expecting anything back from her. The white she-wolf has grow fond on the one who has been caring of her and doesn't represents any threat-.