by Eli Lowe
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“Move, you bitch.” I was about to enter the next maths class when I heard an irritating nasal voice from behind. I didn't even have to turn around to know who it was.
Yes, Lizzie and her group of universal whores.
She pushed me aside rudely only to sway her hips seductively while making her way to Markus who was already sitting at the back of the class.
I saw Markus frowning a bit but little did she care and sat on his lap, glueing her entire body with his like some lizard.
“Get off me.” His horrific voice caused me not to turn my gaze away from the pathetic pair only to see her frowning face revealing the fact that things didn't happen according to her expectations.
Poor Lizzie.
Tsk.
Seeing such a scene before my eyes, I almost cracked up, but I didn't though. Yes, I held myself back from laughing out loud.
Anyway.
I got into that classroom, just when another realization hit me.
Crap.
I sighed as I realized that I had to sit beside those pathetic fellows for an entire class because the class was full leaving the only seat for me to sit, just beside Markus.
Fixing the huge hoody I sat on the seat quietly, waiting for the class to end as soon as possible.
But something was wrong.
I kept zoning out throughout the period and my gut kept twisting for some unknown reason.
Something odd was in the air.
Anyway,
Another day when I had passed successfully, sneaking around the whole school without being caught or involving in some kind of useless fights.
But one thing I knew that something was definitely odd at school. I couldn't point it out though, but I kept feeling that someone is pulling me. But who I didn't know.
'No, I shouldn't encourage any uncanny thoughts.' That was what I thought every time whenever those feelings occurred to me out of the blue only to ignore such suspicion.
“What took you so long?” I asked Kaith when he made his way out to the parking area at last, after school.
“No Sam, I am on time while you are early, because you are eager as ever to get out of this school as soon as you can. What are you running from Sam?” Yeah yeah... He had started his nonstop lectures already.
“Okay, okay... I understand. Where is Jenny?” I asked intentionally, cause I knew only that name could make him stop.
“Why do you think I would know?” He asked acting all grumpy while I knew he was already feeling butterflies in his stomach.
You, dumbass.
But even before I could say anything else to Kaith, we heard the voice for which we were waiting.
“Hi, I am sorry that you had to wait.” With that, she showed her dimples and I already knew that someone was already drooling beside me.
“No, it's totally fine.” Came his reply.
I didn't know I should laugh or not.
“Anyway. Let's go. Are you going to work today?” I asked her as it became a routine for me since the first day, to drop jenny at work and pick her up from there as well.
And you know what?
Kaith has no problem with that anymore, as long as I take my bike with me and pick up his each and every call without hanging up in between his queries.
“Yes.” She said and with that, we all started to head towards our own ways.
Jenny to her club, Kaith to his practice, and I to the cafe, after dropping Jenny as I said.
After work, I headed straight towards the club.
I was roaming around here and there in the dark alleys near Jenny's club as I came early as usual. It was almost midnight. And there was not a single trace of light in the surrounding, creating a replica of my own dark life. Yes, that was how it seemed.
But little did I know that something was about to happen, which I had always avoided.
With cold night breeze, came an unknown smell which appeared the most intoxicating one to me. The smell which could easily compel me to lose my sanity. And I knew what was happening.
Yes, I panicked as soon as I realized that the one is nearby. The one who was always meant for me. My mate.
The one whom I never wanted to meet due to my self-consciousness.
I panicked, even more, when another thought hit me all of a sudden.
I am wearing my clothes tonight just like every other night, because I had least expected to find my mate at these dark alleys and that too at this late hours?
What should I do now?
I can smell him, which means he could too.
Just when I kept thinking of all those possible ways to get myself out of this situation, the scent started getting even stronger and soon I could hear heavy footsteps that were surely coming my way.
Even before I could take another big step to increase my pace, a pair of strong and muscular hands pulled me back only to fall right into his chest and hugged me tightly from behind, in the middle of the darkest alley.
“Mate” that was what I heard before he buried his head on the crook of my neck from behind.
Episode 11
Kaith's P.O.V
Since when I have parted my ways from them in front of our school gate, I kept feeling anxious and desperate for some unknown reason.
I couldn't even concentrate much on my practice session for the beta training at our pack. My mind kept zoning out every now and then.
I didn't know why.
As if I should be somewhere else.
As if I need to be with someone important.
And...And my wolf was going nuts at the back of my mind. Once I had felt him almost at the verge of coming out in between the training.
Fuck.
A realization struck all of a sudden.
Mate?
Is it a mate's call?
Is she thinking off me?
How do I know?
What should I do?
Soon I was engulfed with a lot of questions without a single answer.
The only thing I knew was I needed to go out and look for her as soon as possible.
And I had a slight hunch about who could it be. So I took my bike out of the packhouse only to turn my wheels towards a familiar dark alley where night becomes alive but survives as a wild savage.
Yes, the club.
The night club where Jenny works.
I always had a feeling that she is my mate, at least that makes a reason for my inexplicable stupid behaviour around her. My hearts doesn't listen to me anymore when she is before me, neither do my eyes as they insist on staying fixed on jenny all the time without any intention to see other things around.
She must be my mate.
She has to be.
On my way, I kept wishing to find her at last.
It's good that I had waited.
Yes,
I waited for my mate.
I wanted to love her only and I needed the same only from her as well.
Even though I knew that it wasn't time yet for Jenny to get off from her work, still I chose to go there. Because staying here at the packhouse would do nothing better, instead of making me even more impatient until I got crazy.
Time had stopped for me as every second seemed like an eternity. The road ahead looked even longer creating an infinite distance between me and my mate, all of a sudden. But still, I am not losing hope even for a second to get to my mate, no matter how much time it needs, no matter how long distance I have to cover.
But why?
Why now the time had to stop to torture me even more?
Even in the cold night, I was sweating due to the immense effort that I kept giving on myself to control my anxiety.
But one thing I didn't understand, why am I feeling like this now? Why today? What changed?
No, I didn't have an answer.
So I kept my eyes straight on the road again. The road that would lead me to my mate.
To jenny.
I mean I think it would be Jenny.
After an eternity I was about to reach, but...
But, I stopped.
I stopped my bike all of a sudden in the middle of the road due to a certain smell.
The smell?
Yes,
The most intoxicating smell for me, and I knew the meaning of it.
It was the only smell that could calm me down. But strangely the scent was coming from somewhere which was not at all the club that I was heading towards.
How?
I freaked out.
Is Jenny out already? But I couldn't see anyone because the night was dark and the alley was even darker. The alley which was pulling me inside with some kind of invisible string only to merge with the darkness.
I parked my bike at the side of the road and got down right after, as I couldn't ride my bike in the alley because the road seemed under construction.
My heart beats raised expecting something unexpected, because as far as I could think, jenny could never get in this dark alley at this late hour of the night without any reason. Then why? Why is the smell still coming from there?
And why is it having this much effect on me, as if I am compelled?
Who could be in there?
I took a step only to pause once again. Various uncanny thoughts kept colluding my mind. And in no time, I was left with so many what-ifs.
The chilled air of the cold night couldn't stop me from sweating even more as I kept fighting with my own self. But still, at the end of everything, I wanted my mate. No matter who she is, how she is.
Finally, I was determined enough to take the next step as I went into the darkest alley. I could see nothing except the pitch-black void all around me but the very smell was becoming even closer with each of my steps ahead. Not a single sound I could hear but only of my loud footsteps along with my pounding heart.
For a moment I forgot everything that I should be doing. Like I could have called Jenny, or Sam but I didn't. Even I could have gone to the club to see if Jenny was still there or not, but again I couldn't.
My mind became blank, only my legs and my heart kept moving, arousing all my wolf senses with each passing moment.
The silence around me was horrifying, reminding me of the dead. But I knew that mate would definitely be the light who would show me the way out through the dark, so that I don't have to fall behind.
So, keeping my faith on mate I merged fully within the darkness.
And just then I saw only a silhouette in the dark, realising that she is the one. The one who was pulling me towards her, all this time. The one who was thinking about me.
The one who was meant to be mine.
My mate.
Though I couldn't see her properly still I knew.
“Mate” I muttered under my breath as I began to take big steps to increase my pace, as I couldn't hold myself longer to take her into my embrace.
I waited enough.
But not anymore.
I have found her, and no matter who she is, I knew that I want her only.
Summer's P.O.V
Why is this happening to me after all that I did?
Even when I always wanted to be hidden from the harsh world, why did I get found and that too by the one from whom I could never escape, no matter how much I try to?
Why we had to meet like this?
When I am scared of myself, when I am scared to be happy once again. The only thing that I had believed until now is being happy is something that was never meant for me.
Actually, being loved wasn't meant for me at all.
And when my life is already like hell, how can I still expect someone to love me unconditionally and also when we don't even know each other. I wonder how this kind of feelings due to our mate bond would fly away in no time when he gets to know that I am the most hated.
When he gets to know that I am no one but the pathetic Summer who would definitely drag anyone and everyone down with herself to the deep dark pit, whoever chooses to walk a path with her.
Amongst all these odds how can I expect the exceptional to happen?
How can I expect someone unknown to walk along with me on my path full of dismay? Full of thorns?
Let alone the fact that I always end up hurting everyone who wants to be the epitome of masculinity. What if he is no different from them?
What if he is like the exact one that I hate the most?
What if....???
So many questions, so many thoughts of a possible reaction from my mate kept crossing my mind without my permission. As if the dark alley wasn't dark enough to engulf me with all my misery.
But somehow, even in the chilled night, I was feeling warm. I wanted to dream for once.
No, not me, but my stupid heart wanted to. As if it has already started to melt from its long-frozen state.
I know that everyone feels to be the luckiest one if they could find their mate, but I couldn't even afford to be happy. Because I already knew, happiness won't last long for me. It never did anyway.
I was scared.
Yes.
Not a fight, not any bitter words, not the fact that everyone hates me could scare me as much as this moment right now. The moment when I was already at the verge of being exposed as the most unwanted which would cause me a rejection from my mate for sure.
And I knew, I would be broken miserably, if that happens. That's why...that was why I always tried to hide.
But little did I know. That whatever I try, I would be found at the end.
No,
I couldn't dare to turn back to see him...to see who my mate is exactly, to see who is holding me tight and melting me even in this cold dark night.
But then I realized, that the night was already dark enough that even if I turn around to face him I really doubt how much could he see me?
What if it is actually what the universe wanted for me to happen?
What if we weren't destined to see each other ever?
No no no... I couldn't think anymore at least not when my heart was racing like crazy, not when I could hear the loud beats of the other heart, not when he was holding me tight into his chest emitting the inexplicable sparks that I couldn't defy any longer.
I was absolutely stupefied.
As if his smell had completely compelled me not to move, not to run, not to hide.
But I already knew that it was only preparing to shatter itself bit by bit in coming time.
“I thought I was never going to find you.” Breaking through my intense yet absurd thoughts his low and deep voice fell to my ears, causing me to shiver with the utter sensations.
His breath was warm...so was his embrace.
I realized that my yet unknown mate had still kept his head buried at the exact place as before since he pulled me into a hug without any intention to let go.
Neither did I try to push him away.
My eyes were closed but my senses were not, as I felt him rubbing his head constantly on my neck like a lost puppy. I knew that my body had already started to heat up as I felt tingles in my stomach. A lot and lots of tingles. And with his each and every movement, I was losing myself.
Something inside me was telling me to run when I still had time, but my legs didn't listen.
Is this what a mate bond can do to someone of our kind?
Because it is irresistible.
I know now.
I was feeling the same.
Neither could I run, nor could I stay.
And my mind was blank all of a sudden.
“It felt like I was waiting for you for an eternity, mate.” He broke the silence again but that couldn't encourage me enough to open my mouth as well.
“I wanted to tell you so many things. At least I have decided so. But now when you are at last here in my arms, I forgot everything that I had to say.
I lost all my words that I had planned in my heads for long.
For now, I just want to stay like this forever.
I want to believe that I found you at last.” His words were
like a hammer which had already started its course to crumble down the strongest wall that I had created long ago. A wall to separate my world of darkness from the rest.
“Mate” Again he said, as if he was loving the word more with each passing seconds.
“If I ask something from you, would you give me?” At last. At last, I could gather enough courage to move my lips to convey the words which I was thinking in my mind.
I didn't know, whether my wish was right or not.
I didn't know if I was denying him of his rights or not.
But at least for once, I wanted to be selfish.
For once I wanted to be loved.
For once....I wanted to love.
Episode 12
Kaith's P.O.V I was approaching my mate in the dark and quiet alley just when I heard a painful earth-shattering scream, resonating through the chilled surrounding of tonight. The cry was something which could make anyone shiver in horror, and could also make their blood turn cold in an instant. It was like the person was going through a tremendous pain that no one can endure ever. As if all the bones of the person's body was twisting and turning on its own to create a whole new shape and that too when the person is conscious enough to feel the change along with the immense pain. The cry was like the exact same that we all go through once during our very first shift. From human to a wolf. A werewolf. And I knew that was the exact thing happening to that person. But I was even more startled when I realized that the scream was coming from nowhere but the person in front of me. From the one who was emitting the most intoxicating scent in the air dangerously that could compel me easily. Or am I already compelled? But the more important thing for me to worry right now was my mate. She was in pain. I mean is she shifting? Here? At this instant? Unable to get a single answer on my own, I ran to my mate. She needed me the most and I needed her. “Help! Help me please..” The familiar voice pleaded me in the dark as soon as I held her in my arms restricting her body to fall on the ground. The inexplicable amount of sparks ran all over my body with our first touch ensured that she was indeed the one and only. I felt her body was trembling due to the intense pain which was definitely beyond her endurance but still, she didn't complain even when she became fragile. And I kept holding her during the whole time, attempting to take away most of the pain from her as none but only I could lessen her pain a bit in this situation. I wondered if she knew that too? Is that why she kept calling me? Is that why I was feeling miserable the whole time? But there was no time to find out, as I had already started hearing the menacing sound of bones cracking along with her cries once in a while when she couldn't tolerate the pain any longer. I felt her fingers turning into claws around my arm while sinking the nails deep into my skin. I felt the change in the shape of her body as her back crooked making a big difference in her height. I also felt the manner of her breathing changed from heavy to loud. There were no more clothes left on her body as all of them were already ripped and fell tattered on the dirt. I could hear the heartbeats way louder than before. The next moment everything eased. There were no more cries, not a trembling body of my mate. Instead, I could feel the softest fur and the huge body of an animal. Instead of painful cries, a howl broke the silence of the night announcing that she is no more the fragile human. She had already turned into a huge wolf now. But even so, I couldn't move my hands away from her body. I was afraid.. afraid that if I cease to touch her, the pain might return again to make her suffer more. Even when I knew that it was not going to happen, but still my heart didn't listen. When I was so engulfed in my thoughts, I felt her wet tongue on my skin all of a sudden, which was licking the wound on my arm carefully that she had made earlier unconsciously. In an instant, something had changed within me. I became extremely happy as I couldn't help running my fingers through the soft fur of my mate, only to hug her tight. I know that it was quite impossible to see her in this dark but still I wanted to see her wolf. I wanted to see what colour she had got. I wanted to show her mine too. I wanted to run with her side by side. I wanted to... My thoughts got interrupted by another howl as she moved her body to push me back only to rub her face on me, giving me lots of goosebumps. And I knew why she was acting like such. Without making her wait any longer I stripped out all of my clothes in no time and shifted instantly to give her company. And as soon as I had shifted she gave me a quick lick just before she turned to run away. What? Now she wants to run? She wants me to chase her? While I was standing dumbfounded due to her sudden action, I felt that she was going far and far away from me as her smell was becoming mild in the surrounding with each passing second. So, I ran. I ran to get her. I followed her scent which had indeed led me out of the darkest alley in no time only to run on the quiet street once again but this time the light didn't leave us to struggle to find our way to each other. There was no one on the street as it was almost midnight, making it way easier for us to run wherever we want, without a worry. I kept running as the smell was directing my way without fail and I saw her. At last. I saw a huge brown wolf was standing under the vapour light and was swaying her thick and pretty tail into the air. As I kept enclosing the distance between us, the smell got intense once again, making me crazy for her even more. I remembered that I didn't get to know yet, who she is actually, but that doesn't matter anymore. Isn't it? All I needed to know that she was my mate. The mate, for whom I have waited. About whom I have dreamt. And who is mine...only mine. Soon, I covered the whole distance between us only to stand facing my mate. She was as huge as mine but she was in a wonderful brown shade whereas mine was grey. I kept acknowledging my mate who was looking divine under the light of the street lamp, but she didn't give me much time as she ran again to hide. And of course, I followed. Are we playing some kind of chasing game? Like, hide and seek? Really? I was becoming nuts, and she was enjoying herself to play with me at this moment? What was she trying to do? As I kept following her from behind because I was quite enjoying the view, I was soon introduced to a very familiar street. My heart almost jumped out when I had realized. It was the same street that I had crossed so many times before. My mind started to picture my possible mate ever so impatiently that I couldn't hold myself back from increasing my pace to catch her up. But before I could do that, I saw her going inside the most familiar house, confirming all of the assumptions that I had in my head before. I knew that she went to shift back and put some clothes on but still I followed right after I changed back and walked inside without bothering about the fact that I was naked. For me, seeing her was the most important than my embarrassment. And also why should I be ashamed when she is my mate and have all the rights to see me like this. Why should I bother? Thinking about a lot of things I went to a particular room from where my mate's smell was pulling me towards her with its enchantments. And as soon as I opened the door without knocking, my face got hit by a pillow and of course, a terrifying yell accompanied. But still, it couldn't stop me from having a glimpse of my mate's half-bare body, making me all aroused even without my will. And do you know what was the most pathetic thing in this whole situation? I could not hide my arousal because I was naked and had nothing to hide myself with while my mate saw me clearly, thinking that I was surely a pervert or something. Now, who would make her understand that it was only her who could make me react like such? And I was helpless enough to stop myself from craving for her. In no time, another pillow had crashed into my face followed by a towel, while I kept standing at her door without any intention to go away, covering my pride only with my hands. I grabbed the towel to wrap around me without waiting further, preventing myself from getting more of her yelling at the same time. “What were you doing there?” She asked right after the tensed atmosphere between us became normal. “What? What I was doing there? It is me, who should be asking the same question to you.” All of a sudden I was engulfed with a lot of worries which made me really frustrated this time. “You answer me first.” Even when she saw my miserable state of mind, she chose to stay to her words, as if she was determined to
know the reasons which she was struggling to understand. “Well, I kept feeling my wolf as I was becoming impatient for no reason throughout this evening. And this condition didn't get any better but worsened with each passing time. So, I went out to look for the possible reason. Somehow, I was feeling that someone needed me badly. As if I was needed to be somewhere else with someone important. The feeling was like someone was calling me with a painful heart, that I couldn't ignore. I assumed that it must be my mate as my wolf was going insane. And then on my way, your smell made me stop and I discovered you in the deep dark alley, quite unexpectedly.” I poured everything out in front of her only to listen, “Oh. I see.” That little answer came from my mate right after I delivered a long essay like speech. I mean really? That much you have to say after all these? Her beautiful brown eyes didn't leave the spot on the ground where she kept her gaze fixed the whole time. “And now it's your turn. Why were you there?” I asked again as she didn't say anything else afterwards. I guess my words made her startled a bit as she, at last, looked up to catch a glimpse of my face. And knowing that I wasn't angry but worried and curious to know, she began her part of the story with a sigh. “Well, I was feeling anxious too, all of a sudden, since this evening. Still, I went to work anyway, cause I didn't found any reason for skipping my job. But little did I know that something life-changing was about to happen to me in a later time. Anyway, my instincts made me leave my work early only to hide myself at somewhere safe and dark, where no one could find me out easily, as I didn't know yet how it was going to work out. And yeah, I wished with my whole heart to send me some help. I kept thinking about you without knowing that... that you would be no one but my mate. Maybe that's why you felt a bit of my anxiety, .... I don't know for sure though. But that is the only explanation I can give you for now.” Her words made sense to me but yet another thing was still left in my mind unsolved only to get it clarified from her. “But, why tonight? I mean, if I was your mate the whole time, then why tonight? Why didn't I feel anything before, even when I left you two this evening?” I voiced out my clueless mind and waited for her reply eagerly. “Because I am an early shifter, Kaith. My birthday is still a few months away, and that was why even I could not realize that I was shifting until the last moment. If I knew, I wouldn't let her.... Oh shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.” She didn't finish what she was about to say and ran to get her phone. I wondered why. What happened? “I totally forgot about her. I am sorry. So sorry.” She kept saying while attempting to connect someone over the phone. Her sudden panic made me freak out, “ Jenny!!!... Who are you talking about?” I asked loudly which made her stop pacing back and forth in her room, only to reveal the name. The most familiar name to me. “Summer.”