Nathaniel POV
I know Ari and Fang love my mate. Or she was my mate. I still remember when I found her and the agonizing feeling I had. She didn't reject me; no, she severed her mate ties with me and her other mate Fang. I felt like I
was dying and I didn't understand why she did it. I remember the pain and the feeling of depression that followed. The only reason I pulled through and pushed on was because she showed up in my dream when I first saw her. Her scent filled my nostrils in my dream and I felt instant relief.
Blueberries and honey.
A strange combination but it had become my favorite smell. When she wrapped her arms around my torso and called my name I still felt the tingles. She explained to me what she was doing but I didn't understand why she went about it the way she did. She said out of everyone; I was the sweetest mate she was blessed with and she was sorry. That she'll be back.
I had to remind myself every time I woke up:
She's here. She's alive; but comatose. I don't know her that well but I already fell for her. The longer she stays this way, I want to feel nothing for her. I want to say she's just becoming an obligation. Why did she do this to me? What did I do wrong for her to go through with what she did? Was I not good enough?
I shake my head to clear my thoughts before shifting into my wolf allowing him to take over and burn some much-needed energy off. My wolf ran in between trees and jumped over fallen trunks. At one point he stopped to roll around on his back and rub his face into the earth before getting back up and darting all over. An hour passed and my wolf wanted to keep going but I knew I had to go back; so with some reluctance, we made our way home and shifted back as soon as I reached the pack grounds.
I grabbed a pair of shorts from a nearby tree and shoved them on before heading towards Midnight.
I'm frustrated and I hate that I want her while she's like this. It's like she's a hypnotic seductress just laying there.
I touch her face and she's still cold to the touch.
"I want to feel you warm again. Why are you taking so long to wake up my flower? It's been months. Do you know how long I've been waiting on you? I wanted nothing more than to help you find your way but you wanted an escape. I know you don't need romance or love. You're not in the right headspace but I can't help the urge to want you all the time. At least that's how it felt before. Lately, I've been feeling like I'm obligated to protect you. Did you even consider how this would impact me or our daughter?!" I yell out frustration taking over. I know it's not her fault.
She's been through too much with no time to actually heal from the last thing before she's thrown into something else.
Moon goddess above; I will help her reach her full potential and whatever she wants I'll do anything to make it happen.
I place my forefingers on her temples and the crescent moon on my forehead glows an electric blue and I will her soul to come forth back to her body.
I'm done waiting for you to wake up.
.
.
.
Midnights POV
My parents approached me. I thought it was surreal but they're here in front of me. I ran up to them and soon became an ugly crying mess. We embraced each other for what felt like forever and talked about so much and no amount of therapy fixed what is broken. But just the feel of both my parents made me feel happy and content for the first time in forever.
Altho; I was scolded for so much, in the end, they still expressed how proud of me they were.
"Before we go Lillian;" my mother spoke.
"We want you to be a strong woman. Stop running and tackle these issues head-on. You escaped for peace but you need to go back now. It's time to stop running from your issues. We raised you better than that." My mom scolded.
I lower my head and barely nod.
"Also;" my dad started speaking:
"This is something to hold onto and remember...Romeo told you this story about this purple-eyed baby being half vampire; it's not a made-up story." He said as his eyes barely flashed purple.
I gasped out with terror and before I could say anything; I started feeling everything shift and spiral and the feeling of being pulled took over. I closed my eyes as my head started to pound aggressively and kept them closed hoping the feeling disappeared. I heard my parents shouting but the pounding headache drowned out everything they were saying.
I screamed out and balled myself up holding my head. I forced my eyes open knowing I'd just squeeze them shut again.
A flash of light.
That's all I saw before I was levitated and sucked into darkness.
The headache finally stopped pounding but I was full of nausea. I opened my eyes and shot up as I felt the bile rise so I quickly rolled over and released the contents of my stomach all over someone's feet. Once I was done I collapsed and darkness started taking over.
I feel embarrassed and I want to say sorry but my eyes feel so heavy.
The smell of my throw-up was horrible but there was a smell that made me not mind it so much.
Cedar wood and apples.
I don't know why but I'm in love with this scent.
I try to move closer to the smell before I pass out and when I feel it wrap around me I let out a content sigh and fall asleep.
***
"You're such a jackass!" I yell falling to the ground once more in defeat.
I got back up and within 20 seconds I was back down again with a foot sweep. I've been undergoing rigorous training with the others here in the pack for about 3 weeks since I was forced back into my body.
The female warriors have been kicking my ass all morning. Some of them even snickering. Truth be told I feel it's personal for what I did to Nathaniel. What I have been doing; avoiding him.
I was hurt and angry for him making the decision of my return and I didn't hold back with expressing it.
But I think I'm most hurt with how he waited to tell me after I willingly accepted him into my life as my mate and future.
Don't get me wrong, I've gone into heat already but I've been taking 72 hour ice baths to dial down the intense burning.
I want his touch but I don't want to see him right now. Hence why I'm getting my ass kicked by Nathaniel's female warriors.
I mean I feel like I deserve it anyways.
A right cliff to my jaw and I'm seeing stars.
Well, now they're just beating me up and having fun.
I think to myself dryly.
One of them kicked me in the stomach and I finally let out a cry and curled up holding myself.
"Fuckin bitch!" I curse out.
It went that way for about another hour before they decided to have mercy on me.
We hit the showers and the hot water felt good to my sore muscles and bruises.
The water cascaded down my every dip and curve and I started to wonder what Nathaniel looked like in the shower.
I started blushing furiously and shook my head to forget the forbidden thoughts.
I'm still mad at him.
I shut the water off and headed back to the training fields to practice alone.
An hour later and I felt the burn coming back.
No no no no! Not right now! Not while I'm too far away from my room and my ice cube bath!
I start to panick as the lustful haze starts kicking in. Some of the female warriors who stayed back with me started to freak out as well. Going into heat out in the open is one of the worst things to happen to a female out here.
Your scent drifts everywhere and it's like a mating call for all unmarked or unmated male wolves.
I try to say Nathaniel's name but a moan comes out instead.
I fall down and start writhing on the ground as a few females try to link Nathaniel and some of the female warriors circle me to keep me protected as males start rushing to the fields in uncontrollable lust.
I don't want to feel this way.
I'm not ready.
I'm scared.
A loud growl booms out and I hear the snapping of jaws and painful squeals.
Next thing I know someone's on top of me kissing me furiously.
I freak out and try to push them off till I smell cedar wood and apples and I knew it was Nathaniel.
Instead of pushing him away I pull him closer and tug on his hair. Right in the middle of the training fields. I for one did not care that he was naked or even ripping the clothes off of me in my lustful haze.
Everywhere he touches the burn soothes just a bit and it's like pure bliss.
I don't want this tho.
I'm not ready.
Why is my body betraying me and reciprocating and responding to his touch?
He lets out a deep rumble from his chest and his eyes are nearly black. His wolf must be rising to the surface.
"My little mate. Tonight I will make you scream my name till you see stars and pass out." He growls into my ear. I blush furiously as he takes a nipple into his mouth and twists it with his teeth causing me to arch my back and moan out.
Then again...
I'm picked up bridal style and he darts across the field with me towards our bedroom.