The crunching sound of the leaves as I stepped on them didn't deter me from venturing deep into the woods. I'm still not over Craig's expression a while ago, and it was good to see him at the end of the short stick.
It was dark. The path ahead of me was dark. The massive branches of oak and pines combined made a nice canopy of shade against the stale light of the moon.
Also, the leaves were in the midst of their journey from falling off their branches. They are slowly in the process of making a thick golden blanket of leaves. It was a cold and peaceful night, withal, I can still hear the murmurs of conversations from the party. I'm still not far enough from it, so it makes sense.
"Regina, I'm taking a walk. If anyone's looking for me, tell them don't bother," I mind linked, the old woman who sends approval my way.
"You should've brought some of the muffins for the guys on patrol," she responded, and I giggled silly. Yeah, she was right should have brought some with me. I am not saying that they don't need the food anymore. Before the party even started, the food was in the patrol camp. The Alpha would also be visiting them in the middle of the party a couple of times.
"No use nagging your mind out. I'll send some of your muffins with Kate. She'll be up for the patrol duty any minute now anyway." Regina informed me.
"Yes, Ma'am. Thank you," I linked back and quietly snickers when she told me that Craig's hounding the muffins all to himself, and there won't be anything left without her interference.
The link cut off, and it added a skip in my steps. It was nice to know that they love the muffins. If anyone saw me a while ago while linking Regina, they'll probably think I'm going crazy giggling to myself.
I can now hear the small stream of water tingling my senses. It was relaxing to listen to with the quietness of the woods. The buzz of conversations was long gone a while ago as I ventured farther. Thanks to being a werewolf, I was able to see just fine in the dark.
I successfully crossed the small stream. My feet got soaked as my flat sandals did nothing to protect them. It was relieving, so I don't really mind at all.
I keep straight walking ahead. If I turn right at this point, it'll lead me to the training grounds. Left, and I'll be heading to the patrol camp. I preferred to spend some quiet moments in one of the small meadows in the pack. We're lucky to have some of it and with different scenery in it. So, I didn't take any turns and kept straight.
I was only yards away from the meadow when the silence of the night was disturbed by crunching twigs. I whipped back in haste, heart thudding in sudden adrenaline. Who would be around here this time? The patrol duty would be a mile more. Also, there's no smell of rogue wolves around the area except rogues currently present in the party.
My senses picked up heavy footsteps from my east side, and I turned that way. My hand was quick enough to pick one of the rocks below me. I might be a werewolf, but if this person was with someone and if they intend to attack me, I need an advantage. I was also ready to mind link. The bushes around me were thick, but I kept looking around for the source.
"Are you hooking up with that poor excuse of an Alpha's son?" that deep voice from straight behind me alarmed the hell out of my brain. I immediately step back as I the man. The sudden question wasn't able to sink yet.
"Excuse me?" I politely ask, tightly clutching the rock in my hand. The drumming of my heart dominated my hearing. Hence, I wasn't able to catch the question. I moved a few steps back, creating a safe space.
A snigger. The malice in that tone made my hackles rise. "You're whoring yourself with that rebel mutt," the voice said, and the words started to sink in.
Whenever this man is around, my senses haywires, and my brain, the body doesn't function at its finest.
In the dark, I can see the glowing dark orbs glaring accusingly at me. The disbelief and hurt wrapped my body in a twisting grasp. That statement was offensive enough to paralyze my tongue.
"Cat got your tongue?" Atlas added maliciously. He was taking small steps in my direction. How could he say those awful things? I'm just out here to spend some quiet time. And now, I've got accusations being hurled at me without basis at all.
He took a few more steps closer. "Stop. Don't come any closer. I mean it." The rage in me made me speak in syllabic breaths. The disrespect of this male werewolf is beyond me, a mate at that.
He halted and stared at me, still with malice in his black eyes. It grated my nerves more than I may imagine. I wasn't able to stop myself from flashing my fangs at him. And dear heavens if he wasn't offended with it. He growled low back at me.
"How dare you," I spat at the hulking form in front of me. The night would've to hide him really easily if one wasn't keen enough.
"How dare you," he spat back. Growling my way as I'm hissing his way. I throw the rock at him in quick movements, intending to drive him away. But, he was able to dodge it easily. My hands were shaking from so much rage.
"You dare to accuse me of such things when I'm not even doing anything wrong. Disrespect my future Alpha and degrade my pack. How dare you," I said in contempt. I'm sizing my mate at this point. If he dares to attack me back, then I won't give him an easy fight. He might be Alpha, but I don't give a damn. He disrespects me, my pack, and I'll be ready to fight him anytime.
That's how a pack works. You're a pack member first before you become someone else's mate. The harshness in my voice was able to relay my contempt against his accusations. He stood still, staring at me. There's a tinge of bottle-green slowly appearing on his black orbs. He was able to slowly come back from whatever state he was in, though I would still give him hell.
"Mavis," he reluctantly called out to me with that deep soft voice. The green in his eyes was now more pronounced than earlier. I did not give him any reaction and just glared at him. He took a step forward.
"Stop," I growled. I'm furious, and I don't want to harm the man. If I did attack him, if ever I did, I don't want to be the reason for causing a rift between the packs. I don't want that to happen. I don't even want everyone to know that the cause of me attacking him was because Atlas was jealous of Craig. That Atlas is my intended and only acted like a douche just because of the bond. I need to get a hold of myself.
I breathe a sigh of relief when he stops from advancing more. There was a shock and confusion on his face as he stared at me. I flashed him a fang, and I saw how his jaws grit. It's not good to provoke him and push him back to the state he was in earlier, but I can't help it. An Alpha doesn't tolerate disobedience and disrespect.
After a few more deep breaths, I was able to calm myself a little. "You think I whore myself to anyone around?" the sharpness in my tone would slice people damn smoothly without anyone noticing. I saw him flinched. It didn't change the fact that his ball of a wolf is still lurking on the surface with that black orbs still lingering in his eyes. The merging of his bottle-green and black eyes got me in a pause, but I kept on.
"You think just because you got a happy boyfriend and flaunts him proudly in front of everyone that you can accuse me of terrible things? How fucking dare you." my filter was yeeted out of the window at this point. I just wanted to let everything out. Months of bottling every emotion I've felt just broke my dam.
"How grand. You can date anyone else while keeping your fated mate hanging in limbo." he was about to talk back when I held my hand up to stop him from doing so. "You get to date and be happy with Luke while I get to judge if I date." the way I enunciated, Luke's name was dripping with much sarcasm. The provoking words got a rise out of Atlas.
"Don't speak to him that way,' he warned me. That warning jarred me out of my calmness, and my voice went a notch higher. "Stop doing that when you're talking to me! Stop making me feel that I'm losing something big if you won't ever want me," I spat at him, and he stopped. He was letting me talk. My eyes welled with unshed tears.
"I only wanted a quiet night alone. I don't want to see you playing mates with Luke right in my face. I don't want to know trivial things about you from him. I don't want to learn things about you through Luke. It was so degrading," I was sniffing. I'm still trying my best not to bawl my eyes out. Atlas looks at me with shame in his eyes. There are regrets and loathing in them. I don't even know the reason for the latter.
"I understand that I'm not your preferred gender. I do. I'm trying my hardest to understand, to rationalize everything but what you're doing is too much," the man tries to reach his arms out to me, but I move back. I don't want to be in his arms and melt.
"It's too much, Atlas. It's way too much that I do anything these days to keep my thoughts from straying to you. I talked to friends. Doing my pack member duties diligently, and even rediscovered my forgotten habits to entertain my thoughts," I continued letting my feelings out.
"I understand you, Mavis," he said in a defeated tone, and I clenched my hands cruelly just to not run into his arms and tell him it was okay. My nails were digging in my palm, drawing blood. "Don't hurt yourself." he saw my hands and sent me a helpless look. I ignored him.
"No, you don't. You don't understand me. If you did, then you won't be hurling these harsh accusations at me. Atlas, you are way too cruel. He used to babysit all the kids in the pack. He loves and protects the kids. He's like a good big brother." the words were more to me this time. I'm no longer looking at his way. Hence, I didn't see him creep closer. All I knew was comforting arms enveloped my shivering form.
"It was the bond talking. Please, I don't see you that way. I'm sorry, Mavis. Forgive me for saying those hurtful things," Atlas pulled me closer.
"You think the bond wasn't making me crazy either? It was also hell for me, but did I insult you? Did I go out of my way to make you feel less? Did I hurt Luke? Did I beg for your attention that much?" my tears were free-falling this time, silent in their wake.
"I will never let anyone feel what I'm feeling, Atlas. I won't ever subject anyone to the chaos I'm in. I will never let anyone experience what you did to me. Ever." the pale light of the moon streak through the thick canopy of the woods. It gives the woods an ethereal glow. I looked at it happen with lifelessness in my words. The cold breeze slowly seared my now numb senses.
"Reject me, please. I want the Assent." I murmured, and the arms around me tightened in response. It seems to say that he will never let go. I don't know why he wouldn't answer my rejection, but it causes me more sorrow.