Burning bushes surrounding a fiery dwelling.
Running.
Falling.
Running.
Black wolves and rogues.
Running.
Falling.
Running.
Black wolf and rogues.
Running.
Running.
Running.
Black wolf and me.
Running.
I fill my lungs with air as my eyes snap open. My heart races at the unfamiliar setting, my eyes darting around for some sort of clue as to where I was. I frown at the needles planted into my arms and the pain in my chest.
The pain that was resurging slowly, coming to as I did. Small and fragile- it stung my chest, injecting my soul with misery and yearning for someone. Who?
Mate.
The memories come flooding in and the pain does alongside it, hitting me with twelvefold of what it previously was. I scream in desperation as my body cries for my mate, my soul being ripped apart at the obstacles that laid between us. It was like every nerve in my body was being burnt individually and I could feel them all.
"Feli!" My watering eyes catch sight of Aiden in the doorway as I writhed in the bed.
"It hurts." I cry as he rushes to my side. "Dad it hurts."
"What hurts? Feli, what hurts?!" He asks almost pleadingly, the desperation to help shining brightly in his eyes.
I open my mouth to reply but almost like a new wave, the agony bombards me causing more tears to pump out of my eyes. I scream at the top of my lungs, my body arching off the bed as I writhed around even more. He grabs hold of my hands, intertwining our fingers in a tight hold.
I wanted to get closer to my mate. But I was paralyzed- physically and spiritually paralyzed. I needed to go to him. But I couldn't, and that fact broke every piece of me.
"Dad. Please." I sob as I curl onto my side.
He opens his mouth but nothing comes out, his eyes glossed over as he looked down at me helplessly.
"Dad, make it stop." I cry, sobbing into myself as I clutch onto his fingers for strength. "M-Make it stop."
I want my mate …
***
My eyes flutter open, my mind fully awake but my body taking its time in adjusting. I try wiggling my toes but they curl at a snail's place, as if receiving my order late.
"Your body is going to be lagging for a little while." A voice fills in and I shift my eyes in search of them, frowning a little when I see Aunt Katty.
"What are you doing here?" I say slower than I wanted to, stopping in between to swallow my saliva.
"Your parents called me." She says as if that alone was enough of an explanation.
I close my eyes as I try to piece together all the events that occurred since I last saw my mate. The pain I felt in yearning for him was somehow lesser than before. So small it was barely noticeable.
"I've never seen Aiden cry like that." She says after a moment. I open my eyes in surprise as I look to her for a reason. "And I never thought I would. Then he called me today, broken.
He didn't know what was wrong or how to help you."
I feel my heart tighten at her words, the thought of causing pain in any form to dad killing me from within.
"Where is he?" I croak out.
"Outside. Blaming himself." She says shaking her head aimlessly.
"Why?"
"Feli, we found you bleeding out with bruises all over your body. You didn't wake up for a full day and when you finally did, you were screaming in pain." She says looking me straight in my eyes. I feel my heart sinking at all the trouble I'd caused.
"I'm sorry." I whisper and she swats me off.
"I'm going to get your family, tell them you're okay." She says putting down the mixture she'd been grinding in a small bowl. She then looks me dead in the eyes. "Feli," she starts softly, "I'm telling them the pain was from something that entered your wound when you were out there. Not because of … your mate."
I freeze. Not daring to take another breath as I looked at her with an alerted heart.
"I had to look inside your mind to see why you were in pain." She explains guiltily. "But, I saw him. And I've lived here long enough to know, if the pack found out, they wouldn't be on board."
"I need to see him." I whisper and she nods with a knowing smile.
"Don't worry about that." She says running a gentle hand over my head. "I'll get you to him without them knowing."
I open my mouth to reply but she shushes me before handing me the bowl.
"Drink this and worry about your family for now." She says before leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I bring the bowl to my lips before sipping it carefully, frightened of my own body and the pain it quietly harbored for my mate.
Mate.
I have a mate.
A mate I never gave myself the pleasure of believing even existed.
My mate was a he.
I smile at this fact. It'd always been a fear of mine to be mated to a girl; that was if I was even given the pleasure of having a mate.
Would I allow myself to complain or would I force myself to be grateful.
My mate did not speak, which was okay. No it was more than okay, he was perfect. I didn't care if he couldn't speak. I'm just happy he was mine.
My mate also didn't understand any words I'd said, or any words at all. Which was not okay but it'd be okay. He could learn, right?
And lastly, my mate was … the thing my pack hated more than anything in the world.
F*ck.
"Feli." I look up as my siblings come rushing into the room, led by Julian. All their eyes were low with bags but somehow wide open, studying me almost carefully as they surrounded the bed.
"How are you feeling?" Dad asks standing to my left.
"I'm fine." I say reassuringly as they all peer at me. "I uh- I … I'm sorry, about earlier."
"Feli, don't apologize for something you couldn't help." He says with a weak smile and I return it. "All that matters is that you're better now."
"Yeah." I say absentmindedly. "Where's Po?"
"He's … " He trails off before running a hand through his messy hair. "He'll be here soon."
I nod a little before allowing myself to look at my siblings in guilt. I'd never seen them so shaken up and I hated that I was the cause.
Josey and Hagen were leaning on the bar at the foot of the bed, not bickering as usual, just silently listening as they stared at my healing shoulder.
Damon was to my right, his expression solemn and his eyes barely meeting mine. I could see the way he was clenching and unclenching his fist, his teeth grinding as his mind conjured up possible strategies to kill my mate.
And Peter …
Peter was next to Julian, clenching tightly to his sweater sleeve as he hid behind him. Tears pooling in his eyes only to run down his face like cascading waters. He was biting his lip harshly to silence the small sniffs and sobs that broke through.
"I'm okay." I say looking at him but he just looks away. I swallow a sigh before looking around at everyone. "I promise, I'm fine."
"We're happy you're okay Feli." Josey says when no one responds.
"Yeah." Hagen fills in, sending me a troubled smile. "Just d-don't go out there again … please."
"I won't." I reply quickly but I knew deep down I would. There was no way I wouldn't see my mate again, and nobody would stop me from doing so.
The door suddenly opened and an odd wave of relief flooded over me when my eyes landed on Aiden. His face was soft yet hard at the same time, strong but weak, and I hated it.
He pushed pass Damon, leaning down to hold me in a tight hug. My arms immediately circle his neck as he cradles me in his hold. I could feel his heart pumping harshly against his chest, his breathing ragged and troubled. I relax into him as he breathes in my scent.
"Don't you ever do that again." He says firmly squeezing me even tighter. "I don't ever want to ever see you so hurt again."
I force myself to be quiet and just hold onto him, relishing in the way his hold warmed me to the core. After a long moment, he pulls back only slightly to look at me, kissing my head gently before looking me straight in my eyes.
"I swear to Goddess, I will never let anything happen to you again Feli. Never." He promises and from the look in his eyes, I knew he meant it and that he'd give his life to ensure it.
"Thanks dad." I say in a little shock as he pulls away. I knew he loved me and so did my entire family, but it was rarely expressed with words and I couldn't help but love it.
"What happened to you out there, Feli?" Julian asks holding Peter in a comforting hold.
I frown at this.
"What do you mean?" I question showing my confusion.
Did they not know?
How could they not have smelt him on me?
Did I imagine the entire thing?
"We could smell and see wolf marks but we had no way of knowing from what or who?"
"It was the f*cking beast."