*•CAINE's POV•*
I know I said I was gonna talk to my mate but duty called. It was killing me slowly, knowing that I had to wait another hour or two before I'd get to see my mate again but I had Beta duties to attend to.
Today, we had training and I was leading half of it. Darwin was training the other half. Rodrick said today's his last day of vacation with his mate but I doubted it so I went to train the fighters myself. Sometime during the training, Scar started whimpering in my head which made it really hard to concentrate. I called for a time out so I wouldn't get distracted.
"What?!"
"I don't know. Something is pulling me towards that area."]
I looked in the direction he was indicating to but I didn't see anything there.
["Well whatever it is should go away. I'm in the middle of training."
"But—"
"No buts Scar, please. I need to train them quickly so I can go see Ara and you're distracting me."]
I gestured for the training to continue. I think whatever was pulling Scar was gone because he stopped whining and I could focus on the training. That's exactly what I was doing when I called for a one on one with one of our best fighters.
"Today's lesson is on concentration. Jeff and I are going to fight and neither of us should lose his concentration. Whoever is knocked out is looses."
"Always remember that concentration is key in order to win a fight. No matter who or what, always keep your focus on your opponent. As I always say, your slightest distraction would be their attraction and then they'll strike. Let's fight." I circled Jeff, trying to exam his concentration level. So far, he seems concentrated enough so I decided to make the first move. I lunged at him, sending a punch to his face. He quickly blocked my punch and threw one of his own at my stomach. I blocked his punch by grabbing his hand and jamming my elbow into his side which made him double in pain.
"Never underestimate your opponent. You may never know what trick they have up their sleeve." Jeff stood up straight and lunged for me, catching me off guard with the kick he sent my way. Honestly, from the way he came at me, I was expecting a punch to the stomach so the kick really caught me unaware. This is one of the many reasons why Jeff is one of our best fighters. He's unpredictable.
I dropped to the ground and sneakily picked up a stone. I wanted to test his concentration so I threw the stone without him seeing. Where the rock landed made a sound because almost everyone, including Jeff, turned to see the cause of the noise.
Since Jeff was standing directly in front of me, it was easier to get him on his knees. I stretched my leg out and hooked onto his, dragging him down to the floor with me.
"I told you, never loose your concentration. What were you looking at? The stone I threw?" I mocked while he was writhing under me, trying to get up. I raised my fist in the air, ready to knock him out when the smell of cocoa halted me.
["Mate!"]
Ara?! What's she doing here? I totally forgot about the writhing dude under me and the 'always concentrate' lesson I was teaching when I started turning around. I couldn't see her fully because the next I felt was the punch hitting my square in the face, making me black out for a short while.
The punch really didn't make me unconscious for long but it sure as hell was painful.
Shit Jeff! When I said knock your opponent out I didn't say crack my jaw. I groaned and sat up when I noticed the scene taking place.
Leave me alone." Ara was struggling and tried to move past a guy who I couldn't identify yet but the idiot wasn't letting her go. He even held her wrist which made me see red.
["How dare he hold her hand. Let me out!"]
Scar was clearly mad but I couldn't let him take over. I stood up and made my way to the scene when I heard her speak again.
"Let me go. I just wanna see Caine."
"Disrespectful little thing aren't we? Calling the Beta by his name a punishable offence. Shall I teach you a lesson?" Daniel, the offender said. Who does this moron think he is? My body guard or personal assistant?
"Maybe I should teach you a lesson first Daniel." Immediately I said this, I noticed Ara's tearful gaze which softened my heart. Daniel left her hand and turned to me.
"Beta sir! This omega made you loose your concentration. I was just taking her away from here." He was clearly proud of himself because he held his head high. I couldn't wait to beat his head down for touching what's mine.
"Should I take her to the dun—?" Before he could finish his statement I punch him straight in the face. Everyone gasped, even Ara.
"I guess I was wrong. There's only one thing that can and might take away your concentration, that's your mate." Everyone gasped again and Ara had tears flowing down her beautiful face.
"This is your Beta Female and any disrespect towards her will have to be answered by me." Daniel scrambled to his feet and bowed his head.
"Forgive me Beta Female. I was unaware. Pardon my unpardonable behavior." Ara just nodded and hugged me. I kissed the top of her head and led her away from the training grounds.
"Y'all are dismissed! Training is over!" I called. When we had reached a far distance away from listening ears, I turned her to face me.
"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" I searched her body to make sure she wasn't hurt. I would have gone back there to kill that bastard if he hurt her.
"I'm okay. He didn't hurt me. I'm sorry. How's your jaw?" I lightly touched my jaw and her touch tingled. One of the effect of the mate bond was a tingling sensation wherever your mate touched you. It's the best feeling ever. I leaned into her touch and said,
"I'm fine. I'll heal completely in a few minutes. What were you doing here though? Not that I wasn't happy to see you." She bit her bottom lip and furrowed her brows in concentration. All of a sudden realization flashed in her eyes and she flushed.
"I was coming to see you."
"And..."
"Well, I was—am mad at you for leaving me hanging yesterday so I was comingtowhoopyourass." She mumbled the last part so quickly that I didn't hear a word she said.
"Huh?"
"I was coming to whoop your ass for leaving me hanging yesterday." She whispered out her reason. When her words finally sunk in, I couldn't stop the laughter that escaped from my mouth. She pouted at me and hit my arm.
"It's not funny. I was really mad at you. I'm still mad. That's no way to treat your mate." When I saw her quivering lips, I sobered up and held her close.
"I'm sorry. There are somethings I still have to explain to you. I'll tell you everything I promise, but not just now."
"Why?" I frowned and moved away from her.
"Things aren't as easy as they seem. I'm a complicated, mess up piece of shit. My life isn't normal at all and I don't want to drag you in it."
"I'm your mate. We're in this together. I've got you, always." She tiptoed and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Let's go. I'm hungry." I laughed out loud when she started tugging my hand, pulling me towards the direction of my home. On our way there, members of the pack greeted me but since they didn't know who Ara is, they just gave her a strange look and she snuggled deeper into me.
I need to mark her.
*•ARA's POV•*
When Caine punched that Daniel dude and told everyone I'm his mate, I'd never felt more important to anyone in my life. I couldn't stop the tears that flowed down my cheeks. I didn't plan on releasing the water works so soon, I swear. But when he laughed at me and I quivered my lips, that was intentional. At least one of my plans was put into action.
When he turned his back on me, I thought he was going on shutdown again and I was scared for a moment. But when he continued speaking, I knew that he wasn't going to ditch me...yet. And I wasn't kidding when I said I was hungry. Apparently walking to and fro looking for Caine had drained all the food from my system.
I could stay like this forever. No problems in my life, walking side by side with my mate. The only thing's that I'm beginning to feel highly uncomfortable. I've not met the pack so they don't know who I am. They were all greeting Caine but giving me funny looks. It was nerve wracking so I was very happy when I saw his house in the distance. Untangling myself from his arm, I ran towards the house. The wind blew in my short hair and I felt free for the first time in my life. All my life, I've been an omega so I wasn't entitled to some privileges like running around. Even as a child I was almost always indoors. I was always afraid of running into the alpha or his beta. I didn't want to be punished.
Obviously I reached the house first so I sat on the porch, waiting for my slowpoke mate.
"You're so slow." I whined when he finally reached.
"I hope you have ingredients in your house?"
"Our house."
"Huh?"
"You hope I have ingredients in our house." I flushed in embarrassment. I though didn't want me in his home.
"Yeah, that." He opened up and I stepped inside. Obviously his house wasn't as big as Rodrick's but it's fairly big as well. And the inside is beautiful but it clearly gives the bachelor pad vibe.
"Should I give you a tour first or after the food?"
"Food please." He laughed and led me to his—our kitchen.
"I don't have a lot of grocery stuff now but I was planning on shopping later." He explained the reason for his almost empty fridge and cabinets. At least, he had the grace to be sheepish about it.
"Only cook something with what you have."
"No need to cook. I'll do it."
"Don't worry about it. I'll do the cooking around here. I was the cook back in my pack so you don't have to worry about me burning down your kitchen." I teased but apparently he didn't get the joke because his eyes darkened.
"What's wrong?"
"From now on, you're not to speak of your former life. You're in my pack now and in my pack you're the Beta Female. I don't even want to think about how you were treated back in your pack." He whispered the last part. It hurts me to see him so sad. I moved to sit in his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Look at me." He raised his head to look me in the eye.
"It's in the past. I'm not going back there. I'm here, with you and for you. I'm not leaving you not now, not ever."
"Maybe if you don't feed me now I'll be tempted to go." He chuckled which made me smile. He leaned in to kiss me and I allowed him. Sparks were flying everywhere and butterflies where fluttering. His mouth moved against mine and it felt very natural. I don't think I'd ever be able to kiss someone else for it to feel this natural. It's like our lips were made for each other.
Just as the kiss was getting intense, my stupid tummy grumbled. I felt Caine smile against my lips and pulled back a bit.
"Time to feed that tummy of yours." He poked my stomach —which made me giggle—then put me down.
I wanted everything to be rosy. I wanted a happily ever after but I'd forgotten that in order for me to have a happily ever after, I needed a step-mother and evil twin sisters first.