I was having an enjoyable time ever since Reed let me go running. He let me stay out for however long I wanted, without giving me a time limit. When I came back, he brought me to the bonfire and told me to eat whatever I wanted…as much as I wanted. I was beginning to like this pack…to like him.
Then the last person I wanted to see came up and shoved me away from the food, spilling my plate all over me. I looked up to see Jena. My eyes widen for a moment, not believing what I was seeing, then she smirked and said, "You think you can mate with the alpha? What the hell is wrong with you?"
I sat up a little and brushed the food off me, frowning at the stains on the shirt I knew to be Reed's. "He's my mate…"
"He is not your mate, Simone!" she growled. "Why do you think an alpha would want to be a mate with you?"
"Reed said so," I whispered.
"He took pity on you, idiot! He's not your mate! He only wants to use you!"
I shake my head, wanting it to not be true. "No! You're wrong! He is my mate!"
Jena squatted down so we were eyelevel and smiled pitifully. "Alpha Roniston told you mates lie. If he hasn't pushed you away yet, he will."
I bit my lip, trembling. She can't be right! Reed was different from what people have said. I know it. He is my mate. He's not going to push me away. He wouldn't. He's…
Jena smiled. "Now, why don't you go somewhere and hide. We wouldn't want you getting hurt, now would we?"
"He cares!" I whimper.
"He's faking it, Simone. Can't you tell when someone is lying?" she whispered and I looked away, standing up and hugging myself. Jena did the same and patted my head. "Be a good girl and go hide. I'll make sure he doesn't come after you."
Nodding, I walk away from the mess of food and into the forest of darkness. Jena was right…he was lying.
From behind me, I hear a loud roar and stop, tensing slightly before a howl split the air. Before I knew what, I was doing, I shifted and ran. Terrified of anyone catching me, I pushed my legs to go as fast as they could. More howls pierced the air and I flattened my ears. Dodging trees and leaping over logs, I ran as fast as I could.
There was a growl behind me, and I yelped, falling over something, and spraining my ankle. Yellow eyes peered at me from the darkness and I whined. Another growl ripped from its throat as it sprang on top of me. Tail between my legs, I laid unmoving feeling it's hot breath on my cheek. Its teeth scraped along my fur, making me shiver in fear.
Another growl from somewhere nearby made the wolf look up, its hackles raised. It lunged and I heard a thud before growling and snarling and finally a howl of pain. Giving the survivor no time to recover from the small battle, I leapt up and ran.
Paws pounded behind me and I realized I was never going to make through to see another day. It was going to catch up and kill me, and I wasn't going to ever see daylight again. This makes my heart ache which distracts me enough that I don't see a wolf lunge at me from my right, tackling me to the ground. Yelping in more pain, I whine and struggle, trying to be free.
"Simone!"
I stopped, my heart leaping into my throat and my ears flattening on my head in fear.
The wolf on top of me backs away and I stand favoring my injured paw and looking around. Two wolves flanked me while Reed stood in his human form in front of me. "Shift, please," he says more softly.
I whine and shake my head, backing away a step.
"Simone don't run away from me!" he growled. That only made me yelp and back away some more. Reed took a step towards me, eyes fixed on mine. "Come here, girl."
I stop moving away and whine. Lying down, I lick my paw and looking mournfully at him, wanting to trust him again. But what Jena said…
"I won't hurt you," he whispered, taking another step. "I know you're scared and hurt, and all I want to do is help."
He takes another step, making me crawl on my belly away from him. The wolf on my right moves towards me, but it terrifies me so much I turn and sprint away. I hear Reed mutter a curse before hearing him come after me.
I don't move as fast as I want and he catches up, going ahead and blocking my path. I skid to a stop and feel trapped suddenly. He shifts back into human and kneels, holding out his hand. "Simone, this is the last time I'll ask nicely. This is the last time I'm going to let you come to me. Next time you run, I will not hesitate to tackle you and hold you down until you listen to me. Now, please come here or shift."
I look behind me to see the two wolves there, putting my tail between my legs. Flattening my ears, I lower my head and limp over to Reed. At the first touch of his hand on my head, I flinch away, but go back and let him scratch behind my ears.
"Good girl," he whispers. "You're alright. I won't hurt you."
I whine and sit down, looking up at him through my lashes. I give a sad yip then lie down before him.
"Go get her some clothes, quickly!" he orders, and the two wolves disappear. Reed sits down, resting both legs on either side of me and brings my head up on his stomach as he lies back. My ears flick up and I move closer to him, resting my bad paw on his stomach before laying my head down. "You're stubborn," he whispers.
I bark then whine.
He scratches my ear again and looks down at me worriedly. "Did you eat?" I whine and shake my head, finally remembering the fight with Jena again. When I go to move away, he holds the scruff at the back of my neck and sits up, hardening his eyes. "Don't run."
I whine. Looking behind me, I see a wolf with clothes in its mouth, walking slowly up to us and setting them down at Reed's feet. After a moment, it leaves again.
"Shift, Simone."
I do and curl into a ball. When he touches me, I give a not so quiet sob.
"What the hell happened to you?" he growled, pulling me up to rest against his chest. "Why are you afraid of me all over again?"
Carefully, I wrap my arms around him, trying not to hurt my wrist. "She told me you were faking being my mate. She said you'd hurt me. She said to hide while she kept you away. I'm scared."
His arms tighten around me, pulling me impossibly closer to him. "Have I given you any reason to not trust me?" he asked softly. I shake my head. "Have I hurt you in any way?"
"No, but—"
"No buts. If I have not hurt you in anyway, then there is no reason for doubt. If I didn't want you as my mate or Luna, I'd have rejected you the moment we met. I am not leading you on for some terrible heartbreak. I'm not that cruel."
I sniffed and relaxed in his arms, for once feeling safe with him since being here. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
"Was its Jena?" he asked lowly. Immediately, I stiffened again. "Easy, Simone. No one is going to hurt you for telling me."
"But she always does…"
"Not in my pack, Beautiful. It is against the rule to harm a pack member unless in training." Taking one hand off me, I feel him reach around for something then soft fabric touches my back. "Put this on for me."
I move back a little and slip the shirt on as he puts on a pair of shorts. He hands me a pair then helps me stand up. "Come on, let's finish eating."
"I'm not hungry," I mumble.
I feel his eyes on me and back away a step, but his arm goes around my waist and I'm trapped again. "Don't run from me again, Simone," he growls. I stiffen but only him pull me closer to his body, embracing me gently. "I want you to have a few bites before the night is over."
I nod. "Can you look at my wrist?"
He pulls away and takes my arm, looking down at my wrist. "We'll go see the doctor as soon as we get back. I don't think it's broken, but I can't be certain. It's too dark." He looks up at me with soft green eyes. "Will you be able to hold on until then?"
"I think so."
"Good, come on." Reed grabs my good hand and leads me back to the bonfire.
When we get there, Thrain and Corey are waiting, the latter looking pissed. I go behind Reed at the dark look Corey was showing, but my mate doesn't even pause to speak to them. He takes me to an older man with salt-and-pepper hair and kind blue eyes. "Alpha, Luna."
"Can you look at her wrist, please? She fell on it."
The man smiles and holds out his hand for me. "May I see it?"
I stare wide eyed at him and shake uncontrollably. Reed turns and pulls me against him, my back to his front, before turning to the man again. "It's okay. Just give him your arm like you did with me."
The man waits patiently, but I shake my head vigorously. "I-I don't want to."
Reed holds out a hand now. "Then give it to me." I do and watch the man as he examines my wrist.
"Just a sprain, my dear. It should be healed by tomorrow morning."
"You're sure?" Reed asked worriedly.
"Certainly, Alpha. She'll be fine."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"No problem."
Reed lets my arm go and wraps an arm around my waist then leads me to a log, sitting down. Thrain hands him a plate and he hand it to me, nodding for me to eat. I thought I wasn't hungry anymore, but I ate the whole plate, including two more. From beside me, Reed smiled and ate his own food. When I was finished, I leaned my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, exhausted.