LOOKING FOR MATE

I look to my left, frowning at the numerous grooves of trees that looked completely identical to the ones on the right. And sadly, just like the ones in front of me, and also the ones behind me.

I'm lost.

I don't quite understand how me, a werewolf, managed to get lost; how I somehow managed to wonder off so far from the original path that my nose could not pick up Caspar's scent anywhere, let alone our damn link. The same link that became useless when we were extremely far from one another.

"Well Feli, you've really done it now." I mumble to myself as I use the large branch I'd found a while back to swat away the overgrown grass from my feet.

It didn't help that it was probably after three, meaning my dads would most likely be organizing a search party at this very moment; meaning they would never ever ever let me come out here again once they found me.

I groan under my breath at my stupidity. I just had to trail off didn't I; I couldn't just leave the stupid bunnies alone.

I take a deep breath before flushing out those useless thoughts. I got those pictures because I knew Peter would probably combust from happiness at the sight of them. I didn't regret taking them for him.

"This is what you get for being a good person." I whisper to myself with a helpless chuckle.

The rustling of nearby leaves makes me turn swiftly, my grip on the branch so tight that it snaps. I catch the broken piece before it can hit the ground. My eyes dart around the seemingly empty space, studying it cautiously and carefully.

When my vision fails to distinguish anything, probably due to the gradually darkening sky, I force myself to calm down. I mananged to control myself just enough to be able to ignore the thumping of my own heartbeat, but I could hear the thumps of another.

Budump. Budump. Budump. Budump. Budump. Budump.

A rapidly pounding heart beat that visciously fills my ears, causing mine to spike in response. Something was there, watching me, studying me, and I hated that I knew exactly what it was.

What else could it be?

What else in this forest could possess a heart beat that barbaric;

With a presence this silent that mirrored the stories which came from it.

I had two options-

Fight or Run.

I wasn't that keen on fighting something known to kill on sight. Plus both options, according to history, either left you dead or very damn close to it. I could shift, but by the time I'd be in wolf form I'd be dead.

There was only one solution I could think with the pressure of death weighing over me. I had to keep moving.

If I didn't, it'd just end worse.

So against my better judgement I relax my defensive stance, straightening myself with a shuddering breath before I turn around and keep walking.

I was praying to Goddess, I was heading North and towards the pack. That'd give me a better chance, so I continued my journey on what I believed to be the correct path.

Now that I was aware of it. I could hear it following me. I could hear it's heavy pants, it's thumping heart, the scent of pheromones that signaled the end.

My end.

An end that grew closer and closer with each passing moment. I call out for Caspar hopelessly through our link, thankful and despaired that he didn't reply. At least I knew he was far enough to not run into this thing. He'd be safe.

When the lands I'd wondered in became familiar I felt my heart jump.

Could I make it? If I ran, could I make it to the pack? There was about thirty miles between me and the pack. There was no way right? Absolutely no way. Not unless it was distracted. But what on earth could distract a breathing killing machine.

I look at my branch and sigh.

And I have the nerve to call Damon suicidal.

Blessings please Goddess.

Before I could attempt a very stupid stupid plan, Goddess answered my prayers and a large buck ran in the direction of its doom.

When a loud cry escaped the animal's mouth and the smell of blood became pungent. … I ran like hell.

I long ago dropped the branch as I pushed my legs harder than ever before. Pumping my arms besides me to carry me further, cursing the world for not exercising more and praying to make it through this.

I didn't glance back.

Glancing back was always the worse idea. You'd see something you weren't so fond of, you'd get scared, your heart would speed up, your predator would get excited and then you die.

I should know. Hunting a scared rogue excited any werewolf.

So I didn't glance back. But when the sound of heavy thumps into the earth began to invade my ears, I didn't need to look back for my heart rate to reach to one million.

It was gaining on me. With a cruel speed that not even my wolf could outrun.

I'm going to die.

My hairs stand up at the thought, the steps louder, the tears faster, the fear greater.

I am going to die.

I couldn't even dodge the legs that stretched out and tackled me to the ground. I couldn't escape the pain that shattered through me as the claws sank into my skin, releasing my blood to the atmosphere.

My body hit the ground, hard. Rolling helplessly until my back came in contact with an unfortunate tree. The crack of the bark letting me know the power behind the action. A mind numbing pain echoed through my body, telling the same story of its power.

I force my eyes open, a blurred vision flashing between the sight of the fallen leaves on the ground and a fiery one I'd only seen in my dreams.

I shake my head, pushing myself against the tree as my vision clears. It takes only a second for it to land on it.

I screamed before I could think.

It wasn't a wolf.

It wasn't a rogue.

It was a beast.

A five foot tall beast, that's jagged teeth allowed the spit to drain from its snarling mouth. Its fur was as said to be, patchy in areas where scars and long knife wounds didn't cover it.

I couldn't look it in its eye.

Not with the way my body shook, fear consuming me unapologetically. Tears bleeding their way down my face as it started towards me. My voice was gone, silent sobs only escaping as my battered body tried to push back further against the thing that supported it. My hand feebly pressing against my open wound as blood gushed out of me.

Three steps more and I'd be dead.

Dead without even being able to fight back.

Two steps more and I'd be dead.

Dead without saying goodbye to my family.

One more and I'd be dead.

Trembling I find my eyes raising, willing me to meet those above me.

As the gentle growl was but an inch from me, my eyes met the owner of my dismal. … and everything stopped.

In that moment, that one moment, I was not scared anymore. My heart stopped and all the air left my lungs as I got caught in the black swirling storm of those eyes.

Those eyes that were darker than my own. Those eyes that held me and took me in.

I was lost. Lost in it, lost in them, lost.

My body numb to the pain before, now electric at the prospect of being this close to my … to m-my mate.

Mate.

The word blared through me and shattered every piece of me before putting me back together with a space empty for my mate.

I found my mate.

It's eyes closed tightly and it backed away from me, stealing all that had previously bombarded me and left me empty. I unconsciously pushed my body forth, chasing the one who spiked the fear that was not returning at full force.

It must've sensed it, it's nose flaring in response. Shaking its head as it back away more, though not leaving completely. It released heavy growls, barks of pain shooting straight through me as it's bones began to crack.

Each bone snapped, slowly and viscous. Each time prompting a growl of pain, its teeth clashing together as it slowly was torn apart. It was like watching a wolf turn for the first time, the pain piercing my soul as my mate suffered through it all.

Desperate to help, I drew closer but it only backed away with this look in its eye. A look that stilled me, froze me because I didn't understand it. I didn't understand the look of fear in its eyes.

Why was it afraid?

I look down, unable to witness the visual torture of my mate in pain but unable to escape the audible one. I couldn't help, it didn't want my help. I couldn't move, my body was battered and bruised.

So I waited, only raising my eyes when the growls stopped and heavy breathing remained.

Curled on the fallen leaves, laid my mate. Body completely exposed as he shivered in his spot. I couldn't see his face, only his long black hair that trailed beyond his chest.

His frame was large and powerful, I couldn't help the way my heart skipped in satisfaction.

But he didn't move with the power he possessed. He pushed himself up on shaking arms, his eyes now green and bloodshot with horror. He was looking at his limbs as if they were completely foreign to him, as if he couldn't believe what he now was.

Then he looked at me.

And I melted