2. Former Best Friend Now Sworn Rivals

Skoll's fangs gleamed above me, his howl shook the night, almost splitting the Wavecrest forest.

He spread the news to all the forest dwellers that he had found his mate. That was the first sound I'd ever heard from Kaiden-Skoll, and the sensation of ecstasy that hit me was indescribable.

My entire existence etched this moment deep into my core memory.

After his ferocious howl, Skoll softly growled towards me and was about to bury his head in the crook of my neck.

Thora responded just as playfully, she... giggled? I'd never known my wolf could be so playful, an overwhelming sense of happiness enveloped me.

How could I fall so deeply in love and be drunk with infatuation just by being close to, touching, and smelling Skoll-Kaiden.

My mate... 'Mate!' my subconscious shouted.

'Wait, MATE! With Kaiden! KAIDEN!'

'Shit. Shit. Shit.' I cursed inwardly as awareness flooded my brain.

 'What am I supposed to tell Rue?'

'What about our promise?'

'Oh, I forgot about Nyxon too!' I had just started thinking about it.

Suddenly, a furious howl ripped through the night, coming from the direction I had just come from.

A large, golden-brown wolf leapt high into the air and slammed into Skoll, sending his body flying into a tree trunk.

Skoll was shocked and in pain, but he quickly regained his footing, standing tall.

'Oh no...' I muttered to myself.

Two future Alpha stood facing each other, completely forgetting their close friendship in front of me, ready to fight to the death.

'Stop!' I shouted.

Unfortunately, since I wasn't part of either pack, I couldn't use my mind-link on them.

What happened next...

Fenrir charged at Skoll again, and the usually friendly and cheerful wolf was terrifying when angry.

He attacked Skoll wildly.

However, Skoll was no easy opponent.

As a future alpha of the Stormsurge pack, he was a match for Fenrir.

Both of their front claws attacked each other, the sound of their bodies colliding was deafening, and terrifying.

I had never seen such an intense fight up close before, and to make it worse, it was all because of me.

'This can't happen. I won't let it.' 

I realized the magnitude of the problem if many people found out and got involved in this situation.

What would Stormsurge or even Wavecrest do if their future alpha died at each other's hands?

War between packs would break out.

Or, if Rue found out I mate with her brother, and also her crush.

'This can't be allowed!'

With quick reflexes, I turned towards the trees and shifted back into a human.

Luckily, I had managed to grab my clothes before shifting, although they were a bit torn from being carried in my fangs.

"STOP!" I commanded.

Of course, my desperate shout wasn't heard by the two bloodthirsty creatures.

With a trembling heart, I watched the two beings still focused on attacking each other.

But I was determined not to let things get any worse.

I stepped forward, ready to separate them.

Unfortunately, before I could even intervene, Fenrir's razor-sharp front claws struck the side of my head.

I collapsed to the ground and lost consciousness. 

***

I woke up, and the first thing I realized was that I was in a strange room that wasn't my own, and I tried to get up.

Two broad and strong hands held down my arms, keeping me on the bed.

The touch sent shockwaves and longing through my entire body.

I think my guards felt the same way.

They reflexively pulled their hands back from me at the same time.

"You can't go anywhere, wait for Dr. Sean to arrive, Mina," Nyxon, who was on my right side, commanded.

There was a faint smirk on the edge of his lips, and I reflexively smiled back.

A thousand butterflies seemed to flutter in my lower abdomen.

"Ahem," Kaiden cleared his throat from the left side, and I saw his ash-colored pupils staring at me sharply, his teeth clenched.

He glared at Nyxon as if he wanted to skin him alive.

"SHE. IS. MINE."

Kaiden emphasized those words firmly, claiming ownership of me.

I almost whistled when I heard his deep and slightly husky voice.

The sensation it brought to my well-being was unspeakable.

"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" Nyxon shouted from my right side.

He had stood up from his chair.

So did Kaiden.

If no one intervened, I was certain this clinic room would become the site of bloodshed between the previous inseparable friends.

I felt the urge to sink deeply into the bed right then and there.

Especially since the pain on the side of my head still stung. 

Luckily, Dr. Sean arrived right after hearing the two men argue.

"What did I just say to you two?! Wait outside! Don't make a mess in my place," he scolded Nyxon and Kaiden with a displeased expression.

Only Dr. Sean could behave so sternly towards two future Alphas.

"But he's claiming Mina as his mate!" Nyxon pointed Kaiden out.

"Because she is indeed my mate!" Kaiden defended with a firm, cold tone. 

"Don't say that or I'll rip your mouth apart! I am her mate!" Nyxon shouted, unwilling to back down.

Dr. Sean's eyebrows rose as he listened to their argument.

"This is interesting... But it’s not my concern," he muttered, in disbelief.

"Shut up, both of you, or I'll have to kick you out of here. I have patients to attend to," Dr. Sean dismissed them, non-debatable.

Dr. Sean's threat was enough to make the two men shut their mouths tightly, but the atmosphere of discord remained thick in the room.

Dr. Sean checked the bandage on my head.

“Hmm, the wound’s almost completely healed. Interesting, interesting. Are you sure, you’re an outcast with an omega rank?” Dr. Sean asked, clearly intrigued.

“According to Alpha Roman, yes, I’m an omega,” I replied.

“But this healing ability of yours... It’s not normal. Especially with an injury this severe,” Dr. Sean added, almost lost in thought.

My healing ability had always been fast, but I figured that was normal for us shapeshifters. I’d never really thought much of it.

“At this rate, I think you could be discharged later this afternoon,” he concluded a moment later.

I nodded.

Suddenly, Nyxon appeared by my bedside and gently stroked my head, making me flinch in delight.

“Mina, who would've thought my mate was this close all along,” he murmured longingly. His light brown eyes were so close to my face.

I swallowed hard as Nyxon licked his red lips, and my eyes couldn’t look away from the tempting sight.

But then, his words finally registered in my slow brain, and I remembered Rue. Instinctively, I pushed Nyxon away, causing him to fall back into his chair.

Kaiden chuckled happily from the left side. “Well done, mate. Show him where he belongs,” he said, sounding incredibly proud.

“What the hell, Mina?” Nyxon protested, clearly offended.

I shook my head and turned to Dr. Sean, pleading with my eyes.

“I need to rest, doctor. Please?” I asked in a soft, desperate tone.

“Yes, you definitely need that,” he said.

It didn’t take long before the two former best friends—now acting more like bitter rivals—were dragged out of the room by Dr. Sean.

I bit my lip, unable to think straight. Thora, restless and constantly scolding me in my mind, wasn’t helping either.

I could still hear Nyxon and Kaiden arguing outside.

Neither of them had moved from their spot in front of my door.

I couldn’t keep doing this. Rue would find out soon, and I wouldn’t get the chance to explain anything before her.

Alpha Roman’s threat echoed in my head—how he wouldn’t hesitate to banish me if I ever hurt Rue.

I couldn’t imagine my life outside the pack, wandering as an outcast. I wouldn’t survive.

Then a brilliant idea flashed in my mind when I spotted the open window beside the bed.

Without wasting a second, I jumped out through it.