Mate

Chapter Three

5 Years Later

/-Isla-/

“You need to come back, Isla. The Luna is seriously ill. The Doctors don't think she would be able to make it to the next moon,” Elsie's voice rang desperately in my ears. “You need to see her, Isla. Please… you'll never forgive yourself if she dies without you seeing her.”

I knew she was right. 

After leaving home years ago, I cut all communication with everyone. Except Elsie, of course. Even though Roman was the one who hurt me, I secretly resented everyone, including my mother for not stopping him. It just hurt so much at that time and my naive sixteen-year-old self didn't care if she knew about my feelings or not. 

I hated myself for punishing her for something she knew nothing about but leaving was the only way to get over him. All I had to do was push on till my eighteenth birthday.

When I clocked eighteen, I was excited. I thought I would find the mate that would finally take my mind off Roman for good but I was wrong. The goddess only granted me a wolf, Arla, but I never found my mate. 

I was even more heartbroken and devastated. All the pain I thought was buried inside, resurfaced again and I felt miserable. Then he came along.

“Hey baby, are you okay?” His hand slipped over mine and I wore a plastic smile, turning to the curly-haired blond beside me.

“Is Carlos there?” Elsie asked and I sighed.

“Elsie…”

Carlos took the phone from me and put it on speaker. 

“I'm here, Elsie,” he answered. 

“She needs to come home, Carl. Please convince her. Her mother is critically ill and needs her. She can't just keep holding on to the past…”

“Alright, alright!” I cut her short before she would say anything that would ruin my relationship. “I'll return tomorrow, is that okay?”

“Yes! Yes please… this is great news, I'll inform everyone!” She squealed in excitement and hung up. 

Carlos glanced at me with a worried expression. “Are you okay?”

“I'm fine, Carlos. I'm just worried about my mother, that's all,” I told him. He pulled me closer to himself and kissed my forehead. 

“She is going to be fine, baby. I'm sure she would be more than happy to see you,” he said and I relaxed in his arms. 

I wish he knew it was not as easy as he said it. That my mother was not the only person I was worried about. 

But I couldn't tell him that. Carlos was the one who picked up the broken pieces of my heart. He was there for me even when I tried so hard to push him away. 

This was our second year together and even though a part of me knew I would never love him, I cared deeply for him and I promised myself I would never hurt him.

“I know we agreed not to talk about your past but is there a particular reason you have avoided home for so long?” He asked. 

“No,” I answered curtly and pulled away from him. “We should start packing.” 

He didn't push further and that was one of the reasons I liked him. He didn't press me to say things I didn't want to say. It was no use opening old wounds. I have moved on already. 

The next day, I was on a plane heading back to the very place I ran away from years ago. 

I couldn't believe I was coming back. Five years away from this place yet it felt like nothing had changed. 

My thoughts shifted to him and I shut my eyes. 

‘Don’t you dare think about him, Isla. You're not here for him! You're here for your sick mother!’ Arla, my wolf scolded. 

We arrived at the pack house and I was immediately surrounded.

“Princess, you're back!”

“It's been five years!”

“You've grown even more beautiful.”

“The Luna has missed you!”

I smiled and greeted as many people as I could while pushing my way through the crowd. It was suffocating and I was starting to feel claustrophobic when the guards came to my rescue. 

“Isla, you made it!!!” Elsie ran into me, suffocating me with a hug. It's been so long I didn't realize how much I've missed this. 

“Come with me!” 

A huge feast had already been arranged to celebrate my return. Elsie really outdid herself this time. Not that I could complain. 

Everyone was here. 

Everyone except him. But I didn't care. I hope he remained absent until I saw my mother and left. 

The royal horn was suddenly blown, announcing the presence of the royals. 

“Your pack is so cool,” Carlos whispered beside me. “In my pack, nobody likes the royal family. They are all afraid and trembling and when I officially became Beta, I was automatically feared as well.” 

“Your Alpha must be ruthless then,” I told him and he chuckled lightly.

“Perhaps.” 

“Honourable people of Crescent Moon Pack, we present to you the Alpha and Luna of Crescent Moon. Alpha Roman Kane and Luna Manda Cane.” 

The minute he stepped into the hall, my breath hitched. His powerful aura took over the room and the temperature seemed to drop by a few degrees. 

My palms suddenly became sweaty as I shivered slightly. He was even more dashing than the last time I remembered. His silver-streaked hair was longer, his facials looked like they were chiseled into shape. Sharp and prominent. 

Those piercings. The ones that made him look dangerously attractive were still there and the tattoos… oh goddess! My knees felt like jelly. 

A wave of shame hit me as I realised that I was still hopelessly in love with this man. Five years and a boyfriend were not enough to break me out of his claws. 

Manda, on the other hand, looked every bit as smug as she did the last time. I rolled my eyes, because whether I admitted it or not, I still didn't like her. 

“We also present, Luna Zelda Kane!” Cheers erupted as they called for my mother. But there was something emotional about the way they clapped and screamed good wishes. 

Then I saw her and my heart sank further. She was in a wheelchair, barely able to sit. 

I rushed over to her without realising it. 

“Mother!” I sobbed, falling to my knees. I threw my arms around her, letting my tears fall. “Please forgive me, mom. I am so sorry…”

“Isla…” her voice came out weak and barely audible. “Is this really you?” 

“Yes… yes… it's me, mother,” I pulled away so she could see my face properly. A weak smile crossed her once beautiful features as she brushed the tears off my cheeks. 

“How long has it been?” Her eyes watered. “I… I thought you would never come back…”

“How could I not?” I sniffled. “I'm sorry.”

I hugged her again and the whole palace was silently watching. 

“What happened to you? How did it get this bad?” I asked. I didn't need to look too much to know she was poisoned. Her veins were visibly black, highlighting the spread. 

She couldn't heal naturally like the rest of us because her blood was poisoned and it was killing her slowly. 

“Wolfsbane,” she answered. “I took out the arrow without thinking and the poison spread rapidly. It's a miracle I am still alive.” 

More tears fell from my cheek.

“We have been searching everywhere for you. Your uncle, especially,” she told me and I looked up at Roman before my brain even processed it. 

Those seafoam eyes flickered briefly at me, taking in every inch of my appearance and I forced my eyes away from him, painfully aware of the way my skin burned from the intensity of his gaze. 

Did he really look for me?

“I am here now, mother. You don't need to search anymore,” I assured her. There was no way I could leave her in this state. 

I would stay with her even if it meant confronting my supposed “dead” feelings for my uncle. 

“Let's have dinner, there is so much we need to catch up on.”

I made it through the feast, filling my mother with all my academic prowess. While she told me how proud of me she was, Roman sat there silently, listening. Manda, of course, was all over him and it was hard to keep my irritation off my face so I avoided looking at her all together. 

“Mom, I have someone very important to introduce to you,” I told her. 

“Really? Who is it?” She sounded excited and it made me happy.

I grabbed Carlos' hand and his cheeks coloured slightly. 

“This is Carlos Hamilton. Beta of SilverMoon pack. He is my boyfriend,” I informed her.

My mother gasped. “Oh goddess! This is good news indeed!” 

For some reason, my eyes shifted to Alpha Roman who I assumed was going to have his stoic face on but I was wrong. 

There was sheer amusement in his eyes as if I had just told the biggest joke of the century. My fists clenched as my face morphed into a glare. 

“Is something funny, Uncle?” I spat the words as if they burned me. 

He didn't bother to answer me. Instead, he just stood up and left the table.

“What is wrong with him?” I exasperated and Carlos placed a hand over mine. 

“You need to calm down, baby. I'm sure he meant no harm,” my mother said softly. 

I let myself relax for her sake. I didn't need his stupid validation anyways. He could have it up his ass for all I care!

“It's really good to have you back, Isla, even though you left unexpectedly,” Manda said.

“Yeah,” i said dryly, hoping she would pick the hint that I didn't want to talk to her. 

“So, how's college?” She asked and I sighed. Didn't I already narrate all that?

“Fine.” 

She finally took the hint and kept quiet.

Later that evening, I decided to take a walk after Carlos settled in the guest room. At first, it was nothing unusual but then I picked up a sweet scent of pines and apples. 

“Mate!” Arla leaped and my entire body froze. 

No! No! No! This cannot be happening to me. 

How could I suddenly have a mate when my boyfriend was here?