VII

~Samiah~

I don’t know how long has passed since my 18th birthday. I’ve been feeling less lonely with Rae to talk to me. I’m still seriously worried about my mom. She sounds weaker, and the coughing continues. 

I’ve been worried that they would find out that I had my wolf and move me to a silver-lined cell. I didn’t want that to happen because then I’d be alone again. Thankfully, they didn’t pay me too much attention, and Rae found some way to keep her presence hidden. I don’t really understand it myself. I chalk it up to the fact that I haven’t been able to shift yet. 

I’ve been locked up for months. I’ve turned eighteen while being locked up. I haven’t shifted. My mom is sick, and I can’t help her. All of this is because Kemarion handed his father something that said my mom and I were criminals, even though neither of us has ever done anything against pack laws. I let out a sigh and let my head lean back against the grimy stone wall. Everything will be okay, Samiah. We will get out of here, and when we do, we will be able to live our lives. I don’t respond to Rae. She’s said this a lot since she made herself available to me. I want to believe her, but it’s hard when you are in the middle of it. 

A scent drifts into my cell; it’s soft, but Rae is standing at attention. The footsteps follow as the scent gets stronger. Rae, what’s going on? Why is that scent messing with me? It’s orange and mint. It’s a soothing scent, but it shouldn’t be this disruptive. Could it be that my gaining a wolf is making scents that much stronger? I mean, that’s usually how it works, but why these two scents in particular?

Mate. My heart almost stops when I hear Rae. I’m confused, though, because her voice is soft and there’s something underneath it that’s concerning, but I can’t identify it. I thought that when my wolf scented her mate, she would be boisterous about it. I thought she would scream it from the heavens. Rae is much more reserved than I could have ever imagined. 

The footsteps stop in front of my cells, and the scent wraps around me. I focus my sight on the person attached to that scent and my heart drops. Kemarion is standing in front of me, staring at me. 

This is the guy who did this to us; the man who provided the false evidence that placed us here. I’ve never had much dealings with him. He’s a few years older than me, and he’s the future Beta. We never ran in the same circles, nor did we ever talk in school. 

I will admit that he’s an attractive man; he's always looked good. He has dark brown skin that always shines. He has a few tattoos that I’ve seen when he’s shifted: a big one on his back and one on his chest. I’m partial to tattoos. He has big, brown eyes, a chiseled jawline, and a small dimple in his left cheek. His body is ripped, but that isn’t a surprise since he’s always training. I wouldn’t say that I’ve had a crush on him, but I have noticed him from time to time. 

I have to admit that I’m surprised to be mated to him. I would have never thought that my fated mate would be a ranked member. I’m conflicted right now, and maybe that speaks to Rae’s hesitation. This is the man who provided evidence of my mom’s and my supposed crime and why we’ve been locked up for months. I don’t know where to put that. “Hello.” I don’t respond, and I don’t look away. “You and your mom have been found innocent. You will be let out soon.” I don’t respond. He keeps his eyes on me, but there’s something there that I can’t identify. He hasn’t acknowledged the bond, but I’m not really concerned about that. I have no idea what I want to do with the bond. 

We continue to stare at each other, but say nothing. I’m not sure how long it lasts, but eventually, Kemarion turns and walks away. I keep my eyes on the spot he was standing in, trying to put the pieces together. I feel like I’m missing something, but I don’t know what. 

~Kemarion~

It’s been two weeks since Destini chose a lesser wolf over me. I had to deal with the pain of that rejection, and it was hard to get through. I didn’t try to change her mind because I would never grovel at the feet of a woman. I just didn’t understand what was so special about him. It had to be more than the fact that the Moon Goddess chose him. 

When I finally got myself together, two weeks had passed. I tried to figure out what to do with myself next when I remembered that my fated mate was in my pack. I immediately thought of Samiah. She’s still here, and she should be of age by now. She has nothing and would be grateful to be claimed by a ranked member.

Talking to my father was a bit off. I could tell that he wanted to ask me what was going on, but he decided not to. It’s the same decision he made when I came to him with the charges in the first place. I’m actually grateful that he decided to leave it alone. I really didn’t want to explain what was going on with him. 

I walk down to the cells, determined to see Samiah. I remember her and how she looks, but seeing her now will be different. I want to see how I respond to her, even though she’s been locked in the cells for months now. 

Her scent hits me as I step off the steps. It’s hidden under the scents of dirt and mold, but it’s there, and it’s stronger than it was when I first scented her. I’m not sure why her scent is coming off so strongly. It could be that she has her wolf, but then again, she isn’t acknowledging the bond, so maybe her birthday hasn’t hit yet. 

I stand in front of her cell and look at her. She’s nothing to look at right now, having to sit in all this dirt and grime for months. She looks a lot thinner than she did before. I know it’s because of how she’s been fed since being down here. 

She looks up at me, and my breath hitches. To be honest, Samiah is beautiful, and she always has been. I would notice her when we were in school, but I never thought to approach her. She’s an Omega and that really wasn’t the direction I planned to go in. 

Samiah looks ashen and sickly, but her caramel skin is visible under the grime. Her big, light green eyes are burning holes through me. I’m a bit uncomfortable under her gaze, but I’m trying to ignore it. Her lips are cracked, and her cheeks are sunken in. I know her current look is because she’s been here so long. Once she gets out, I can get her healthy and turn her into a woman who is meant to stand beside a Beta. Well, at least a woman I can stand to touch.

I didn’t stay long in her presence. A mindlink came in that required me to go to an impromptu meeting. I inform the guards that she and her mother need to be released before leaving the cells.