LIKE A DREAM, I FOUND MY MATE.

✓ Riya

While I looked around the room, my eyes caught a figure and I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth.

___

Nathaniel was there, grinning from ear to ear. He approached me, and my breathing set about getting caught in my throat with every step he took forward. “Wandering around, young lady? Or are you trying to flee?”

He reached me and pinned me to the wall, his hands held up in a Kabedon. He leaned in closer, staring into my eyes, his breath warm on my skin.

He saved no room for escape, even if I wanted to.

My eyes locked with his gray eyes, with my heart thumping so loudly I could almost hear it, and then I was struck with something- like a tiny spark at the back of my head.

Maybe not, maybe more than just a spark. Like a volcano, erupting and finding its way into my loud heart.

I tore my gaze from his eyes, and they landed on his rosy lips. Then, without much thinking- like under a huge hypnotism- I kissed him, and surprisingly, he kissed me back- more intensely.

While our lips were still locked, a realization snapped at my brain-

- Nathaniel was... was my mate.

The comprehension took me aback, and I jolted out of my trance, while his hands were still roaming about my body, making their way up to my thigh. As soon as I collected myself, I pushed him off me and bolted out of the room, down the stairs, and across a large ballroom.

I ran without looking back, my body seemed to have forgotten its pain as I fled.

Out into a bustling street, I stopped running, and started limping alongside the road, supporting myself with the walls on the side while getting weird stares.

How I got past the guards in that house eluded me. I just knew I fled and I was out- out of breath, and in agony.

I inched towards a dark alley, and then decided to take a rest.

I dropped to the floor and rested my head onto the wall, panting as my breathing slowed into a wheeze, while my mouth was as dry as a sheet.

Resigning to fate, I was almost closing my eyes, when a hand tapped me. I jumped and tried to get up, but the hand pinned me down.

I looked up and it was Howie from Brandon. Sweat covered me, and the hairs on my body started to rise.

He dragged me up and pushed me down on my knees. I dropped to the floor, moaning. The patches on my wounds were loosened and the pain was becoming unbearable.

He hauled me up, kicked me in the stomach, and down on my knees once again. I coughed out blood, my stomach churning at the pain.

Someone began to clap, and I raised my head up to see Brandon approaching out of the shadows with lots of men-in-suits escorting him. He approached me, cackling and squatted before me.

Then, he grabbed my chins, his nails digging into my skin, while he puffed tobacco smoke on my face. “Look who we have here, everyone! Who, if it isn't this old man’s runaway infamous bride-to-be?!”

“I told you we would get her soon, boss." Howie said, proudly.

“Oh, Howie! What would I do without you, boy?” Brandon said, straightening.

Howie chortled, excitedly, and kicked me again on my back, while I fell on my face to the floor and went limp.

“Come on, are you tired now? We are just getting started. If only you've been a good girl from the start. Now, see all the trouble you’ve encountered. Oh, dear.”

“She looks so horrible.” My stepmother chimed in as she came out from behind the Brandon's squad with Ama, and stood beside Brandon.

“I bet this is the best day of my life, Mom!” Ama squealed excitedly.

I couldn't believe my eyes. My heart leaped with joy. Maybe if I could get through my stepmother she would help me this time.

Resolved, I tried to get up, but dropped back to the ground. I concluded I couldn't move anymore, yet I needed to do something- anything to get me out of the mess.

“Oh, she's crawling now!” Ama said, and began to laugh hysterically. “OMG! OMG! This is killing me, Mom!”

“Thank God you are here, Mother. Please, help me. Just this once, and I would never ask anything from you again.” I grabbed my stepmother's legs, but she kicked my hands off.

“Mom, I didn't know I'm now sisters with a pig’s auntie!” Ama giggled. Then, she crouched, grabbed my hair, and whispered. “It's over now, Riya. I won. Again.”

Ama started to stand, but I pulled her down, and she stumble and fell down on her back.

I mounted all of my remaining strength and jumped on her, grabbing her hair. “If anyone comes near me, I'm going to rip her hair out! Don't dare me!”

The men started coming towards me, and I became flustered. “I am not kidding! Back off!”

The men as though they hadn't heard my instructions rushed at me all at once, yanked me off Ama, and started beating me.

I could feel more than a few ribs breaking in my body. Who was I stalling for?

“What the heck do you think you're doing?!”

A familiar voice echoed through the alley, and everyone paused.

“Who dares to intrude—” Brandon started turning towards the intruder, and then gasped after he finished making the turn. “Oh, my Lord!”

Like a tamed dog, Brandon scurried over to the intruder, cowering.

The bouncers also stopped assaulting me, and suddenly went quiet.

Surprised at the turn of events, I looked around at everyone, with my droopy eyes. Fear was written all over their faces.

Then, I shifted my aching body, so as to see who had gotten everyone fidgeting.

It was Nathaniel. And, he was striding towards me in all his glory.

He pulled me up as soon as he approached me, and I tripped, falling hard onto his chest, but he stiffened, while his heart pounded wildly against my ears.

My heartbeat raced wildly- so was my wolf, who I've come to know to only be a lover girl, not a fighter.

“Come hold her, Maria.” Nathaniel called out to Maria who had escorted him. His voice was so icy that I shivered.

Maria came and held a shawl over my shoulders, patting my back. “It's okay. You're safe, now.”

She helped me to the wall and I sat on the ground. She sat with me, and I turned to face her. “I'm so sorry I misunderstood you, Maria. I found myself in a strange room… got scared and I didn't know what to do… I’m just truly sorry.”

“It's fine. We're good. I'm glad you're okay.”

“Thank you, Maria. I'm Riya, by the way.” I said and rested my head on her shoulder. She smiled at me, took my hands in hers, and patted them.

Nathaniel grabbed Brandon by his collar, and pushed him up against a wall. “How dare you touch my woman?!”

Everyone gasped at Nathaniel’s words.

“I didn't know… She was… She was your woman… Alpha Nathaniel.” Brandon stammered amidst choking, his face red and bloated.

My heart skipped a beat, and I snapped my head off Maria’s shoulder. I stared at her, eyes widened and mouth agape. The man who I had come to know to be my mate- was the Alpha of my Pack—

Alpha Nathaniel Dark wood--