Chapter Six: New

Amelia

Mate.

My mind continued repeating the word without realizing it. My thoughts immediately turned to Mr. Hudson, my biology teacher in high school, who taught us about animals and how they reproduce. A male dog, for instance, mates with a female dog to produce offspring. Wasn't that what Stark intended? When Stark, a werewolf, mates with me, we have our cute little cub offspring.

I chuckle at the ideas.

"What's making you laugh?" Stark raised an eyebrow at me and asked. I give a headshake.

"I'm not sure, but it seems like all of this is driving me insane. Could you perhaps elaborate on that "mate" word, as I'm quite sure it's not what I'm thinking?"

"Amelia, mates are like soulmates." Tyler moved forward in response.

The moon goddess predestines each werewolf to be with a mate. A werewolf isn't complete without a mate. I can't imagine losing my mate. I can't live without her; she's like my other half."

I looked at Tyler, who had a happy smile on his face.

"You have a mate?" I stared at him as I asked.

"Duh, that was what I said. You'll soon get to know her."

"What does this mean, then? Not only am I getting married to you, but our souls are entwined," I asked, .

Stark gives me a quick glance as something inexplicable flashes in his hazel eyes. Under his stare, my pulse quickened. When he blinks, it disappears, and his eyes return to their expressionless state.

He clears his throat and averts his gaze. "Not yet, at least not until I mark you, and we will not marry. I recommended the marriage to your stepmother because I had no other way to get you to come to me."

I scowl. "Oh."

That hurt, and I had no idea why. My heart ached, and I inhaled deeply to still my trembling nerves.

I look down at my fingers as he continues to avoid meeting my gaze.

He most likely doesn't want anything to do with me.

"You should relax for now and come downstairs for dinner. Tomorrow we have some training to do." And with that, he leaves the room, leaving me with nothing but heartache.

Tyler immediately changed back to his human form, and I hastily closed my eyes to his nudity. I hear him shuffle across the room, most likely getting dressed.

He tells me to open my eyes, and I do. He steps forward and gives my shoulders a little tap.

"Although it will take some time for you to get used to us, you won't have to worry about him because he will gradually warm up to us. Ava, my mate, and I will be there for you, so everything will be alright." Ava bobs her head in agreement as he says this while wearing a gentle smile.

After giving them an appreciative grin, they both departed the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

As terrifying as it may seem, I might just stay. In any case, I don't really have a choice. Now that I'm homeless, being here spares me the trouble of finding a place to live. Besides, I think I'll get caught again if I take my luggage and try to flee.

"I guess I'll be alright," I tell myself.

The image of Stark leaving the room makes my chest hurt, and I don't want to think about it. With a sigh, I close my eyes and fall asleep right away.

***

I pull the blankets away from my body with a sigh of delight. I rubbed my eyes, opened them, and sat up.

I doubted I had slept long because it was still light. I look around the room and sigh. I wasn't having a dream. Everything had happened.

I started to get up, but I froze because of something cooing in my brain.

What was that?

I jolt up in shock when a female voice whispers, "Hello, Amelia."

"W-who is that?" I looked around the room and inquired, but all I saw was cool air.

"I am your wolf." The feminine voice echoed in my head, this time audibly.

I let out a gasp. "So that night, you were the voice in my head."

"Yes... I was awakened two days ago by the moon goddess. You shifted, and I allowed you to rest since you were in pain. I told our mate to explain things to you when you awake because I realized you were unaware of our kind."

I scoff. "Yes. I always believed I was a human, but I had a hunch I was something more. Does that imply that my parents were werewolves as well?"

It wasn't possible. Mom wouldn't have died in the automobile accident if she had been one. The unforgivable disease would not have killed Dad. Both of them would have healed. Right? Werewolves are capable of healing. That is why I could heal.

"Amelia, both of your parents were human. They were unlike us at all." My wolf replies, confirming my thoughts, and I frown. A strange feeling crept up my throat. Tears filled my eyes, and I felt myself collapse into the bed.

"So who are my biological parents? How did I become a werewolf?"

"I'd like to think your real parents were werewolves as well, but I'm not sure I know who they are."

I use my hands to wipe away the tears before rising to my feet. I have to clean up. I smell terrible and haven't taken a bath in over three days.

"So, tell me your name, my dear wolf."

She snorted at my sarcastic remarks. "I don't possess one."

I hummed. "Then I'll call you, Rex."

I headed to a door that I assumed was the bathroom after looking around the room. It had a bathtub and a walk-in shower, and it was twice as big as the one I had at home. Fortunately, fresh towels were folded in the mirrored sink. After brushing my teeth with a brand-new toothbrush, I looked in the mirror. I looked awful, and I winced at the sight. My long blond hair, which looked like a bird's nest, was barely keeping its color. My face was marred by dried mud and blood, and my green eyes had lost their usual gleam. I was wearing a blue dress that showed my shoulder bones. I appeared thinner than before.

Was I looking like this to Stark and the others?

I hurriedly undressed, threw my clothing in a basket by the door, and headed to the shower after shaking off the thoughts. I switched on the shower and cried out in relief as the warm water went down my body. I took out my shampoo and conditioner, gave my hair a thorough scrub, and then rinsed it off. After that, I shut off the water and exited the shower.

I made a bath with a variety of soaps and decorations after making my way to the spacious, opulent bathtub. I climbed in, closed my eyes as the lukewarm water swallowed me, and let out a sigh of delight. Outside, I could clearly hear birds chirping, and downstairs, I could hear people walking around. It was amazing.

When the water started to get cold, I cleaned up and stepped out, feeling content. The scent of summer berries and lavender on my skin and hair impressed me. Prior to leaving the restroom, I put a towel around my body and a knot around my hair.

When I walked into the room, I was startled to see Stark seated on my bed, and I instinctively wrapped my hands around my chest, my cheeks flushing. Rex was stirring in my head at his approval of me.

Hold on, that's my phone.

"Why do you have my phone with you?" As soon as I asked, I found myself charging forward to get my phone from his hold. I squealed in astonishment as his enormous hands wrapped around my wrist and drew me down onto his lap, my hands on his shoulders. I gasped as a shock of electricity surged through my entire body, leaving me warm and tingling. He took hold of my head and sniffed me while pressing his face on my neck. When his lips brushed over my neck, down to my collarbones, I closed my eyes as the heat in my thighs tightened.

"You smell amazing." He lets out a breath, fanning my neck and making my entire body shudder.

He then gives a quiet sigh and pulls away. It was as if I regained consciousness; I immediately pushed away from him and rushed to my feet, staggering backward.

"What was that for?" I managed to squeeze out.

I can't even bring myself to be mad at him for it.

He smirked and stared at me in silence, his eyes black and dilated. My cheeks felt hot again, so I drew my arms back about myself and turned my head away, remembering that I was only wearing a towel.

With a laugh, he rose from the bed and walked over to me.

I swallowed hard.

"Don't come any closer," stepping back, I stammered.

With each step he made, my breath hitched. I jumped when my back hit the wall.

Shit.

His breath fanned my cheeks as he approached me and lowered his head. My senses were overwhelmed by his strong, masculine, earthy aroma.

"You are only mine. Amelia, mine only." He whispered, and I shuddered as his lips said my name. He pulls away again, too quickly, and I frown while staring at him. He peered back at me with hooded eyes, and I whimpered beneath his glare. My wolf was whining in my head.

He chuckles and takes a step back before walking towards the door, and I want to tell him to come back. When he got there, he turned back to face me.

"My parents are here to see you, so get dressed and come down for dinner."

With that, he was gone, leaving me dazed.

Shaking my head, I calm my beating heart and look down at my hands, where I see myself grasping something tightly.

My phone.

I must have been engulfed in his spell to notice. He makes me feel things I've never felt around anyone else. It's as if being near him causes me to lose my ability to think clearly.

"That's the mate bond." Rex gave a gentle coo.

With a sigh, I switch on the phone and discover that Danny has left me five inbox messages and twelve missed calls.

Wait, that's my phone.

“Why are you with my phone?“ I asked instantly, finding myself marching forward to grab my phone out of his grip. I shrieked in surprise as his large hands wrapped around my wrist and pulled me down onto his lap, my hands on his shoulders. I gasped as a surge of electricity swept through my entire body, leaving me feeling warm and tingly. He grabbed my head and buried his face in my neck, sniffing me in. I found myself closing my eyes as the heat in my thighs tightened when his lips gently grazed my neck, down to my collarbones.

“You smell so good.“ He breathes out his breath, fanning my neck and making my whole body shudder.

Then he sighs softly and pulls away. It's like I got my senses; I abruptly pulled myself from him and jumped up to my feet, stumbling backward.

“What was that for?“ I squeaked out.

I can't even bring myself to get mad at him for it.

He smirked, his eyes dilated and darker as he silently stared at me. Remembering I was only wrapped in a towel, I pulled my arms back around me and looked away, my cheeks feeling hot once more.

He chuckled and got up from the bed, stepping forward towards me.

I swallowed deeply.

“Don't come any closer.“ I stuttered as I stepped back.

My breath hitched with every step he took. When my back struck the wall, I jumped.

Shit.

He got close to me and bowed his head, his breath fanning my cheeks. His heavily earthy, manly scent overclouded my senses.

“You are mine only. Only mine, Amelia.“ He whispered, and I shivered as his lips voiced out my name. He pulls away again, too soon, and I frown, staring at him. His eyes hooded as he stared back, and I whimpered under his gaze. My wolf was whining in my head.

He chuckles and steps back before heading to the door, and I want to tell him to come back. He stopped when he got there and faced me again.

“Get dressed and come down for dinner; my parents are here to see you.“

With that, he was gone, leaving me in a daze.

Shaking my head, I calm my racing heart and glance down at my hands to see myself gripping something tightly.

My phone.

I must have been too engrossed in his spell to have noticed. There's a way he makes me feel that I've never felt around anyone before. It's like when I'm around him, I lose my senses to think properly.

“It's the mate bond.“ Rex cooed softly.

I sigh and turn on the phone to see twelve missed calls and five inbox messages, all from Danny.