Zelda
I ran through the lonely woods and thick fog, giving no damn about the scratches and cuts on my feet. My heart felt like it was struck by a sword as his words rang in my head.Jake was my childhood crush. My best friend. He is the strongest wolf in the Silvertail pack and the soon to be alpha. He was my coach and protector. My everything.We decided to take things further when we both turned eighteen and still didn't find our mates. We went from friends to lovers and I never could have wished for myself. I've always loved Jake, even as a child, so this was a dream come.He was the best thing that happened to me since we moved to Silvertail twelve years ago.Who would have thought that my jackass best friend would ditch me at the first chance he gets? As soon as beta Phillip’s daughter, Cindy, arrived from the city, Jake threw me right in the gutter.Cindy was my first and only female friend after Jake. Never would I have imagined that they would do that to me.“You're worthless and undeserving!”“How could you think that I would choose you over Cindy?”Those words hit me hard and sent me falling to my knees as I watched him kiss her. I was stunned and speechless. Words eluded me as I watched both my friends f*ck each other right there in Jake’s room.The same place that was supposed to be my safe haven. How could he do that?I stared wide-eyed at them and didn’t know what to say or how to react.Should I scream, shout or cry?I was broken for sure, but I chose to keep my pain to myself. I won’t give them the luxury of seeing me break.“Have some dignity, Zel, why don’t you just leave!” Jake was cruel with his words, making it hard to believe that he was the same person I loved.“Shut the door on your way out,” Cindy’s bitchy voice came after.I watched as Jake returned to banging Cindy. They continued their dirty activity like I was invisible.“Oh Jake…” Her dirty moans played in my head, repeatedly hunting me as I ran.I didn’t know where I was or where I was going. I just wanted to go far away from there. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me as I went through the thick woods.After running headlessly for goddess knows how long, I fell to the ground and screamed out my pain. My wolf also howled.We were hurt.Even though Jake wasn’t my mate. I loved him.Sitting on a fallen log of wood, I checked myself out. I ached all over.My heart wasn’t only bleeding, my whole body was. I had cut all over from running among the thorny trees.I dragged myself towards the river and took a dip in it. I immersed myself in the cold water, letting it wash my pain away.I remained in the river for so long that I couldn't remember how long I had stayed there. When I stepped out, my skin was wrinkled.I hissed as the cool winter breeze kissed my bruised skin. I put my clothes on and left the woods.Broken and shattered, I dragged myself towards my house. I probably lost track of time or maybe I was high on adrenaline. I couldn’t tell which was it, but I arrived home in less than an hour.I went straight to my room and fell to the ground as tears cascaded down my face. Curled up in the corner of my room, I wept.I was haunted by Jake’s memories.I tried to think of everything that happened and how I had gone wrong. Why would he do that to me?He promised to love me forever. He promised to stay with me even if his mate appeared.This wasn’t his mate, but Cindy. Our mutual friend.It felt surreal and I kept hoping that it was all a prank, but I know deep down that it was no prank. Jake made it clear that he chose Cindy, not me.As much as I would like to forget it all and attain temporary peace, I couldn’t.Their voices kept repeating in my head.“Zelda,” I heard my mother’s voice from the living room.I closed my eyes and tried to stay hidden behind the sheets.“Baby, could you come down for a bit?”As much as I would like to wallow in my own pain, I knew I had to go to my mother or she wouldn't stop calling.I went back to the bathroom to wash my face and keep it cool. The last thing I want is to bother my mother with something as trashy as Jake’s betrayal.“Hey Mom,” I flashed my signature smile.“Hey honey,” she opened her arms wide for me to fall in.I’ll be twenty years old in a few months, but my mother still sees me as her baby.“What do we have here?” I pointed at the luggage scattered in our living room.“Uh…” Mom scratched her cheek and shrugged slightly. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”“Who?”I couldn’t wait to find out who our guest was.Mom fixed her eyes on me as she said, “You’ve always wanted a father….” She paused and smiled as she looked at the door.Uh…ohWhy do I feel like something is about to go hellishly wrong?“So, I… uh… got you one,” she said, smiling sheepishly like a teenager.Is she fucking kidding me?She got me a father? What am I, twelve?Why would I even need a father now that I’m all grown?The door opened and a cold, yet hot looking stranger walked in holding a huge box.I watched as he set the box down and stood straight, giving me a full view of his amazing physique.“Honey, this is Drake, my boyfriend,” mom’s voice snapped me back to reality. “He’ll be your new father.”Like seriously?Will he be my father?I was about to tell my mother off on her acclamation. There’s no way in hell that I’ll allow such a stud to be my father.However, before I could utter the words on my lips, my wolf stirred and jumped with joy and, instead of a protest, it screamed ‘Mate'ZeldaWhat the freaking hell!She must be kidding! What is wrong with my mother? Why the hell would she think that I need a father at this age? I’m almost twenty for crying out loud. What do I need a father for? To spoon feed me? Or to read me a bedtime story? Like hell! When will my mother see that I’m a fully grown woman and I don’t need a father? Not at this age. Besides, the guy looks nothing like dad material. I mean, he’s too handsome to be. I ran up to my room, leaving my mother and her boyfriend or should I say my new dad or…. Mate. I don’t even know how to address him. Urgh… can things get any worse for me? Wasn’t Jake’s betrayal enough pain for one night? Why did the goddess have to add this?With my back to the door, I sat on the floor and hugged my knees as I tried to recall all that happened. All I saw was his smiling face and his tightly knitted abs. What the hell, Zel! What am I thinking? I tapped my cheek to take a reality check. This is totally wrong. I m
Zelda“Thank you,” I muttered as I stepped out of the truck.“Pleasure is all mine munchkin.” He smiled. Munchkin? Seriously? He’s gone into daddy mode. Already?I scoffed inwardly and shook my head as I turned to leave. Taking another look at my wristwatch, I sighed in exasperation as I stepped inside the store. I was thirty minutes late. I just hope that Randolph leaves some crumbs from my brain after chewing on it. I could survive on that. “If it isn’t princess Zelda.”Randolph was right at the door as I stepped in. He seemed to be waiting there for me. “I had a fever,” I lied. Without waiting for him to speak further, I went into the changing room to change into my work suit. It was a yellow polo shirt with the store’s logo written boldly on it. “Oh really?” Randolph was right behind me, manning the door. “I’m so lucky to have you here right now,” he gasped dramatically. I rolled my eyes and smacked my lips. The man is one hell of a drama king. “I’m fine now,” I said as
Drake Silvertail.My return to this pack is solely for one reason and that is to find the man who murdered my brother.Lucas Wayne, my treacherous uncle. The infamous Alpha of Silvertail. Lucas stood by us when my father died. He helped my mother out with the palace and Pack business. He helped train me and my older brother Denver in combat. He taught us all we needed to know about palace affairs. However, when the time came for Denver to step up and become the king, he was suddenly murdered. Denver wasn't just my elder brother, he was everything to me. Friend, companion and partner. However, he was killed by an unknown man whose origin was later traced to having been hired by my uncle.My world shattered after the death of Denver, but I took a vow to avenge his death.After years of waiting, it's finally time to get rid of my evil uncle, but for that to happen, I have to pretend to be someone else and travel to a far away land where he now resides as the Alpha. I arrived in Silv
Zelda"You called for me." I mumbled as I arrived in his cabin. "Come in."I stepped inside to find him sitting elegantly. His back turned to me as he swivelled the chair. "Yes sir," I tried to sound formal. It took a lot of effort for me to stay focused. His scent was all over. His auburn hair shone like the setting sun. I was tempted to touch and ruffle his hair, but I managed to stay within my limit. I stood there for goddess knows how long, yet he didn't say a word. He seemed determined to torture me. Does he know how much he affects me? This mate bond is so compelling. It's making me want to do outrageous things even though I know that it's totally wrong. My mother deserves all the happiness in the world. After my father's death, I've never seen my mother with any other man. She chose to bury herself with work and she made my welfare her priority. However, in the past few weeks, I've noticed the difference in her. I didn't know the reason behind her happiness, but I was
Drake“I, Zelda Grayson, reject you as my mate.”I watched and listened in awe. I couldn’t close my mouth. At first, I thought my ears were playing tricks on me. I mean, how could she reject me? Did I do something wrong?Last I checked, I did nothing wrong at all. So why? Why on earth did she reject me?I am the most sought bachelor in the land and this tiny little thing dares to reject me? I find it so unbelievable. I mean, I find it so hard to believe that she just rejected me. I must have heard wrong.I ignored the pain in my chest and tried to hold her once again but, she moved away before I could. Her beautiful ocean-blue eyes held no emotion at all. She stood straight and firm on her decision.“Now, we share no bond. You can be with my mom.”Seriously? She isn’t just a young kitten. She is naive too.I mean, how much does she understand the bond? Does she think that everything ends with just her rejection?I scoffed in disbelief and stared at the cute little kitten before me.Sh
ZeldaDid I do the right thing by rejecting him? I have asked myself that question several times but I got no answer. All I know is that I'm willing to go to any length to give my mother the joy she deserves. If rejecting my long-awaited mate can give her that then it's fine. I went straight to the restroom after leaving Drake's cabin. Tears flowed freely on my face as I sat in the water closet. I could do nothing to stop it. I don't know if the tears were from my aching heart or my distraught memory. It's hardly been two days since Jake's betrayal, and now this. I clutched my chest as the pain hit me hard. I wonder why I am suddenly feeling so much pain in my heart since I broke my bond with Drake. I sat in the closet and buried my head between my Lap, letting the tears rain down. I was in pain. My heart was in shambles. I don't know why the tears won't stop when It was my own decision to reject my mate. I stood up abruptly after several minutes of crying. I couldn't even
Zelda"Why don't you shove it down your bitchy throat!" I wanted to scream as the smoothie splattered across my face and attacked my eyes. I bit my lips and chose to keep my pain in. I wouldn't want to give Cindy the joy of seeing me cry. "What did you do!" Gina screamed and immediately took my hand to lead me to the bathroom but I stopped her and shook my head. It's improper and unethical if we both leave the counter. There'd be no one to attend to the customers and that would seem unprofessional and I'm sure that Randolph wouldn't like that and neither would Drake. I wouldn't want to overstep after what I did back there. "But ..." Gina protested. I brushed my hand through my face so that I could open my eyes and see her. I smiled and winked, assuring her that I am okay. "Stay back and attend to the customers."Gina knew that I was right so she didn't argue. She returned to the counter and I proceeded to leave. I took one last look at Jake and my heart shattered at the apathe
Drake"It's been two years," Randolph replied.Hm. Two years, huh?"So, Zelda has been hanging around that...." I paused as I realized that I was about to speak a cuss word. ".....Jake for two years.""Yes, Your Majesty.""Alright. I want you to keep an eye on them."Randolph frowned and raised his head to look at me. "As you know, Zelda is my stepdaughter. So it's only right if I watch over her."Randolph nods in understanding. "Yes sir.""Good. You may leave."I placed an envelope on the table before closing my eyes. I heard the closing sound of the door and knew at once that he was gone. With my head on the headrest. Eyes closed. Hand safely tucked by my side, I swivelled the chair around and thought about all that just happened. I know that I shouldn't be so affected or bothered by what Zelda did, but I don't know why I feel aggrieved. At first, I thought it was because of the pain of rejection but soon it became clear to me that something in me was wounded. Zelda wounded my