Fated mate

Emily’s POV

Life moved on, and for the next few weeks, no one said anything. Hunter and I had a normal, whatever normal meant, life.

I kissed him before I left to do the chores, as the guard, Nolan, always followed me. His grandfather was coming towards us.

Emily dear, how are you?

I’m great, thank you, sir, I said, smiling.

Can you give us a minute, he told Nolan. He waited until he was far enough, then turned back to me. I know Kaden is an instigator, and you need to fear him. He holds a lot of sway in the pack, and there are too many who follow him. He envies Hunter and hates that you make him weak in their eyes. I’ve seen him stir up trouble before getting what he wants, and I worry about what he might do next. I’m afraid for Hunter and the future of the pack. Don’t give up on him. He touched my face gently. I know he loves you. Now go on, have a good day.

Thank you, sir, I said, and continued walking towards the chicken coup.

By midday, I was ready to have lunch. I walked into the main dining room to see the whole pack gathered. I almost turned away, thinking I shouldn't be there, but then I saw them.

Hunter is holding this woman’s hand. Our eyes met. He was cold.

She smiled, looked around, then leaned in and whispered something to Hunter.

I’m proud to announce I found my fated mate.

The words struck me like a knife; I couldn’t breathe. For a moment, my mind raced, searching for any sign that this wasn’t real, any hidden meaning in Hunter’s eyes. Why would he do this to me? Was he forced? Maybe he’s protecting me from something. Or maybe he never cared at all. The uncertainty hurt as much as the words themselves.

This is Isabella, and our Luna of the pack. There was applause. Then she walked around shaking hands. I heard her say to me,” Human, did you really think you deserved to be our Luna? Then laughter. Hunter didn’t move, didn’t stop her.

I turned and bolted outside, running for what felt like forever. Eventually, I collapsed on the ground, crying.

It was dark now, and I didn’t care if I died. I lost the one person who protected me, and I thought he loved me.  

What can I do now? The pack will laugh at me and eventually throw me out.

I made a promise to Hunter that I would stay, that I wouldn’t run, no matter how hard things got. How can I keep that promise now?

Tired and hungry, I walked back. Of course, Kaden made sure to be there.

Go on, I said, say what you have to say.

"Human, watch how you talk to me. Tonight you will come to my bed,"

I spat on him. Never, I would rather die. Hunter doesn’t see it, but I see you, Kaden, I see the real you…The slap came hard, and blood started to trickle from my mouth. That’s all you got?

He raised his hand to hit me again, but someone grabbed it. Hunter.

You touch her again, and I will kill you, Kaden. She is still my human.

Of course, he laughed, take that fragile bitch out of my face.

Hunter came closer, and I backed up. “Don’t touch me," I told him. Ever. Now, excuse me, I need to go. I walked into the kitchen, and I took a step before I dropped to the floor.

I woke up in a room, smaller, meant for a human like me. A tray of food was still on the little table. I stayed for a while and didn’t care about their fucking chores or anyone else. Then I fell asleep again.

The dream was the same, but this time a voice was telling me to run. I woke up with my heart racing, the dream's words echoing in my mind, leaving me shaky and unsettled. It felt like a warning, like my own fears were reaching out to me even in sleep, trying to tell me something I couldn't quite grasp yet.

Run, run sister…

I looked back to see him falling. I stopped, then I heard him growl and kept running. I fell, rolled, and nothing.

The headache was massive. I stood up, and everything was spinning. The door opened. The woman Hunter called mate walked inside.

What do you want?

She grabbed my hair. "Stand up and say hello to your Luna," she demanded.

I hit her, and she let go of my hair. I’m a human, I don’t have to respect you, get the hell out.

"You will pay for this," she spat.

Stand in line, " I shouted after her. This was not good; she will tell Hunter. I cared about him too much, my Alpha who promised to protect me; I thought he felt something for me, I thought I was special. My world just crumbled, just like the one outside. Broken.

I washed my face and stepped outside. The guard, Nolan, was following me. I turned to him. Go, you have a Luna to protect. I’m just a human; your job here is done.

 Emily, I can’t. Alpha will have my head if something happens to you.

I laughed. "Oh, yeah, I forgot I’m here to breed. He cares because…"

Nolan, give us a minute, I heard a voice behind me. Hunter.

"Look at me," he said firmly. My eyes met him. "You will listen to Nolan and stay out of Kaden’s way."

Tears started to fall from my eyes. I didn’t want to, but they did. I believed everything you said to me. But don’t worry, I know my place.

Emily, he said my name so sweetly, you have to listen…

Hunter, Isabella's screeching voice, hurt my ears. Are you coming to breakfast?

No, go without me. Then he turned back to me.

What am I to you now, Hunter? The woman who breeds, why keep me around? I’m sorry, I won’t share, and I thought you didn’t either.

His eyes were sad. He was confusing me. His hand reached out to grab mine, and I took a step back.

Your Luna waits for you. Go, and don’t expect me in your bed, Hunter. It's over.

"Emily, do not leave the pack!" he shouted after me.

Why does he even care? I turned to see Nolan following me. I let out a frustrated breath.

The alarm went off. Nolan grabbed my arm, and he was dragging me into the bunker. I bumped into someone.

Isabella.