Six

PHOENIX

'mate'

The words kept reverberating through my head.

Mate.

Mate?

Mate!

It took me a moment to process what was really going on. I was beyond confused. I turned sharply to looked at Caleb, scared to let the truth sink in.

Caleb turned to me, his green eyes narrowing slightly, silently imploring me to stay calm. He could tell I was on edge.

My wolf was prancing and pacing around in my head, not helping at all, adding to my light headedness.

My hands trembled, my stomach sinking with denial. I stumbled slightly and Caleb's pale hands quickly shot out to hold me, rubbing my back to soothe and calm me. I was getting really dizzy with fear and apprehension.

The Alpha growled again.

My heart rate picked up, dizzying beats resounding through my chest. Caleb squeezed my hands softly, knowing I was out of my mind with fear.

I slowly started to back away, taking slow but purposeful steps backwards and before long, I was running towards the kitchen, making my quick get away.

Silver ware clanked as I gripped the kitchen counter tightly. I started hyperventilating.

Mate.

I found my mate.

My stomach sank with dread. He would leave me when he found out what I had done to my family, what my misfortunes had caused the pack. He would run for the hills. He would also think I am cursed. Then I would end up like my Mom or worse die of heartbreak.

The thought alone sent bile rushing up my throat and I ran out the back door, running to the bushes to hurl up my guts. Everything I ate last night came back up as tears made its way down my cheeks.

I collapsed on the floor and burst into tears, my loud sobs spiralling out of control. The thought of my mate hating me kept replaying again and again in my head as I started to feel dizzy.

I took deep breathes to calm myself down but my head spun, my vision blurring. Kyra's earlier statement made its way back into my mind, repeating itself over and over again like a broken record.

'it looks like you have a knack for destroying things just like you did two years ago'

She was right.

I was unfortunate.

I had to leave.

Black dots danced in front of my vision and I let the darkness take over, collapsing in sadness and defeat.

* * *

'She is weak. She is really weak. Her wolf must've went away for a long time only to show up today. All of this coupled with stress, anxiety, tension and her lack of eating took a toll on her. I suggest she rest for a few days before going back to her normal activities' Aunt Ashley's voice washed over me as I blinked repeatedly.

I opened my eyes quickly, the bright florescent lights momentarily blinding me as I looked around. Where am I?

I took a proper look at the white ceiling, white walls and white linoleum floors and I quickly understood that I was in the pack hospital.

How did I get here? Who brought me here? What happened?

My last question was answered when the events of the evening rushed back into my mind - my finding out that the most ruthless Alpha in all of the US was my mate.

The thought alone sent me back into another fit and I closed my eyes, desperately trying to push back my fear.

Aunt Ashley walked in only moments later, clip board in hand and she unhooked my IV drops. She turned to me and smiled.

'you are awake. How are you feeling?' she asked. I murmured a weak 'fine', still not finding the strength to hold a proper conversation.

She nodded, understanding.

'You have to calm down. Worrying won't do you any good. Your friend is out there trying to talk to Alpha Jackson' she mused, reaching for my trembling hands and squeezing them softly.

I nodded before I turned to her, pausing.

'Alpha Jackson?' I asked, confused. Just who is he?

'Your mate' she answered with a smile.

She turned to walk out but I held her hand and she turned to me.

'please don't let any of them know that I am awake yet okay? I just need some more time to process what happened. I will talk to them later' I begged. She nodded.

'sure but you should know that you would have to face him sooner or later. You cannot put this off forever' she reasoned.

'Yes I can' I thought. I just had to find a way to leave and go far away from here. It's better I do other than to get close and loving with my mate only to get rejected and separated from him like my parents. My heart would shatter into a billion pieces if that were to happen.

Aunt Ashley took one last look at me and then left the room, leaving me to my thoughts.

I got down from the bed and began pacing the room. How do I get out now, I wondered. Alpha Jackson and everyone were probably outside the door waiting to burst in.

I rolled up the glass window pane and looked out, my escape plan already forming in my head.

'hello there Lisa?' I asked in my head hoping Lisa would answer and help me get out of here.

She remained quiet.

I knew she was not going to help me especially in getting away from our mate.

I breathed in deeply, preparing to do this by myself. A thought had me scrambling around, looking for a pen. I quickly scribbled down a note, leaving it on the bed where it could be easily seen. I took one last look at everything and jumped out of the window.

I landed on my four paws, wait four paws? I looked down to see my fiery red fur and four paws. Lisa eventually came through.

'Yes I did. I couldn't have you killing us especially now that we have found our mate' she snarled.

'good day to you too, Lisa' I laughed softly. She snarled harder, pissed.

'You have the nerve to laugh after running away from our mate?' she asked angrily.

She wasn't happy we're leaving our mate. She was really furious with the developments. If only I could make her understand that we need to stick together to survive.

'look Lisa I am sorry. I just....'

'Save it. I don't want to hear any of it. You are just so selfish' she interrupted angrily. She is right. I am selfish for trying to protect our heart from heartbreak. Tough break Lisa.

I kept control as I continued running towards the pack borders. I couldn't give control to Lisa lest she does something stupid.

'I do stupid things, says the one who is running away from a mate she just found and that too for no good reason' snarled Lisa.

I ignored her and continued my journey, rain drops falling down the Californian sky in torrents. My stomach growled, I was getting hungry.

I kept on running, my pace picking up. My wet fur glistened, cold shivers running through me. The terrain changed when I crossed the borders.

I was a rogue now.

I heard a growl making me stop abruptly. I turned to see that I was surrounded by different wolves. I sniffed them and found that they were not rogues. One of the wolves shifted back and quickly put on some clothes while I averted my eyes.

'Shift now' he commanded, his voice booming authoritatively.

I tried shifting back but my vision blurred, fading in and out.

'shift I said' the man snarled harder. I looked at him and whimpered. My knees gave out and I collapsed, exhausted. My vision blurred again, my head spinning.

The hunger and exhaustion finally took over because I felt myself succumb to the darkness, the last thing I saw being angry wolves advancing.