A Mate Unwanted

VIOLET

I flew backward from my seat, our elbow lock breaking. Orange juice spilled over both of us and I didn't notice, my eyes on the creature at the door.

He was tall, taller than all the men in my life, and his body covered in jeans and a tee like mine was. But unlike me, his outfit complimented his lean body beautifully.

My gaze trailed from his tightly balled fist to his heaving chest and his face that was part muzzle and part human; he was a demonic sight, but I felt no fear. There was instead a fluttering in my stomach, and a longing inside of me to caress his face and lightly massage his fists till they loosened.

I held his gaze, and we were tied in a world of our own. His angry gaze faltered a minute, and he seemed almost confused until…

“Vi,” Coda warned as he jumped in front of me, his body shielding mine, and breaking our stare.

I looked beyond his body to see eyes whose color I couldn't tell cloud once again in anger. He advanced into the room, growling threateningly while Coda inched me backward.

The male did not like that very much, his growls increasing in intensity. He suddenly turned his snout skyward and emitted a long angry howl. The sound sent chills dancing up and down my spine.

His earlier exclamation came to mind then, and I was immediately riddled with confusion. I blurted the only thing I could think.

“Is he yours?” I asked Coda.

“Seriously?”

There was no other explanation even if this one did not make sense. We were the only mateless wolves in the building, and I had no wolf so I had no mate. He wasn't mine.

The male shifted then, his body rapidly transforming till a giant wolf stood in front of us, his huge front paw kicking the wooden floor in a slow, steady motion while he bared his fangs in warning.

A second later, Coda transformed as well, charging before the other wolf did. His movements were devoid of hesitation, and while Coda was smaller than the male, he was the son of the alpha and a very good fighter; he could hold his own, and the other packmates would soon be here.

Claws scraped against the wooden floor in their violent fight, bits of wood flying in the air. I ignored their clash of fangs and paws, seeking the easiest way to get out of the packhouse; the noise would no doubt wake the pups up, and it would become a far more unpleasant outcome.

There was a painful whine accompanied by a loud breaking sound. I turned in time to see Coda's body swing through the door, rear first. There was now* a huge wolf-sized opening where the door used to be and only one wolf remained with me.

I stood still as the black wolf stalked me, hoping with all my might that Hunter would arrive soon. Tightening my trembling hands into fists, I closed my eyes, praying for a quick death. Instead, I felt a large tongue swipe over my face and hair, leaving a coating of saliva behind.

My face scrunched in distaste. I opened my eyes to see the large furry creature staring back at me. It whimpered a little and swiped that tongue over my face again, its tail lightly swishing around.

“Stop that,” I growled, my voice hard, and my earlier fear forgotten.

Outside, Coda had gotten up, and thankfully, everyone had arrived. I saw Hunter's wolf in front, beside Coda’s and they growled in warning, approaching the packhouse.

I tried to go to them, but my new self-appointed protector would not allow it, putting me behind him and barring the way. He growled back at them, body poised for action.

“Vi?” A little voice came from behind me.

Shit. It was inevitable, I knew, but I had hoped still. She stood just behind me, her little hands rubbing the sleep from her eyes. The others would wake and it would become a bloodbath if whoever the hell this was didn't stop.

I placed a finger to my lips, asking her to be quiet, and then I motioned for her to step back. She complied.

There was a huge wolf in our packhouse, shielding me and snapping at my packmates. This was an act of war and surely this wolf was aware of that, but there he stood anyway.

My heart thumped slowly, refusing to catch up to the conclusion my head had made. I could be wrong, but deep down I was certain.

Better to end this before it escalated.

“Hunter, Coda, wait…” I whispered in their heads. Then I dug a hand into my protector's side rubbing through his thick fur. His growls immediately lessened in intensity. I massaged my way like I'd wanted to do earlier, walking slowly until I got in front of him.

Outside, everyone waited and watched, per the plea I had sent, but it was a precarious situation, one wrong move, and it'd be an all-out fight. Whoever he was, his packmates were surely here as well.

Gently, I raised a hand to caress his muzzle, and he let me, his attention no longer on the wolves outside.

“Mate,” I said softly, whispering the dreaded word. It had the intended effect.

His big tongue swiped out for one last lick, before he transformed before me, beast becoming man. I snatched my hand from his face immediately.

“Mate,” he answered.

His eyes were a striking blue, and they watched me as curiously as I watched him. I inhaled and caught a whiff of his smell; he smelled like damp earth and the woods after a rainy day. I stopped myself from taking another large sniff.

“Vi,” Hunter suddenly called, breaking our stare. His voice was tinged with anxiety. “Vi, are you hurt?” He asked, pulling me into his arms and examining me.

He had transformed back and was wearing just a pair of shorts.

“I'm fine,” I murmured, my eyes still on the man who had declared me his mate. He did not spare me another glance, instead walking into the crowd that was now dispersing.

As he walked away, reality sunk in. I had a mate! I had gotten a mate and I had not needed a pink dress. I had gotten a normal mate like everyone else. Hope peaked for a moment before my thoughts caught up with me. I could not have a mate, I had no wolf. Bitterness mixed in and sullied my momentary happiness.

This man, whoever he was, I wasn't deserving enough to have him as a mate, and surely, when he realized, there would only be rejection waiting for me. I wrapped my arms around my brother, seeking his comfort and peace. This night was far from over.

“Where's Liz?” I asked Hunter, going to sit. My body suddenly felt heavy.

“She's at home, Chico. She's worried about you.”

I stared outside, where our Alpha stood with Coda and my mate. I had a mate, it felt surreal. He had gotten some clothes on, the same pair as the ones he had ruined earlier. They seemed to be in a deep conversation, and while Alpha Thorne was calm and composed like he usually was, Coda seemed close to snapping, though he maintained a neutral face.

Hunter sat beside me. “So, you found your mate,” he murmured, looking in the direction of my eyes. “He has quite the aura.”

I agreed, his stance was one of relaxation but you could tell. His confidence covered him like another layer of clothing and he was fearless despite his earlier mistake.

Their little group broke a moment later and my mate walked towards us, his eyes set on me. I gripped Hunter's hand unconsciously, squeezing hard as I watched my mate approach.

“Get your stuff, we're leaving,” He stated with a deceptive calm.

My heart leaped. There was no way I was leaving with him.

I inched closer to my brother. “No, I don't want to.”

He cocked his head to the side, eyeing me in confusion and impatience. “Yes, we are, get your stuff.” His voice brooked no arguments.

“No.” I insisted, latching even tighter to Hunter's hand. The thought of leaving tore me, my home, my pack, and my family for a new life. I couldn't.

Perhaps if I just told him the truth he would be content to leave without me.

“She's not leaving with you,” Hunter interrupted, standing and pulling me behind him. My mate stood taller than my brother, but Hunter would not back down.

The tension was quickly mounting again. Alpha Thorne, perhaps feeling the rising tension, approached us.

“I won't be leaving without my mate,” my mate declared, daring Hunter to keep standing in his way. The night air was still with anticipation, sweat drizzling down my back. Another confrontation was about to ensue but I couldn't leave my safe spot behind Hunter.

“Alpha Brian,” Alpha Thorne called.

My heart did a double leap this time, the blood freezing in my veins. Alpha? My mate was an Alpha? The moon goddess was cruel.

The conversation around me faded, and the world shrank away. I inhaled, but there was no air, I gasped, feeling the last of my oxygen become used up. Tears sprang to my eyes and I grabbed my chest, begging my lungs to listen to me.

A hand quickly rubbed at my back, guiding me through the mist. “Breathe Vi, breathe.” His voice cajoled, while his hand continued their soothing motion.

Gradually, the world came back into view. I stared into Coda's eyes, the black orbs lined with sympathy. “You're fine, Vi.” He murmured, pulling me into a hug.

“There's no way she's leaving with him.” Coda declared, even as his hands caressed my back.

“Coda, step away from his mate,” Alpha Thorne barked, his words laced with sudden anger.

“But Dad,”

“Coda, step away,” the man snarled his next whispered words. “Sentiment does not change tradition. You would know this if you were to become the next Alpha.”

I instantly felt worse. Coda stepped away from me, his face becoming a mask. I couldn't read his feelings from the smoothness of the mask he had pulled on. I yearned to cover the distance between us, but it would only make things worse for him.

“Violetta,” Alpha Thorne said, his eyes flashing in sympathy. “The goddess be with you in your new pack. You will be fine, Violetta.”

No, I will not be; I wanted to scream at this man who had been more father than Alpha to me. But instead, I nodded, the first tear escaping my eyelids.

“She doesn't want to leave so she will not leave,” Hunter ground through gritted teeth. His fists were clenched hard, and his face twisted in anger and torment.

He glared at my mate, and the male glared back.

“I won't be leaving without my mate,” he said again, his voice tinged with warning.

“Stand down, Hunter.” Alpha Thorne ordered, but he didn't use his Alpha tone that would force Hunter to obey.

“My sister will remain with me,” My brother answered, his eyes still on my mate.

“I am your Alpha, you will obey me,” It wasn't a suggestion. “Stand down.” Our Alpha snarled in Hunter's face, still without the Alpha tone.

Alpha Thorne would use his power if Hunter insisted and my brother would lose his life if it came to that, but Hunter did not flinch, he wasn't going to cower.

“I will say goodbye,” I said disjointedly, going to my brother. “Let's go home,” I croaked to him.

“Vi,” Hunter whispered, his voice broken. “You don't have to,” And his bloodshot eyes told me that he would protect me if I insisted.

I couldn't do that to him. He had a mate and a pup on the way. I would not ruin my brother's life.

If this was fate, it was cruel.

So I forced the best smile I could muster. “I want to, Hunter. Let's go home.”

Without another word, he pulled my hand in his and we left the packhouse.

A thought churned at the back of my mind as I walked away from the packhouse. I couldn't leave, so I wouldn't. There was only one outcome.

I was going to reject my mate.