Unlikely Mates

Multiple Questions - Few Answers

 --Flashback continues--

Mum and I am able to catch up along side Dad. When I get up there at the top of that steep hill I feel a sense of achievement. I look up at mum and dad, proud of myself that we finally made it as the sun is lowering in the sky. Dad lays a hand on my shoulder as he gazes at towards the horizon.

“This is where your training will begin my son.”

“What training?”

I don’t need any training as I’m as good as can be. Mum doesn’t seem all that pleased with Dad’s words as she quietly walks away from us towards the cave only a few metres from us. I look at Dad eager to know what the training is going to be.

“Your training to become a hunter.”

“Cool, what are we hunting?”

I like having this time with Dad and hunting will give us the time I need to spend time with him and make him proud.

“It’s not that simple. There is something your mother and I have never told you.”

--Flashback end—

As I’m about to continue I feel a weight fall on my shoulder. I lower my eyes to find Amanda, with her eyes closed. I smile down at her angelic sleeping face and remain stationary, so I don’t disturb her much needed rest, she must be exhausted. I lean back against her my head on top of hers as I feel myself needing sleep too.

“Hrrrrwrrwrr.”

A growl ripples through the crisp night air forcing me on high alert. I gently lower the sleeping Angels head on the ground laying her down softly, she flinches but does not appear to awaken. I stand from my position and pick up my dagger from under pant leg and move protectively in front of Amanda.

“Hrrrrrwrrrwrrr.”

The creature steps forward from behind the trunk of the tree. It’s form revealed in the light of the burning fire. It is as I suspected a large grey wolf, from his pack no doubt, it snarls at me, it is in attack position ready to pounce. It circles around until it’s right in front of us. The grey wolf lunges forward it’s razor sharp teeth and claws bared for the kill. However I will not allow her to fall into his hands again. In response I kick a roundhouse sending the wolfing flying only a short distance away

“Thud.” Into a tree, this does nothing to deter the dirty wolf as it stands right back up and charges. I move away from Amanda and rush towards the wolf, at the last possible moment I side step the wolfs attack sending it skidding to the edge of the cliff. I race over before it can regain it’s composure and cut the beasts throat as deep and as possible. The wolf whimpers and falls to its stomach, it tries to take a stand. I slice the wolf once more and the wolf head falls and it’s breath ceases. I pant slightly and turn back around to lay my eyes upon an awakened girl with a gaping expression.

Amanda P.O.V

I lie awake at the violent scene I just witnessed. This is not the boy I knew four years ago. He stalks over to me by fire light grabs my hand and stands me up.

“We to get moving. They surely know where we are now and will come for you.”

He picks our back packs, extinguishes the fire and pulls me along.

“Where are we going? Are you mad? It’s dark out.”

“Shhh. We can’t risk any more finding us. Trust me.”

I am too bothered by what happened to argue so I quietly agree and trust in his lead as we walk away from the cliff face, further away from civilisation, heading deeper into the darkened forest with only the moon as our light. We have been walking for several hours and frankly my feet are starting to hurt.

“Alright lets stop here for now.”

“Yes.”

I release my backpack from my shoulders and sit down by a small creek, happy to feel my feet again.

“I’m going to find some food.”

“I’ll come with you.”

I stand up and dust myself off.

“No you stay here, you need rest.”

He smiles at me and walks off. I sit back down to enjoy the temporary peace and rest from now chaotic life. It’s hard to believe what is happening to me in a short span of time. First, I’m kidn*pped by a crazy guy in the woods. Second, I find out he is making me his wife when I turn eighteen. Third, I find out the wolves aren’t myths but real. Fourth, I run into my best friend who has been missing for four years, and now I’m hiking in the forest aimlessly with him. The more I think about it, the more confused I get. I’m following Brayden blindly without question.

“Rustle, Rustle.”

The rustling of some bushes brushes my ears I twist my body and stare off behind me in the direction of the noise. I decide that I’m going to ask him the questions as soon as he comes through those bushes, but, wait, something doesn’t feel right, ‘it’s odd, didn’t he, go that way.’ I point west.

“Rustle, Rustle.”

It happens again, and I’m getting worried I move off the ground and begin cautiously moving towards the bushes. The bush starts to shake and I pick up the nearest fallen branch ready to defend myself.

“Eeek.”

A snake slithers out from the bush.

“Hissss.”

Snakes are not my friends, one bit me when I was little, and I almost died, ever since then, I’ve had a deathly fear of snakes; I back up but the snake moves along with me. I close my eyes and start swinging the branch, frantically missing the snake. I see it‘s mouth open, fangs baring, it lunges for me I close my eyes and duck, accidentally dropping the branch as I await the sting of pain, but, it doesn’t come.

“Are you okay?”

I feel a large hand grip my shoulder, I turn around to see Brayden with look of concern, embarrassed by my own cowardice I stand up and face him.

“Yeah, Thanks.”

I’m glad he’s here right now but...

“Awoooo.”

The howl of a wolf sounds in the distance as the sun breaks the dawn.

Awoooo.”

“Here put this on you it will temporarily mask your scent.”

He sprays something on himself and then throws it towards me.

“Do I smell that bad?”

I try playing as a way to calm my nerves, as a smile creeps on his face.

“The worst. Now come on and spray.”

“Alright already, sheesh.”

I just wanted a little fun while were stranded out here, but I give in and spray the deodorant on me, because I don’t want to be tracked down any more than he does.

“Lets get moving. If we hurry we can make it before they can find us.”

He holds his hand out to me, and I take it willingly following him.

Damian P.O.V

The sun is rising in the eastern sky as Jax howls in frustration of our missing mate, ever since her trail went cold in the mountain range, drowned out by the smell of wolf blood. Jax and I are in our wolf form, we have been searching for her in the forest area of the mountain range without rest since yesterday, without help despite my sisters protests. We are starting to feel the exhaustion in us but we can’t stop till we get her back. I’m trying to track her down but it’s proving more difficult than I first thought and it’s frustrating the hell out of me that her scent vanished, it’s troublesome to say the least. I follow to the spot where her scent ceased and stood there sniffing around for any trace of her.

“Must find mate!”

Jax has been shouting that for a while and frankly it’s not helping my mood.

“This is all your doing you pathetic human.”

“My doing?”

Yes, if it weren’t for you we wouldn’t have lost her.”

“Shut up Jax.”

As we are in wolf form I can not cut off the mind link, so I ignore any further accusations from him, because I’ve had an ear full of it, ‘now if I can’t sniff her or this mystery person out, maybe there’s a trail to follow.’ When I think about that person it get’s me so riled up how dare he take what I rightfully stole, they’ll be hell to pay, with this as my motivation, I keep my eyes to the ground for any indication of where she and that mystery person headed. I follow the crushed leaves and boot prints along the ground and follow them west which leads into the direction of....’Why, Unless?’ My muscles tense up, this is not good I rush taking a shortcut back down the mountain in an effort to beat them there.

Amanda P.O.V

“How long?”

“Not long now.”

Brayden replies and I let out an exasperated sigh but the sigh quickly subsides and my face lights up in surprise when I hear the roar of a cars engine not far from where we are. The sound of the car perks my ears up and sure enough, in the distance I spot a patch of grey. I run past Bray, weave my way around the trees of the pine forest, as I get closer and closer a building comes into view, ‘is it what I think it is?’ When I emerge from the trees I’m met with a most familiar and beautiful sight.

“Welcome home Angel.”

I turn my face around and undoubtedly enough, Brayden is standing right beside me. My eyes twinkle and my head is filled with such happiness at finally being home that I almost start crying, Bray puts his hand to the small of my back, urging me forward.

“Wait.”

Brayden stops and looks back at me.

“What is it?”

I jump to hug him in sow of gratitude to getting me back here away from those pesky wolves, back to a normal life.

“Thank you, Bray.”

He holds me another second before I let go and pull away smiling. Bray smiles back, and quietly we make our way from the forest along the gravel path through the back garden, up the concrete steps and finally enter the house at last.

In the house I hear voices coming from the front lounge area. I excitedly start walking towards the lounge, but the closer I come the more I can hear and my footsteps slow .

“What are going to do?”

Mum sounds upset, which is fairly unusual, so I can’t help but stop in my tracks hiding behind the wall curious as to why.

“We have to get her back!”

“Calm yourself dear. You are not thinking clearly.”

‘What does he mean by that?’

“Oh so now it’s wrong to want her back!”

“No dear I’m not saying that.”

I’m not sure I understand what’s going on but I hold myself back in order to get some answers from them. He grabs mum by the hands and pulls her to the couch by his side.

“If we bring her back now who knows what he’ll do.”

Mum takes a deep breath before responding.

“I don’t care! If we told her the truth then...”

I can’t take it anymore, I have to know what’s happening. I jump out from my hiding place ignoring Braydens attempts to stop me, into my parents view.

“What Truth!”

My parents look up, a shocking expression consuming their faces at my sudden appearance. My unexpected return to my parents is like something they can’t believe, but that’s not what the issue at the present time.

“Did you hear me? What truth?”

“Big Sis!”

We all turn our attention towards the dining room, and there under the doorway Jenna smiling wide eyed at me. Jenna runs over excitedly and jumps onto me, I manage to catch her, and I couldn’t be happier to finally see her again, I hold her to me thankful that my family is still together making me forget about my parents.

“Big Sis I missed you.”

“I missed you too little kitty.”

I lower her down.

“Who is this?”

Jenna points to the left of me, ‘Oh, right,’ I forgot about...

“I’m Brayden.”

“Hello, I’m Jenna.”

Jenna looks back and forth between us.

“Are you her boyfriend?”

‘What? I did not hear that right.’

“Hahahahaha.”

I don’t believe it Brayden’s laughing, he then lowers himself down and says something that I am not able to hear and she smiles, ‘what did he say to her?’ Never mind that’s not important right now, what’s important is that I talk with them, Brayden must be able to sense my annoyance due to the next words that come from him.

“Hey Jen, would you like to play a game of hide and seek?”

“Yes, yes, yes. I’ll hide you count.”

“Deal.”

Brayden and Jenna run off to play, leaving me alone in the lounge room, with my parents.