FERAL ATTRACTION

CHAPTER TWO

ALICE POV

I quickly made my way through the door so I could expel my held breath. I didn't even know I held my breath until I got out.

I had just recovered from the hallucination. There was no one there. Oh my God.

I touched my chest and it was like a drum beaten at a rock and roll concert. I was panting uncontrollably, I was sweating profusely as well. I started to cry. I couldn't hold back the tears.

"What's wrong?" Gunther walked briskly in my direction, concerned.

I caught him immediately and let the streams turn into a flood. He understood, he always does. He held the back of my head with his left palm while tapping me gently on my back with his other hand. He didn't say a word, he just let me express myself with salty emotion off my face.

After a few minutes of crying, I looked up at him. He used his thumb to clean my right cheek. How could I not love this man? He was glorious. He kissed my right eye with tenderness.

"I-I don't ever want to be without you Guther. Mate or not, I love you." I sniffed in the fluid coming out of my nostrils. My head upwards, looking at him still.

"You will never lose me, Alice. Never," he reassured with love in his voice. This soothed me. I felt invincible. I felt immortal. I felt secure. Hell! I could fly right now and stay afloat. Why did I ever worry? He's always been there with me and for me. He has never failed a promise of his to me. His love for me is the only thing he ever did against his father's wishes. Why? Why did I ever doubt his faithfulness?

No matter how I tried, the fear of not being mates somehow crept in. It was like an inner voice, sometimes it was like a trance. A hallucination other times. Anxiety, Guther always said. I smiled.

"Now that you are better, what made you cry? Did I do something wrong? Did anyone hurt you? I know no one would dare, but there are a lot of new faces here. I would put them to the ground, you know I would." he was ready to go to war for me, damn! So sexy.

I stretched further up, my lips protruding. I wasn't short, I was 5'6" but I felt short with him.

He knew what I wanted. He met my lips with his midway, a collision of affection and passion. Our eyes closed, our hearts opened, our souls hugged. This was my home.

A cough broke the kiss. It was one of the pack members. He came to call Guther, he needed to address the pack and every other person present. First words as alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack. I was proud. He was hesitant.

"You need to go" I tapped his chest with my palms.

"Come with me. Let's talk to them together, as my Luna" He was happy calling me that. His smile couldn't hide his excitement.

"No, it's your day. You are the alpha. It's not right to share your ovation. I will be rooting for you from out here I promise." I blew him a kiss.

"Are you sure?" he moved closer.

"Yes I'm sure alpha Guther" I bowed pretentiously. He smiled, hugged me, and kissed my forehead.

"Don't stay here long, okay?" he said with his back turned, his finger briefly pointed in my direction.

It wasn't because it was going to be his first speech to the pack. It wasn't about not sharing the stage with him. I just needed to fully recover from my thoughts. I needed the consolation of the breeze against my face. I needed the cool kiss of air on my face.

I closed my eyes, my lips curved upwards. Oh, how lucky I am.

I was still out when I heard a rapturous shout and applause resounding the hall. I was joyous. Why not go in to participate in all the fun? I thought. I moved from where I was leaning and headed to the hall. I was at the entrance and it was difficult to find my way to the front. The hall was packed to the brim.

The whole place was boisterous. I fought my way through the gathering and just as I tilted my head up to see Guther addressing everyone, there was a roar of excitement. I looked up and was met with shock.

"I have always wondered what she would look like. I did everything I could, for her. My Luna, my mate." the crowd went wild again. Tears rolled down my eyes. I felt emotional. I was frozen. This shouldn't be this much of a shock, should it? Why are my legs not moving? Why are my eyes welling up? He loves me genuinely. I should be on the stage, side-by-side with him. I need to go. I know, but my legs weren't cooperating with my head.

My heart shattered into a million pieces. My head hurt. My whole body quaked and ached. I couldn't move, I wasn't sure if I was hallucinating again. I pinched myself. How could this be?

Gunther kissing another werewolf. I'm not Luna?

"I searched for her everywhere" Guther continued, "I knew I had to find my mate. I could feel her energy within me. I have found my mate everyone!" the excitement was met by the crowd with cheers and clinking of cups.

"She's relatively new here, so I will do the honor of properly introducing her. Your Luna, Helena" Guther held up her hand, she smiled widely. She was ecstatic, I could tell. She had a bright presence, a certain aura about her.

Her hair was dark and lovely. Reaching her bra length. She was shaped like an hourglass, but she did look mysterious in a way. Though attractive, she had a certain je ne sais quoi about her. She looked young like me.

I finally found the strength to move after the announcement, and I went straight to Guther. He was being congratulated by others, as well as Helena, albeit they weren't together.

"How could you do this to me? We were together just an hour ago! You said you loved me. You love me. How could you? When did this start? Where did you first find her?! I loved you! I love you! You're everything to me. Why did you do this to me!? Why did you make me believe if you didn't?" I asked him without giving him a chance to answer each question. To be sincere, I didn't even know if I wanted him to answer the questions. Was I ready to hear the answers? Can I handle them? Why am I still even—

"We are not mates Alice! We never were. What do you think? Do you think we'd stay pretend-mates forever? We were always going to find our mates. I have found mine. You should find yours. Don't ruin today for me, I could have you banished." he said and left immediately.

I was in shock. I could feel my heart crumble. My eyes stung and it didn't help when I looked up and saw Helena smiling at Guther. She looked happy. I wanted to tear her from limb to limb. I wanted to feast on her meat and drink her blood. I wanted her torn to shreds. My fingers turned to claws, my eyes were dark like twilight.

I ran like I never did in my life. I ran, but not towards the pair of mates. I ran away, far away. I needed to get away from there, but can I ever outrun my memories?