4.
717 Words
Nial
Guzzling the ice cold beer in an attempt to extinguish the rising heat, my wolf Alistair paces impatiently inside.
The echoing laughter of my pack mates refocuses my attention to the conversation at hand. Jared pats me on the shoulder as I gingerly join in with the laughter, everyone seemingly unaware that I zoned out and missed the joke entirely.
Stepping away, I go on a search for marshmallows by the camp fire.
Directing my thoughts at Alistair, I make my enquiries.
'What is wrong with you tonight? Can you please just settle down?'
His reply is laced with agitation
'She's close, I can feel it.'
'Who?... Who is close Alistair?'
Tumultuous laughter breaks my concentration. My eyes instinctively darting to find the source, the sweet intoxicating scent of vanilla and jasmine invading my senses. Meela and Lana had raced to a stop at the entrance to the clearing.
I locked eyes on Meela and everything changed. The heat that was rising inside me climaxed into a spontaneous combustion as the hair stood up on the back of my neck. Suddenly the world melted away into nothingness until we were the only ones left. Eyes studying her every detail in a way that felt like they were seeing her clearly for the very first time, this image of Meela now etched into my brain for all of eternity. Her dark curls flowing flawlessly to her waist, her ice blue eyes glistening in the moonlight. Alistair started rumbling from deep inside, unable to control his incessant craze. Consuming my mind, our wolf amalgamation complete. My silence was broken with the most natural and convicting word to ever roll off the tip of my tongue.
'Mate'.
I shot a glance at my father who's face mirrored the look of shock I had just witnessed on Meela's. A shrill scream breaks the silence as Lana drops to her knees, clutching her arms to her chest.
Before I could stop her, Meela sprinted back into the thick dark forest. My father gave chase with me and Magnus, Meela's father and Beta of the pack following closely behind.
Alistair's growls filled my head as we darted through the trees.
'Don't let her get away'
'Meela, stop' I cried, hoping that her inner wolf would respond to the plea of her mate, but she never faltered.
With the wind whipping past me, I pushed on, trying desperately to catch her. My father stopped abruptly and raised his hand, as a signal for me to stop too.
He turned to face her.
'Don't do it Meela, everything will be okay'.
I gently stepped forward, she came into view. Hands covering her ears her golden eyes crazed, with her internal battle of fight or flight.
Shifting his stance, his eyes darkened as he stood up straight with his chest puffed out, asserting his Alpha dominance.
'Meela' he warned with a snarl.
Alistair whimpered, I stepped forward again but it was too late.
A flash of auburn fur soared towards the crashing waves. I looked on as my mate disappeared into the water.
Rejection impaled my gut like a knife.
'We will find her Nial, I promise'
Uttering with certainty as his reassuring hand lands heavily on my shoulder.
'But we have another problem'
Staring at my father blankly, I begin to process everything that unfolded. Gasping in horror as the events of tonight replay in my mind.
'Lana'
By the time we reached the clearing, everyone apart from Syd had left.
'I'm really sorry dude, everyone agreed that it didn't feel right to party after, well, you know' he shrugged, smiling apologetically.
'Where's Lana?'
'Jules took her home' He shifted uncomfortably 'I'm not gonna lie, she's in a bad way'
Sighing, I bury my head in my hands.
'This is so messed up'
I needed to speak to Lana, but what would I say? There's nothing I could say that would make this better for her. I still care for Lana, but finding my mate was like flicking on a switch inside of me. What I feel for Meela now is incomparable, no words can even begin to describe it.
Looking up at Syd, I smile politely.
'Thanks man, I'll see you tomorrow'
And with that, I slog in the direction of Lana's Cabin.
- Writer
