MATE BY CHANCE

~SILVER EYES ~

June

Everything was fuzzy. It felt like I was in both my human and wolf form all at the same time. My memory was a web of images and events that mostly felt like a dream. At some point I may have seen silver eyes looking down at me, nothing was making sense. Even now, it felt like I was seeing everything through Leenah’s eyes. What really put my mind confused was the ever-present pain in my abdomen. It felt like… like… someone had run a chainsaw across my stomach. No, not a chainsaw, the pain felt somewhat familiar but my slow fuzzy brain was failing me. Something had happened to me and I just couldn’t put a finger on it.

‘Leenah, are you there?’ I called out to my wolf, she always had an explanation whenever things made no sense.

‘Leenah? Where are you?’ I called out once again and realized it was a stupid question, we were both the same beings which meant wherever she was, I was so why couldn’t I hear her, feel her like I always did? I started to get worried and scared at the same time. What had happened to us and why couldn’t I reach my wolf. I wasn't sure whether I was dreaming or just having an out of body experience but I needed things to go back to the way they were. Panicking wasn’t going to free me from whatever this feeling was, so I decided to take calming breaths to try and realign myself as best as I could and if it was a nightmare then I should be able to wake up soon.

Taking deep breaths I tried to settle my racing heart and called out to Leenah once more. Suddenly, it felt like I was being lifted from the ground and carried away. The next minute, the searing pain in my abdomen had felt started to dissipate, it was as if I was getting treatment? at this point, I wasn't really sure that I was dreaming anymore. Whatever I was experiencing in this dream felt too real, too calculated to be a dream. I forced myself to recall everything that may have happened to me, maybe then I could find Leenah and we can finally be free from this… nightmare. I focused on the pain in my abdomen, as well as the dull aching of my head.

“I am Juniper Hazel, my wolf is Leenah. ” I began reminding myself as I focused all my energy on arranging my thoughts. I tried to remember the last thing I did before going to bed maybe that would joust me from my nightmare.

“ I was in my room… with a packed bag, but why?” I asked myself, why would I need a packed bag in my room if I wanted to go to sleep? Like a video playing in rewind, my memories came rushing to me. Remembering everything at once made the ache in my head more prominent. Things I had wished were only a dream that suddenly morphed into reality. Memories of the harsh treatment from my pack mates to the brutal rejection by my mate all hit me at once. I was a rejected wolf, I was nothing. My heart sank at the realization of my mate-less status, how could I have forgotten such a monumental event. As if the universe was done showing me my painful past, I suddenly remember being outcasted by the Alpha and me leaving the pack and that was when everything fell into place.

I was attacked.

***FLASH BACK ***

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Pete’s unwanted bish. ” said a voice from somewhere behind me making me turn. Immediately I knew I was being ambushed by one of my ex-mate's pack members. Every fiber in my body was all but screaming at me to run.

“What do you want? ” I asked instead. When all I got in response was manic laughter and a snarl that promised nothing good, I dropped my bag and made a run for it as this was not a fair fight, no matter how strong I was. Adrenaline pumped in my veins as I dodged trees and fallen trunks. I needed to put some distance between us if I wanted to turn. Normally, it would be hard for a wolf to turn mid-run but I had mastered it and within seconds, I had turned onto Leenah and we were now sprinting through the forest.

It was a little too late for me as a large furry body slammed into us, sending us crashing headfirst into a large tree. A minute after gathering our bearings, we found ourselves face to face with three huge wolves. This was indeed an ambush. From behind the snarling wolves, walked out a figure I had least expected to see, there and then, I knew we had to fight or die trying.

“Did you think you would walk away, just like that? ”My former Luna, said as she approached me with the usual disdain she always had. Said nothing as I mentally begged Celeste to send help.

“I have spent decades trying to get rid of your bloodline. Now that you are the last of your kind, I better make sure you cannot return, just like your father.” the which said ad I couldn't help but let out a snarl. What did she mean just like my father, did he not die while doing pack duties?

“Awww, do you think your snarling will save you? Ha! I wasn't not going to let your father take the position meant for my mate now was I?” she added. Getting closer to me so I could see just how much she hated me.

“You poor thing, you would have made a good luna, if only your mate wanted you… but I guess I had a hand in that too. ” she said and let out her screeching evil laugh. Out of anger, lashed out at her and managed to scratch her ugly face right before her goons pinned me down. How dare she ruin my life.

“How dare you! Urrrggghh! I should have just poisoned you!” She screamed. All I could do from under the claws of her minions was a snarl in return. Deep down, I felt so betrayed that she was the one responsible for most of my misfortunes.

“Finish the Mutt!” she ordered the wolves that were busy cutting my air supply with their massive paws. One of the wolves lessened the pressure from my throat and I swiftly turned and clawed his leg making him reel back just in time for me to rise to my feet and make another run for it. I did not make it far as the other wolves recovered from the shock too quickly, one of them grabbed at my side with its sharps claws, tearing deep into my flesh. I hollered in pain as I fell and tumbled down a hill.

With every rumble and tumble, I could feel my side tear a little more. Soon my body hit a rock and I was sure I had broken a few bones as I heard Leenah whimper in pain. Turning back to my human form would only result in unbearable pain. As we lay broken and battered, I could hear the ground thumping and I knew the wolves were running in my direction. When it felt like they were standing right above me, I heard a low growl and a few snarls followed as the steps retreated back. I sighed in relief and welcomed the darkness. Moments later, some sort of light flashed on my face, followed by the brightest silver eyes I had ever seen.

***End of flashback***

‘Why do you keep calling for me…’ Lenaah asked just as my train of memories came to a stop. Startled, my vision came clear as I looked through Leenah’s eyes.

‘I... I … where are we?’ I asked in confusion as I tried to interpret where we were.

‘I don’t know… I have never been here, but it feels a little familiar’ Leenah answered as she scanned her eyes all over the room so we could see.

‘Most importantly, why is there a man sleeping next to us?’ I asked when Leenah’s gaze settled on the sleeping figure next to her paw.

‘He kept calling me Wolfie… what will he do when you change back?’ Leenaah asked as she attempted to rise from the sleeping position only to fall back onto the table… wait, Wolfie?

The man sluggishly lifted his head, looking us dead in the eyes. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the color of his eyes, the brightest silver, looking back at us. Could he possibly be the man that saved us?

‘WOW… such silver eyes… this is the man in the cabin, and we are in his cabin…’ Leenah said just as the man reached out as if trying to pet us, only to retreat.

“Hi Wolfie, I see you are awake. Do you want some water?” the man asked expecting an answer.

What in the full moon was going on?

And what did he just call us?

Wolfie ???