My True Mate

Mine

Rue stands in her room with her mouth open as tears fill her eyes for what feels like the hundredth time since the ball.

She stares at the door expecting it to reopen. Hoping that Manny will rush back in and scoop her up into his arms. Praying this was all some horrible, stupid, and badly planned joke.

But he doesn’t come. And after another 15 minutes of being unable to move she hears a knock at her door. She doesn’t answer but the Queen pushes through and gasps.

“Rue?! What happened.” The Queen rushes to hug her daughter but Rue doesn’t say anything or move an inch. She is all out of tears and thus the only proof of her torment are the ones dried to her face.

“Rue.” The Queen shakes her. Rue looks at her mom, her features zombie-like as if she was in a trance.

“I need to wash my face.” She states lazily. Her eyes are glazed over but she can see the concern etched all over the Queen’s face.

“Here, let me help.” The Queen leads her to the adjoining bathroom where she runs a washcloth under water, adding soap and coming over to her daughter to gently wipe her face. They sit silently as she continues to clean her face before moisturizing it and helping her to reapply her makeup.

Rue looks down as her mother washes her face. Reminding her of being a child. This was her mother though, nurturing as always, and what a blessing it was to have her. Rue knew she was quite emotional but her mother comforted her no matter the circumstances.

“He’s denying our bond, mother.” The Queen purses her lips but does not respond.

Rue knew how much the Queen loved Darian. How happy both her parents were to find that he was her mate after his 18th birthday.

Though not a Royal his family was prestigious and a force to be reckoned with. Darian himself was the true epitome of an Alpha. Strong, bold, intelligent! Prematurely training under the king this year, Rue’s father had nothing but greatness to speak about how Darian would be the next great king their lands needed.

And though Manny came from a strong line of wolves himself, his Beta and Gamma lineage Rue was sure her parents would not feel the same excitement for. He was good, but not good enough. But should that matter? Especially now when she was certain Manny was her true mate even as he continues to deny it.

That kiss…you don’t kiss someone who isn’t your mate that way. You don’t lose yourself like that. And his demeanor, he’s been so cold since she claimed him as hers. Why? Why was he treating her this way.

“Don’t you have anything to say?” Rue insisted. She looked at her mother who only sighed and kissed her temple.

“There is nothing for me to say my dear. In time I’m sure you’ll see who your real mate is.” She stands up and stretches out her hand. “Now come, Darian is waiting for you.”

*******

Darian is waiting in the dining hall. He paces back and forth muttering to hisself as he keeps checking the door for Rue to walk through.

How could she deny their bond? Darian thinks as he continues pacing. A year, a whole year of giving her everything, and all of him. She-wolves dreamed of their love. How could she not see that? How could she even think she would belong to anyone but him?

He could feel his wolf riling up again, growling in his head as the flashback of Rue looking at Manny replays in his mind. It was torture. Madness. He thought he might kill Manny in that moment had it not been for the massive crowd surrounding them last night.

How dare she make a fool of him last night! How dare Manny just stand there and say nothing knowing that Rue was his and his only!

Darian clenches his fist and begins shaking angrily when the door to the dining room opens.

In walks Rue. His Rue. Her hair is flowing as her long bangs kiss the sides of her caramel face.

She looks beautiful. Gorgeous. And for a moment he forgets all his troubles. Her amber scent hits him and he stands straighter as he makes his way to her.

He stops in front of her a few feet away as he searches for the feelings in her eyes.

Normally Rue would close the gap between them, arms around him in an instant, as she would throw herself at him. It’s one of the many things about her he loved. She was fun and she poured into him just as he did her.

But today she only stood in front of him, with her eyes down trying to avoid his gaze.

“Rue.” He takes a step closer but she only takes a step back before turning around and rubbing her shoulders.

He notices that she is wearing a sweater that covers her neck and marking spot.

Did Manny mark her? No, impossible! Manny told Rue he had no feelings for her and she wouldn’t be here if he did. Would she? No, no, he would smell if she was marked. She was still pure. Her marking spot was still his to claim.

“Your wolf, she doesn’t sense our bond.” He confirms this, not questioning just based on Rue’s actions in this moment.

Rue is silent.

“Rue,” he lowers his voice, “I love you. I’m willing to figure this out.”

“We can’t.” He hears the c***k in her voice, the defeat. He inches closer to her but hesitantly keeps his hands at his side rather than wrapping her in his arms. He did love her. It had been a year of loving her, how could he not. “I don’t feel the way about you as you do me. You aren’t my mate.”

Darian growls. “How can you say that! You think what you feel for him is real yet somehow my feelings aren’t! Why can your feelings mean something when he doesn’t feel anything but it’s not the same for me?”

Rue stiffens. Of course Darian doesn’t know about the kiss between her and Manny. Of the spark. Of his confession. She still wasn’t sure if the first time was real but after the kiss in her room she pretty confident it was.

“Darian you don’t understand,” she begins when he finally wraps her into his arms. Squeezing her tightly and desperately into himself.

She feels like her body is on fire but in the most heavenly manner.

Confused, she looks up at him.

His eyes are determined as he leans down and devours her lips. He growls into her, “You are mine!”

Mate. She hears her wolf purr.

Wait what?!

She pulls from Darian and backs away. “I’m…what…Darian I don’t…”

Darian closes the gap between them again and wraps her in his embrace.

She felt breathless, her body felt on fire, and she began to shake.

Two mates? No, that can’t be. No one has ever heard of two mates. And this feels different from Manny. This was powerful but something was…off.

But she knew she heard her wolf clearly, and almost as if to answer the unspoken question her wolf says it again.

Mate.

Rue can’t speak this word though. She feels lost as Darian holds her tighter and tighter, giving everything to their kiss.

When he finally pulls back a lovingness crosses his face and he looks into the shocked gaze of Rue.

“Mate.” He breathes.

Rue slowly nods and confirms, “Mate.”

****

Darian and Rue walk hand and hand into the garden where they find Rue’s parents and a handful of pack members sitting at many tables playing games of chess. Not too far from her parents’ table are Penny and Giselle, along with a few more of their friends.

Playing chess in the garden was a daily pass time of their pack members. The king affirmed it made their kingdom always ready to strategize and think many steps ahead. It started as a mandatory lesson but quickly turned into a favorite game amongst their pack.

“Rue!” Penny shrieked, making Rue’s parents look up and smile.

Penny rushed from her game with Giselle not too far behind.

When Penny reaches Rue she crashes into her, hugging her as tightly as she can, despite Darian still holding her hand.

“I was so worried about you all night!” She insists. “Are you okay?!” She pulls back as Giselle steps next to her.

“Looks like she’s perfectly fine.” Giselle smirks and Penny finally notices Rue and Darian are holding hands.

“Omg Rue!” She brings her in for another hug, this time tighter.

The King and Queen join them and they notice how other pack members are staring as well.

“So it seems your wolf has accepted Darian?” The King asks joyfully.

Rue shyly nods but doesn’t add that her wolf also lost its mind this morning for Manny.

“Wonderful!” Her father boasts, as he slams his large hand onto Darians back to pat it in a congratulatory manner. “We must alert everyone! My daughter’s true mate, an alpha in his lineage, and our future king is just as we thought, Darian Ashford!”

Cheers around the garden are heard as Darian pulls Rue closer to him and smiles his perfect, giant, white smile for the onlooking crowd. He looked like a king, waving onto his people as they showered him in praise.

Rue fights the churning in her stomach and weakly smiles.

“I say we feast this Friday to properly celebrate! Oh what a happy 18th birthday for my daughter, and your Princess!” The king exclaims, turning out to the crowd.

He continues on about something but Rue is no longer listening. She feels overwhelmed and although her wolf is now purring while sitting next to Darian, she also feels like her skin is crawling.

This wasn’t right. Something feels wrong. She begins breathing heavily and sweat forms on her forehead.

“Hey, are you okay?” Giselle grabs her hand and Rue’s parents look down at her concerned.

Feeling the eyes of the whole pack makes Rue feel even worse than before, but she plasters on a fake smile and says, “I’m just feeling a bit…embarrassed.” She lies, “I mean, just last night I denied Darian as my mate and now look, here we are. Mates…after all…”

The crowd surrounding them laughs.

“Don’t worry my love,” Darian’s voice cuts through the laughter and the pack looks on lovingly, “I knew that nothing could ever break us apart. I am yours and you are mine.”

The crowd is filled with awes and sighs as Darian leans down to kiss Rue. The feeling of flames return and her skin begins to heat. The burning sensation flips between sweet and dangerous before becoming painful. She pushes Darian away but quickly saves her self from the gasps by gently chuckling and saying, “I am, still feeling a bit sick as well my love. May I have a moment to catch some air alone?”

He raises an eyebrow at her but then a smile pulls at his lips.

“Of course! Why don’t you take a lap around the garden and meet me back here for a game.”

She nods and quickly begins walking through the crowd who closes in on Darian to congratulate him and gush about their news.

Rue takes their moment of distraction to duck off deep into the garden where she finds herself falling to the ground clutching her chest as a panic attack over takes her.

She’s breathing radically and she can feel tears welling up. But before they can spill over, a woody scent surrounds her and she immediately turns to lock eyes with its owner.

He doesn’t say anything, he only closes the distance between them and wraps his arms around her.

She sighs as a calmness washes over her body. The anxiety and earlier burning sensation falling away at once. They stay like this for a moment before she turns her face to get a better look at him.

His eyes are filled with pain. But why?

“Manny, please…” she begins, “Please tell me I’m not going crazy.”

He doesn’t say anything. He just looks at her solemnly.

“My wolf tells me we are mates every time you’re near me. But…she also thinks Darian is as well.”

Still nothing. He just looks at her and so she continues.

“Manny I’ve never heard of a wolf having two mates at once. I don’t understand…”

“Does it feel the same?” He asks, desperately.

She sees more pain fill his eyes. What was wrong. Why is he looking at her like this.

“No.” She answers honestly. “It feels different. It starts off as good but then it...it…it hurts.” She looks at him and sees the concern cross his face, “But not with you.” She cups her hand on his cheek. “With you, it feels good. It feels right. It feels like you are...”

He doesn’t let her finish, he doesn’t let her say another word before he crashes his lips into her and breathes, “Mine.”