The true mate

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – Matthew's POV

This Alpha business is hard on me. I'm in my late 20's, I'm almost 30 without a mate. Leading a pack without mate is difficult The wolves need their Luna, without her they are restless. The only thing they feel is my authority as an alpha, they miss woman aspect, Luna's compassion, warmth and care. Sometimes I fear that they will leave, but they all know I'm trying to find their Luna, that's why they stay and that even without her I care for them. We all care for each other. But without her I'm alone. I need her more than anything else, I need her to calm me, to tell me I'm doing good job, to help me with my decisions, to lead me.

I had a mate before, Zoe, my first mate. We were friends as kids, always spending every minute together. Our families naturally thought that we were mates and they were right. But sometimes first mates are not destined to be. When I turned 18 I recognized Zoe as my mate, but when I touched her there were almost no sparks. I thought it was because she was not 18 yet and our bond was not strong. But when she turned 18 nothing changed. All I could feel was her smell, it was soothing, but not etoxicating. She said herself that it doesn't feel real and I agreed. We tried to work it out, we ready did.

On my 20th birthday my brother Brendan visited with his Beta Nathan. Our father, after his retirement, decided to split our pack between the two of us, Brendan because his older got the original part, I got a new part of our pack, part that my father got after defeating an old Alpha. From what he told me, he was a terrible person, treated his members like a trash.

That day on my birthday when Brendan walked through the door we all knew. Zoe was shocked, she dropped her glass and just kept staring at Brendan. My brother was trying to find his mate for 5 years and when he finally found her she was already someone else's. But when I saw them I knew I have to reject her. We were not fully mated, we never felt the urge to do it, I think we both knew that we are not ment to be. I told Zoe that Brendan is her True mate, that I will not be the one to hinder her happiness. I still talk to them, I love them both, I love Zoe but as a relative.

That was 9 years and 8 months ago. Since that day I've been trying to find my mate, my True mate. I've been to every pack in North America, but she was not there. A Year ago I thought I could smell her scent, it was beautiful, but when I tried to find her I lost her. There were too many people that day. I was in Montreal on an annual Alpha meeting. I know she was there! Lavender and freshly fallen snow, that's her scent. So soothing, calming, it made my head spin. She was there, somewhere in the crowd and I lost here, that evening in my hotel room all I could think about was her, how she would look like. That evening the thought of loosing her and possibly never finding her again made me cry. I am a strong Alpha, my people respect me, rogues fear me, and here I was crying on my bed.

Today is another meeting, this time in our Capital. I never understood why Ottawa is a Capital. It's quiet, small and yes boring city. Who would want to live here? I've never been so bored in my life, this meeting is going forever. Same s**t, different year and place. Every year we talk about the same things, rogues, borders, other creatures such as vampires, banshees and witches. The last two are very rare, almost all witches were killed in Europe during witch trials, but we still come across some here. There are only few left. After the trials most of them came to America or went to hiding in their home countries and stopped perform magic. But magic is not something that can be erased. We are born with it, it's in our blood.

After the meeting we go to a bar and talk some more, I know that it is important to have good relationships with other packs, but this is excruciating. The only thing I can think of is my mate. Every time I get here on the east coast I hope to find her again. My pack is few hours from Calgary in Rocky Mountains. Our pack house looks at a lake from small hill. We are well covered in the forests from people or any hiking trails. Around our and my brother's territory is a fence with sign „private land“ so even if someone tries to get closer we are legally protected. We have more than enough land for both packs, sometimes I'm thinking it's too much, but we are free in our land.

Today I have finally free day, no meetings, just time for myself. I'm to tired but I should get out, it's beautiful weather outside. I get to the hotel lobby and see my brother and Zoe sitting in hotel restaurant eating breakfast. It sometimes still hurts I have to admit, knowing that I had a chance to have my mate, but at the same I still have hope, that I will find her.

„Good morning brother, Zoe. Do you have plans for today?“

„We were thinking about going for a walk, there is park nearby and Zoe wants to look at some furniture for baby's room.“

Oh yes, Zoe is 4 months pregnant. Good for her, I've always wanted kids as much as possible, but I understand that it can be different for my mate, I'll be happy with as many kids as she wants. I look at Zoe's hands on her belly, when she holds my hand and clasps our hands together.

„Are you ok Matthew?“

„Yeah, even during the meeting you looked like you're not there. You've been distant since meeting last year.“, Brendan knows me better than anyone, I knew that he noticed, but said nothing. Well I should tell them about what happened in Montreal, or maybe latter, I don't want to trouble them with my problems, they should enjoy the pregnancy without me sulking.

„I'm fine, just tired I think. I'm gonna go for a walk. Enjoy your breakfast.“, after that I went back to my room and changed into something comfortable and put my sneakers on.

This is a nice day Matthew, you're gonna have fun. I jog out of the hotel and go on my right. The nature here is nice, but nothings better than mountains and forest. After few minutes I see a tourist map. It shows nearby area with forest and lake.

„Let's go there. We could run.“

„I'm not gonna risk that a person sees as and calls a police.“

„Hm, pu*sy.“

„What did you call me?!“

„You are a pus*y, scared to go for a little run. Noone will see us, we have better hearing than anyone, than humans. If someone gets near us, we will have time to shift back.“

„I guess you're right.“

„Of course I am. I'm smarter than you.“

„We are the same person, just different personalities, stupi-“

„Shut up!“

„I can also just turn around and go back if you don't like it.“

„No, wait! You don't smell it?“

Yes, I do. It's her. She's here! Where?!

„WHERE IS SHE?! If you lose her again I'll never let you shift again!!“

„Calm down, she's near, the scent is getting stronger, she must be-“

„Excuse me, I just need to look at the map. Thank you.“

It can't be, she's standing right next to me, after all those months she's finally here. I love her already. She's looking at the map, trying to figure out her way, she's making notes where to go. Lake? She likes water. My 6'3 tall frame is towering over her little body. She at least a foot shorter than me.

„Talk to her i***t!“

„Ehm, hi.“ I try to talk to her. Her hazel eyes look at me with confusion in them, but she smiles. Why isn't she reacting to my scent? She can't smell it? Or I'm not her mate after all?

„She's human, but I can smell something else.“

„That's why she's not reacting. Yeah, I can smell it too, I don't know what it is thou. Talking about unknown thing, you noticed the rogue at the edge of the forest right?“

„Yes, looks like he wants us to see him, He's been following us for a while now.“

„I know, we should be careful, especially with our mate here, if she's human, it could be tricky. Where is she?“

„You lost her already! She's going into the forest. Go you i***t!“

I quickly get to the entrance of the forest, I can smell her, she's near, but the rogue is already in the forest.

„Go! Their scents are close to each other.“

„I can see her. What is she looking at? It's like his scent is allover this place. I can't focus on one spot.“

„She's runing deeper, we have to find her. But this scent is too much for my senses. I can't smell her.“

And then I hear the worst sound I could imagine. My mate is hurt, she screaming in pain. I'm gonna kill him! I'll kill anyone who hurts her.

„Please come and save me. Anyone. Please“, I can hear her in my head, she's so scared. I take off my clothes and shift into my wolf in second with a powerful howl. I cannot smell here but the cream helped me to locate here. Soon I'm standing infront of a black wolf, he's a bit smaller than me, but I can say just by one look that he's strong. He puts more weight on my mate and I immediately answer with a growl. Looks like he changed his mind because after few seconds he runs away with a growl.

„What are we waiting for, get him! He must suffer, he hurt our mate!“

„And leave her here alone? We're staying with here. Let's just wait, she's probably still scared.“

After few moments she looks up, she sees me. She is still confused but I'm sure she know I will not hurt here. She's trying to sit but winces with pain. My mate is hurt, my beloved mate is hurt.My wolf whines, nor he or I can see her in pain. It hurts us knowing that she's in pain.She looks at me with embarrassment and bit of an anger. But why? She's hurt, I walk closer to her and lay my head on her lap to comfort her. But she jump up immediately screaming.

„What the hell?!“

„Why is she trying to get away from us?

„She's a human and she was just attacked by a werewolf. Of course she's trying to get away from us.“

But even knowing this will not stop me from looking at her with hurt. I want to help her, I want to stay with here. The lavender scent is so sweet and freshly fallen snow, I love snow. When I touched her lap I felt sparks through my whole body, I'm sure she felt it too.

„Ok, I'll sit down again, but don't come near me. Or... at least let me know you are getting closer, you scared me.“

I nod my head as an answer, she is taken a back by it, but sits down. I come to her slowly and lay my head on to lap again. I feel her calming down, she even put her hand on my head. I want her so much. I could sooth her pain, her trables.

„Hm, you are a strange one. But you saved me, so thanks I guess.“

I look at her after hearing her... in my mind?

„You can hear me?“

I can only nod in astonishment.

„Did we just hear her in our mind?“

„Yes, We heard her thoughts.“

„But how? She's not werewolf, even if she was, she's not from our pack, she can't mindlink us.“

„Hey! What did she mean we are a strange one?! Is she mocking us?“

„That's what you care about?“

She looks more confused than us to be honest, she probably didn't know she can communicate through her mind.

„Ok buddy, I have to go back. Get up.

„I'm not letting her go, not after we finally found her.“ I lay my head bach on her lap, but she tries to get up anyway.

„I really have to go. Kris is gonna call the whole Canadian army, to find me. Come on get up.“

After hearing name Kris we jump up and growl a bit.

„Who is Kris?“

„Is she mated already? If she is I'm gonna find that Kris and snap his fu*king neck!“

„Calm down, we don't know if she's taken or not.“

„I'm sorry, I have to go home, my friends are going to freak out, I told them I gonna be back in 3 hours tops, I have no idea how long I've been here and judging by the dark it's probably eveni-“.

She looks around her, I follow her gaze. The darkness, it's gone. I was sure it is evening. When I get back I have to talk to my parents about this, that werewolf was not ordinary. Who can create such darkness in the middle of the day? My mate has probably some magic too, not that she knows about it, maybe she does realize that, but can't control it. That might be why the werewolf attacked her. There are still people with magic in this world, but don't realize it, or don't know how to use it. If she's one of them... I need to talk to other Alphas and my father.

„Do you... do you think you could show me a way out?“

I have to get her out of here. I start walking out of the forest. My senses are working again, I can get us out the way we came here. I turn around looking at her realizing she's still standing on the same spot.

„Oh, you want me to follow, ok. Sorry, I'm coming.“

The whole way we walk in silence. She seems to be calm now, but still kind of on guard. I look at her and then around us, just to make sure there's noone that could see me. We get to more open area close to public picnic spot. She knows this place, The map where we met is just minutes walking away from here. I turn around and run silently into the forest, I can't jeopardise someone seeing me. I need to get to the map and public area and try to talk to her. I can't lose her now. Not again!

„Thank you, hope I'll see you again.“

I can hear her again, she's talking to us. „You will.“, I think to myself.

Is she trying to find us? Is she looking for us? I'm sorry that we left in hurry, but I'll meet you soon. Just wait. I shift back into my human form and put my clothes on. Thank God I took them off before I shifted. I can smell her. She's getting out of the forest.

I run to the edge of the forest trying to find her. I see her. She's walking to the main road. I'm not letting you go now.

„Hi. Ehm, miss.“

„Hi. Can I help you?“

„Yes, actually, I noticed you here some time ago. I wanted to talk to you, but you went into the forest and honestly I chickened out.“

Her laugh is like a music to my ears. Her hazel eyes sparkle when she smiles.

„Yeah, I remember you. You said hi earlier, I was kind of disappointed when you said nothing after. It seemed like you had a conversation with yourself, changing your mind maybe, so I left. Sorry, I'm not good with people“

She pauses for few seconds, taking deep breath. She's shy, it's cute. I smile at her encouraging her.

„Hi, my name's Elizabeth, nice to meet you...“

I give her my hand to shake and she accepts. When our hands touch I can feel sparks, electricity's going through my body. I know she felt it too, because she gasped and squeezed my hand tighter.

„Matthew, my name is Matthew Blackwood.“