Renaissance

Episode 4

*Autry’s POV*

I watched painfully as she tried to digest the information, causing her face to show many emotions at once, making it impossible to read. I searched her eyes, as her suspended silence made me nervous. Godric was pacing like a madman in my head too.

She looked at me with searching eyes, and after a painfully long battle of our stares, she finally opened her mouth.

“Werewolf?” she asked. I nodded my head. “For real?” I nodded again. “With paws and fur and canines?” I nodded. “So you are telling me that you are a descendent of Professor Lupin or something?” I had no idea who Professor Lupin was.

“I don’t know about this Professor Lupin person. But yes, I turn into a wolf. You actually already met him. He was the one grabbing you yesterday.” I tried to explain.

“Wait-“ she said, raising one hand, “so you say the wolf you turn into is not you?”

“No, wolves have their own personality. My wolf’s name is Godric, for example.” I explained.

“Can I meet him?” she asked, obfuscating me to no extent. This human was bold, and I wasn’t sure if it came from her lack of information or she was really that brave.

“It is technically possible, but I wouldn’t recommend it right now,” I said.

Just let me meet our mate! She wants to meet me… You jerk! Godric pressured in my head.

“Why?” she simply asked.

“Because he is playing images on what he would like to do to you, and I am not positive that you would like him to be that straightforward, having just heard of the existence of Werewolves. And if he acts as he wishes, we will be bound to each other forever.” I explained, trying to leave as many of the scary details out as possible. But, on my next breath, I inhaled a triply intensified scent of hers, indicating she was more than willing to star for the scenarios Godric had been playing in my head non-stop since our encounter yesterday. I sighed, trying to calm my nerves.

“What do you mean, we will be bound to each other forever?” she asked.

“Cecelia, our wolves, have a god we call Moon Goddess, mother to all our kind. And she designs destined partners for us, our mates.” I watched as realization crossed over her pretty eyes. I continued anyway. “When a wolf finds their mate, they are instantly able to recognize each other. They are pulled to the other with an extreme desire, a need. And when they are mated, their connection will become very strong. They will be able to feel the emotions the other is going through as if their own. They will be able to feel the pain.” I said. Pausing a second, “Usually, if one of the mates pass away, the other either lose their mind or they will pass away closely after the other. If a wolf is cheated, they will feel so much pain that they will instantly know that their mate has been cheating on them.”

“Wow, some serious monogamous rules you have!” she stated. I weakly smiled at her.

“Yes, but one doesn’t have to be mated with that destined mate. Although it is said that it hurts both parties in a level, you can reject your mate and have a chosen mate in the stead.” I explained. She looked very puzzled, finally.

“And, I turned out to be your mate?” she connected the dots fairly quickly.

“Yes,” I said.

“But?” she asked. I was surprised when I didn’t answer immediately. She elaborated, “something about me turning out as your mate is bothering you, am I right.”

“Cecelia,” I breathed out her name like a prayer “, I am so sorry for having to be me. I will explain you, please understand this. It pains me to no extent, having to tell you all this! I wish I was just an untitled pup so much.”

“What do you mean, Autry? I don’t understand…” she trailed off.

“Our Packs, I explained them to you as families, there are families, which manage them. They are determined through blood. It’s very much like royal families. An Alpha is the male ruler of a pack, and a Luna is his mate. The second in command is called Beta, and the third in command is called Gamma… I am the next Alpha of my pack, by blood. I do have siblings, but they do not wish to take the title from me. So I am stuck to be the ruler of my pack.” She was listening so intently.

“So I, an orphan, a human? Turn out to be the destined mate of a prince?” she deliberated. She was so beautiful, and still had no idea where this conversation was headed. Her innocence mesmerized me. I continued my sorrowful explanation.

“Cecelia, my pack is one of the mighty packs in this continent. I am carrying great expectations of my people over my shoulders. And it is unheard of an Alpha to have a human mate. Unheard of and unacceptable to many, including my parents and the powerful people of our society. I hate it. You couldn’t muster to what extent it pains me to tell you this.” I said. I was trying to make it as quick as possible. She just stared into my eyes. “I need to reject you, and I need you to cooperate, as you need to accept my rejection for this to work out.” I quickly blurted out. I was unable to look her in the eyes as my stares were diverted to my lap. Godric was howling in my head in pain. After a painfully long suspension, she finally spoke with a powerful and incredibly demanding tone. It took me by surprise.

“Why?” she asked. And I answered her automatically

“Because human mates need much protection, and it’s believed that this fact will divert the Alpha’s attention from the pack, and he will be unable to care for his pack when too engaged in the protection of his mate. Also, they will not be able to produce pups- I mean kids- because a wolf pregnancy is harrowing for a human to endure.”

“And?”

“And, I have no choice but to abide by these f*****g traditions. So I need to reject you.”

“And?” she asked again.

“What do you want to hear, Cecelia?” I asked, causing her to sigh audibly. She looked much irritated.

“All you have been telling me are traditions and what other people think. But I turned out to be YOUR mate. Therefore, being the complete outsider, I couldn’t care less for what other people think. What matters to me is utterly your own thoughts.” She said. “What do you want to do, Autry? Because, ever since our encounter yesterday, you’ve been acting like a complete gentleman, who is interested in me, trying to get to know me, stopping me in my tracks when I was just trying to pass you through even though I felt the evident pull in me towards you, asking me to see you today, alone, in your bachelor room… all that trouble to only ask me to accept your refusal? It doesn’t make sense why you would want to go to the extent of revealing the secret of your species to me. You could have simply asked me to say the words. Even though intrigued, I would have complied, thinking that it was some kind of sick youtube challenge!” she sighed once more, even more irritated “Yet, you look at me with those pleading eyes, begging me not to accept your proposal of mutual rejection.” She shook her head. “What is it that you really want?”

To say that I was shocked by the boldness of this beautiful creature before me would be an understatement. She already was planting seeds of adoration into Godric’s and my hearts. It scared me immediately. Although I was mesmerized by her approach, I had to put on a stern façade and act like the coldblooded asshole I should be.

“My wants are irrelevant. I shall do what is required of me.” I countered.

“Oh, really?” Well, you know what?” she started. “I don’t want to have anything to do with a man like you anyways.” She stabbed my heart. “You are the most selfish being I have ever encountered, and the worst type at that, because you claim to be the selfless prince who sacrifices his one chance in love for his pack, although, you are the exact opposite, as you are not considering the feelings, nor the well being of anyone around you. You are a scared little kitten, and if you would just tell me the damned words, I will reject you at the spot.” She said, getting up. Her sudden change of attitude messed me so bad. I thought I was going to be the one breaking my mate, yet here I was, broken to a million pieces with her spot-on critics and for the first time in my life, realizing that I really was the biggest coward as can be.

“Cecelia, please…” I begged.

“Tell me!” she demanded, arms crossed over her chest.

“Let me explain you,” I begged again.

“I don’t want to hear another word, Mr Garrett. Please, tell me what I need to say. I want to finish this and never hear a word from you again.” Why was I miserable? This was what I wanted, right? What did I expect? Her to beg me? Yet, I felt like a garbage bag, not willing to share the simplest of sentences. “Mr Garrett, say the words!” she demanded, almost forcing me to involuntarily answer her.

“I will say: I, Autry Gerald Garrett, hereby reject Cecelia Alcmene as my mate,” I said. “And you have to answer: I, Cecelia Alcmene, hereby accept the rejection of my mate, Autry Gerald Garrett. Then it will all be over.” I taught her.

“Say it!” she said.

“I, Autry Gerald Garrett, hereby reject Cecelia Alcmene as my mate,” I said. My chest was heavy, and I felt an indescribable pain ripping through my soul, causing Godric to scream his lungs out inside my head. She looked directly into my eyes.

“I, Cecelia Alcmene, hereby accept the rejection of my mate, Autry Gerald Garrett. There you go. Do not ever show your face to me!” she spat before turning around on her heel and leaving my room without even looking back at me once. She left me there, to drown in my silent misery, alone and left… Forever.

*Cecelia’s POV*

I left his room with a straight face and fast steps. I had to leave. I had to get away from this place fast. I didn’t have anywhere to go. For once in my life, I wanted to have a family to run to. I wanted to have somewhere, or someone to keep me sane… I almost ran up the stairs to my room. I closed the door and quickly changed into some tracking pants, a t-shirt and sports shoes before running out of the room. I quickly passed through the small garden of the guesthouse. It was getting darker with every passing minute as the sun was about to set. I ran the small streets of the town. My legs were taking me away, as far as possible from that monster of a man called Autry.

I didn’t care, human, werewolf or wizard… It didn’t matter in my head. Being so inexperienced about anything romantic, even I recognized the sparks igniting between the two of us. Although, that i***t thought it was okay to just ignore that and be all-mighty by rejecting what was gifted to him by divine power?

I didn’t even have time to be shocked by the fact that he was a werewolf. And what irritated me the most was his lack of spirits and enthusiasm. He was a poor soul, drifting wherever the wind blew. It was sickening how easily he was able to lie to himself about all those things. I wondered how he planned to manage a group of people if he couldn’t have the backbone to support his mate given to him by his Goddess. Human religions required unconditional faith, did their Goddess not?

Before I realized it, I was nearing the edge of a forest. I didn’t feel like turning back yet, so I entered it. Being slowed by the trees, I need to slalom through, and it helped my muscles to calm out, and my brain became occupied more, so I couldn’t think about that coward of a man.  I ran through the woods. Mindlessly, letting the wind and the pain from my muscles calm me down. I have always liked running since my childhood, whenever something upset me. It became a habit of mine.

I don’t know how long I ran. I had no idea where I was, but I came to a halt when I reached the edge of a meadow hidden within the forest. Oh, how beautiful the scenery was! I sighed to myself and took a deep breath. It was completely dark now, but the intense light from the full moon illuminated the meadow to perfection. To my right, there was a small stream falling its way through the meadow; it created a small pond where the ground was slope-free. I walked to the centre of the meadow and laid down, facing the beautiful night sky.

I was so irritated and tired from running for god knows how long, I soon closed my eyes, letting the cool breeze calm me down, and the hush of the leaves lull me to sleep.

*Autry’s POV*

I just sat there. I don’t know for how long. I sat right where she left me. I couldn’t wrap my head around what just happened. I was utterly frustrated, but I didn’t know with whom. Myself or Cecelia. I wasn’t able to think. My soul continued to hurt, and Godric continued to scream in my head, but I couldn’t even move a finger. I felt lifeless, purposeless and worthless. I felt like a complete failure. Our conversation re-played in my head countless times, and I knew I regretted what I did already.

Some things just didn’t make sense. When she demanded me to answer her, I felt some kind of power emanating from her. A human, able to order around a wolf, let alone one of Alpha blood? I never heard of such a thing.

The way she scolded me… mesmerized me and weirdly filled me with lust. The way she spoke up his mind so openly to me… not many dared to.

I didn’t know what to think. Should I mourn after my stupidity? Should I be relieved because I don’t need to explain to anyone that I turned out to have a human as a mate? Or, should I go to the bathroom and take care of my hard-on, still present after all this time passed?

I dragged myself off the chair and threw the bag, which is called my body, onto the bed. The room still smelled like her, although I couldn’t decide if it calmed me or added to my pain. I screamed into my pillow with all my might.

What the f**k did she do to me? I was acting like a teenage girl! And why did it hurt so much? I just laid there, drowning in my misery. For some reason, Godric was very silent in my head, having himself retreated, apparently going about his own mourning.

I don’t know how long I laid in misery. But at some point, I started to experience intense physical pain all over my body.  I was cramping all over, and it seemed like there was no end to it. I screamed and howled, couldn’t stand the excruciating pain. I fell from the bed to the floor. I heard the screams coming from my mouth as if it was someone else’s voice. What the hell was happening?

Soon enough, I heard my door open with a loud bang, and two blurred figures came closing in. And my sight darkened as I passed out from the pain.