Chosen (Wolves of Dralesa: Book 2)

The Next Encounter

Zenith

I don’t know how long I stayed in the car once I parked it in the garage. I couldn’t get myself to move. I still couldn’t believe I had found her. So much has happened in the course of these last few hours. I was beginning to think I’d never be able to experience having my fated mate. It was more intense than I could have ever imagined. I never knew I could love and crave someone so much. The touch of her lips still lingered against mine. Already, I felt myself become addicted to her touch.

There was a knock on the passenger window. I jumped as I was so lost in my head and unaware of my surroundings. A freshly showered Eliza opened the door and slipped into the passenger seat without asking me for permission. She stared at me with her large brown eyes. They were sparkling in anticipation, begging me to tell her what happened.

“Persephone is your mate isn’t she?” Eliza couldn’t hold in her curiosity. I didn’t answer her right away. This was the first time hearing her name, and I could only think of how fitting that her namesake was that of the Goddess Persephone. Persephone had many titles, including The Pure One. One look into my mate’s eyes, I could see the purity and gentleness her soul had.

“Oi! Earth to Zenith.” Eliza waved her hand in front of my face, bringing my attention back to her.

“Yeah, she is.” I finally said aloud, and Eliza squealed in excitement.

“Did y’all interact with each other? Does she know? Do humans feel the mate bond like we do?”

“Yes and no.” She tilted her head in confusion.

“Yes and no to what?”

“Yes, she bumped into me on accident, but she didn’t look up at me. I ended up following her home, in hopes of another chance encounter. Later she ended up falling asleep on the roof by her bedroom window and as I was getting a closer look, she woke up thinking it was a dream. But with that interaction, I could tell she felt it too.”

“Wow you are kind of a creep aren’t you?” She interrupted and I glared at her. I’d like to see how she would handle having a human as a mate too. “Kidding, kidding, I know you are not the kind to take advantage of others.”

“It was really hard to keep calm.” I admitted. “But anyways, she thought it was a dream, so in her head, our meeting didn’t actually occur.”

“It’s alright, we have plenty of chances to do this right. The only thing we have to worry about is her boyfriend.”

“That brat isn’t a problem anymore.” I growled just thinking of him and how he hurt my mate.

“You didn’t,” Eliza made the gesture that I offed his head, basically asking if I had killed him.

“No, I didn’t! Seriously El, do you really think I’d stoop to that level?”

“I would’ve, he’s a punk who doesn't deserve her.” I could see the raw hate she had for the brat, which wasn’t like Eliza at all.

“Well, she decided that on her own when she got home.” I informed her and her brows shot up.

“What happened?”

“I guess he was waiting for her to come home, and they were fighting when I got there. She ended up trying to end things on a peaceful note then and there.”

“What do you mean tried?” Eliza growled. I swear if she had been with me in the woods watching it go down, she would have most likely killed him, or at least maimed him within an inch of his pathetic life.

“He threw her down, and I had almost exposed myself right there. It took all I had to not shift or beat him to a pulp. She got up though, and threw a right hook, knocking him to the ground.”

“What I would have paid to see that!” Eliza sat back into her seat, shaking her head. “I never liked him. I could always hear him whispering to his friends about what he’d do to her once he got in her pants, like she was his ultimate conquest. Yet he reeked of s*x and other women. He was unfaithful yet he thought she was his, like she was an object and not a person. I had no physical proof so there was no way I could go up to her and tell her these things. I couldn’t ask her to believe me over someone she’s known her entire life.” She sighed and looked at me. “I’m glad she came to this decision before she met you. She’s really loyal even if some of the people around her don’t deserve it. It’ll be easier for her to accept you now.”

“How do you think Persephone knew what I looked like?” I asked suddenly after we had a moment of silence.

“I have no clue. All I know is that these past two days, she’s been acting weird. Yesterday, she came to school, and I could tell something was off. Another friend of ours tried asking what was wrong, but she made an excuse and ran off. I wanted to try and ask her again but by then she had disappeared. She didn’t show up to lunch nor could I sense her around. I found out later that night that she had went home sick, even though she showed no signs of any sickness.

“Then today she was suddenly estranged from Freddie, and she didn’t seem like her usual self. She even snapped on both him and Leeann, her other friend that she grew up with. Normally, she would put up with them and their behavior. I think the dreams she had of you are what have been making her so different lately if you think about it. But she thinks she made you up in a dream or something.” Then Eliza began to laugh then and gave me her signature mischievous grin. As she opened the door to step out of the car, she mentioned one last thing.

“I don’t know what most of them were about, but I do know, based off her reactions, one of them was a very, very lewd dream.” She giggled as she shut the door and began her walk back to the packhouse. I could feel my cheeks grow hot just thinking about the kinds of things I must have done to her in her dream. Was it possible for one to be jealous of oneself? At this moment I felt like it was.

I ended up laying in bed the rest of the night, unable to fall asleep for most of it. I just kept looking at the drawing I had taken from Persephone, hoping she and Selene could forgive me for taking it.

Everything just felt way too big or just empty without her even though she’s never been here, let alone properly meet each other. The festival tomorrow is going to be even more of a drag to sit through. All the Alphas in our small alliance have found their mates and are going to bring them along. While I’ll be yearning for my mate, I’ll have to watch all of them cling to each other and enjoy such a wonderous night together. I was ashamed to have such bitter thoughts, but I couldn't help it.

I slept barely two hours when my alarm went off. I think Andy and I were twenty minutes into the final preparations when he pulled me to one of the empty dens.

“Seriously dude, what’s wrong with you today?” He wasn’t talking to me as my Beta, but as a seriously concerned friend. I fought with myself for a bit on whether I should tell him or not. Which was stupid as he was my Beta, my right-hand man, but most importantly, my best friend. I sat on the giant sofa in the room with a tired groan.

“I don’t know how Daphne waited an entire year for you to turn seventeen.” I looked at him with a weary smile. I never understood the hardship she went through having to wait that long, knowing Andy was her fated mate that entire time.

“You found your mate?” He sat down softly next to me. “When? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Last night. She’s El’s friend from work and her classmate.”

“A human then.” He simply stated. But when he said it, I felt something in my gut tell me there was more to Persephone than meets the eye.

“Yeah, but she’s more than that. She has to be. She knew about me before I her. El saw one of the pictures and knew she had some sort of connection to me.”

“That’s why you went into town last night?”

“Yeah,” I brushed my hand through my hair. Talking about her only made me want her here even more. “I’m just trying to stay sane long enough to get through today. It’s definitely been a struggle.”

“I don’t know how to console you. Daphne would definitely have better advice than I. All I can say is hang in there and lean on me whenever you need to. Today will go by and tomorrow will be here quicker than you think.” He gave me a pat on the back before heaving himself up. “Let’s get through this day together.” He held out his hand to help me up and I took it.

“If I was gay, you’d so be my type.” I joked and he started dying.

“Dude we’d be such a power couple.”

With the little encouragement from Andy, the day was a little more bearable. The morning and afternoon blew by, and it was already time for Leon and Trinity to arrive. Their car along with a few others from their pack rolled in exactly at seventeen hundred hours. Looking at Leon and Trinity, I could easily picture what my future with Persephone entailed. Trinity was five and a half months pregnant and had a beautiful glow about her. Leon held her hand ever so gently as he walked her to the packhouse. Their pack members got out of their vehicles as well and followed behind their Alpha and Luna.

“Leon and Trinity, so glad you guys could make it.” I greeted them both. I held out my hand and Leon grasped it, pulling me into a hug. Out of the three packs we had alliances with, Leon and I were the closest. I had spent some time among his pack learning from his father on how to run a pack since my father, along with my mother, had passed away in the war against the mad king, Ezra.

“Anytime brother.” Leon grinned. “Have you lost more weight?” He then asked, worry creeping its way in his eyes.

“No, strong and healthy as ever.” I felt bad lying a little bit. I know I shouldn’t feel ashamed, but I do feel somewhat so when I admit I was battling the yearly wave of depression I get for a couple months. It had been that time of the year again. My parent’s death anniversary was in February, and I was only just getting over it. It was harder as each year it only reminded how alone I felt. Yes, I had my cousin whom I basically raised as a little sister, my Beta and his family, my pack, and Leon and Trinity. I was surrounded by so many people who loved and cared for me, but even so, I couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of loneliness. Which was another reason why I so desperately wanted to find my mate. Finding her was truly a blessing sent by Selene and I couldn’t wait to start courting her.

“Come out to the back and join in on the pre-celebration.” I invited them inside, cutting through the packhouse to get to the backyard. Nearly my entire pack was out there already starting the party early. The festival wasn’t extravagant. In all honesty it was just a giant barbeque with a bunch of different yard games and friendly tournaments. The main goal, besides viewing the blue moon, was strengthening the bonds between all of us.

Leon and I ended up playing a quick game of cornhole against Andy and Daphne. Though it was fun, I couldn’t stop thinking about if Persephone would be having fun as well if she were here. A thought that carried with me for the entire night.

After the other two packs arrived, the main course was served as well as the start of the main tournament, jarts. And these weren’t the stupid bulky ones on the market right now, they were the old classic jarts that you can no longer buy due to how ‘dangerous’ they were.

For the jarts tournament, your partner was a luck of the draw. With how many people that entered, I was pretty sure I would end up with someone from a different pack. As Fate would have it though, I was teamed up with non-other than Eliza.

“You can never get rid of me eh?” Eliza laughed as we headed to our court. There were ten different courts so that we could get through the brackets faster.

“Don’t bring me down.” I teased her and she gave me a mocking shocked expression.

“I would never! I was born to win this.” She arrogantly proclaimed, and boy was she actually right for once. I wouldn’t say she carried us to the semi-finals, but she sure did her job and a little some. We were so close to the finals but lost to Danielle, Alpha of Black Storm, and Leta, a Warrior from Iron Fang.

“You did good you two.” Danielle grinned when she and Leta came to shake our hands. “You should come visit sometime to have a rematch.” She offered and I genuinely accepted.

“Can’t wait. Good luck in the finals.” I told her, but she didn’t need it. Danielle was too perfect at jarts, hence why they moved on to winning the entire thing. Challenging her to a rematch would be for sure asking to get my ass beat. Maybe I stood a chance with her at cornhole.

After the tournament, most gathered around the now blazing bonfire. Music and dancing ensued, while some sat down. I was a part of those some, along with Leon, Trinity, Daphne, and her two youngest pups. James, the oldest of the pups at 4 years-old, was over by the fire dancing with Andy and Eliza. Jasmine, who was only one and a half years was sitting calmly in the chair drinking a cup of milk next to Daphne who had a sleeping little one-month-old Sawyer swaddled up against her chest. Everyone was chatting away, mostly Daphne giving Trinity some most needed advice and tips for raising pups. I mostly stayed quiet, content on listening to them. As I sat there, I could smell the last of Persephone’s lavender mint scent on me. The night was almost over and tomorrow I’d be able to see her.

“Andy told me the news.” Daphne suddenly linked me. “Congratulations, Alpha. It is joyous news indeed.” I gave her a small smile, as not to draw attention to me by the suddenness of it. I looked up at the rising blue moon, which shone with an even greater blue shine tonight than normal.

“I still feel like I’m dreaming. She’s everything I could have asked in a mate.” I told her. I saw her slight nod as she hid a small smile herself.

“Are you sure you should be wasting anymore time then?” She looked up at me right when Eliza came skipping over to us. “Andy and I will cover for you the rest of the night. Head out with Eliza and go to your mate. It’d be a shame to not spend any time with her tonight.” I had to hide my surprise as the two women stared at me expectantly. “I’m serious Zenith, go. Or else I’m going to tell Leon here.” She laughed through the link while also low key blackmailing me.

“I’ll meet you at the front of the packhouse with a car.” Eliza winked before dashing in.

“Everything alright there, Zenith?” Leon’s question brought me out of my daze. “If you need to turn in early, no one is going to judge you, you old man.” He chuckled, but looking at him, it was as if he knew something were up with me and was using this to give me a way out.

“I’ll fill you in later.” I sent him a link. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be turning in then. I’ll see you both at breakfast tomorrow before you head out.” I said my goodbyes and walked as calmly as I could to where Eliza waited with the car. I wasn’t even in the car all the way before she sped off.

“We’ll get there just an hour before her shift ends. I’ll sacrifice the rest of my requested day off for you.” She grinned from ear to ear. It seemed like she was just as excited for Persephone to be my mate as I was.

The closer we got to town, the more my nerves began affect me. My hands were shaking, and my leg wouldn’t stop bouncing. It’s definitely been a long time since I felt this nervous. I stared at the little convenience store as it came into view. Eliza parked on the side and looked at me expectantly.

“You ready cuz?” I just nodded as I stared at the wall of the building. She was on the other side.

“What if I scare her off, El?” I suddenly blurted when Eliza began to step out. It was the last thing I wanted to do. Especially ambushing her at her place of work where she didn’t have any choice but to stay there even if she felt uncomfortable. My wolf was yelling at me that it wouldn’t be like that, but how would he know? She was a human and won't even understand why she’s feeling such intense feelings for a complete stranger.

“Zenith, you just have to trust in your bond, and the rest in me. Come on.”

“Mm,” Was all I could muster as I followed her towards the front.

“Give me like thirty seconds before coming in.” She beamed before slipping through the door. I swallowed hard as I heard a surprised Persephone seeing Eliza, who was not expecting her at all. Well, isn’t she in for a bigger surprise.

“Alright cuz!” Eliza gave me the okay, and before I could second guess anything, I walked right in. My eyes found hers right away, and just like last night, she had me frozen under her gaze.