Unlovable but Unbroken

We're Mates

Gio POV

All through lunch I could not stop thinking of her. Her scent, her soft and timid voice, those gorgeous chocolate eyes with golden flecks in them, everything about her was all consuming, I needed her, my little wolf. When the lunch bell rang, I walked Kate back to her next class, and was making my way to mine, when it hit me. That intoxicating smell. Strawberries and honey.

I followed the scent and that’s when I saw her. She was walking down the now empty hallways and before I could stop myself, I found myself following her. I saw her stop and as she went to look around, I ducked behind a trophy case so she would not see me.

Goddess, what is wrong with me? Is this what I do now? Stalk random girls like a beast stalks prey? I couldn’t resist any more, I needed to talk to her, but not here in the open. There! In the supplies closet. I moved quicker than I ever had and pushed her into a nearby closet. I held her against the shelves at the back of the closet. She looked a little dazed. Goddess, I hope I didn’t hurt her. I would never want to hurt her.

Feeling her pressed against me, I felt an urge like no other. I needed to calm myself down, I couldn’t let my instincts take control. I was looking at the ground trying to steady my breathing and calm down. I couldn’t look at her yet, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from claiming her. “What the f**k?” I heard as I felt her trying to push me away. Why was she trying to push me away? Maybe she doesn’t know, maybe I f****d up, shit... how do I fix this so she isn’t scared of me? I quickly backed away and threw my hands up. I couldn’t stop the hurt that flashed in my eyes.

“Just hear me out please”, I practically begged her, praying to the moon goddess that she would at least give me a chance to explain. I needed to be near her like I needed air.

She looked deep into my eyes like she was searching my soul. I don’t know why I did it but I slowly made my way back to her and pressed my body against hers. Damn, the way she fit so perfectly with me had to be a sign. She just stared at me for a while, never breaking eye contact.

She didn't break eye contact or move a muscle for the longest time and I thought she was thinking of a way to run. But then she moved her hand up slowly and gently and brushed her fingers against my cheek. The softness of her skin and the tingles that erupted were euphoric.

All too soon, there was a coldness on my cheek where there was warmth before she abruptly pulled away looking shocked. I craved that warmth the moment it left. Then I realized what had happened. “You can feel it too?” I asked, smiling, hopeful. She just scoffed and rolled her eyes and said “Of course I can feel it too, that is kind of how static electricity works.”

Damn she was so cute when she was being snarky. “It’s not static electricity”, I told her with a smirk. Great, back to the staring. She continued to stare for what felt like forever when my eyes drifted to her lips. She was biting her bottom lip again and damn if it didn’t take everything in me not to claim her right then and there.

I wanted so badly to be the only one biting those lips. I could feel my member hardening at just the thought of how sweet her lips tasted. I reached up and gently pulled her lips from her teeth, then caressed the spot that was now red from where she bit it to try and soothe it.

I wanted to make sure all she ever felt was good, was pleasure, never pain. My heart rate sped up and I breathed slowly to try to calm myself. “You can’t do that little wolf, please stop.” I was able to breathlessly get out. “Do what?” She asked with an astonishing innocence that made me weak.

“You can’t bite those sweet little lips of yours around me...” I stated, and then I smelled it. I took a deep breath as her arousal filled my lungs. I thought her scent was amazing earlier, now it was downright sinful and I wanted it to be the only thing I breathed for the rest of my existence. “And I can smell your arousal little wolf... You have no idea what you are doing to me... How much control it takes...”

Before I could stop myself, my strength faltered and I crashed my lips into hers. At first, I thought she would fight against me and pull away, but to my surprise, she deepened the kiss. I took this as an invitation and swept her lower lip with my tongue to get her to open her mouth to me.

When she did, I explored her tongue with mine. She wrapped her arms around my neck like she was trying to hold on for dear life and pulled me closer. I have never wanted anyone more in my life, I needed her so badly. I grabbed her thighs and wrapped them around my hips and when she started rocking her pelvis into me, I could feel myself growing with need.

I was so hard it was painful and I could feel as precum dripped from my tip. I had to have more of her so I moved my hands to her waist and under her hoodie. The bliss I was in came to a sudden halt when she pushed me off and jumped to the floor, putting a hurtful distance between us.

“What the hell was that?” she asked, looking mortified. What did she mean? I thought she felt it too. Was I wrong? Is this all in my head? Either way, she is gorgeous and delicious. “You didn’t seem to mind little wolf” I stated with a sly grin.

She gasped and uttered out “I can’t be here, we can’t do this, I have a boyfriend, a... a mate!” Just then I felt like the wind had been knocked out of my chest, like I would never suffer more. I forced back the tears that lined my eyes and asked “How can you feel what I feel and not know?” “Know what?” she asked me with genuine confusion lacing her words. “We’re mates...” I croaked out trying to hide my breaking voice.

Anya POV

“We’re mates...” he said with his voice breaking. What? What is he talking about? Jax is my mate. He told me so himself. Why would he lie? Who would want me but my destined mate? I was completely and utterly alone and unlovable, I was nothing, no one.

“N-no Jax is my mate, he told me so himself. Why would he lie to me? Why else would he want me?” “Just think about it, please” he begged. “Have you ever felt anything with him? Have you ever felt anything like what you just felt with me? Why wouldn’t you be at least able to sense the mate bond a little? You’re almost 18, the mate bond starts manifesting at 16 and grows stronger the more you’re around your mate. You would have at least felt something, anything by now.”

I felt my chest tighten; I couldn’t breathe. I am so confused and I don’t even know what to think anymore. I need to get out of here. I need to run. I started backing away, shaking my head. I moved towards the door, when he grabbed my hand. “I know this must be confusing, but you have to believe me. I’ll give you all the time you need. Just tell me I’ll see you at the party.”

I looked at him with my mouth agape, I didn’t know what to say. “Jax doesn’t let me go to parties, I’m sorry.” I managed to get out. “Will I at least see you at prom the day after?” he asked with panic. “Jax won’t allow it so no.” and with that I turned the handle and ran out the door without looking back.

Gio POV

“Jax won't allow it, so no.” The words replayed over and over again in my head. I stood there frozen, mouth agape. It felt as though the air had been pulled from my lungs. “Jax won’t allow it, so no.” The simple sentence seemed to hold so much finality. I was stunned and crushed. I thought she felt it too. Is it just in my head?

Each time his name left her perfect lips, it felt like a knife to the heart. She was mine, she had to be. I had never felt that way about anyone, not even Kate. She left me just standing there, alone, she didn’t even look back as she ran from the closet, from the school, and probably right into his arms.

I started to panic at the thought of his hands on her. I needed to get a grip. I needed to do something, anything. How had I never noticed her before? How would I find her? I didn’t even know anything about her, I don’t even have a last name, all I had was a name, a beautiful, perfect name. Anya. What am I going to do?

As I sat there thinking, the door to the closet opened, and there was Kate standing there staring down at me. I had been too caught up in my panic to notice that I had fallen to my knees on the floor and I was gripping my chest. I hadn’t noticed that my phone had been going off and I had 17 missed calls from Kate and my phone locater was currently pinging.

How long have I been in here?

“There you are. What are you doing in the janitor's closet babe?” Kate's voice broke me from my thoughts. “Oh... I um...” “It’s almost 6, schools been out for 3 hours and I couldn’t find you anywhere.” Kate interrupted before I had a chance to think of a lie. “So, I called Ian to see if he had seen you and he told me just to ping your phone and I would be able to find you.” She continued.

“That’s it! Ian”, I said out loud before I could stop myself. She must have noticed my excitement because she gave me a look of confusion. “I... I am sorry, I just remembered I was supposed to call Ian. "Here, take my car” I said, tossing her the keys to my ‘53 corvette “Be careful, I’ll meet you back at the ranked house, I just have some stuff to take care of.”

She stared at me with her mouth opening and closing like a fish before turning and walking away quickly. This was probably a shock to her because I literally never let anyone drive my car, it was too special, but what I needed to do right now was more important and it was the only way I could think of to get rid of her without her arguing and I just didn’t have the time right now.

I picked up my phone and searched my contacts for my cousin Ian’s phone number and dialed it. I paced as it started to ring, praying to the goddess that he would pick up. Ian was my older cousin and also one of my closest friends.

He was in the grade above us and had already graduated and left for college. For wolves, college was shorter than it is for humans, so he only had about a month left. He was going to school for technology with a focus on cybersecurity. He was going to be my beta when I took over the pack in a few weeks. He was also interning at my father's tech company that I would also be taking over, so he was the perfect person to help with this.