Black Mountain Mates

Nevaeh

        Yana cleaned me up and dressed me in a skin hugging light tan mini dress and black see-through pantyhose leggings for dinner. She let me borrow a set of black wedge heels, and let me get into her make-up bag to apply a light smoky effect and some mascara. While Yana got dressed, I put my long hair into a loose side braid and waited patiently for her. 

                Her home was small, only one single room besides the bathroom. There was a couch, coffee table, mini fridge, king bed, wardrobe, a sink, rug, and a coat rack. That was it. I thought it was bare for a girl, but there had to be a reason.

                “Are you ready?”

                I looked over and smiled. “You look so pretty, Yana.”

                She was dressed in a lovely yellow crop top with a high waisted skirt and a pair of tan heels. Her make-up was subtle like mine, except instead of smoky hers was browns.

                Yana huffed. “Coming from someone as beautiful as you, I should be flattered.”

                I rolled my eyes at her with a smile on my face. “Whatever. You’re a catch, sweetie.”

                She smiled and blushed. “Thank you, Nevaeh. Let’s go before were late, Alpha Laken doesn’t like that.”

                “Oh really? Now I wanna be late.” I said with a shrug.

                Yana giggled. “You don’t want to get me in trouble now, do you?”

                My smile faded. “No, let’s go.”

                While we walked Yana told me about a million things. Starting from Dire Wolves to Mates, to why they were one of the last actual Dire packs in North America. There were Dire’s scattered around, but Luz Pack meaning Light consisted of all Dire’s, and Sterling was one of only two Alpha Dire Wolves in. The other ‘shifter’ wolves called Wulfkin had become jealous of their power and isolated all of them until their numbers shrank.

                In the middle of listening to Yana, I felt eyes on me. All over me. It was hard to concentrate on what she was saying when I kept feeling like my clothes were being taken off by every male that walked by.

                Yana sighed as we got closer. “Be ready, Nevaeh. None of the other unmated males can sense you as the Alpha’s mate. To them, you’ll smell…appeasing. We’re going to have a long night.”

                “It’s going to be fine, Yana. It’s not like Sterling cares what happens to me. He said that already.” I said with a shrug.

                ‘But did he?’ My spirit whispered.

                I ignored her for the moment while we went to walk up the steps. Then I felt like something tugged on the back of my dress, pulling my center of gravity away and I was falling backwards. Yana tried to reach for me, but she was too late. I never hit the ground though, instead I was cradled in someone’s arms.

                I looked up to see dark brown eyes staring down at me. It was a handsome Dire, and for a moment he didn’t say anything, just stared into my eyes.

                “Can you put me down now, wolf boy?”  I asked snapping my fingers to get him back to reality.

                He shook his head before smiling down at me. “Who are you?”

                I raised an eyebrow. “Smooth. Nevaeh, you can call me that.”

                “That’s a unique name.” He said before taking a deep inhale of my scent I was guessing. “You smell…”

                Before I could say anything, he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. I was shocked at first, but then I was back to push against his chest.

                “Leave her alone, Danson!” Yana cried out, reaching to pry his arms off me.

                I was done. I took my elbow and swiped it across his face to break his away from me. With a grunt, I forced him to put me down. “Don’t touch me again, wolf boy.”

                Danson smirked. “You taste exactly how I thought.”

                “Interesting, now, f**k off.” I said with a huff, turning to link arms with Yana and head inside.

                In a very low voice she whispered. “Alpha Laken isn’t going to be happy when he smells Danson on you.”

                I shrugged. “I’m not his to own. He said it himself, he doesn’t want a weak mate like me. So, I’m sure he’ll be f*****g some other she-wolf in a few hours.”

                Yana sighed. “I hope your right. If not…Alpha Laken is not a patient or forgiving man.”

                “Well that’s a good thing.” I said giving her a wink. “Because neither am I.”

                “This is going to be a very long dinner.” Yana said with a slight whimper when another male ran his hands across my stomach.

                I swatted him away and leaned away from bumping into someone. “Yeah, we should cut and run as soon as we can.”

                Yana nodded. “Agreed.”

                Dinner was served buffet style, and after standing in line we got our plates and rushed to claim a spot farthest away from Sterling and most the other Dire wolves. I could feel his eyes on me, raking over every inch of me like he was never going to see me again. It took everything in me to ignore him and try to eat in peace, but even then it wasn’t working. My violet eyes kept roaming over to my brutish Irish mate, and holding back the flutters that consumed my stomach.

                Then I got a distraction, an unwelcomed distraction, but a distraction non-the less. The blond Dire from before that chained me to the pole slid into the seat next to mine and leaned in to inhale my scent.

                “What is with you Dire’s and sniffing me?” I said rolling my eyes.

                He smiled big. “It’s a wolf thing. Don’t you know that?”

                I raised an eyebrow. “I just found out.”

                “What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked rubbing his foot against mine.

                “I only found out a week ago that I’m not human. So, no. I don’t know anything about your wolfy culture.” I said with a shrug.

                He shrugged. “That’s pretty strange. My name’s Blane by the way.”

                I nodded. “Nevaeh.”

                “That’s a pretty name. So, what did you do to get chained to the Outpost? Defy the Alpha? What?” He asked leaning in closer.

                I swallowed hard as I felt the burning gaze of Sterling into the side of my face. “I…”

                Then I glanced to Yana, who shrugged. Neither of us knew if I should tell the other Dire’s that the only reason I was there was because I was mated to their Alpha. I sighed deeply while in thought.

                “Your Alpha found me in the territory and brought me here after I ran away from my human foster family.” I said, which wasn’t a lie, just not the full truth.

                He nodded. “You had human parents?”

                “They were not my parents!” I said a little too loudly. “I’m sorry, Yana. I’ll meet you back at your house.”

                She nodded. “Sure, Nevaeh.”

                Blane tried to stop me by grabbing my arm, but after I shot him a glare he let go. I rushed out of the first door I found and was greeted with more Dire’s eating. I held my face low and walked towards the back. Finally finding an opening that lead to the forest. When alone I kicked off Yana’s nice shoes and stepped into the dirt.

                “Sorry about the stocking’s Yana.” I mumbled as I began moving towards the woods.

                ‘Where are we going?’ My spirit asked gently.

                I shrugged. ‘I’m going out to try and practice my Witch power. Why what’s wrong?’

                She let out a deep sigh. ‘Nothing, I thought…we were leaving.’

                Leaving. Oh, yeah. I could do that. Why wasn’t that my first thoughts? I should have been running to the hills by now, but I wasn’t. ‘Spirit? Is it wrong what I’m feeling?’

                ‘No. I feel it too. Probably more than you right now. His wolf calls to me, so desperately. He wants us, wants to make us his. We have to resist. It’s…’

                ‘Hard. I know.’ I finished her sentence. ‘I don’t like this. I want to hurt him, yet touch him. I want to leave, but stay with him. I want to hate him, but…’ I stopped and let out a deep breath.

                I opened my palms and fire began dancing around my fingers. I was doing it! I let it roam over my body, and under me the ground shook. Vines grew to wrap around my legs like little hands.

                ‘Love. Feeling good, feeling loved…it’s the source of your Witch abilities.’ My spirit cried out in glee.

                I groaned. ‘That means if I break our mate bond, I’ll lose everything. Even my Witchy side. f**k!’

                She nodded. ‘Leave that for now. Try and turn. The more you do it the less painful it will be.’

                ‘Okay. I’ll try.’ I said and closed my eyes, but something else caught my attention before I could start the turning.

                Something was closing in on me, and I was a hundred percent positive I knew who it was.

                “Sterling.” I said simply.

                He came out of the darkness and headed straight for me. “Where were you going?”

                I smiled over my shoulder at him. “I was trying to get a handle on my Witchy side or try to Turn. I actually…wasn’t leaving you…not yet at least.”

                A low growl came from his chest. “Nevaeh…”

                “Yes, Sterling?” I asked lifting my hand, exposing a water ball from the condensation I pulled from the air. “It’s amazing…”

                He came behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. Inhaling deeply before letting out a deep, fierce growl. “Nevaeh…why do you smell like so many males?”

                I let out a deep breath. “One ambushed me on the way to dinner, the others just kept touching me, and the last you saw. I didn’t think you would care.”

                “Your…” He stopped, and I saw the pain and emptiness in his eyes.

                I let out a sigh. “I’m your mate. I know. The one Dire kissed me before I knew what was happening. I elbowed him in the face though.”

                Sterling let out another low growl. “I can’t stand this…”

                “Sterling.” Was all I had to say.

                He was then in front of me with his arms wrapped around my whole body. I let out a deep breath, feeling things, I didn’t want to feel.

                ‘We want him.’ My spirit pointed out.

                “Sterling…”

                He leaned up to press his lips into my neck. “I’m trying to keep from removing every male scent from your skin. Just hold on.”

                I did what he wanted and stayed still. “Does it feel the same for you as it does for me?”

                Sterling nodded. “Yeah.”

                “I need to leave then. That way neither of us have to deal with this.” I said with a sigh. “Can’t you choose another girl to replace me?”

                ‘It doesn’t work like that, Nevaeh. Now that the first connection has taken place, he can never move on from you. In his heart, there will always be you, his wolf will never allow him to settle down with any other she-wolf. Even after your death. His pups will be subpar, and probably will not have his Alpha blood if any survive. Being a Dire Alpha is not something you just get over night. His pedigree has been groomed to be strong and a good leader. If we were to disappear, his wolf would search the Earth for us, then move on to search the heavens and hell. His wolf speaks to me now. Tells me to give in and mate with them. That’s all he wants. Us.’ My spirit informed me before Sterling answered.

                “I wish I could, but it doesn’t work like that. You were made for me, and I for you. A Dire is told form a young age that they need their mates and when they find them they are to treat them better than they treat themselves. I never wanted a mate, always thought it would distract me from being an Alpha to my people.” He said in my neck still.

                I sighed. “That’s why you should let me leave.”

                He let out a sigh too. “I…can’t.”

                “Why?” I begged to know. All of this was getting too confusing.

                Sterling’s arms tightened before letting me go completely. “I can’t. My wolf, Seeley, won’t let me. He needs you near or threatens to come out and find you. It’s taking all I have every day to keep him down so he doesn’t force mark and mate you. Please practice your magic in the safety of the village.”

                Before I could saw anything else he turned on his heel and left. Again, for some reason, I wanted to cry. My heart hurt seeing him confused and upset, but there was little I could do.

                ‘We can accept him. Mate with him, and build a life here. We’d have a real family.’ My spirit said gently, as if she was afraid she would anger me.

                I shook my head. ‘How? I don’t even know what it’s like to have someone love me? How would I be able to love him? Tell me, what do we do when he hits us for the first time? Swallow back tears and tell ourselves it won’t happen again? I can’t…’

                My spirit felt as if she was holding onto me. ‘We’d break.’