The Alpha's Broken Mate

Chapter 16

I ran. As fast as my legs could carry me, I ran through the trees. I needed to get far away from that place, far away from him, to think. My mind was racing to try and figure out what I had seen. The wind whipped harshly against my skin, cold and unforgiving as I ran further into the forest with no clue about my direction. I just need to space and time to think.

"ROE!" Damien's voice came from behind me. No, I couldn't face him yet. I wanted to be alone. I needed to be alone. I pushed my legs harder, ignoring the pain. I don't think I had ever run before and I was feeling it now. But I couldn't stop. I wouldn't let him catch me. "DAMN IT, ROE!" I could hear the worry in his voice and against my will, my legs began to slow. NO! I couldn't face him right now. Who the hell was he? Suddenly my feet left the ground and I was flung over Damien's shoulder. I knew it was futile, but I couldn't stop myself from fighting against his hold as he carried me through the woods. How dare he? I didn't want to face him right now and especially as he was still naked. His bare arse staring at me as I tried to ignore it. 

After some time he put me down and I instantly put some space between us. Tears still blurred my eyes but I could still see the guilt and hurt that crossed his features.

"Roe, please let me explain." He begged, taking a step towards me. Instantly I took a step back and was hit with guilt at the pain that lit his eyes. "Please?" He asked, the hurt now clear in his voice. I didn't say a word, I couldn't say anything as a lump had formed in my throat. I just watched him with wide, teary eyes as he took another step towards me. This time my legs refused to move. It was as though my own body was against me. Gently, he touched me cheek. His thumb wiping away the tears that had fallen. "I never wanted to keep anything from you." He took a deep breath, sighing. "I didn't know how to tell you. You've been through so much already and when I realised your scars were made by wolves, I didn't want you to be scared of me." Cupping both my cheeks he looked into my eyes intently. "You never have to be scared of me. I would never hurt you." The honesty of his words hit me like a train. But it didn't make sense.

"Scared of you?" I asked. My voice croaky from crying.

"I'm a wolf, Roe." He stepped back watching me carefully. "Don't be scared." The horrifying sound of bones breaking filled the air. I wanted to cover my ears but again my body refused to respond. I watched as Damien's body crouched to floor and began to sprout fur. Shock ran through me as I looked into the green eyes of a wolf. A huge black wolf who stood as tall as me. I wanted to scream but my lungs wouldn't comply. Why was my body against me right now! What had happened to Damien? The wolf laid down and whimpered. I watched as it slowly crawled closer to me, watching me intently. When he reached me, he lifted his head up and nudged my hand gently. Did he really want me to pet him? Like a dog? My heart was still pounding in my chest as I reached out, shakily and my fingers touched his fur. It was soft and comforting. Looking into his eyes I saw nothing but warmth and something inside me knew he wouldn't hurt me. It didn't make any sense. None of this made any sense.

My knees gave away and I collapsed, wrapping my arms around his huge neck and burying my face into his fur as I broke down.

"I don't understand. What is going on?" I mumbled into the soft fur, inhaling that salty scent that was so familiar now as I sobbed. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't seem to process everything I had witnessed. It was like something out of a fairy tale or a nightmare. The sound of breaking bones echoed again and I clung to him harder as his fur changed to skin. Strong arms wrapped tightly around me, holding me close.

"I know this is a lot." Damien's deep voice spoke against my ear. How could he be here again? Where was the wolf? I pulled back to look at him. His green eyes just as hypnotising as they looked deep into mine, taking my face in his hands. The tingles from his touch calmed me a little, but my mind was still swirling.

"How?" My voice came out as whisper.

"I'm a werewolf." He simply stated, his voice still soft as he watched me carefully.

"You said the men that attacked me were wolves." He sighed, bringing his face closer to mine.

"Yes, but I am not like them. No one here is." Sincerity was clear in his voice and his eyes as he stared into mine.

"You're all wolves?" I knew they were keeping something they me, but I thought it was something about my past. Not this.

"Yes. This is my pack." He moved back a little, tucking my hair behind my ears. "Wolves live in packs. The Alpha and his Luna are in charge. There is a Beta, Alec, who is second in command. Warren is my Delta, third in command and because my pack is so large we also have Jace, the Gamma." An Alpha and his Luna? What's a Luna?

"Who's the Luna?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. A pit was growing in my stomach. Did he have someone already? Was he just playing with me?

"Roe, do you know about soulmates?" Soulmates? I nodded, but what did that have to do with anything. He looked up at the sky, watching the clouds. "Well for wolves they are very real. The Moon Goddess picks our Mates at birth. When we're 18, we get our wolves and can finally sense them. Some find them on their birthday, others spend years searching. The Luna helps run the pack, she is the Alpha's Mate." But he's the Alpha so... The thought struck me like a bulldozer. Why would he kiss me when he has a soulmate? 

Quickly I pulled away from him, crawling backwards across the grass. His eyes immediately snapped to mine and I didn't get far as he reached out and grabbed my arms. Worry etched into his features. I pulled against him, but it was no use. He was far too strong. "Roe, no you are my Mate." He pulled me back into his arms and held me against his chest. The bare skin sending tingles everywhere we touched. The sound of Damien's heart beating just as fast as mine, thumped through his chest. I could feel his warm breath against my neck as he took a deep breath. "My wolf knew the moment we smelled that amazing scent of yours. I knew the moment I laid eyes on you. Do you feel the tingles whenever we touch?" Feather soft fingers trailed down my arm shooting those addictive tingles through me. I nodded against him. He felt safe. He always felt safe. Wrapping my arms around him, I held him tightly. I didn't even know what I was doing, but I felt like I needed his comfort. "See, we are meant to be together. You will always be safe with me." His voice was muffled against my neck which made it hard to focus on his words.

"But those wolves you killed?" A low rumble vibrated his chest, making me jump but he only held me tighter.

"They were rogues. Feral wolves who have no pack. They kill anything they find and steal females for....unspeakable acts." He growled lowly. "I will not let them hurt my pack and I especially won't let them get anywhere near you. You are too important to me." His nose brushed my neck as he took a deep breath.

Damien's P.O.V.

It felt good to finally tell Roe about us. To not be hiding anything from her. But it obviously overwhelmed her. She hasn't left my side all afternoon, though her mind is clearly elsewhere. Currently we were sat in my office while I tried to get some work done. Though it was a little difficult with Roe on my lap, I was certainly enjoying the closeness. I was a growing more concerned as she was just staring out the window, her mind running a mile a minute when the door opened and Warren walked in.

"She knows about us." I mind-linked. His eyes went to Roe for a second before he began to look at my book selves. I watched as he found the book he was looking for and handed it to me. Of course, I should have thought of this. "Thank you." He nodded in response and promptly left. The book was sort of a basic guide to werewolves and knowing her love of reading, she might find reading this will give her the answers to whatever questions are swirling around in that brain of hers.

Roe spent the rest of the day reading halfway through the book, closing it and walking to her window seat in the library. After a while of staring out the window she would walk back and sit in my lap to read to the same halfway point before repeating the cycle over. It was unnerving and worrying to watch her like this. But she wasn't ready to talk yet. I hope she comes around soon. The Alpha meeting is next week and I need her with me. f**k! When did I become so needy?

Roe's P.O.V.

The tiled moon stared down at me as I floated in the warm water of the bath house. I didn't usually come here so late in the evening but as I had just got the cast off, I wanted to relax in the one place that felt peaceful. Honestly being with Damien felt peaceful too, but after todays events I needed some space to process everything. Wolves. Wolves kidnapped me, tortured me and it wasn't the first time. My new scars, though fading already, were the same as the old ones. And I still had no idea why they did this to me. To top it off I find out I've been living with wolves these past few months and now I'm mated to one. Sighing I looked at the image of a goddess on the wall. What the hell do with all of this? It wasn't fair. I didn't want things to change. I felt safe here. I had always felt safe here and I didn't want to loose that. 

Times like this I would usually talk to Alec. But he was still avoiding me and when I did catch a glimpse of him, he look completely done in. The boys refused to talk about him at all and the only thing Julie could find out is that he had drastically upped his work load. He was working himself to the bone and I hated that. It wasn't his fault at all. Even that book said that wolves have an instinctual need to protect their pack, especially pups and the Luna. They wouldn't neglect their duty with a valid reason. A valid reason. That was it. Alec had to have a good reason for leaving his post, a reason the boys were too blind to see. Seriously! Climbing out of the pool I quickly wrapped a towel around me and stormed towards the house. f*****g wolves!