The Last Mate on Earth

Part 1 - Chapter 7

* * * Hayden’s POV * * *

The corridor that adjoins the sleeping quarters is usually tranquil, so quiet in fact that you could hear a pin drop. The news of the prospect’s meeting and their lack of control has sent the rumour mill spinning. People are eager to get in on the discussions, seeking out new ears to tell their elaborate tales to.

“Did you hear? Apparently, he did not even last ten minutes in the same room as her, before he lost his s**t and his wolf shifted, taking control”, I heard Joven telling a group of men.

I cannot help but roll my eyes at him, he had to be the biggest gossip I knew. I did not need to listen to the gossip, I was aware of what happened. I had watched the live feed, my eyes glued to the scream. My body trembled when I watched Jason begin to lose control. I had felt my body temperature increasing and I swear I could feel my body vibrating as I fought the voice in my head that was telling me to get in there and protect her.

I had used the appropriate level of interest to gain access to the main control room, this was the room where Hope’s every movement was filmed and shown on TV for 24 hours a day, every single day of the year. I had told them that as I was the one she shared her secrets with, I needed to know what was happening so that I could ask the right questions to get the answers that the director wanted. My words were chosen specifically to avoid any unwanted attention my way. If I appeared too interested, they would remove me from duty and I would never see her again. I could not allow that to happen. I could not explain it if I tried, but something kept me going back to her, even though I did not agree with the illusion that they had created for her.

Under normal circumstances, I would have found poor Jason’s reaction amusing, but this was Hope’s safety we were talking about. The amount of money that had gone into his testing at each stage had been blown in mere minutes. But, I had been impressed with Hope’s reaction and her desire to help him and save him. She did not know it yet, but her actions would earn her the love of those watching. Those who thought she was a robot, a mere puppet on their strings. Today, she had shown that she was human and that she genuinely cared for all. She was, after all, their saviour.

Events like this are hard to hide, you cannot conceal them from the world. They would travel around this facility quicker than lightning. And through those watching outside the facility, her actions would be whispered in every home and every street by the evening.

Of course, the facility had cut the feed before Jason had shifted and claimed technical difficulties. Which we all knew was bullshit. A facility of this magnitude did not experience technical difficulties. Ever. They had gone back on the air, showing a picture of a smiling hope and Jason, sitting together. The small text ran across the bottom of the screen, detailing that they were enjoying getting to know one another. Of course, there were those who were able to hack into the live feed. And that is where the rumours would come from.

And those rumours would spark another riot. Why would they not show the truth? Is Hope OK? They would ask.

“What do you think your father will say?” Joven asked me as he threw a handful of rainbow drops in his mouth.

I pretend I have not heard him and continue watching the screen. The always switched-on screen shows Hope sitting by the pool. Alone and lonely. I long to go to her. To comfort her.

“He has got to be pissed off right? All that money on the tests and he just blows it like that?” Joven asks his question again, searching for some insight. Like I would know.

“Yeah, I guess so. But what is new? When is he ever not pissed off?” I replied.

The intercom flashes green and as though he knew we were talking about him, my father’s voice is heard. “Emergency meeting, please meet in my office”, Director Philip speaks to us all.

“So Hayden, is it true? Did she really put herself at risk to save him?” Hedley asked. He was one of the new security guards, he had a wolf so had been unable to be around Hope.

I choose not to answer him, opting to join the group that is walking in the corridor towards the Director’s office.

“Seriously, come on Hayden. You have special inside knowledge. You cannot keep it from us”, Hedley speaks up again.

The rest of the group laughs at him. Little does he know that while I may be the boss’s son, I do not get any special privileges. I am pretty sure that I am only here because my father feels obligated to provide for me. He certainly does not give any fatherly love.

“I am sure that I will find out exactly what has happened, at the same time that you do Hed’s” I spoke flatly. I knew the group knew that I had watched the whole thing on the live feed, but I still believe that I can make them understand that it was because she genuinely opens up to me. They cannot know the truth. They cannot know that I have become obsessed with her.

“Sure, sure. Come on Daddy’s boy. You cannot have special privileges here, especially without sharing the good stuff. Keeping all the inside gossip to yourself, are you scared they will make one of us her best friend if you screw up?” Hedley continued. I don’t think he understands that my father really does not like me. But the group laughs as he berates me. Man, he really is a f*****g arsehole.

“You know more than I do, Hed’s”, I answer him, struggling to remain civil.

“Perhaps they should have a wider pool of prospects, perhaps if they just let us all have a go with her we can save the world. All I would have to do is put my d**k…”

I shout an angered growl and tackle him to the floor, my fist repeatedly connecting with his face.

Fuck. I really should not have done that.

Everyone has stopped walking and has circled around us. Before I can think about what I have done, Joven wraps his arms around my waist and drags me off Hedley “Get a grip Hayden or you will be in deep s**t”, he tells me.

Does he think I do not know that?

I feel myself dragged from Joven’s grip as a thick meaty hand grabs the back of my neck and lifts me into the air, I can feel myself struggling to breathe, my neck is squeezed that hard. I try to pull the hands away from my throat, but they do not move and my vision is becoming faint. I try kicking out at Hedley to stop him from choking me to death. He is the only arsehole that would do this.

“Hedley, if you could please hurry up and kill my son quickly so that we can get on with the more important task at hand, I would appreciate it” Director Philip’s voice rings out down the corridor.

Hedley lets go of my throat and I clutch at my throbbing windpipe as I drag in a lungful of air raggedly. My dickhead of a father has walked into the office, expecting everyone to follow, which they do. I continue gasping for air, more grateful for the oxygen than I was before, now that I know how it feels without it.

“That was a stupid arsed move, Hayden, Hedley is a head guard and has been trained to kill you know”, Joven whisper-shouts at me as he helps me to my feet.

“Yeah. You don’t say”, I grumble as I continue rubbing at my throat and follow the group to the meeting room.

We skulk into the room, very aware that we are the last ones in, and take our seats at the back of the room.

I continue rubbing my neck, trying to ease some feeling back into myself. I smile as I watch Hedley rubbing his jaw, at least I know that I hit him hard and he felt it.

“Gentlemen, and not so gentle men it would seem. When you have finished marvelling at your playground fights, can we get back to business”, Director Philip states bounty, giving me a stern look as he positions himself at the front centre of the room. Enjoying all eyes being on him.

“Yes, sir”, I grumble.

“So, I am pretty sure that the gossip about the failure of the first prospect has reached your ears by now.” he begins.

He presses a button on the small fob that he is holding and the screen rolls down and the video begins to play, which shows exactly what happened in the meeting room and how Hope had completely disregarded her safety and intervened, trying to save the wolf.

We watched the moment the team of guards unholstered their weapons, aiming them at Jason. Despite watching it live, I found myself still holding my breath when Hope stepped between the guards and the wolf. She managed to calm the wolf which was impressive.

The group collectively gasp, all but Hayden who genuinely did not seem to give a toss. He was an arsehole, and his comment regarding taking turns with Hope would not be forgotten or forgiven.

Again the whispers and gossip begin, as the group eagerly discuss what they are watching/ The director, my father does not even blink at the disruption. If it was me talking, he would no doubt have something to say.

The screen zones in on Hope as she prepares to leave the meeting room. Her dress, hair and make-up make her look like a woman, rather than a teenager. We had never seen her this way, the image on the screen froze and I felt my heart rate increase as I took in her features and her curves. I did not want the others to view her this way, I did not want them to see her the way I do.

“There is clearly a problem that we did not anticipate”, my father began to speak. Making the room fall silent. “The prospects are not like us. Most have never seen a woman under the age of 60 and we cannot predict the behaviour of their wolves”, he continued once he had the attention of the room.

“All the testing we have put them through cannot predict how they will respond. To have all these expectations of you, and then to suddenly find yourself face to face with her. The emotions, the unknown, the fantasies and delusions, and the unpredictability of the werewolf. It should not have been a surprise and it is something that should have been predicted”, he lectures the group as though it had been our fault.

“Sir, nobody could have predicted the wolf shifting. We don’t even have wolves, so we would not understand how it would feel to be faced with being paired with someone that is not your mate”, Joven began to defend us.

“The guards will practice more close protection detail through drills and learn how to recognise the signs of a wolf emerging. We will continue with this weekend's prospects in the hope that one of them can remain calm. But going forward we will look at introducing them into the school classes as students so that they get used to being around her. You are all excused, except Joven and Hayden. You two, stay where you are”, he instructed. He watches the guards leave the room and waits for the door to be closed.

It has happened occasionally that Joven and I are asked to stay behind, which I know pisses Hedley off. He thinks of it as special attention and being privy to the inner workings of the facility. It is usually to receive a bollocking or to be tasked with an additional job or objective. And it is usually because of how close I am to Hope, he knows that she trusts me.

My father walks toward us and drags a chair so that he can sit in front of us. Looking at his ageing face, I can see the resemblance between us. Beneath his wrinkles and ageing skin, we have the same bone structure, the same jawline and the same eyes. In a world where people slept around in the hope of producing a girl, knowing who your biological father was is rare. And to have a relationship with him was even rarer. They were usually not interested in their pup with a random woman who was not their mate was a boy. They only slept around in the hope of producing a female. Lucky me.

I used to feel lucky, back when we lived in the real world. Back when he was an honourable and kind man. In here, I hardly recognise him. My mind begins to wander.

It is snowing and cold. My stomach is growling in hunger, it has been two days since we ate. The animals are hiding or hibernating due to the weather. I am maybe five years old.

Snow crunching beneath heavy boots catches our attention and I climb off my mother’s lap to investigate. I peer out of our window and saw my father in the garden, he had a deer over his shoulder.

‘Meredith, see to the deer. If you prepare it well enough you should have enough food to see you through the storm. Hayden go and pack a bag of clothes boy’, he commands us.

‘No. You cannot take him, my mother cries, tears falling down her face.

‘He is my boy’, he tells her firmly.

‘He is my son. Take one of your bastards with you, but not my Hayden’, she begs him.

‘The facility is prepared. You have direct orders from the council to surrender my son to me. If you wish to hold him and say bye, do it now. We leave in five minutes. I can give him a better life than you ever could’, he barks at her.

My mother is kneeling in front of me, her tears falling freely as she strokes my hair and stares into my eyes. ‘My sweet boy, I love you so very much. Please don’t forget me. Don’t forget how much I love you’, she tells me and kisses my forehead and holds me tight.

I feel her putting something in my hand. ‘Keep it safe. As long as you have it, I will always be with you’, she whispers.

‘Mama’ I cry as I cling to her blouse.

‘That is enough. Come in boy’, my father growls and drags me away from her, slinging me over his shoulder and walking out of the house.

I can hear my mother’s screams of pain as he carries me crying out of the garden and away from her.

That was the first time I have ever recalled the event so clearly.

“Oww”, I scoff as I rub my arm, where Joven has hit me.

I shake my head to rid myself of the painful memory. “What happened?” I asked.

“Are you ready for duty?” My father asks me.

I look to Joven and back to my father, and I nod.

“Good. Go get ready, you are going to spend time with Hope and figure out how she is feeling and processing the encounter”, he orders us as he changes the screen to a live feed of her room.

There are smashed photos and her belongings tossed around the room. “She is not coping well”, Joven states the obvious.

“No s**t, Sherlock. Do whatever you both normally do to make her open up”, my father commands.

This could be a long night. And I am thankful that Joven does not tell my father that Hope does not normally relax with him. She pretends to, but her trust is reserved for me alone.

Because she is ours.

I look around to see who spoke, and find Joven is halfway to the door and my father is looking at me like I am a moron. I quickly follow Joven, eager to spend time with Hope. In any way, I can.