Choose Me

Chapter 2

Why does he sound so upset about that?

"Ethan, what's wrong? I can hear the worry in your voice." I asked, furrowing my brows together.

Mila lifted her brow at me, watching me.

"Nothing, I'll be home soon... I- I love you, remember that." He faltered before hanging up on me.

I stared dumbfounded at my phone.

"What's wrong? Is he ok?" Mila questioned. I shook my head and put my phone back in my pocket.

"I don't know..." I sighed, "He was acting strange." I groaned. "He asked me if I had found my mate, he sounded worried that I hadn't." I shrugged. "He told me to remember he loves me," I added.

"I'll ring him later and see if he'll speak to me." She rolled her eyes, "boys are confusing." She chuckled.

"You're telling me," I chuckled awkwardly.

We headed into the canteen, and I couldn't shake my mood away. Something was going on. Something Ethan wasn't telling me was eating away at me. I had an ache in the pit of my stomach, and it was just getting worse.

"Ayla, you don't look too well," Mila blurted as she pressed her hand against my head. "You're burning up. You best go home, I think your heat is starting." She added quickly.

Her eyes glazed over. I was panting for breath, my abdomen felt like it was on fire, and I had no idea what was wrong. This wasn't the normal symptoms of my heat.

"Ayla, your dad is coming to get you. I need to get you into an empty room until he gets here," she panicked, picking up her belongings before dragging me out of the canteen.

By the time we reached an empty room, I was doubled over in pain. "Mila... this... this isn't heat," I choked.

This wasn't like anything I'd ever experienced. It feels like I'm being stabbed repeatedly in my abdomen. My lungs feel like they're getting squeezed, and my heart... my heart feels like it's physically breaking.

"Ayla, it is... Your body is just reacting differently to it." She whispered, stroking my hair.

"Ayla, baby, open the door, it's me." My dad shouted from the corridor. Mila ran to the door and unlocked it. My dad rushed straight for me and scooped me up in his arms.

"Dad, it hurts," I cried.

"I'm taking you home," he whispered as he moved my hair from my face.

He carried me through the pack lands. I could see him darting his eyes around, making sure my scent wasn't attracting any unwanted company.

"We're nearly home, sweetheart," he whispered, tightening his hold on me.

Chapter 3

I whimpered as my dad laid me on my bed. My mom came rushing in and shooed my dad out. "Baby, how are you feeling?" She asked as she sat beside me.

"It hurts..." I whimpered. I pointed to my abdomen and scratched at myself. "Stop, you'll hurt yourself," She pried my hands away and sighed.

My body itched. It felt like thousands of insects were crawling on me. My heart was beating so fast. I thought I was gonna die.

"What else hurts?" She asked.

I dragged in a breath and screwed my eyes shut. "My chest... It hurts to breathe," I wheezed, "there's something wrong with my heart... it's... beating so fast... it feels-" I choked and sobbed.

"It's just your heat, baby." She comforted.

"Mom, it's never... Never like this," I choked.

She gazed at me before shaking her head. "What? Do you know... what's happening?" I cried.

She looked deep in thought, occasionally shaking her head. If she knew what was causing me this pain, why wouldn't she say?

"It's not possible... Unless you've met your mate..." She trailed off.

I nodded for her to tell me.

I couldn't speak.

Everything hurt.

"When a bond starts to develop between mates, they've bonded together... If one of them is intimate with another wolf, the mate feels it..." She took a deep breath, "they say it feels exactly like you are describing, Ayla." She explained.

I choked back a sob and shook my head, "so this isn't heat? My mate is with someone else." I whimpered.

"Some wolves don't wait, baby. Are you sure you haven't smelled your mate?" She whispered, "your wolf would have to have some sort of connection for you to be feeling like this?" She added.

I shook my head, "I know everyone in this pack, no one is away only Ethan and Mateo..." My eyes went wide I choked.

"They both have a connection with you. Your wolf would have bonded with theirs when you've been around each other. Have you spoken-" I interrupted her by sitting up abruptly.

"No! Ethan wouldn't do that," I whimpered. "Mom, I need to ring him..." I choked, digging through my pocket for my phone.

She nodded and stood up. "Shout if you need me," she nodded before walking out of my room.

I stared at my phone.

I needed to ring him... I needed to find out.

He wouldn't lie to me, especially if it could help my pain. I'm scared of the answer. If he hasn't slept with someone, then he's not my mate, but if he has, then... He's my mate, and he's hurt me in the worse possible way.

Either way, I lose.

I pulled up Ethan's number and pressed the call button. I waited and waited for him to answer, but he didn't. I cried out as the pain hit me again.

Mom came rushing into the room and wrapped her arms around me. "Ayla, breathe, baby." She instructed.

I sucked in deep breaths, trying to get as much air in my lungs. The pain disappeared slowly. All I could feel was relief pass through me. My stomach ached, but it was bearable now.

"Ethan is ringing you," she mentioned as she passed me my phone.

I glanced at her, and she nodded before leaving the room. I answered the phone and held it to my ear.

"Ayla?" He sounded out of breath, my breath caught in my throat, and I choked. Maybe he was just training? At least, that's what I'll tell myself.

"What's wrong?" He asked, "Ayla, talk to me." He pleaded.

"My wolf has a connection with you... There's no one else that has... Bonded with her..." I wheezed.

"Take a deep breath, Ayla." He coaxed, taking a deep breath of his own. I dragged in a shaky breath and let it out slowly. I repeated that a few times.

"Tell me you haven't slept with anyone?" I whimpered, "tell me what I'm feeling is just my heat and you haven't broken our promise." I sobbed.

I heard him gasp and what sounded like a door closing. He took a deep breath, and I held mine while I waited for him to answer.

"Ayla, it will be your heat... I- I promise I- I haven't slept with anyone." He blurted.

My breath caught in my throat. My mind was racing a mile a minute. I don't know what to do or what to think.

"Are you saying I'm your mate?" He whispered, "what are you feeling?" He added.

I whimpered and moved the phone from my ear. I pressed my hand across my mouth and sobbed.

This means he's not my mate...

That could only leave Mateo...

My mate is Mateo.

Oh, Goddess, his brother.

"No, you aren't my mate." I whimpered, "I have to go." I choked.

I dropped my phone on the bed and screamed frustratedly into my hands.

The pain had subsided. All I was left with was a dull ache between my legs... This is what heat is. Heat makes you want to go and sleep with anyone you come across, just to take the ache away.

But right now, my mind is too consumed with Ethan not being my mate and the fact that Mateo is... He's my mate, and he's slept with someone else.

I cried into my hands as mom came rushing back in. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Ayla." She whispered as she pulled me into her arms, "I know how much you loved Ethan." She muttered.

"Ethan isn't my mate," I cried, "He hasn't slept with anyone." I choked. "Mom, it's Mateo." I wailed.

She held me while I cried. My dad came in, and by the look on his face, mom had mind linked him to let him know. He was furious. His eyes were black as he stormed out of my room.

I curled up into mom's side as she stroked my hair. My cries soon turned to silent sobs and hiccups, now and again. I felt her kiss me on my forehead as I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 4

"Ayla, can I come in?" Owen knocked on my door.

It's been four days since I felt that pain. My heat has come and gone, so Owen has come home. Everyone has been trying to get me to talk, but I have nothing to say. I won't leave my room and have started locking my door so no one can get in.

"Ayla, please, unlock your door and let me in." He sighed.

I ignored him and buried my head under the blanket. I feel like I've had the life sucked out of me. Yes, I wanted Ethan to be my mate, but knowing my destined mate didn't think much of his, tugs at my heart more than I expected.

"You either unlock this door or I'm gonna kick it down." He warned. I groaned and tossed my blanket across the room.

I went towards my door and unlocked it. I swung it open, "Owen, I just want to be alone," I sighed.

He looked uncomfortable. He was shuffling on his feet and wouldn't look me in the eye. "What?" I shrugged.

"Ethan and Mateo have just arrived home." He answered. I paled and backed away.

"Nononono, why?" I whined.

"Dad went to Alpha Miles," he took a deep breath, "he told him about you and Mateo." He explained.

"Why would he do that?" I whimpered. Tears were clouding my vision, but I didn't attempt to wipe them.

"Because it's wrong what he's done, Ayla. He should have waited for his mate." He growled, "and you're his little girl, he hurt you." he sighed.

A deep growl reverberated through the house. I froze and gaped at Owen, who was watching the stairs.

"Where the f**k is she? Where is my mate?" Mateo's voice was furious. I could feel the anger pulse through the house.

"Before you go anywhere near her, calm down." My dad warned.

I heard heavy footsteps thundering up the stairs. I sobbed and shook my head, "You need to listen to him, Ayla." Owen whispered before turning and heading to the stairs.

Why would he leave me with him? Hasn't Mateo hurt me enough? Now, I have to face him, knowing what he's done.

Mateo stepped into my line of vision, and I sucked in a breath. I scanned my eyes over him. He looked rough, and his eyes were lifeless. His hair was tousled and wild, like he'd run his hand through his hair constantly.

"Ayla, I'm so sorry... I would have come home when you turned sixteen..." He stopped and raised his brow. He stepped forward, flaring his nostrils.

"Don't... Don't come close." I shivered.

He held his hands up and shook his head. "Can you smell me?" He questioned.

I inhaled deeply, and all I could smell was his body wash. Nothing was enticing about him at all. I shook my head and glanced at the floor. He strode towards me, and I let him.

"Can I try something?" He whispered.

I took a deep breath and nodded. I looked up at him, hurt and guilt were swirling in his eyes. He held up his hand in front of him, and I lifted my hand shakily. I halted in front of his hand. I was nervous. I didn't want to feel the sparks and tingles that come with touching your mate.