Imelda’s Forbidden Love

Chapter Two

Imelda’s Pov

"Hide fast, my love! Caleb's special fighter guards are outside!" Tristan yelled one morning. His voice was high and scared.

I jumped up right away, frightened by Tristan's panic. I looked out a small window and saw two of the biggest, most frightening wolves ever. They had dark fur and long pointy teeth. They wore golden collars around their thick necks to show they were Caleb's best warriors protecting him.

If they smelled me here, an exile from enemy Bloodmoon Pack, I knew there would be bad danger for me and Tristan both.

Tristan grabbed me fast and pulled me into a dark corner. I crouched down very low to the ground. Tristan covered me with a big deer skin so I matched the shadows. I held my breath and did not move a whisker as the giant wolves walked right by our quarters.

We stayed hidden for a very long time just to be safe. Finally Tristan uncovered me. We both let out huge sighs of relief that Caleb's warriors did not catch my scent or see me through the window spaces.

"That was too close," Tristan said, nuzzling me gently. "We must be extra careful no patrol ever finds you here. If they tell Caleb, he will hurt us badly."

I nodded, still shaking a little from lingering fear. We had to stay alert so I could secretly stay by Tristan's side. I could not stand losing him after everything to come back to my love after banishment.

The next few days, Tristan brought me food when all others slept so my tummy stayed happily full. At night we snuggled close on his soft deer furs, whispering and giggling quietly like silly pups.

When the moon was big and bright outside one night, Tristan surprised me by taking out the carved wooden flower he had gifted me long ago. It was his sweet promise that I owned his heart forever. I had lost it when Owen forced me away.

"One of our old meeting locations was just inside Bloodmoon lands," Tristan explained with a loving smile. "I went to find this for you, my darling."

My eyes watered with happy tears to hold our love token again. I threw my arms tight around Tristan's thick neck and nuzzled him hard. He licked my cheek and I felt our bond grow even stronger. No matter the danger, we were meant to be.

"Dance with me!" I suddenly said. I wanted to celebrate being close and beating separation.

Tristan looked confused but also amused by my sudden want to dance. "Dance?" he said with a funny face. "Here in my small den?"

I was too happy and excited to care about the space. I jumped up fast and grabbed Tristan's front paws, pulling him with me. I started spinning and leaping around our tiny area wildly.

Tristan threw his head back and laughed very loud as he tried matching my energetic movements. We crashed into the walls many times and our hanging deer bone wind chimes clattered noisily against the wood. I heard other pack members outside wondering about the loud noises coming from Tristan's quarters so late at night.

But I did not care who heard us or if we woke the whole territory. Being close with my love made me feel so free and alive after so much time alone in exile longing for Tristan.

Soon we fell together in a tangled, dizzy pile onto the soft deer furs, still chuckling. Tristan rolled until he hovered over me nice and warm, our noses almost touching while we caught our breath from all the excitement. My heart raced fast looking up into my handsome darling's sweet green eyes. I reached one paw to gently stroke Tristan's cheek. He turned his head to lick my wrist tenderly.

This was worth any consequence - being here with my Tristan like secret new mates creating our own world together away from rules and judgements. No one else mattered right then.

I slept curled tight in Tristan's protective arms that night, feeling safer than I had in so very long with my pack or wandering alone. In his caring embrace, I found more joy and comfort than I could have even dreamed.

I knew our future staying hidden this way still held dangers being two exiles together in enemy territory. But I believed that as long as Tristan and I had each other close by our side, we could get through absolutely anything that came...

I woke up very happy the next early morning, all cozy and warm still in Tristan's strong embrace. But when I blinked up lovingly at him, my darling's eyes seemed worried and very sad. Sharp fear poked my heart, wondering if someone dangerous had come to discover me here after all.

"What is the matter?" I asked Tristan softly. "Why do you look so gloomy, my dearest?"

Tristan gave a long, heavy sigh that sent new prickles of dread through me. He gently grasped my shoulders as if to steady me from some coming blow.

"Oh Imelda, I must tell you something that will certainly cause hurt," Tristan began. "Please try to listen completely first before having a reaction, my love..."

My belly twisted nervously sensing bad tidings ahead. But I nodded in promise to let Tristan speak fully. Whatever this news that saddened him so deeply, we would face it together no matter what next obstacle came to test us.

My stomach twisted nervously but I nodded.

"My mother and father have arranged a mating for me," Tristan said quickly. "With the daughter of another strong business family here. It will give our pack more wealth and power together."

I stumbled back in shock and confusion. A mating? Tristan was mine! He had promised I owned his heart!

Tristan reached for me but I growled and moved away. "You said you loved only me!" I cried.

"I do love you!" Tristan insisted. "But as second born, I must obey my father's wishes. I cannot choose you as mate without terrible punishment."

Tears spilled from my eyes as anger and hurt swelled within me.

"If not for the mating decree, I would gladly make you my one love," Tristan swore desperately. "But our laws will not allow it now."

I peered outside and saw the Omega worker wolves decorating Tristan's quarters with flowers and ribbons. They were preparing for his mating ceremony to another female soon.

The reality crushed my breaking heart. My worst fears came true - I found Tristan again only to lose him to some wealthy daughter his parents approved of. It was not fair!

"I sacrificed everything - my pack, my home to be with you!" I shouted at Tristan in raging pain. "And you repay me by taking some stranger as mate only days later?"

"Please Imelda, you know my heart still belongs to you only," Tristan pleaded. "But we cannot change tradition and duty here."

I backed away, my eyes cold stone in fury and anguish. "I will find a way to stop this joining!" I growled. "You will not make vows to another if I have any breath left in me!"

I turned and fled Tristan's quarters into forest near the camp, my mind spinning with venomous thoughts. Tristan called desperately after me but I did not turn back.

Somehow I must disrupt this mating! I would rather die than witness my beloved pledge himself to a female he did not truly want. I began plotting Tristan's ceremonial downfall swiftly.

But it was short-lived…..