Forbidden Mates

It was late... she knew she shouldn't be out at this time at night. She had gotten caught up in a book about star-crossed lovers at the school library, which was open 24 hours. When she realized the time, she even contemplated spending the night curled up on one of the couches, but she would be so embarrassed if someone caught her there, sleeping. So she packed her bag, took a deep breath and ventured out into the night. She prayed to the goddess that no other wolves were out. With the mating season in full swing, she knew the risks of being caught by herself. As one of the few remaining virgins in her pack, a number of the males had their eye on her. However, she was of royal blood, a destined Luna, and there were rules. No one could have her but her destined mate. But there were still rogues in the world that wouldn't care, and even some pack members that could find themselves so consumed with lust that they may not be able to control their animalistic behavior. As she walked down the sidewalk, she heard steps behind her. She was trying to decide whether or not to turn around. Is it better if they know that I know they're there? Or would that trigger them to attack? She wondered to herself. She didn’t have time to wonder long, though. She heard the footsteps quicken and felt them closing in on her. She began running, not daring to look back, for fear that it would slow her down and she'd be caught. She thought about screaming, but no one was around to hear. "Eva!" She heard a familiar voice call from behind. "Wait up!" Eva turned around to see her best friend chasing after her. "What's the rush, girl?" Marilee asked her. Eva pressed her hand to her chest, trying to settle her breathing. "Goddess, Mari… Why didn’t you announce yourself? You scared me!" "Sorry! I hadn't heard from you and you weren't answering your phone. I came looking for you, but you weren't at the library anymore. I was almost certain that was you on the street, but you had your hood pulled up and didn’t want to freak some stranger out by yelling at them from a mile away. Why are you always so jumpy?" “Oh yeah… my phone died and I forgot to bring my charger. Dumb. And you know why I’m jumpy! This is like, the most dangerous time for a she-wolf to be out all alone at night.” “Well, you’re not alone anymore. And stop being so dramatic! It’s not like anyone is lying in wait for you. You’re probably safer here in the city than out on the pack lands, anyway.” “Says you! You know the Alpha’s brother has his eye on me. He’s been very outspoken about it. No one is allowed to touch me because he wants me. Even though he has a mate out there somewhere, he has decided that I’m his future bride. It really creeps me out!” “Well, you’re not wrong there. I don’t know why he’s so set on you – no offense. I think it’s just the idea that you haven’t let anyone else touch you either. Other than a few make-out sessions in high school, you’ve kept everyone at arm’s length. Any male who isn’t mated yet has their eye on you, but you’re right… he seems especially pushy about it.” “Anyway! Speaking of mates, how is Lukas?” Marilee immediately blushed. She had found her mate about six months ago, and her life has been bliss ever since. “Oh Eva… he is so wonderful. I don’t know why the Goddess thought I deserved him, but he makes me happy every single day. I still feel guilty that I didn’t wait for him. I should have. I really thought Austin was going to turn out to be my mate. I mean, he told me we were, and I guess I was just a fool to believe him. Lukas says he doesn’t care, but I don’t believe him. I mean, he waited for me, so how can he possibly not care that I didn’t do the same?” “Austin was a jerk. Lukas knows that, and he knows that it was your intention to wait, and you were tricked by an older male, for no reason other than that he wanted your virginity. Lukas loves you anyway. Stop feeling guilty and just focus on loving him back.” “You’re right. I just don’t always feel like I deserve him… he deserved someone like you. Someone who was smart, and waited. Have you looked for your mate anymore?” Eva sighed, “No… I haven’t. I don’t want to be searching all the time. As envious as I am of you and Lukas, not everyone gets a wonderful mate. Some people get really terrible mates. Even though we’re made for each other and are meant to complete each other in every way, sometimes that’s not enough for our mate, and they cheat or abuse us. Sometimes, they’ve fallen in love with someone else, thinking they’ll never find their mate, and then they have to reject us, or leave their wife, which is an impossibly unfair and painful situation.” “You know that what you’re talking about happens like, .03% of the time, right?” Marilee said sarcastically. “It’s actually much more common than that, but mostly I guess I just don’t want to get my hopes up, only to be disappointed. I’m just not excited to go looking for more heartbreak.” Eva didn’t have to say anymore for Marilee to understand what she was referencing. Eva had had a tough couple of years. Losing her father shortly before graduating high school, her mom, Josephina, just never quite recovered. She’s been doing better recently, and never stopped being a loving, caring mother, but has simply never been the same. Lucinda, Eva’s grandmother had been helping financially, but Josephina seemed to barely be keeping her head above water. This struggle motivated Eva to not only succeed in college, but excel and get into law school. She knew she wanted to explore the world, but she also needed to be able to support her mother and provide for herself, while giving back to the pack that had been a family to her throughout all the trials she had faced thus far in her young life. She owed so much to them, and to the previous Alpha, Roberto. He was a fair and compassionate Alpha, always ensuring that his pack was taken care of and that those struggling were provided for. Nothing was free, but there was never any quid pro quo or favors tied to his help. He genuinely cared for his fellow wolves, and would do anything to support them, while finding ways for them to “repay” the pack, through various tasks and talents. Josephina was a talented seamstress, so she worked hard to ensure there were always clothes available to any who needed them, and even created most of the gowns the royal women would wear for grand events. She would repair clothing and upholstery for the pack as well. This was her contribution in exchange for the support she received. Roberto felt it important that any assistance provided be viewed and perceived as support, not charity, and provided all who received support an opportunity to repay the pack in their own way. Since her father had been the Beta, his death was a push for Roberto to retire, and allow his son, Dominic to move into the alpha role. Dominic was younger than most alphas when taking the role, but he had recently found his mate so he felt ready to take that step and committed to his responsibility to the pack. The two young women walked in silence for some time, when suddenly the hair on the back of their necks stood up. They both froze, looking around. Eva could feel her wolf stirring, but couldn’t identify the emotion. It didn’t feel like fear… was it anxiety? Apprehension? Excitement? “Do you feel that?” Eva whispered to Marilee, continuing to scan the streets and buildings around them. “I do. And I don’t like it. We need to get home. Now.” Just as they began to move again, a figure stepped out from the shadows, blocking their path. Both Eva and Marilee gasped, then rolled their eyes as they recognized the man in front of them, attempting to push by him. “Get lost, Nate.” Marilee said. She was much braver when speaking to the Alpha’s brother than Eva was. Even though she was more than comfortable standing up for herself, something about him always made her feel cautious. She didn’t trust him, and though she wanted nothing to do with him, she also didn’t want to find herself on his bad side. Nate blocked their path again, more forcefully this time. “I am here for my mate.” He said, his eyes burning into Eva. “Well I guess you better keep looking then.” Marilee said as she tried to push past him again, her arm hooked in Eva’s. Nate grabbed her arm tightly, stopping her in her tracks. “You better watch that mouth of yours. I don’t care if you’re the future Luna of the Black Moon pack; you will not disrespect me.” He turned his eyes back to Eva, not removing his hand from Marilee’s arm. “I am here for you, Eva. You know that we are destined to be together. I am tired of playing cat and mouse.” “I am not your mate, so we are not destined to be together.” Eva said, finally making eye contact with Nate. “The Moon Goddess made a mistake. There is no better match in the universe, than you and I.” “The Moon Goddess does not make mistakes, Nate. Now take your hand off Marilee.” Eva straightened her shoulders and felt a surge of confidence, though she had no idea where it came from. Nate removed his hand from Marilee’s arm, and took a menacing step toward Eva. This time, she did not cower, she did not back down. “The Moon Goddess is not the only powerful being in our universe, my love.” He leaned forward, inches from her face, but she refused to be intimidated. Again, she wondered where this sense of confidence was coming from; her wolf was going crazy inside her, but there was something more than Nate’s aggression egging her on. “Just because you can resist the mating season, does not mean you can resist our fate. And just because you don’t feel it, does not make untrue. You will be mine. Trust me.” With that, Nate leaned in, trying to grab Eva’s waist and pull him to her. Eva screamed and Marilee jumped at him, to push him away. He caught Eva’s wrist, and shoved Marilee to the ground. Just as she collided with the curb, a furious roar echoed down the street, and Lukas had Nate by the neck, holding him against the light pole, his feet six inches off the ground. Marilee and Eva looked at each other. Where did he come from? Eva mind-linked to Marilee. I don’t know, but I need to calm him down before they start a war between the packs. Eva nodded as Marilee jumped to her feet, placing her hand on Lukas’ arm. “Baby, it’s not worth it. Please, put him down.” Marilee could feel Lukas instantly begin to calm down by her touch, but he did not release Nate. “If I ever see you touch Marilee again, with so much as a single finger, I will rip you limb from limb.” Eva could see the anger pouring off Nate, but he knew he was no match for Lukas one on one. Nate was incredibly strong, but Lukas could, and would, do exactly as he had just promised. Nate gave a weak nod, and Lukas dropped him to the ground. He stood there, rubbing his neck, as he watched them walk away.   “Thank you, Lukas.” Eva said when they were finally a few blocks away. “Yeah, thanks baby… that got out of hand really fast.” “Don’t even start with me yet. I am so angry at both of you. You know better than to be out this late. Marilee, you may be mated and off limits, but Eva – you are not. I cannot stand between Nate and you. I could only intervene, because he assaulted my future Luna. I am not part of your pack, and have no say over how your men interact with your women.” “Whatever. This is so stupid! I can’t be out late because men can’t control themselves around me? That’s the most annoying thing anyone has ever said to me, and almost every single person I know has said it. The idea that this mating season makes them unable to control themselves… it’s just an excuse for them to act like animals, do whatever they want to whoever they want. And we enable it! We tell them, and everyone else, that it’s okay to act that way. Of course they’re going to keep doing it!” “It’s nature, Eva, you know that. We’re not humans, we are animals. And we have instincts that are nearly impossible to control. It’s always been this way, for everyone. How you’ve managed to avoid it this long is something I’ll never understand.” “Oh yeah? What about Marilee? What if she weren’t mated yet, and Nate was after her like this?” A deep growl erupted from Lukas’ chest as he wrapped an arm around her protectively. “No one touches Marilee. She is mine.” “And further – you saved yourself for her. You never gave in to the mating season, or your hormones, or your instincts, whatever you want to call it. So don’t justify it for them!” Lukas shot Marilee a look, Eva assumed for sharing intimate details of their relationship, and his life before they met. Marilee shrugged and offered a timid smile, “She’s my best friend, babe. And I was just so proud and happy to have a mate with your self-control and devotion…” Lukas leaned down and kissed her on the head, obviously not truly upset that Eva knew this about him. “I’m just saying, to both of you, officially, that I do not agree, nor do I support you being out late unaccompanied. I need you to be mo-” suddenly Lukas stopped talking and began scanning the streets as his eyes began to change, and then Marilee and Eva smelled it too. “Vampire.” They all said in unison. “Mari, Eva, you two go on ahead. I don’t know where Nate went, but we need to make sure he makes it back to the hold, too.” The women picked up their pace, almost to the stronghold, while Lukas watched their backs and began yelling for Nate. Soon, in werewolf form, Nate came running around the corner. He shifted back as he approached Lukas. “There’s a vampire out there. I tried to lure him out, but he is staying hidden.” Nate stated. “Yes, I smell him… I can’t figure out why he is here, and not attacking one of us. Let’s get inside for now. We can set some traps in the morning.” Lukas replied. They made their way into the werewolves’ stronghold, almost forgetting their earlier tussle. The stronghold was disguised as a hotel, and provided a safe space for wolves to stay in the city. The hold wasn’t associated with any particular pack, but welcomed any wolf, so long as it belonged to a pack. Rogues were not allowed to stay at the hold, unless sponsored by a pack, which didn’t happen very often, but was not unheard of. Typically, if a rogue were being sponsored by a pack, it was because an alpha was considering accepting the rogue into their pack, but did not wish to welcome them onto their pack lands until they had completed the application and interview process. This was best performed at a centralized location, especially when a rogue may be applying to multiple packs at the same time. There were also scenarios where a pack would proactively recruit rogues, but this was even more rare. Sometimes, a pack would find a rogue who was a mate to a pack member, or maybe had a particular skill, or incredible fighting strength, and request that they consider joining their pack. Sometimes the rogue would join, other times they would decline, instead choosing to remain a rogue. These hotels were located here and there around the country, where there were heavier concentrations of wolves known to be in the area, whether for school, business or travel. While Lukas and Nate went to call Dominic to tell him of the vampire and begin planning for his capture, Marilee and Eva had closed themselves into their room and begun getting ready for bed. “Why do you think that vampire is around? They know this area is pretty popular among wolves.” Marilee reopened the conversation. “I really don’t know…. What did he smell like to you, though? I’ve smelled a vampire before, and I could definitely identify him as a vampire, but he smelled different to me… almost nice, even.” Marilee looked at Eva out of the corner of her eye. “Nice?” she questioned. “It smelled like every other vampire I’ve ever smelled. I mean, they don’t smell like rotting flesh or anything, but they have a very distinct, metallic scent to them.” “I don’t know… like I said, I could smell that. But there was an alluring scent, too. It smelled warm, like, fresh-baked bread with cinnamon and sugar…” Eva closed her eyes and tried to channel the smell she had caught earlier, trying to remember its comfort and sweetness. She didn’t realize Marilee was staring at her until she heard her squeal. “Eeeeeek! Oh my gosh it’s your mate!! Your mate was out there somewhere!” “My mate? How do you know that?” “Oh come on, Eves! You know that everyone’s mate has a unique scent, and only their mate can smell it! He must have been far enough away that we didn’t pick up on him being around – that and we were so distracted by the vampire!” “The only wolves out there were Lukas and Nate. Neither of which are my mate. I don’t know… maybe I imagined it. You know I’m exhausted these days.” “Being tired doesn’t make you imagine your mate’s scent. First thing tomorrow, we are tearing apart this town. He must be here somewhere! Oh my goddess!! Maybe he is here at the Hold! We should go walk the halls right now and see if you can catch his scent again!” “Look, Mari, you know I’m not desperate to find my mate. I can look tomorrow, and if I catch the scent, I will follow it. But for some reason, I just don’t feel like he is here at the Hold. I think my wolf would sense that he is close, if that were the case.” Marilee could tell that Eva was done talking about it for now, so she got ready for bed while Eva turned on the TV in the room they were sharing, desperate for anything to take her mind off that intoxicating smell, and calm her restless wolf. Eva laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm her wolf, Stella, down. Mate! Mate! Mate! Stella kept chanting in her head. We smelled him! He is near! We need to find him! Eva shushed her, if he is here, he will still be here tomorrow. We will find him then. But the later you keep me up tonight, the later I will stay in bed in the morning. Let us fall asleep, and then we will go look for our mate. Stella slowly calmed down, and Eva was able to drift off to sleep, trying to tell herself that she was imagining the entire ordeal, and in the morning, Stella would be back to normal and she could continue her life as usual.