THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE

ELINA'S POV Tonight was the night. I imagined the way this night would go, his hands all over my body As he whispered sweet things into my ear. I swallowed because as his door loomed ahead, I felt a sense of dread creep through my chest, tightening it. I didn’t know what that was. It was probably from excitement. The lights were on when I got down to his door. I took a deep breath and fling the door open because I never knock. I never have. My heart dropped to my chest. My eyes stung as I breathed. “f**k, you feel so f*****g good,” he grunted, thrusting into a woman, staring at her like she was the only woman that was ever worth his love. “Leo?” My voice broke as my little box fell to the ground. I took a step back. I couldn't breathe. As soon as he heard me call him, he froze, his head snapping to the side. “Elina? f**k, s**t—” He grunted, getting off her, trying to explain, but my sobs were already drowning out whatever words he had to say. I wasn't having any of it. I was already at the door when he grabbed my coat, asking me to please understand when my body acted without my permission. I landed a blow on his face and ran away from there, my vision blurring. I was not supposed to be walking home like this. I was stumbling down a sidewalk,my mascara smudged all over my face, my lipstick smeared from too much wiping, and my coat unzipped. As I walked down the path, I couldn’t feel anything because I felt numb. I couldn't feel anything because my boyfriend had cheated on me. The image of him, naked on that bed on top of another woman, moaning her name had broken something inside me. I felt my heart clench, my eyes clenched shut, feeling heavy as I took shaky steps forward. H—how could he do this to me? All I ever did was love him. Give my heart to him on a platter. When I had caught him making out with the woman, I was shocked. We were supposed to—I was supposed to give myself to him today. To finally feel what it meant to be called a woman. I cried out loud, earning looks from passers-by. I cringed. My chest ached. I loved Leo. So damn much. He was everything To me. I didn’t know what I did, but next thing, I found myself using the shortcut that was in the woods to my house. I needed to be home. Nothing more but to cry my eyes out. Then, I started to laugh hysterically. I was a fool. I was an i***t for getting played like that. I remembered when Leo would come to dates smelling like other women's perfume with lipstick smudged on his shirt. I thought that maybe, those were just misunderstandings that didn't need much complications. Shame swirled up in my gut. The streetlights above flickered, creating an eerie feeling about this place. I swallowed and wiped my tears, hugging myself. My phone buzzed and I raised it up to see who it was or what was wrong. It was just a notification that my phone's battery would soon die. I shoved my phone tiredly into my coat pocket and immediately, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise. It felt like there were invisible eyes watching me. I swallowed, suddenly noticing how dark and deserted this path was. The branches creaked, the leaves rustled and the lights began to flicker faster. The air smelled like…fur…iron musk or something. It felt a metallic taste in my mouth and an uneasy pit in my stomach. I hear a snap from the bush behind me and whipped my head back. Nothing. I increased my pace, wanting nothing than to hurry home. Then, I heard a low growl from somewhere in the bushes. I stop, breathing through my mouth, my hands flying to my chest. Phew. I thought that was something more dangerous. That growl just sounded like a dog. Probably a very big dog, but then the growl sounded again and it felt like my heart stopped. It sounded too deep to be a dog's. It sounded almost…inhuman. I turn slowly to the side to see whatever it was that was growling. I met red, glowing eyes from the bushes. It was there. Watching me from the tree line. My breath Caught in my throat, “Oh My God,” I breathed—barely and took an unconscious step back. Before I could think or breathe, it lunged. I screamed so loud that I was sure the forest echoed my cry. My legs began to carry me as fast as it could. I heard footsteps and growls behind me. No. Nonononono— I tried to take a U-turn when I was tackled to the ground like a piece of rag. I hissed in pain and tried to crawl away, but the wolf ripped my coat open, its claws slicing my side. “No! No,please! Help” I screamed, gathering all my strength and tried to kick it off me and crawl away. My throat was hoarse from screaming. Blood trailed the ground from my arm that it had scratched at. It pinned me, snarling at me, its red eyes glowing the darkness. It was staring at me, letting out puffs of putrid smelling breath. I sobbed, my eyes shut, waiting for the predator to make its kill. Then, it snarled and raised its paws to strike me when I heard a loud boom. A figure crashed through the trees and flew with unhuman grace. He tackled the wolf to the ground and threw it like it weighed nothing to him. It snarled and lunged at him, but he was quick. He ducked and grabbed the wolf by its tail. The Wolf howled and curled, twisting to claw at the man's skin, but the man was quick. He grabbed it and then snapped its neck. It slumped to the ground, bleeding. I lay on the ground there, my eyes wide open. The man came into my field of vision. I could barely make out much from his face, but I caught sweat roll down his toned broad chest. I whimpered as he knelt down next to me, cradling My head. I could finally see him and my breath caught in my throat at the sight. His eyes…they were violet. I had never seen anything like them in my life. Then he brushed the blood from my face. “You're mine,” he spoke in a raspy deep tone. I felt my insides shiver at the sight of this shirtless mysterious man. I flinched away. “W-What?” I stammered. I tried to crawl back, one hand pressing the wound on my side. “You’re injured,” he said softly. He reached for me, not aggressively. “Don’t touch me!” I shouted, scrsmbling up on my shaky feet, adrenaline dulling the pain. He doesn’t stop me. He just watched me. “You’re crazy,” I muttered, and then bolted down the path, half-running, half-limping. I didn’t ever turn back. I stumbled into my front door, locking it behind me. Blood filled my hands. My clothes were ripped, but I made it. I started to sob again, harder, silent sobs, my body shaking. It had been a weird painful day. I looked in the mirror, examining the bruises on my body from me crawling on the floor and then a s***h on my ribs, dirt on my face. I stripped off my ruined clothes, went to shower but paused when I see something glowing faintly in the mirror. I leaned in. It was where the wolf had clawed me. It was a mark, glowing through my skin like heat under ice. Pale silver. It pulsed once and then faded. I gasped and touched it. I backed awa y from the mirror, a scream of horror already tearing through my throat.