Free mate

Mate

The room erupted in confused shouting but only the quiet words of the strange man reach me. Hanna and the other man were questioning us and talking over each other but my brain didn't process their words, I was too busy staring at him and resisting the urge to jump across the room just to be closer to him. The logical part of my mind was screaming that this was a stranger but he felt so safe that I couldn't even be afraid of him.

“What do you mean not a werewolf?” His eyes were piercing and I had to turn my gaze down. That's what Jason said over and over, I'm just a girl. Not a wolf, not useful. Weak and pathetic. I stay quiet and he turns his gaze away to speak to the others.

“Go.” It was a short command but no one complained, even though Sera gave me a worried look as they hurried out of the room. Once they closed the door behind the man turned to me again. If he was as shocked as I was it didn't show, he remained calm and appeared to be in total control when he walked closer and kneeled next to the bed where I was still frozen.

“You felt it.” I had to nod, no words would come out. I realized that the strange feeling inside of me must be my wolf struggling to reach me but I've never shifted, never got the enhanced senses. If I could I might have escaped sooner or been able to stand up for myself.

He doesn't speak right away, just studies me without expression. What a disappointment I must be to him, he's obviously someone important and here I am, supposedly his mate. A thin and weak girl who can't even look him in the eye. The nightgown doesn't cover my scars and bruises and there's something dark in his expression as he studies me. I try to pull the covers over my pale legs and he turns his gaze away, letting out a long exhale when he looks up before focusing on my face again. I must be burning red with shock and embarrassment. There is something inside of me though, a need that pulls me to him despite the fear. I almost shake with the desire to be close to him but that just scares me more. How is this possible?

“What's your name?” He asks. I answer without hesitating, his voice breaking all my resistance.

“Kate.”

“I'm Daniel.” I don't answer, there's nothing to say. How is he so calm when my world and everything I knew crashed? All I can manage is another small nod while I keep my head down.

“You really didn't know you're a werewolf?” As if I would lie about something like this. It must be confusing, I know Jason shifted for the first time when he was eight and I'm assuming that's when it usually happens. How have I lived 18 years without knowing something this big about myself?

“I'm not... I've never shifted or anything”, I hate how weak my voice is. Daniel brushes a curl from my face and I flinch back. A frown breaks his cool exterior but he pulls back, letting his hand drop on the edge of the bed.

“Don't you feel the wolf?” He asks. I was about to shake my head but there is something buried deep that makes me stop.

“I don't know”, I say slowly. I never imagined that the strange emotions and feelings I sometimes got could be from my wolf, locked down inside of me. A prisoner just like me.

I'm sorry

I try to somehow communicate but I don't know how to deal with this, especially in Daniel's presence. He seems to understand that I'm shutting down under all this new information and stands up.

“I'll give you time, we'll talk more tomorrow but you need rest. I'll send someone to bring you food and if there's anything you need just call out.” I nod, feeling tired again. He touches my arm before leaving, sending that electricity over me again. I want to ask him to stay but instead just watch as he quietly steps out and closes the door behind him, breaking my trance. I fall on my back against the fluffy pillows, letting out a small whine. How it this happening? I'm not quite as scared anymore, I don't know if it's talking to the girls or some deep connection to Daniel but I fall asleep quickly, barely waking up when Sera comes in with more food and water.

“Thank you”, I mumble and she smiles.

“Rest easy sweetie, you're safe now.”

I wake up again,in the middle of the night again. I lay there for a moment, trying to listen if there's anyone there but it's quiet. My bladder is forcing me to get up and search for a bathroom so I slowly tiptoe to the door.

I was surprised when I pushed the door and it really opened. I feared they would have locked me in but I was able to creep into the dark hallway. I yelp when I notice movement, a wolf emerging from the shadows walking towards me. My body instantly reacts and I reach for the door behind me. Did Jason somehow get in? It looked smaller than him but in the dark it was hard to be sure. I slam the door behind me and look for something to barricade it with when a knock and a quiet voice calls through the door.

“Kate? Sorry if I scared you, you can come out.” The loud whisper is definitely a boy but not Jason. My heart is still racing when I crack the door open again, a teenaged boy steps back to give me space. He looks harmless and I push the door open.

“Sorry, I was keeping watch and it's easier as a wolf”, he says with a sheepish smile.

“Oh. Sorry, it's fine I didn't mean to disturb you. I just need to use the toilet?” He seems amused by my shyness but points the right direction.

“Second door on the left.” He swifts back to a wolf with impressive speed and grins at me before jogging back to where he came from, curling on the ground in front of what I assume is the front door. With my eyes more adjusted I notice he's smaller than Jason, dark fur and slender built but he's probably still growing since as a human he was maybe around 15. I quickly move to the following his directions.

Washing my hands I stare at my face from the massive mirror. The pale light shows every bruise on my face, the dark marks on my neck and shoulders. My brown hair was a mess, curls tangled up and I noticed how prominent my collarbones were. I couldn't help but compare to Hanna's muscles and Seras soft curves.

There was nothing I could do to fix it now so I settled on washing my face and gently drying it trying to mind the bruises. I continued staring at myself, focusing on my dark brown eyes when I leaned against the sink. There was a part of me missing, the wolf that I should be able to reach but when I tried to focus and search there was nothing answering me.

I had felt her when I saw Daniel, the more I thought about it the more I was sure of it. Why couldn't I reach her now? Frustrated I limped back out, the wolf at the door raised his head to acknowledge me. I smiled at him before going back to my room. I didn't know whether he was guarding because they wanted to keep me here or protect themselves or me but I didn't have anywhere else to go.

Right there I didn't even feel the need to run away. I was still tired and as strange as the soft bed felt I let out a small happy sigh as I sank into it, eating some of the bread Sera had brought me. Just because Daniel was supposed to be my mate didn't mean I trusted these people but for now the best thing I could do was to stay here until I was stronger and stood a chance in the unfamiliar world.