The Alpha's Runt Mate (complete)

Chapter 5: Willa POV

Chapter 5: Willa

The muffled sound of feet shuffling on the other side of a door woke me. I opened my eyes and I was immediately startled by my unfamiliar surroundings. I was in a large bedroom with white carpet and royal blue curtains. 

I tried to get up off the bed that I was on but found myself imprisoned by two large tattooed arms. As I struggled I felt the warm arms tighten around my waist. "Good morning and Happy Birthday, Willa," a smooth voice called from directly behind me. "Mate!" My wolf cried in my head. I slowly turned my body to face him and stared into his beautiful blue eyes. I wanted to say thank you but all I could do was cry. I had thought I'd imagined everything from the night before. I was sure I had conjured up this perfect mate in my head, but somehow he was in front of me holding me gently. He was real.

Nate pulled me in even closer and smoothed my hair. He allowed me to cry and didn't scold me like my father or nanny might have. They never tolerated my anxiety attacks so I usually had to hide. No one at my birth pack ever just let me feel what I was feeling without making me feel invalidated. "Shh, it's okay," he whispered, kissing my forehead. His very existence soothed me and I felt myself relax.

"I've never had anyone wish me a happy birthday before," I said, wiping tears away from my eyes. "Really?" He asked, surprised. I nodded. "My birth wasn't something to celebrate," I said solemnly. He sat up on the bed and I did the same, mimicking him. "Why do you say such things?" I looked down at my hands and fidgetted as I described my mother and brother's deaths and how everyone blamed me.

"My father would prefer it had been me that died and not my brother. That's why he doesn't love me," I said, holding back new tears threatening my eyes. I felt Nate grab my hand so I looked up at him after confirming with my own eyes he had done it. "You are not responsible for what happened to your mother and brother. It was just an unfortunate tragedy. If your father can't see that he doesn't deserve to love you or receive your love. From now on loving you is my job," he said, smiling at me. The way he said "loving" made me shift my body around uncomfortably.

"What's wrong?" He asked, confused. I pulled my hand away from his and said, "I have never had anyone tell me they love me. I really don't know what to make of what you're saying to me. How can you love me when you don't know me? What if you decide to not love me when you realize that I'm not good enough for you? I'm sorry but I can't help but feel insecure and anxious." He nodded, "Believe me, I get it. The moment I saw how you trembled around your father and the men in your pack I realized this wouldn't be easy or something to rush. I will go your pace and show you how perfect for each other we are. Whatever you do just don't give up on me and our mate bond. That is the only thing I will ever ask of you, to trust me and the bond given to us by the Moon Goddess." I nodded my head, "I respect the mate bond and the moon goddess." He sighed out of relief and leaned forward to kiss my forehead. "We will be good together," he said, smiling.

I sighed and smiled, accepting what he said. I'd always been afraid of men, scared to trust. I was even more afraid of disappointing them. This man, my mate, somehow I felt I could trust him. I prayed silently to the Moon Goddess that she had not gotten me into another bad situation. I trusted her with all my heart but a small part of me had always felt she had given me a few too many obstacles. Then again, I had survived. I had repeated that to myself over and over. I had survived.