Tarnished Gold

Chapter Two

 A king. That was his destiny. Ruling over the werewolves of North America. Just like his father, Alaric Bain. Unlike many wolves, he'd been sent to public school along side a student body that was in majority, human. While part of them was wolf - the other half was human. A thing so many of their kind tended to forget. They forgot to respect their origins. From the fragile humanity their kind was birthed from. He did not wish his son to be ignorant, and to hate humans. Delicate and good.

 Perhaps at first he hadn't understood. Remained with his own kind and avoided befriending humans. But then he'd met her. Wild red hair, unruly with long curls. With those untamed brown eyes... And he could never forget her fire. She was tiny next to those her age. But that had not stopped the little girl from standing up to a bully whom was picking on a little boy. Didn't matter the bully was two years her senior. And well over a foot her height then.

 Shorter perhaps, yet her chin held high, little fists clenched at her sides... The girl seemed to be looking down on the older boy. Not concerned for herself as those blazing rust eyes bore into the bullies. But as bullies do - he'd looked at the small girl and laughed. He wasn't fearful because he felt he was stronger. Such as the way of a bully - they prey on those they deem beneath them. The weak.

 Apparently laughter had not been the best reaction to the girl. Because as he had stepped to back up the girl he'd felt compelled to make sure was okay... she'd been capable it would seem. Her little fist going right for the older boys junk. And with enough force it would appear to have him keel over and start crying.

 He'd stopped in surprise, amused as he watched this little human smile at the other boy whom had been bullied, offering a hand to help him up. The red faced bully with fat tears running down his face started to get up. And it looked like he might try to go after the little girl. That was when Theodore spoke up, "I wouldn't do that."

 While the humans did not know of werewolves - they knew the group wasn't one to mess around with. Theodore was taller than the bully already. Even if he was a year younger. And like most bullies - someone he felt was stronger, he lost his confidence. Leaving. The little red head had turned and stuck her tongue out at the bully.

 Theodore's friends looked at him odd as he laughed. All of them had thus far kept to their kind. They didn't know what to make of their future alpha heading to the small human girl, he offered his hand, "I'm Theodore," flashing a grin, "nice hit."

 For a moment those fiery eyes looked at his hand, then looking back to him before she took his hand, "Delilah. Nice t'meet ya Teddy." Theodore hadn't ever had anyone call him Teddy. His friends called him Theo if anything. But he didn't find himself hating her calling him that.

 "Delilah. That's a cool name," she beamed at that, "I could show you how to punch even harder." Her smile fully took over then.

 They had been friends from that moment on.

 Years had passed, and in school... She had been his best friend. Both of them finding trouble and mischief together. They taught each other much. As he had promised - he taught her to punch properly. And over the years - fully fight. Feeling he wanted to make sure that Delilah would be able to protect herself if he couldn't. She taught him that even if they where not the same species - that a human wasn't as one dimensional and 'weak' as many of his kind saw them as. She taught him compassion. A new meaning to the word courage... Most of all - as years passed - they taught each other love. Not that either would admit to that beyond friendship.

  Theodore always tried to ignore how she really made him feel. Because he knew at eighteen he would start the search for his mate. Despite the rumors - he'd never actually slept with any girls. He'd done other things. But he'd always thought he'd wait for his mate. And as much as he loved Delilah, he knew the mate bond would only serve to hurt her if he acted on that love and attraction that grew over the years. If he tried to be with her and found his mate - he wouldn't be able to help but love his mate. It would leave Delilah hurt. A casualty of something that was supposed to be beautiful.

He loved her to much do that to her. Once he found his mate it would be easier to let go of what he felt for his friend. The problem was graduation they had been drinking... Talking about how he had to return to learn more about his 'family business'... Then there was the kiss. He never thought a kiss would destroy his resolve. It wasn't his first kiss... But it had started a fire that could not be stopped.

 They hadn't been drunk. Not really. Buzzed perhaps. But it had seemed to give Delilah the courage to kiss him. She had been perfection. Her body had been divine, her touch a glimpse of heaven. In the morning he'd woken to her smaller body curled into him, face nestled into his chest.

 Guilt. For what he'd taken from her, and what he'd been to weak to keep for the one he would be destined with. It was then he did something that would cause even worse guilt - he'd left before she'd waken. He'd never answered that last text his beautiful Delilah sent... Left without a proper goodbye.

 Cowardly. He knew it. And it haunted him. But always he told himself it was for the best he let her think of him an asshole - maybe that helped her get over him faster. That last year she'd switched schools so their mutual friends couldn't keep an eye on her. And despite wanting to always watch over his Delilah - he had let her go.

 Deep in training to take the mantel as king, as well as to take over the business his father ran... Helped distract. But he would find himself thinking of her. She would always be his first. His first human friend. His first love.

  But as he walked into Lunar Eclipse, having a meeting with the owner of the supernatural club. As his father wanted to pass on the title soon, he had sent his son to resign the peace agreement for such establishments. Early - he'd planned to walk about without revealing who he was. See if there was anything concerning he should speak with the owner about.

 What had not been expected was upon entering - he found the most delicious scent. His wolf howling in his mind. Heart hammering with excitement. After all these years... Finally his mate. He was sure of it. Nothing but his mate could smell like that - nothing but his mate could make his wolf go wild rattling in his brain excitedly.

 Despite the overwhelming mix of scents it took little effort to follow his nose to the divine scent. The petite form sitting at the bar... Cascade of course wavy red hair that made him think of Delilah. Though he felt guilt that in this moment he thought of another woman. He couldn't help wrapping an arm around that delicate waist. Burrowed his nose against her neck finding where he'd mark her, inhaling that intoxicating scent.

 Her voice saying mate caused his breath to hitch. He pulled her into him and breathed deeper. Joy at her recognizing him as hers. His voice echoing...

 Then pulling her around, meaning to look at his mate. But Craven, his wolf, had taken control and pulled their mate into a kiss. He hadn't felt this right since Delilah. A kiss had not made him burn with desire and happiness in the way this one did. What he had not expected was for his mate to push him away - or for him to recognize her. To be shocked.

 Delilah Rourke...

 Confusion. Joy... That old familiar guilt. Realizing if he hadn't let her go back then... When she'd turned eighteen he would have known she was his. Then the whole realization she'd been turned into a werewolf. Even before she'd been able to shift he'd have been able to sense her wolf if she had been born. It was rare for someone to survive a bite...

 So many questions. So many emotions. And a tongue that felt tied. Unsure of how to process how the conversation went. Or understand fully where that rage came from. Though he could understand some of her hurt as she threw his mistake in his face. He'd never reached out. They had one beautiful, perfect night together... Then disappeared. Ghosted her. Despite her words saying she hadn't thought of him...

 One didn't have that kind of hurt if they had moved past it. He'd hurt his mate... And there wasn't a damn thing he could do to change the past. That was when a mans voice hollered her last name. Delilah seemed to take that as her escape. He would wait. After all... As he watched her disappear into the office, he was here to see that same guy.

 He would make it up to her. He would show her how important she was, how much he'd love her.

 But at long last. He found her. His mate... His queen...

 Looking at the bartender. Jaw tense, "tell your boss Theodore Bain is here."