The Chosen Mate

CHAPTER 17 |

Cole's POV

I stood there, for what seemed hours, but were just mere seconds in reality. I don't understand this, at all. 

"Cayden, you said you had a special bond with the Moon Goddess, right?" I asked him, feeling lost. "Do you think She can tell you what this means? I mean... This is a message from the Great Priestess, maybe you can also tap into that kind of energy and ask Her what this is?" I was now in a hurry, almost pressed to have an answer. "I cannot, I am just an Alpha wolf among many others, She may give us small clues or feelings sometimes but I could never talk to Her like that. She is my mother, yes, but She is still divine. The Great Priestess has an even more intricate link to her than I do. I'm sorry Cole, I can't help you with this one..." I felt his spirit slowly backing away in my mind."Maybe She will give us a hint one day..." I did felt it, his disappointment. His words were full of sadness and annoyance. I couldn't blame him, it made him just as powerless as I am. And I don't think anyone will be able to... or maybe actually, there is?

I have to talk about this with Mavis. The only purpose of this message is because I asked the Great Priestess for guidance because of this mate situation, this must be related to her as well. I turned back to my parents, who I felt, were anxious and eager to know what the message was. I saw how my mom hung to my father's clothes as if she was about to fall any moment.  Her face may be a tranquil and calm one but her aura never lies, she was almost... scared? Father was a little more habile in making his aura more discreet but I still felt his uneasiness, and this fear, his knuckles were white in his fist, and his breathing a little hectic. "Well, son, can you tell us what is written?" I take a very deep breath and try to keep my thoughts in check, my mind clear. I focus my eyes on the paper and read the poem out loud, it felt like giving the poem power, like it meant something now. It wasn't just in my head anymore, it was something real and from what I can see on my parents' face, something grave. 

"The Chosen One?", is what my mother could only say. She shifted her attention to her husband. "What does this has to do with Cole, Oliver?" My father squinted his eyes, he seemed to study me and have a conversation with his wolf. "Clara, the Crone.", he lowered his gaze to meet her eyes, "The Crone is the thing we should focus on." 

"What is The Crone?", I finally dare to ask. "No, the most important question here is, what does this has to do with me? I asked the Great Priestess about my mate situation, so why this?" Silence, I've never seen my father without an answer before. "Mavis is related to this, she is my mate, I have to tell her about this. Right?" It sounded more like a plea towards the end, the fact that I was missing her is now even more obvious. "Whatever you asked, this is the answer you got. Know that this does not only concern you, or Mavis, or that other girl. This is much more serious, and I don't know how you got involved in this prophecy but we have to sort this out." His grey eyes turned a bit bluer. "We will go to the Elders Council and try to go back to the Great Priestess, and we'll of course inform Alpha Richard of this. This is now related to her daughter and maybe the future Luna of this pack. She still might be your mate."

He looks at my mother, his gaze softening but his face still hard. "Let's call Alpha Richard, darling."

That other girl. He was talking about Isabella. She has been calling and texting me since the birthday party. I didn't answer her, I wanted to wait for the answer of the Council before telling her officially that she isn't my mate, I'm sure of it. But I wanted proof, something that would make it more official than my feelings, I knew it wouldn't be enough for her. I do...used to like her, and I didn't want her to suffer. She still had feelings for me, but it'll never be like before. I don't know why I was still with her even if I knew deep down I didn't love her as she loved me. All of my memories with her feel more like a dream, something very far and unreal, it feels strange to even think about those. 

Still, even after all this, I have to talk to her now. Whatever happens, she stills deserves a better ending than this. I have to be a better person... but not right now. All I can think about right now is that I'm going to see Mavis. We'll go to the Council, sort this and then, will talk to her. I want to spend some time with my mate first. And I doubt that smelling Isabella's scent on me will make her more eager to talk to me. 

I follow my parents back inside and try to call Mavis' cell but she's not answering. Should I try Henry's cell? The thought of her being with Henry makes my blood boil. I feel like tearing down every single f*****g thing in front of me, Cayden is on the edge of taking control at that thought. I try to calm myself, 'she said it herself, she thinks of him as family, nothing more.' "If he dares to lay a single finger on her, we'll kill him, Cole. We'll put things straight, no more physical contact between them. He's always f*****g touching her shoulders, hands of patting her head...", I see red. "That Beta better learn not to mess with my mate again". I see black. I've never felt this angry before. Oh, the things she makes me feel... 

"Wait, do you think we should bring up her being powerful to the Alpha?", Cayden suddenly calms down. His anger can't do much right now, and mine either. "What if it means something or her white hair?" He had a point. I didn't want to tell my father before because I was a little ashamed of how she tamed me and Henry with her voice control, but I don't think I should be the one informing the others. I'm sure she didn't tell anyone up until now, but we'll have to talk to her about that. 

The next day, we were on our way to the Turner's pack and house. Father called Alpha Richard and told him they had something extremely important to talk about, of course, he said that it could wait until they came back in two days but when he said that it had something to do with Mavis, they immediately were on their way back. I won't say I was happy to hear that she was coming back to me and that her time with Henry was shortened. A smirk makes its way on my lips but I try to refrain from it. I soon as we pass their pack's gate, I hear again her last command in my head, echoing. It's only now that I understand why they are called the 'Emerald Forest Pack', the green of the trees and grass, of the leaves and flowers is so vivid it looks unreal. The vegetation is filled with life and bright colors, green being the dominant one, obviously. Their pack is the one in charge of the wood market, they provide enough wood to the other packs of the Alliance, their wood is the most potent and the best when it comes to construction and keeping a fire alive. That's also one of the perks of being in this Alliance, Father told me that it's easier to trade resources. If we were a lone pack, we would have to double or triple the price and the negotiations to even have the bare minimum. Alpha Richard being the founder of his pack and the Alliance, he has a small advantage in all trades, and even if his pack is not the strongest, he is the lead of us all. "Even if Mavis wasn't involved in this, we would still have to inform him about this. He is our leader, even if likes to say that that's not true." The car is silent for a moment until he says "It's truly a shame his Luna is no more...", he quickly looks at my mother. I can see tears forming in her eyes, but she wipes her eyes and she is back to being normal. I knew that Mavis lost her mother but I didn't really pay attention. I'm sure she was a wonderful person, a lot of people seem to miss her.

Once I open the car, her delicious smell hits me and Cayden is back to being a small pup again, jumping and howling like a mad wolf. I can't wait any longer, if this wasn't an official meeting with my parents, I would've immediately run to her, hugging her so tight, placing her small frame in my arms, and let myself forget in her sweet scent. It's itching me deep down in my body to do so but I try to keep myself in control, which is f*****g hard. 

We are welcomed by the head of the omegas and the gammas, along with Beta Marc and Alpha Richard. They look tired and worried, but a disappointing feeling makes its way when their gaze shifts on me. I bow my head as is the tradition and follow my father's lead inside. 

There she is, next to who I believe is Beta Marc's mate, Henry's mother, they have a similar scent.

She held her head high, her hazel eyes looking straight into mine. I can't exactly discern what she is feeling, but I'm sure that there is a small part of relief and tenderness. She gives me a small smile and my day is made, she is f*****g beautiful, I don't think I'll ever get enough of her. Her streak of white suddenly falls in front of her face, her gaze still on me, eyeing me from head to toe, and I can't control myself, I take a step towards her and put it behind her left ear. The sparkles I long for, run down my fingers, where they meet her soft skin. I feel her heartbeat and her blood pumping through the crook of her neck, where my hand is now resting and doesn't seem to move away from. I hear someone clearing their throat in an oblivious way, I'm still lost in her eyes, her scent... 

I fall behind my father and we all gather in their guest office, Alpha Richard sits down at his desk and invites my parents to do as well. I stand behind my mother's chair and I see Mavis standing next to Alpha Richard. At her left Ethan, and at her right a woman who looks a little like Mavis and has brown eyes like the Alpha, I believe there are sisters, and next to her is a man, a Beta by the smell of it. They are mates, judging from the ring of both their fingers and the way he looks at her. 

"What was this urgent matter you wanted to talk about, Alpha Oliver?" Father gets up. "Well, before I start, I want to formally and deeply apologize, for what my son, Cole, did to your child and your pack." he turns to Mavis, and bows slightly, my mom mirrors him and I stay still, shocked. I bow quickly before Father sits down again. "Mavis I am sorry for what my son did to you, I thought I taught him better than that and I will personally, face whatever punishment your find appropriate," he looks at Alpha Richard, "Cole and I will meet the consequences of this."

He looks at my father, puzzled and not knowing what to say. Next to him, his children are trying to hide their shock behind a somewhat stoic face, Ethan struggles to do so. He gives me a threatening stare, he can hardly conceal his aura that's telling me to "be careful". I have a lot of people to talk to, a lot of spirits to appease and be forgiven by... 

Mavis bows slightly, "Thank you, Alpha Walker, for your apology. There was no need for you and your Luna to do so. Please, don't even think of punishment, it would only hurt me even more. I don't want our pack's relations to be altered, I want them to remain the same as before," she lifts her head and gives us a warm and honest smile. Her scent is now stronger than before, I can already imagine myself in a field of lavender under the sun, playing with her hair while she rests on my thighs. "That's definitely gonna happen", Cayde purrs at the scenario.

"Now, let's talk about the matter I told you about."