Moon Blessed Luna

Chapter 8 - Brianna

Keena and I stare in absolute confusion at the woman lying unconscious in the clearing. Did Keena just call this girl our mate? How could that be? Female Wolves didn't have female mates, just like male Wolves didn't have male mates. It was always about the best chance to produce pups, which would make the wolves happy. So how did I feel absolutely drawn to this tiny human lying in the clearing?

Did you just say mate?

Yes! She's our mate!

But how?

I don't know! But she is hurt! Don't you smell the blood?

I did smell it now, and it slowly overpowered even her delicious scent of sugar cookies and moonlight. In one swift motion I shift back to my human body, barely feeling the cold morning air on my naked skin. I crouch next to the girl and move aside the greasy, tangled mess of black hair that's covering her face and torso. Her skin is pale and cold to the touch and I notice how skinny she is, every bump of her spine and ribs are visible.

"Can anyone hear me?! I need help in the northern woods!" the mindlink doesn't get a response. We did run for a couple of hours at top speed so we must be too far away. I curse under my breath and assess the situation quickly. We need to get home as fast as possible, and the best way to do that is to run as a wolf. But I'd need her to hold on while running, and she's obviously not able to do that herself. I curse again before picking her up, almost growling when I feel how little she weighs and how I can feel every bone as I cradle her in my arms in hopes of sharing my body heat with her.

Who is this girl, or woman, I have no idea of figuring out her age. She's so skinny her body still looks more childlike, though without any of that typical childhood softness. She has to be at least 18 or she wouldn't have a wolf and Keena wouldn't have recognized her as our mate. A little voice in the back of my mind reminds me we intended to reject our mate but I shake the thought away as I start running as fast as I can back towards the pack house. We can deal with that later, after figuring out how I got a female mate, first we need to make sure she survives.

She has to survive! We can't lose her. Keena howls softly as the thought of losing her mate hits her hard. I grit my teeth and walk even faster, being careful to not let any branches scratch or hit the unconscious girl in my arms. Every few minutes I try again and again to reach another pack member through the mindlink, until finally I get a response.

"Alpha? What's wrong?" It sounds like one of the guards who is regularly on patrol duty.

"I'm in the northern woods, close to the border. I have an unconscious rogue with me who needs medical attention as soon as possible. She is injured, malnourished and too cold. Mindlink others to get the doctors and then meet me!"

"Right away, Alpha!" Two voices respond, and I keep running until I hear their paws crash through the bushes. Two gray Wolves approach me, lowering their heads when they come to a halt near me.

"No time for all that. Help me get her on my back after I shift. Then flank me as we run carefully back to the pack house so she doesn't fall off."

I hand her over to one of the guards when he is human again and growl when he looks at her naked body. He gives me a confused look but looks away while I shift into my wolf and he places her gently on my back. Keena makes an almost purr-like sound when she feels her mate so close to her but I silence her quickly too, staying in full control of our wolf body this time. The gray Wolves flank me to support her and keep her from falling and together we make our way back to the pack house. It's awkward running so close together, but it's faster than when I was carrying her in my human form. In no time I see the outline of the pack house and the medical staff just outside the infirmary beside it.

They lift the girl off my back and onto a stretcher in one swift motion before rolling her inside. Sue hands me a robe when I shift back and we quickly follow the doctors, nodding a quick thank you to the guards.

"Alpha, please tell us what you know about this girl." Avery, one of the head doctors asks. Her mate, fellow head doctor Steven, is instructing the nurses to administer several IV tubes, take blood and run different tests on the girl.

"Not much. I was out for a run much further north than I usually go. When I came to a clearing I saw a white wolf and she shifted back into the girl, unconscious. I could smell the blood but didn't see any open wounds that needed first aid so I just got her here as fast as I could." I'm talking too quickly, not taking my eyes off the girl and hating the feeling of panic rising in my chest as I saw her with several tubes and machines hooked up to her. I didn't notice the quick glance that passed between Avery and Sue, but I did feel Sue's soft hand on my arm.

"Let's leave the doctors to do their jobs. They'll take good care of the girl." Sue tries to pull me away, but I need to protect my mate! These people will surely hurt her! A loud growl brings me back to earth, only realizing it came from me when I see the shocked faces of the doctors and the confused but calculating look in Sue's eyes. I let her take me to a small waiting area where I start pacing as she stands in front of the door observing me.

"What's going on?" she asks after a few minutes. I can't answer, my thoughts are a whirlwind of arguments. I need to go back to protect my mate! But how can she be my mate? She's a girl! I don't even want a mate! I need to reject her! Look at me, she's already making me weaker!

"Alpha?"

I can't fall into this trap! I can't become weak like my mother and give up all my power! I am supposed to be Alpha! I don't need a mate!

"Bree!" I finally look up and straight into the soft brown eyes of my best friend. She looks worried and yet so hot with her full lips in a serious line. I need to focus, I need to be distracted, so I do what I usually do when I need to forget my thoughts and I crash my lips into hers.

The kiss takes her completely by surprise and for a moment she simply responds on instinct, letting me push her against the wall and allowing her hands to wrap around my neck. But it's only for a moment, she starts to struggle and pushes me away from her. Breathing heavily she just looks at me but when I move to kiss her again she steps away.

"What the f**k was that?" there is an accusation in her tone.

"What is going on?"

I take a step towards her again but she slips under my arm to avoid it, instantly claiming eye contact again when I turn around.

"Bree! Tell me what is going on!"

I take another step towards her, and she takes another step back. She's not taking any of it and it makes me angry, so I growl low in my chest.

"Don't you growl at me!" she states, while waving a finger in front of my face. Damn, strict is a good look on her, and I just move to kiss her again, which she avoids, again.

"Come on, Sue! I just need you to-, " my sentence stops abruptly when she smacks me in the face. The sound of skin on skin echoes through the waiting room which suddenly seems very quiet. I hear our hearts beat fast as I cup my cheek in confusion more than pain before looking back at her.

"What was that for?"

"So you'd finally focus." she says. "Now tell me exactly what in the goddesses name is going on between you and that girl?"

"I can't."

"Tell me!"

"Sue, I'm telling you, I can't!"

"Brianna Blake, you tell me right now!" it's almost a command worthy of an Alpha and I break.

"She's my mate." I finally manage to whisper. Sue's eyes grow larger and she takes a step back as if she's the one who was hit this time.

"She's your what now?"

"She's my mate." I say a little louder, pressing myself against the wall and sliding down till I sit on the floor. Sue also sits down but on a chair opposite me. I wrap my arms around my knees, pressing my forehead against them, as the emotions of the mate bond wash over me. Keena is howling at me to go to our mate, to make sure she's okay.

"So you're telling me, that your mate is in there fighting for her life, and you're in here kissing me?" I look up at the intense accusation in Sue's voice. She stares at me in absolute horror and disbelief for a moment before her entire face becomes an emotionless mask.

"You should be ashamed of yourself, Alpha." she says coldy, with disgust dripping from her voice. I can't look at her so I look at my knees, and I hear the door slam when she leaves me alone with my guilt and fears.