The Warrior

Chapter 9

Taelyn's POV

I've never had a better morning that today. Although Eden scared the s**t out of me when his wolf almost took over. We ended up going out to eat breakfast and then to the mall. Apparently, I needed a dress for our date later tonight and I couldn't go in jeans or sweats, I groaned. I don't mind wearing dresses, however I loved being comfy. I tried on the dress that Eden suggested before he exit the store saying that I was irresistible right now and he did not want a repeat of earlier at the store. Initially, I was upset but when he continued, I was eager for what could happen? Woah, since when did I become this s*x maniac? I haven't even had my first time. I smiled and shook my head as I stared at myself at the mirror. Suddenly, I felt like someone was staring at me, at first, I thought it was Eden but when I looked around, I noticed it was the same man from my nightmare. I began choking on my own saliva. Treacherous. I stared at the man as I composed myself, the attendant asked me if I was okay, and I nodded. The man marched towards me and when he was in front of me, he winked at me.

"Hello, we meet." He stared at me up and down. "Again." He continued. "You look stunning in the dress your mate has good taste." His voice made me feel sick. "In fashion and women. Care to continue our conversation we did not get to finish?" He pressed the topic. I nodded. "Where did we left off?" he placed his hand on the beard on his chin. "Oh, yes, your father and mother have been hiding a secret from you and your brothers for a long time. They might seem as the perfect, no wrongdoing parents but there is something they haven't told you." I felt a pang in my heart. Could it be true, can my parents be hiding something?

"Why should I believe you?" I gritted my teeth. "Who are you?" A smile formed on his face, and it made my stomachache.

"Let's say I'm an old friend of your dad's, he um, stopped speaking to me after an incident and eventually vanished along your mom and your brother, Jadiel, is it?" I gazed at him. He was about my father's age, his sort of resembled my father black hair with a few gray hairs. Green eyes and a tad shorter than my father. "For years I assumed that they had been killed until one day I saw them dropping you and your brother off at the airport. How could they get rid of you guys so easily." I hissed at his attempt to undermine my parents' ability to raise us. "Especially after the loss they suffered many years ago." My head snapped towards him. "Ah, it sparked curiosity in you, child?" I furrowed my brows. What loss could he be nattering about.

"Why me?" I questioned, wary as to why he chose me to have this conversation with. "Why didn't you go to one of my brothers or to my parents?" I exclaimed.

"Ah, ah, ah, darling this is something that the future Queen needs to demand to her parents not me." I gasped. "There's not a lot of time left your mate is near and time is running out before they come for you." He blurted out before exiting the store leaving me there dumbfounded. I began feeling lightheaded and my head was throbbing.

"Who was that?" Eden asked furious. It was as if he knew that he brought me close to his chest cradling my head with his hands. His touch and scent soothed the headache which in turn it discontinued the lightheadedness. "What did that man want?" he asked again.

"I don't know it was weird, he said some nonsense, but the stranger thing is that he said that I was a Queen and that they were coming for me." I was having difficulties breathing and a tear rolled down my cheek. Was everything true can they possibly be hiding a secret from us? Who was that man referring to when he said they?

"It's okay, we will find out who that man is and what he was talking about? Let's go?" He said. I looked down and noticed I was still wearing the dress he gave me.

"What about the dress and our date?" I asked quietly. I wanted to go on the date he had promised me. Was I being selfish and rational after everything that happened?

"We could buy it and have our date another day." Eden c****d an eyebrow.

"No," I stated. I have been mate-less for so long that I did not want to wait anymore. "I want to go on our date, everything else can wait." I exclaimed. Eden gazed at me with an amused expression.

"My little mate, can't wait to be with me." He joked. I huffed and went back into the dressing room taking off the dress and getting dressed back into my jeans and tank top. I came out of the dressing room and Eden insisted on paying for the dress stating that he was the one who chose it. I rolled my eyes and let him pay. We head back to my parents' house, and I had asked Eden not to say a word of what happened at the mall. I didn't want that unfortunate event to ruin our date.

"Children," my father said. I felt a sting in my heart. "Are you joining us for lunch?" he asked as he walked to the kitchen. I remained quiet and just followed him with Eden right behind me.

"Yes, sir." Eden uttered. We sat down and I tried to act as if nothing happened. Jake was not buying anything that I said as to why was I being weird. He didn't press further knowing that that would only irritate me. We finished our lunch and Eden said that he was going to the pack house to get ready and finish the final touches for our date. I sauntered to my room to shower and to get ready for my first date with my mate. That sounded weird as I never thought that I would be able to get to say those words after the rejection. I was expecting to feel an ache in my heart however to my surprise I didn't feel anything anymore. No pain. No sorrow. Nothing. Then I remembered when Eden had me against the wall and how his eyes turned black. It made my insides melt. What is wrong with me? I shook my head and got in the shower.

Eden's POV

I felt uneasy as I looked around the store for a new outfit for my date tonight with my mate. I cannot believe that I got a second chance mate and that we are going on a date tonight. Nonetheless, that uneasy feeling did not go away. I finally paid for my outfit and made my way back to where I had left Taelyn. I shouldn't have left her there by herself but just looking at her and trying on those dresses was driving Ryder crazy. I was a few stores away when I heard this whimper in my mind and I knew it was Ava calling Ryder. I hurried to the store and noticed a man in all black leaving the store and Taelyn was just standing in the middle of the store staggered. I got to her as fast as humanly possible, but she wouldn't look at me.

"Who was that?" I asked outraged. She didn't answer or moved. What happened, I asked myself. I felt her uneasiness and pulled her to me so I could sooth her. I felt how she melted into my embrace, and I tried getting an answer from her. "What did that man want?" I urged, again. She finally spoke but I thought she was going to have a panic attack as her breathing was elaborated.

She eventually told me what happened and what man had said even though I knew there was more that she did not tell me I did not want to upset her before our date that she was eager to go on. I took her home and after having lunch with her family I departed from their house to continue with the preparations for our date and to give her some time to unwind after the incident from earlier.

I was going to find my men when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around coming face to face with Bethany. Ugh I hope I can leave this place quickly I do not want to be around her anymore. Her hand lingered down my arm close to my hand. I jerked my hand away from hers as soon as possible. She retracted her hand as she held back her tears. Now she wants to cry to get me back. "I heard that you found a second chance mate?" She uttered. What is it to her if I did or not? Its none of her concern. "Did you tell her that I was your first and that you will always love me." The audacity this woman has. I tried to turn around and continue to get ready for my date when she stopped me. "You will always be mine even if you try to believe that ugly b***h is your mate." She sneered.

"You better watch your mouth on how you talk about my mate. You don't want to leave your pup motherless. The only ugly person in this whole situation is you." I growled. Ryder was not happy with her calling our mate ugly. "I am glad that you rejected me and get this through your head even if you were the last woman in this universe, I would never have anything to do with you." I backed away from her. "Don't you ever touch me, talk to me or my mate, clear?" I snarled as I turned away to look for Tyler and the others. I went out to the back and noticed that they were all lounging near the pool. I cleared my throat, and everyone snapped their heads towards me.

"Eden." Tyler said creasing his eyebrows. "What's that stench?" he asked as he wrinkled his nose. I sniffed and noticed it was on my arm where Bethany had touched me. I laughed.

"It was my ex-mate's stench." Everyone chuckled and we heard a growl as we turned to the back door, we noticed Bethany glaring at us as she walked away. We chuckled some more. When we finally stopped laughing our cheeks and stomach were aching. "Is everything ready for my date with my mate?" I asked curiously. Everyone looked at each other. Did they forget? I was about to growl when Luke stood up and gave me a key. These motherfuckers are going to pay. I glared at them hissing a thank you as I walked away. I heard them snickering as I made my way into the house to get ready. Oh, I'm going to get them when they least expect it. I got in the shower and as the time to meet was getting closer I was getting more nervous.

Taelyn's POV

Nicole had agreed to help me with my hair. For some unknown reason my hair never manages to agree with my styling. As she began styling my hair, I was applying some make up. Some foundation for my paleness, a little bit of eyeshadow as well as some eyeliner. Not too much as I don't want anything drastic. I looked at the clock and noticed that time has gone flying, and I only had 5 minutes before Eden would be here. I hurried to put on the dress and shoes. I heard commotion downstairs and I smelled his scent confirming that I had run out of time, and he was here. Finishing the final touches lotion, perfume, and earrings. Nicole ran into my room almost bumping into me.

"Ahhh." I shrieked.

"Sorry." Nicole whispered. "I came to tell you that Eden is here." She continued to whisper.

"Oh my goddess, I'm ready" I whispered back. Why are we whispering? "I think." I uttered. I am not going to lie that I was very nervous. Nicole walked with me out of the room and down the stairs, but she stayed behind. Eden looked up and our eyes met, and I saw pure admiration. My heart fluttered. As I looked him up and down, I noticed he was wearing a white button-down shirt that made all his muscles visible to the eye. A black tie around his neck that stopped just before his belt buckle. Black slacks that were tight all around his hips and thighs making his bulge stand out. I gulped. He noticed me gawking over him and winked at me. This pompous man knew what he was doing to me, and he still winks at me. I heard an awkward cough and noticed that everyone was staring at us. They were enjoying the show. I was mortified. They are not going to let this go. I glanced once more at Eden and noticed that somehow, we were matching. Eden cleared his throat.

"We should get going." He stated. As he offered my hand to take the last step down from the stairs. I took his hand glared at everyone for making me the subject of their entertainment. We said goodbye and left the house. Eden opened the door to his SUV for me to get in. Once inside he closed the door and walked over to the passenger side getting in.

"Where are we going?" I asked him.

"It's a surprise." He stated as we left the property. The ride to wherever we were going was filled with laughter and chatter. I got to know when he was born, his favorite color, number and what he likes to do for fun. He finally came to a stop in front of a gorgeous restaurant. I had never been here. I had never been to many places in my hometown. I was always studying when I was younger or training after the rejection that I did not go out much. It was then that I noticed what a miserable life I have had after the rejection. Eden got off and he came to open my door. Even though I was more than capable of opening the door myself I felt delighted to have someone doing that and more for me. Eden took my hand in his as he handed the keys to the valet. "Ready?" Eden looked at me. I nodded. We went inside the restaurant and to my shock it was lovelier from inside. The place was breathtaking. A young man took us to our table placing two menus on the table. He departed stating that our waitress would be with us shortly. Five seconds later, a bubbly, young redhead showed up. Obviously, she couldn't take her eyes off my mate, and I chuckled.

"What can I get for you, babe?" She stared at Eden.

"Um, I'll take a glass of Macallan on the rocks, please." Eden uttered still looking at the menu. I was enjoying the waitress total fail.

"What about you?" She scoffed.

"I'll take a glass of, um, Mailly L'Intemporelle, thank you." I instructed her giving her a wink. She turned on her heel and stomped off. I chuckled and Eden looked at me confused. "The waitress was throwing herself at you and she got mad because you never looked at her." I chuckled some more. "You're so cute when you are confused." I winked at him. Oh Goddess since when am I this bold.

"You'll be the one with the cute, confused face later." Eden whispered. A breath hitched in the back of my throat. I felt how my blood dashed to my face. Eden smirked and I knew that I was red as a tomato. Eventually the waitress brought us our drinks and took our order huffing every time that Eden stared at me and not at her. The night went by smoothly we left the restaurant, according to Eden before I murdered the waitress. I did not want to murder her. I just wanted to claw her eyes out, the disrespect she had staring at my mate like that in front of me. My blood was boiling and apparently Ava was not having none of that. I had to keep her from shifting a few times. We were on Eden's vehicle headed to a second location to continue our date. My eyes were covered with his tie as a blindfold, I was nervous. I trusted him nonetheless I wasn't very eager of not knowing where we were going. Finally, the vehicle came to a stop and in a second Eden was opening my door helping me out of it. "We are here." He said, with a husky voice. Instead of letting me walk like a normal person he carried me until I'm guessing where we are going. I couldn't hear anyone around us, all I smelled was the forest and roses. I heard a door opening, as I felt Eden wrapping his hands around my waist to guide me inside. Once finally inside he took the blindfold off. I gasped at the scenery in front of me. There were candles all around with rose petals that guided us to the living room where there was a blanket on the floor near the fireplace. He took my hand in his and directed me towards the blanket. On the blanket there was some cushions for us as well as some wine and strawberries. He helped me sit down, then he sat right in front of me. Eden grabbed the wine bottle pouring us some wine as I looked around. It was a cute little cabin in the middle of the forest.

"This is breathtaking." I exclaimed. Eden handed me my glass of wine.

"No, you are breathtaking." He uttered, slightly stretching forward giving me a kiss. He pulled away too soon and he knew it by the grin on his face. "I'm so happy that you gave me the chance to take you out and show you that I want to be with you forever. Not only because of mate pull but because you are an amazing woman who is willing to fight for her pack even though the Alpha doesn't deserve it. That in its entirety will make you an incredible Luna." Eden affirmed, taking the glass with wine to his lips. My eyes watered and I had to hold back my tears.

"I don't know what I did to deserve someone like you. I'm so lucky to have found you when I did. I didn't think I was ever going to get this after that lout rejected me." I babbled. "However, I am happy that he did otherwise we wouldn't be here." I admitted. We finished the rest of our wine. In a swift move Eden was hovering over me. His breath fanning over my neck. He began leaving small marks from my neck to my lips. His full lips captured mine and began assaulting my lips like never. Filled with passion, possessiveness, and love. I heard some noise outside and small growl. I knew who that was. It was Axel. As if on cue Eden remained still his eyes clouded. Oh no this is not a good sign. The next thing I know his fangs are sinking into my neck.