25

~Lou Wilson~

A sad squeak escaped my throat every now and then. Maybe someone heard me.

I must have been hanging in this web for an hour now and I couldn't scream for help because it was too narrow to transform here. Also, I couldn't break the net as it was made of quite thick material.

Whoever built this trap knew how to catch a wolf, and that's what scared me.

I squeaked louder, hoping no one else was drawn to it. Maybe that's giving me away. Should I stay quiet and wait?

But what if the person who built this trap is already on his way here, someone has to free me quickly.

If only I could use the Mindlink. While I'm part of the pack to some degree, I can't communicate with the rest of the packs at such a long distance until Arian has tagged me.

I've tried Zara a few times, but it doesn't work. If only I hadn't run so far.

I also tried it a few times with my brother, but he blocked the whole time. What's more important than answering his sister's cries for help?

Another heart-rending squeak escaped my mouth.

I had just given up hope when, as you know, my heart started beating faster.

It was Arian, he was here. he's looking for me

It didn't take long before I smelled his musky scent and not a second later a black shadow appeared in the distance between the trees.

It was a good thing that I was hanging up here. At least I had a good view.

The black wolf came running towards me at breakneck speed and finally stopped under me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him looking around in confusion.

So he hasn't seen me up here yet...

I let out another squeak that made his head snap up towards me.

"Lou? What are you doing up there?" I heard his voice in my head.

Like I can't help hanging out up here.

"Very funny. Would you be so kind as to get me down here?" I replied back through the mindlink. Slowly the position I was hanging in was getting pretty uncomfortable.

"Of course, my angel."

Angel? Since when did he call me angel?! He doesn't have them all anymore.

Just because I'm going to be grateful now that he saved me doesn't mean I'm about to fall at his feet.

I could see Arian looking around and finally walking towards a tree around which the rope was tied.

He bit into the thick material and started tugging at it, causing it to tear.

"Wait Aryan! It's pretty high-" I couldn't get any further because suddenly I fell from a height of several meters.

My wolfish side let out some squeaky sound and I felt my bones cracking after being in the uncomfortable position for so long.

I expected a hard impact, but amazingly, I landed in large muscular arms that caught me.

Startled, I looked around to make sure I really hadn't hit the hard ground anywhere. I then looked up into Arian's large, ocean blue eyes, which were studying me with concern.

"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly and carefully set me down on my own bare legs.

It was clear that my legs were a bit numb and so I held on to Arian's shoulder, but he also held my hips.

"Y-yeah," I stuttered, a little overwhelmed. I don't think my brain has caught on to the ground yet. Literally. "Thanks."

"No problem." His hands wandered up my body this time and grabbed my head, forcing me to continue holding his gaze.

Arian's eyes searched my head and body for any injuries, but luckily there weren't any.

"Thank god that you are well. I was worried."

"Y-you were worried?" Why did I just sound so stupid? Of course he was worried, after all we both can't deny the mate bond. Still, it made my heart skip a beat when I thought about facing this man maybe meant something more to me.

"Sure I'm worried about you." He sighed and grabbed my head even tighter. "You might not believe I've changed my mind about Mates, but I have and yes, you might need some time to get to know me all To forgive the things that I've done to you, but you should know that I'm waiting for you. And this time that you need, I'll still be by your side and protect you with my life, because I- I-.. ."

Arian let go of me completely and turned in a different direction. Desperately, he ran both hands through his hair.

"Fuck man." He turned back to me abruptly. "You fucking meant something to me, Lou! And yes, I may have a hard time admitting my feelings for you, but it's only because I'm scared for you. I have Scared that you might be taken away from me. I'm scared of something happening to you and that's what I've just realized more than ever. Damn, I've fallen in love with you and I don't know what to do about it."

O goddess! Did he fall in love with me? right? Without a mate connection? When?

"Wha-when?" I stuttered. The fact that we were standing naked in front of each other and had the perfect view of each other didn't bother me gone away." I haven't even thought about something like this myself.

"Even before I officially accepted you as my mate. Fuck, even when I saw you for the first time in two months and I bumped into a tree because of you. It was clear to me then, but I couldn't admit it to myself!"

I gaped at him. Already so long? Then why is all I feel the mate connection between us. The pounding heart, the goosebumps, the spark between us. It's all just this stupid connection.

Why didn't I fall in love with him? Shouldn't I see it clearly, like him? Why am I not feeling anything?

Tears pooled in my eyes.

I also want to feel something, but I can't. My heart broke after his first rejection and again after he walked away after our first no second time and said it wasn't right.

In the past, there would have been a chance for us. But now? I don't even know if I'm still able to feel that way for him. Even if certain feelings came when he accepted me, they were just feelings of the mate connection, right?

"Hey, what's going on?" Arian approached me again after a first sob slipped over my lips.

"I-" I started breathing faster.

"Hey, calm down, my little one. What's going on?" he asked worried and looked at me expectantly. Almost as if he expected me to confess my feelings to him now.

"But I don't." It came out of my mouth much too quickly. Immediately afterwards, more sobs slipped out of me and the tears were now running down my cheeks in streams.

He will hate me! I need more time...

Arian looked at me confused. "W-what?"

"I DON'T FUCK FEEL NOTHING FOR YOU!" I screamed in frustration. I wanted so badly to say something back, but there was nothing.

Arian's face lost color and his eyes grew dull. I had really never seen him like this before. It looked as if the wind had been taken out of all sails, no, as if I had broken his heart....

"Seems like we're even now after all. He clutched at his heart and grimaced painfully. "Now I know how that feels."

He turned away from me.

"Arian, I'm sorry. I want to, but there's nothing..." I tried to justify myself. "But maybe co-"

"Lou just stop it. That between us, that's probably just not supposed to be..." he said softly to himself.

I gently grabbed his arm to turn him back towards me. But I probably shouldn't have done that.

Looking at his face, I couldn't see any of the previously unleashed emotions. His face was frozen like ice. The mask he put on was even worse than the one he ripped my heart out on.

What have I done again? I'm only making things worse... But should I have lied to him? I can't confess any feelings that aren't there at all. I just need more time...

"Arian, I-"

"JUST BE QUIET IF YOU WANT TO STAY WITH MY PACK." He suddenly screamed and I flinched back in shock. "AND NOW PLEASE GET OUT OF MY SIGHT, I CAN'T BEAR THE SIGHTS OF YOU ANY MORE!"

That was my cue!

With more tears running down my cheeks like rivers, I turned away, transformed, and ran back to the packhouse as fast as I could.

I broke his heart! He broke mine, but that doesn't justify my action. I'm no better than him myself.

He hates me. HE HATES ME!