Chapter 8 : Unexpected Mate

Karenina

Xavier's voice reached her ears before she saw him emerge from behind the misty trees to her left. She was relieved to see that it was not another she-wolf who was ready to kill her, but she had no idea what his motives were or why he had come to see her. Right now she had no chance to have a long talk with the cold man. She had to escape the dense fog and save her strength, not knowing if she would need it later if she couldn't convince him to let her leave this cruel game.

"We have to go," Xavier said as he grabbed her and hugged her around the waist. Then he turned into a big white wolf and let Karen climb on his back. With fluid movements, they glided through the air above the dense trees. The wind rustled in Karen's ears as they moved at an astonishing speed.

The girl felt a mixture of emotions raging inside her. On the one hand, she was relieved to have the protection of Xavier and his presence. On the other hand, she was still confused about the true intentions of this journey. Was Xavier really helping her to escape this cruel game or was there an ulterior motive behind his actions?

His voice suddenly made Karen look at him—though the man who was transforming into a wolf was looking ahead without noticing her.

"Was he here with you, Karen? Explain."

Actually, Xavier could not understand this change in the situation either. First, this girl had broken through the barrier that was supposed to protect him on the battlefield when he was looking for the perfect mate. Now Nathan had also managed to sneak past the protection. It was unbelievable that a lowly hybrid like him could break through his barrier, let alone do so undetected. Let Karen, who was also a hybrid, do the same.

As the sun moved across the sky, Xavier noticed the dwindling number of she-wolves as the time to claim his future mate approached. There were only three left, and who knew? Karenina, the hybrid, was one of them. The girl wasn't fighting at the moment, but the two remaining she-wolves were, and Xavier thought it was possible that the winner of the two fights between the two she-wolves would be his mate. But it turned out that he was wrong.

A few hours ago, the man had been thinking about putting an end to this game and releasing her from his barrier, when he saw that she was constantly being mistreated beyond her limits, but then he made a new friend. Karen, the girl, showed up with her incredible strength and passion to fight Nathan, the owner of the dangerous black magic power. The man is impressed by Karen's courage and determination to fight an enemy much stronger than herself. He decides to give Karen a chance and include her in his competition to see how far she can progress and test her skills against the other competitors.

However, he had no intention of letting Karen die in this fight. He knew she was the guardian destined to protect the werewolves' heirloom moonstone, and she was a valuable asset against Nathan. Karen was their best hope of stopping the dark magic power that threatened their lives. The man is determined to protect Karen and help her reach her potential, even if it means facing Nathan himself and destroying his entire black magic power.

When Xavier realized that there were only two female wolves left in the pack, not including Karen, he slowly made his way toward them, preparing to welcome his new mate to her new position at his side. Then he felt it, Nathan's aura. It was attacking a fighting she-wolf, his future mate. Xavier wouldn't let that happen. Not if the she-wolf wasn't at full strength to defend herself against Nathan. Besides, Xavier had business with the lowly hybrid. His death.

Xavier had found Karen too late, Nathan's poison making it impossible to follow the retreating lowly hybrid. He had decided to take Karen because she was the only one who could give him the answers he was looking for, and there was the added complication that she was the only one left, the winning one who was supposed to be his mate. That was something to think about another time.

After hearing his question, she couldn't blame Xavier for believing that Nathan had just escaped from the powerful Alpha Westwood again. She shook her head and said, "It's not Nathan, Xavier. Those are his followers. The new ones."

Xavier made the mistake of looking her up and down. What he saw were her shapely legs as the strong wind blew her dress back, revealing smooth thighs. He noticed that the girl was dressed in a different set of clothes that smelled of other she-wolves. It was a woman's outfit.

"So, Nathan has got himself a new servant. Tell me about him." Xavier demanded, once again with his eyes on the road ahead.

"Her," she corrected. "His new follower is a woman and her name is Maya. She told me that she's just a part of Nathan, that he didn't create her, but gave her powers when he found her near death. If she promises to serve him, he'll help her get revenge on the man who tried to kill her."

She noticed that he was moving quite slowly, which made communication between them easier. She thanked him for considering her current condition. She would not have been able to hear him if they had been racing towards dusk, she could have used the mind link, but since she was only a hybrid, that ability required even more energy from her.

"Maya also said that Nathan had told her to go into your barrier and absorb as many of the strong she-wolves as she could. That reminds me." She stroked the white fluffy fur gently and grabbed it with all her strength. "This game of yours is barbaric. How dare you make me play it?"

Karen's anger rose again when she realized that it was his own fault that she was sore, tired, and bleeding. She could have died if not for that asshole guy.

"I suggest you take your finger out, Karen, and speak to me in a more respectful manner," Xavier warned sternly and coldly.

She finally lowered her hand, but she wouldn't back down. What he had done was unacceptable.

"Why did you leave me to fight those werewolves if all this senseless bloodshed was to find a mate? I'm a hybrid, half-wolf! Obviously I shouldn't be there!" she said angrily.

"I have my reasons," Xavier replied lightly.

"Damn it!" she grabbed her fur again to make sure.

She took a deep breath to calm herself before continuing. "Xavier, I am not some kind of puppet that you can play with as you please. I have thoughts, feelings and the right to be respected as an individual. Never underestimate my existence because I am a hybrid. I have no desire to be a part of your power games or to be a victim of your insatiable ambition."

Xavier looked at her seriously, as if pondering the girl's words. "I accept your criticism, Karenina. But do you realize how rare and valuable your position as a hybrid is? My power as Alpha of the Westwood Pack was not easily earned, and I seek a mate who is an equal, who understands my burdens and responsibilities."

She gave him a sharp look, as if angered by his answer. "Do not think that your power and title make you worthy to dominate others. So far, all I've seen is a ruthless, power-obsessed leader. Don't expect me to be interested in someone like you."