Chapter 14: The Truth about Mates

If there is anything that I understand in the situation I am in, these are the two things so far that I manage to grasp: 1) I happened to be in Madfur Claws Pack (the name of the pack where I’m fucking in), and 2) I am going to die.

Delilah may not tell me all the details, but from what I’ve seen and heard as soon as I tried to put the pieces, I knew what was coming. Zarion is the former Alpha of Madfur Claws Pack but he doesn’t want to take the responsibility, so he ran away. Of course, all the wolves in his pack loathe him so why would he be here, right?

Secondly, I am caged in a wooden box. Delilah was nowhere to be seen or heard, so I didn’t know who to cry to for help. Zarion is not here either. And my grandmother—

“God, I am going insane!” I cursed myself, loathing myself why I put myself in this freaking shitty situation in the first place.

Yet despite the wooden box incapacitating me, I could hear Brandon’s men that we will be going to a place on what they call as the Moon Goddess Temple. The Alpha wants to confirm if I was Zarion’s mate. Why would he suspect that? What is it for him then? Based on Delilah’s stories, mate is something… sacred and holy. And most of all, it only happens between them—their kind.

I am a human, not a werewolf. How could I be Zarion’s mate? How could I be a mate to anyone that I am not even their blood?!

Calm down, Cassidy. Calm down…Calm down—

The horse neighed, and the carriage stopped. Footsteps approaching where I was hidden. Thanks to a peephole, I saw Alpha Brandon, his cape sweeping the snow as he walked out from the same carriage to where I was.

Torchlight greeted my eyes as soon as the lid from the box was hoisted by his mighty hand.

When our eyes met, I immediately focused my gaze to the sky. My heart keeps on thumping rapidly every time he’s near. Maybe because I always think he’s going to kill me. But he never did, even though he’s capable of slashing my neck without so much of a sigh. Well, he wants something from me so I guess that wouldn’t happen.

As of the moment, I’m saved. As long as I serve my purpose, I live. As long as I am of use to him, my neck remains unharmed.

“Let her out and don’t—” He paused and pointed a striking finger to one of his men, “try to help her escape. Understood?” The man nodded without hesitation. His eyes were always down while Alpha Brandon was talking. I guess it was how they were afraid of their Alpha. If I was correct, an Alpha is the equivalent of a King of the Pacl. They must have huge respect for him—or probably they don’t have any other choice but to respect him. They don’t even have eye contact with Brandon and that’s a shuddering fact.

On our way towards the Moon Goddess Temple, where both of my hands are restrained with silver chains, I relished the smell of the fragrant flowers while walking on the rocky pathway towards the huge oak doors engraved in golden swirling designs. It was like a different version of our castle, where I was amazed by how beautiful their colossal garden outside is despite how simple the village looks.

When we stepped inside, a huge fountain greeted me. It sat in the middle of the foyer, the welcoming masterpiece to anyone who set foot in. I roamed my eyes around each corner. This was indeed a place where a Moon Goddess exists—and is worshipped solemnly by the wolves. Varying paintings of moons on the golden ceiling shone, every phase of the moon on every year was delineated beautifully.

“Move!” I was so enthralled and focused on the paintings that I didn’t realize I had stopped moving. The man who was holding me was absolutely pissed off at my daydreaming, his hands around my wrist tightened even more. Now I am doomed with no inkling of how to escape.

Alpha Brandon leaned by the flowing fountain as if he was waiting for his lover, curiously gazing at me with what seems to be…desire. Desire shone on those treacherous eyes of him, as if he’d been proficient enough to fool any woman he met. What was it really that he wanted? Was it me or does it have to do with me?

“Now if you may please, Delilah.” Brandon waved a hand to my direction. Gasping, I saw Delilah holding a small swiss knife under a white handkerchief. Her head remained down while the Alpha’s remained on her knife. “Thank you,’ Brandon said as his eyes found mine again. “What was the color again?”

“What?” Delilah asked, now slightly nervous. Alpha Brandon hissed. “The color, my dear. What color is it when…” Brandon’s head tilted as he glanced at me, “…they’re mates?”

“Ah, yes, Alpha. If the color of the blood turns blue, it means they are not mates.” Delilah’s head remained down. “But if the blood turns green, it means they are mated to each other.” Horror shone in the eyes of the poor woman.

Is it bad if I’m mated to Zarion or even worse if I’m not?

Alpha Brandon wasted no time. One second later, he was still grabbing my wrist. Then in a blink, he’s now trying to rip my fisted palm open. “No!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “I don’t want to! I don’t understand all of this!”

“Stupid! Of course, you don't. You are just a lost, pitiful human,” he spat the last word with thunderous contempt.

My last resort is my pleading eyes towards Alpha Brandon. “I’'m n-not Alpha Zarion’s m-mate, okay? If that's what you're trying to do, which I am pretty sure it is,” I muttered in a shaking voice.

It was a trigger to everyone. The wolf started growling when I mentioned Zarion’s name. I pivoted away from his disgustingly handsome face that I didn’t notice the whole pack was actually watching us—watching my fate at this very moment. That's how they’re angry with Zarion, that’s how they showed remorse and spite toward their previous leader.

I tried to get away, but Brandon was so stubborn. With a snap of his fingers, the two other wolves he summoned rushed to grab my hands to stop me. With trembling hands and quivering knees, I saw how this Alpha managed to slice my palm and slit my foreskin using Delilah’s swiss knife—

Blood gushed out from my wrist even before a shriek escaped my throat.

***

Blood. Blood. Blood.

No, no, no—

Zarion, please, wherever you are, help me. My eyes closed the moment I saw how the water rippled. My blood was about to change its color to reveal my identity—my identity whether I am that bastard’s mate or not.

“Zarion…” I whispered like a prayer, wishing and hoping he will hear my plea. “Be with me any second from now. I beg you.”

No Zarion replied, not even a sigh or whisper.

“Zarion, please…” I vividly imagine the images of his face encrypted in my heart and mind and soul.

“Stop calling me.”

A familiar baritone voice was all I heard. I don’t know if it was really him or just my imagination. But before I knew it, a familiar big wolf lunged at the two human-form wolves beside me.

A fight has erupted in this sacred place.