CHAPTER 12. MY MATE IS WITH A CHILD
RYDER
Seconds passed, and she was still here, not disappearing or vanishing like the mirage I thought she was. I was slowly taking the risk of accepting that she was indeed real. With that acceptance, came a surge of emotions. I was struck by overwhelming emotions and it had me in place, just staring at her.
If she was Hara if this was my Hara, then how the fuck did she get here? The last time I checked, she'd vanished into thin air, making me look like a liar, a fool, and a delusional man. How had she shown up here so easily? Perhaps, did she come here, upon hearing that I'd looked for her?
That wouldn't be the case. She seems so terrified and distorted at my presence. If she'd come here for me, then she'd show it. She'd acknowledge me, not get this terrified.
With that option off the list of the possible reasons she's here, there was only one option left - she came here on her own. But why?
What happened that night? What's she doing here? With a quick scan of her outfit, I was amazed that she worked here. But for how long?
So many questions churned my insides and I was dying to get her to answer. But Red was more eager to claim his mate, our mate.
Still, on my knees, I was looking up into her eyes. Blue, enchantingly blue like the ocean. It was one striking feature she had. I'd seen those pair of blues in the photo and it'd caught me instantly. Seeing it this close was more magnetic and enchanting.
I might have wandered a little deeper into those eyes, 'cause beneath its glow laid layers of sadness, tears, agony.
I got to my feet and almost swore at how much my 6'1 ft body towered over her 5'3, 5'4 petite body. Standing this close to her could be smoldering to her and I hated it. The first time I ever hated my physique. It was something I'd prided in a lot over the years. Having an intimidating personality with an intimidating physique to go with was a blessing, I'd always thought. But right now, seeing how her brows cringed in terror, I wished I could take out a bit of my height. Although, that's impossible.
The only solution would be not to stand so suffocatingly close to her but I had no choice. I'd die if I put any distance between us.
My fingers were soft but firm on her chin as I tilted her head backward. She flinched at my touch, shivering so much I feared she might melt away.
I ran a double-check at what I thought I saw in her eyes, and dear Goddess, was I right. The sadness underneath them was driving me off the edge of sanity. And it wasn't just her eyes, I finally realized, as I took in every bit of her.
In the photo, she had long, glowing auburn hair and her face shone with so many smiles. She looked…alive. Unlike the dead, saddened aura she was giving off right now. Her long hair was gone too and just draped at her shoulder. Her face shrunk in a way that showed she hasn't done a lot of smiling and laughing for a long while. Goddess knows when last she smiled!
She was pale in a sickening way. Whatever happened to you, Hara? Her drastic facial changes didn't make me feel less smitten by her. It just made me wish I'd met her a lot sooner.
I broke off from my reverie at Red's relentless, ferocious effort to break out.
“Twenty-seven years of waiting and you think those questions are what's important right now?!“ He barked. Before I knew it, I was letting out the wildest howl yet. The soundproof windows shattered at the vibration from my howls.
I was shocked as I saw my hand slowly taking the form of Red's claws and it was sticking right into her shoulders I was holding in a possessive manner. Her first reaction was the panic that rang in her eyes, and then came her loud painful cries.
I fought to let go of you but Red held on. He was not ready to risk another minute, it seems. But I wished he would take it -the fuck- easy. She was distorted. The girl's freaked out. Red gotta realize that and calm the fuck down.
Again, I was howling but this time, the word “MINE“ came with it, leaving my lips with so much force.
At that, she shook her head vigorously, squirming for the first time to be freed from Red's claws. It was one hell of a wrong move and I wished she'd given it a second thought.
Paranoid by her struggle for freedom, Red hugely mistook it as rejection and went mad, forcefully giving my human form his wild ears and his fangs. He wanted to be out. He wanted to seal this deal himself. Twenty-seven years without a mate would put any wolf on an edge, Red was no exception.
His claws tightened on her shoulders for fear of her escaping. I doubt he knew the major damage his claws could be causing her frail shoulders but that wasn't my thing to worry about. It was Red's.
My major concern was the fact that I was a ghastly half-wolf, half-human. I didn't need to see the reflection of myself to know how hideous and terrifying I was at the moment. The horrid look in her eyes sent my soul crashing and my heart went with it.
This was the worst first - meeting of any wolf and his mate, much less for someone of my caliber.
Irritated, I lashed out at him through a mind-link. ”Back the fuck off, Red. Let me handle this,“
“The hell you will!“ He retorted. Still assimilating his words and contemplating my comeback line, he snapped and flung me forward.
The next second, I was sealing my lips on hers in a possessive, extraordinary kiss. Thankfully, the fangs were gone before my lips got buried on hers.
'Extraordinary' didn't do enough justice to describe what the kiss felt like. It was a kiss like no other. And for someone like me who'd had a taste of a million lips, no kiss has ever felt this surreal.
My tongue didn't have to beg for entrance because fortunately, her mouth was partly open, giving way for it. I explored every corner of her mouth with my tongue, sucking, licking, and diving deeper.
It was like I'd tasted a sweet drug and instantly became an addict. I couldn't tone it down. I was way too deep into it.
I cupped her face and titled her head backward, gaining myself more entrance to ravage her succulent, pink lips.
I feared this might be too much for her to handle. My kisses were demanding and impatient like I wanted all of her. I did, but this might be considered too sudden and an irrational move.
Yeah, all those logical thoughts but they were not enough to get my lips off hers.
I hadn't realized her weak blows to my midriff until her loud thoughts invaded the walls of my mind.
“I c…can't…breathe…“ She was repeatedly saying in her thoughts.
I immediately let her go but that lasted just a second before I held onto her hand again. This time, it was just me. Red's claws were gone.
She was whimpering incessantly. Her free hand was wrapped around her and I could see trails of goosebumps on her skin. Her lips were swollen from my kisses and it was still partly open.
She didn't attempt any words she seemed too terrified to make out a coherent sentence.
I was still in a daze as to what had just happened. Did I just hear her…thoughts? How's that possible?
Over the years, I've learned of my extraordinary supernatural abilities and my favourite part was that I could invade any mind I choose. I could unravel your plans with just a peek into your bloody mind.
It wasn't because of the Alpha - authority I had. Father says it was something more than it. The point is, it worked this easily with members of my pack. With outsiders, I had to get in touch with my inner powers. Had to undergo sessions of yoga and shit.
Right now, I wasn't doing any form of yoga and stuff like it. I was just here, daunted by this unplanned meeting. How could her thoughts come at me so loudly? Was this part of a mate - thing? Would have been better if this mate - thing came with an instruction manual. That way, we wouldn't be so shocked by it and everything it comes with.
She was screaming her mind out, begging someone to come get her out of here. Even though her lips were just quivering, her mind was chaotic.
I felt a pang of pain in my chest hearing her sound so terrified of me. This was all Red's fault, now he's crawled back to the back of my mind, leaving me to deal with the aftermath of his actions.
Unsure of how to react, I reached to touch her face but she evaded my hand. That simple act of rejection got Red fired up again and wanting to break free.
“Chill the fuck out, wolf. I got this,“ I mind-linked him in a rasping tone. His weary groans were his only response but I knew he was a far cry from being chill.
“I'm sorry about this, Hara. But there's something you need to know…“
“How…how…did you…know…my name?“ I was cut off by her weak mumbling.
Shoot! I forgot! I bloody forgot! She wasn't Hara hear. The report said, Suzy. She was living under a fake identity. In the sudden twist of the event, I'd failed to take that little, crucial detail into account. Now I've got a lot more explanation to do.
Hell and be damned, I can't say it. Telling her about that night at her pack and how crazy I'd gone over her scent would do no favour to the situation. She was already freaked out beyond soothing. The least I can do is try to be…logical.
Noticing how distracted I was by my thoughts, she freed me from my hold and tried to take to her heels. I was fast to grab her hand anew, spinning her around and pulling her to me. She quickly backed away from my body but couldn't put much distance between us. Red wasn't the only one determined not to let her go. I was too. With so much agony from not having a mate over the years and this past month, I'll die a fool if I let her get past me.
”Pl..ea…see, let me go…,“ She was crying a river, trying to get on her knees.
“Hey, don't do that. Do not get on your knees. Not for me and certainly not for anyone else, ever.“ I said vehemently.
With the way she was pleading and crying, it seemed like something she'd done a lot. They could have contributed to her unpleasant, facial changes.
When all this is over and she finally accepts this mate-bond, I'm having a full list of everyone who made her cry and plead in a way that she got so good at it. They'll be sentenced to eternal misery. Red's claws will make sure of that.
“What…do you wa…nt…from me?“ She asked. The tears were flowing in fast tides that I couldn't watch any longer. If only I knew the right words to soothe her with. To make her feel a shred of calmness.
Jason would know what to say if he'd been the one in this situation. He was famous for his epic lines. Even his worst lines were melody in the ears of the ladies.
I, on the other hand, was the complete opposite of him. I've never been who did well with words. Never had a reason to be nice to the ladies. Growing up with their endless fawns towards me made me disregard them a great deal. Although, a good number of times, their pussies had saved me from wrenching boners. That's as much regard as I have for them.
Now, out of the blue, I'm faced with the girl of my world and I've got to the nicest with her and I'm clueless about what to say. This has to be karma, being a bitch.
Her loud throat clearing brought my head swinging up. Looked like she'd picked up a teeny bit of courage and was wiping at her tears.
“I'm sorry, Alpha-Prince. I never meant to fight with her. She just said a lot of mean things about me and I couldn't take it anymore. I'm sorry. I'll resign immediately…“
How the hell was she thinking the filed complaint or her brawl with the coworker had anything to do with this?! Red had howled out a deafening “MINE“, so it's either that was too much for her to comprehend or she thinks it's a mistake!
“If you let me go, I promise you, I'll resign and you'd never see me again,“
“Don't even think about disappearing again. I won't let you,“ I said firmly.
Her eyes screamed confusion, and as much as I'd love to enlighten her, I couldn't find the right words, to begin with. Everything's happening so fast. It'd be too much to take in.
“I don't…“ She was cut off by a moan and a wince. She grabbed at her stomach, rubbing it soothingly.
My eyes trailed to her stomach and I thought I heard a tiny movement within. And I felt it strong, alive. Wait a minute! Fuck!!!
When she finally jerked her hand from my hold and ran to the door, I didn't chase after her. I was still in great shock. What fucked up situation is this??
The door flung open and she fell right into the arms of whoever it was.
“Whoa..easy, dear. “ Jason cooed, steadying her in his arms. When he looked at her face, he went surprisingly speechless. A thread of recognition shone through his face.
“Excuse me,“ Hara said and ran past him, further into the hallway.
Jason turned to look at me. His brows arched at my distraught state. The question in his eyes beat the shit out of me. I wished he wouldn't ask, but he did.
“Who's…that?“ He drawled.
”My mate, Hara,“ I replied, and headed for the door. Without turning around I added the last part that crushed my heart, “...and she's gonna have a baby.“ I opened the door and left the office.