My Fated Mate

7. JASMINE GOLDENROD (PART 2)

POV (JASMINE)

I felt my whole body was shaking with excitement as I waited for Alec to answer.  In the 10 years of my life, I had never felt so enthralled about learning.  Yes, I enjoyed a summoning spell or séance like any good witch would, but this was something new.  Something forbidden.  Just standing in that grove of trees talking to him and listening to him felt almost sinful.  

Since before I could remember my bedtime stories were full of the horrors of little witch girls and boys wandering too deep into the forests and getting eaten by werewolves and vampires.  I remember Abelia and I would curl up into little balls and whimper if our candles burned out before we fell asleep.  Father was not a fan of electricity.  He believed science was the death of magic and spells.  Old fart.

"Before I answer your question, let me ask you one." 

I blinked and nodded my head.  It only seemed fair, since I had asked him so many. 

"Do you believe I am going to eat you?"  He said, as he got right into my face and opened his mouth wide. I gasped and stood stone still.  Everything told me it was impossible, but what if it wasn't?  Those stories had to have come from somewhere.  "Oh never mind."  Alec sighed, as he turned his back to me and started to walk down the path.

I could not believe it, was it possible that I had hurt his feelings.  I watched as he kicked a rock and batted it from one foot to the next, like you would a soccer ball.  I had to do something to break this awkward silence.  

"Ummm, do you play soccer?"  The moment the words left my mouth he kicked the rock with such force it was sent miles and miles away from us. 

"Does that answer your question?"  He said with a grin, which quickly turned into a frown.  He was still upset.  I released a held in breath, as I took a few quick hopping steps so I could walk by his side. 

"Are you going to tell me about the Moon Goddess?" 

"Are you going to continue to believe my goal is to eat you?"  I looked up into his eyes, they shone like two crystal blue pools.  I wondered what all he had seen, he did not seem like a child.  There was something troubling about the way he spoke, as if he was an adult hiding in a kids body.  Only when he smiled did a twinkle of innocence show up. 

"I don't think "you" will eat me, but.."

"But you think the rest of my kind will."  He growled, and quickly walked away from me.  I raced to catch up. 

"Don't be mad.  I have been told all my life that werewolves eat witches!"  I shouted, as he quickened his pace, pulling me into a sprint. 

"And I have been taught witches only wish to kill werewolves!"  Alec barked back. "Yet, here I am helping you get back to your coven, who I am sure would like to skin me alive and make a pelt out of me for even touching you."  I cringed at that notion. 

"There is no way my coven would do such a thing!" 

"And there is no way I would allow my pack to kill an innocent witch." 

The two of us with breathing heavily and glaring at each other.  Alec's eyes were glowing red, while all I could do was gasp for air and plop to the ground.  This was not going to work.  We were too different, how was I ever going to get him to understand.  But before I could say anything I felt his eyes on me, which were now blue and he seemed a little calmer. 

"I am not going to say that my pack won't kill a witch."  I felt a shiver go down my spine at his words.  "However, we only fight to protect.  As long as your coven never harms us, or our mates, we will never harm you." 

“Does that mean you, you like witches?”  I said with a little sass as I crossed my arms.  Alec took a step towards  me and glared.

“No.” 

His words landed hard, like a pit in my stomach.  I knew that this chance meeting would be our last and even if I wanted to go to Ashfork it would be impossible.  If Alec was an Alpha's child he would run my class and I would never be accepted.  I hung my head in defeat. 

“ and yes.” I felt my heart stop and I looked up to see him smile.  "As long as they are not as annoying as you." 

"Your the annoying one."  I snapped, as he reached out and offered me his hand.  I did not hesitate to take it, which made him smile.  As I was dusting myself off I heard Alec start talking. 

"The Moon Goddess is said to be the creator of werewolves and it is said she was so impressed with her creation she wanted to make them as many as the stars in the sky. Yet, the only way to do that was by blessing each of her children with a partner, a mate.  A destined love that would complete each other and allow them to well... you know."  Alec looked at me with a cocky grin, causing my whole body to heat us.  I covered my face with my hands. 

"Gross!"  I yelled, as I hit him.  He just laughed. 

"Its natural Princess.  The pull of your mate is so strong that it is almost impossible to resist her."  I looked at him like he was crazy. 

"How is that possible?  Are you telling me even if you were in love with someone else you would just abandon them because your mate just happens to shows up."  

"Yeah." 

What?  I looked at Alec like he had grown a second head.  How could he just accept that?  And here I thought he was a bright boy, turns out he was a fool. 

"Its destiny Jasmine.  The moment you meet her nothing else matters. Your whole life belongs to her and yours to her.  All you want is to protect her and make her yours."  I looked at his face and could not believe he was serious.  It seemed insane, and yet the wistful, almost love sick look he was displaying made me think otherwise. 

"How do you know she is your mate?" 

Alec sighed, as he ran his fingers through his black curls. “The moment you meet your mate you are enveloped in her scent.  It is almost like as drug.  you cant get enough of it."  I felt my cheeks heat, recalling how Alec's wolf has liked my scent. My thought must have been the same as Alec's because he quickly cleaner his throat.

"So, basically her scent draws you to her.  Your wolf is able to recognize her and will yell out she is yours.  The moment you meet her, you can never be separated from her, unless she rejects you.”  I watched as he looked away troubled. 

I was not sure why but I wanted to comfort him, maybe it was because I was impressed with him.  Yet, at that time I wanted answers. “Why would a mate reject you?” 

Alec shuffled his feet, as if he was debating if we should continue this conversation.  “I’m not really sure.  I heard stories that a wolf can be rejected because their mate loves another or they don’t think they are worthy of them.  It is only speculation really, but I try not to think about it too much.  I have alpha blood, so surely my mate will want me.” 

“Why is that?”  Suddenly Alec was in my face.  I had not even seen him move from his spot and now he was here, as if he had teleported. 

“Alpha blood is desired by all shewolves.  It is one of the reasons I am fast and when I turn for the first time I will surely be a powerful wolf that will demand respect, just like my brothers.  Then I will be able to be Alpha of my own pack and my Luna will be right by my side.”  I felt my heart race, he would be powerful, maybe too powerful. 

“Luna, what is that?”  Another word I had never heard before. 

“I really am surprised you are interested in all this little witch. Well, if you must know, a Luna is the mate of an Alpha.”  I felt my heart drop.  There was something bothering me about this whole mate and Luna thing.  I watched Alec as he walked down the path.  He was strong, intelligent maybe wise, he would be an amazing leader one day, and yet.  I did not want to say it, but I wanted to see it.  I wanted to watch as this little proud boy became an impressive man.  I wanted to see how he would lead.  No, that was not right, I did not want to witness it, I wanted to be a part of it.  I wanted to stand by his side as his.  I felt my cheeks flush and I quickly had to look away. 

"Hey, what's wrong with you?"  Suddenly a shock went through my body as Alec reached out to touch me. He looked just as startled, and quickly pulled his hand back.  I watched has a small hint of red dusted his cheeks. He coughed and cleared his throat. "In case you were wondering." I look up, as he looked at me and then quickly looked away. "A wolf is not always mated to another wolf." 

My feet stop as if something had reached out and grabbed me.  He must have noticed and turned around to face me.  He was rubbing the back of his neck in a nervous way. 

“I have never heard about a case of it, but you never know. There is always that possibility."  My throat had gone dry, what was he saying, and why was he looking at me like that?

"Maybe their union would bring peace to their two factions. Instead of a flimsy document that is only held together by regret and p*****t” 

“Wait, what are you saying?"  The words fell out of my mouth before I could take them back. 

Suddenly, Alec grabbed my waist and pulled me close and kissed my cheek. 

“Does that answer your question.”  He whispered in my ear and then he was gone. I felt a tingly sensation on my cheek as I reached up to touch it.  What had just happened?  Only a few minutes ago we were screaming and yelling at each other, why had he suddenly changed?  I chewed on my bottom lip and looked around trying to see if he was hiding somewhere.  Suddenly, I felt a familiar feeling of being watched. I quickly turned in his direction. 

"Why did you run away?" 

"Run away? What are you talking about my Lady?"  I stood there shocked to find Abelia trying to squeeze herself through a a bush.  Her black dress was caught on some holly and she was fighting with it.  Her silver blonde hair was pulled up with one of my old black ribbons and she had smears of dirt on her cheeks.  She most likely had dirt on her dress too, but since it was black nothing could be seen. 

"Oh thank Satan, I found you."  Abelia gasped, as she finally freed herself and walked over to me.  "Whats wrong?  You're flushed?"  Lia said, as she put her cool hand to my forehead.  "Do you have a fever?"  I watched as she quickly looked around in search of a fever reducing herb.  "I am not seeing any here.  Darn, if the Elder finds out you are sick he will have my head for this."  Lia panicked, as she rushed over to a near by tree and started pushing grasses and roots aside.  Suddenly she returned with a purple root, that looked a little bit like a sweet potato.  I watched as she removed a small knife from her belt and cut the root in half.  "Here suck on this. The juice helps reduce swelling. It's purple ginger."  I nibbled on the root, but my mind was a buzz.  He had kissed me, but why?  

 “Lady Jasmine, your parents are sure to be calling for you.  We should start heading back."  I looked at Lia and saw her face was twisted in worry.  I reached out and put an arm around her. 

"I'm sorry Lia.  Lets start heading back."  I felt her body relax as she smiled up at me. 

"Who were you waiting for?" 

"What?"  Her words shocked me awake.  "What are you talking about?"  Lia looked at me puzzled. 

"When I found you, you said, "Why did you run away?" Who were you talking to?"  It took everything in me not to hit her.  Leave it to my best friend to remember things even when she was in a panic. 

"Oh just my.... familiar."  She would never buy it and sure enough she did not. 

"If you say so, my Lady." She said, with a sly smile.  "What kind of familiar is he?" 

I stopped and looked at her, with her cocky little grin. There was no way she saw him, it was impossible.  Why was everyone giving me that stupid cocky smirk today.  I quickly hooked my arm with hers and said.  "A dog, a really really really big, smelly, hairy, arrogant dog." 

"Oh my. I had no idea you were a dog lover."  Her words made me give her a forced smile. 

"Me neither."  I said through my teeth, causing both of us to start laughing. 

 I never found out if Lia actually saw him.  She never pressed me when I ran off to the grove or disappeared after lessons.  She did not even bat and eye when I told her we were going to Ashfork for classes instead of Ridgeback, like all the other witch children in our coven.  But I knew she knew, and there was a part of me that wanted to tell her everything.  Maybe if I had I would not be sobbing my eyes out clutching on to something was shattered and broken. 

My bloody fingers traced the pieces of wood from our oak tree, that he had just smashed to smithereens.  A clear sign everything was over.  I clutched the shards of his carved wolf and my flower in my hands as if they would turn to powder and be lost forever.  I brought them to my chest and sobbed, as my mind flashed back to that horrible night I had heard his cries of anguish.  I knew I had broken him and would never deserve a kind loving glance.  For I had done the one thing he was so sure would never happen.  The boy who had brought me safely home, the boy who had cared or me. The boy who had stolen my first kiss, was now the man I had rejected.  I would never forgive myself and knew the only way we would ever be able to survive was if one of us left.  Victor went to Ridgeback Academy.  I had already started the paperwork for Lia and I to transfer, but I could not bring myself to leave him.  I was a fool.  I had said he was petty, no the petty one was me. 

Carefully I took out my cellphone and called Lia.  I sniffed back any remaining tears as her ring tone started.

"Oh, hello my Lady.  Did you need something?" Lia's kind voice was music to my ears. Thank Satan I had her.

"Nothing really. It's just that.... I've been thinking. Since midterms are in two weeks we should go ahead and transfer to Ridgeback starting tomorrow." 

"What?  Tomorrow?  Are you sure?" 

"Yeah, I have been thinking about it and since Victor is going to be my husband we should be together.  And I don't want to miss anymore class over there.  They are so much more advanced than the ones at Ashfork, so I think we should start class effective tomorrow."  My voice was starting to shake and I could tell Lia was not completely buying this.  As always she could read me like a book.

"Ok, that might be a hard sell with the academy's, since we already told them we were leaving in a month."  I could feel my body start to shake, something was wrong and I was beginning to feel sick.  I needed to get off this phone. But I would never yell at Lia. 

"Why don't you call Victor and see if he can pull some strings?  I really want to be by his side.  He is my fiance after all and a girl has to protect her mate. I.. I mean, her future husband."  The moment the words came out of my mouth I wanted to take them all back.  How could I do this to her?  This was mean, down right heartless.  No, marrying Victor was heartless.

"If that is what you want my Lady.  But, you know if you call him it would most likely work better.  I don't think he cares for me that much."  Lia whispered out.  I could hear the hurt in her voice. This was unforgivable. This was beyond selfish.

"Nonsense!" I gasped out.  "You are my sister, blood or no blood, he will love you.  He just doesn't know it yet."  I could hear Lia sigh on the end of the phone.  Love her, that would be the least of my worries. 

"Very well.  I'll call him."  I could hear the uneasiness in her voice and I wanted to end this ridiculous charade.  How could I let her do such an uncomfortable task.  I was a horrible friend and even worse sister.

"Thanks Lia. I don't know what I would do without you." 

"And I you."  

As I hung up the phone I felt a wave of sadness and pain wash over me.  I was hurting everyone day, everyone that had been honest and true to me.  This must have been how he felt.  How could I have done this to him.  I truly was a monster.