Chapter 2
1285 Words
(Alexia POV)
I fell to the ground with a scream as I felt pain in my knees. It was getting hard for me to breathe. My whole body hurt and I felt dizzy.
I hissed, standing up. Each step I took, I swayed from side to side, my legs threatening to give up. Reaching the familiar dark alley, I slid down the wall, a cry escaping my mouth.
This was my old home. Yes, I had to sleep in the street, and yes, I didn't have enough food or water, but my life here was heaven compared to my present life.
Almost every night, I come back here. It was the only place I felt at peace. I rather consider this place home.
I brought my knees to my chest and buried my face in between.
"I wish I hadn't met him." I let out a whimper.
"Mate!" a voice suddenly filled my mind as I looked up with wide eyes.
"He-hello?" Fear filled me as I looked around. The alley, as usual, was dark. For some reason, the cold air around me felt warm.
I could feel my heart beating fast.
"Hello?" I called once again. I froze as I heard footsteps.
"Mate!"
Suddenly, a pair of bright gold eyes opened a few feet away from me. My sudden instinct was to scream as loudly as I could. But it didn't last even for a second as a hand covered my mouth.
I gasped as I felt some kind of weird spark erupt around me.
"Don't be scared. I will never hurt you." The voice was soothing. A complete stranger was hugging me tight but yet, instead of fear, I felt... Happy?
"P-please let me go."
I wanted to get away from this feeling. It felt so foreign. I started to cry and he pulled back.
"Shhh, please. Ok. See, I let you go." The man in front of me let go and sat back a few steps away.
He was patient as he waited for me to calm down.
"Are you OK now?" he finally voiced as I raised my head. I finally got a glimpse of his face.
His skin was slightly tanned and he had black hair. His eyes were oddly no longer gold but a light brown shade.
"You are hurt..." His eyes went to my scratched hands and then my knees. I blushed hard as I pulled my skirt down.
"Um, yes."
"What happened?"
I looked at the man cautiously. Although I feel some kind of attraction towards him, he is a complete stranger.
"None of your business."
My eyes widened as he let out a growl.
"It is my business. Everything that revolves around you is my business."
"What?" I wanted nothing more than to run away from this lunatic. He sounded as if I was someone he loved. "Please... I will go back." Tears flowed down my eyes as his face turned to that of distress.
"Please don't cry! I will not hurt you, OK? I am your mate."
My whole body froze on hearing that one word.
Mate? I have a mate?
I looked up at him with wide eyes.
Even though I am a human, I live in a werewolf household. Of course, I knew what a mate was.
"I-I am your mate?"
Born as a human, I never thought I would have a mate.
"You are my mate, and I promise I will love you and never let anything happen to you."
It was the first time I heard someone tell this to me after my mother died. After my mom's death, no one cared about me and no one said they would protect me.
I felt so stupid, but I couldn’t help the tears that came down my eyes.
"Shhh, it's alright, I am here. Cry as much as you want."
He pulled me into a tight hug, the weird sparks once again erupting between us.
I don't know who he is, but I have never felt safer than being in his arms. I grabbed a tight hold on his shirt, burying my head into his chest.
I cried. I cried loudly, till the heaviness in my heart felt less burdened. I just want to escape this horrible life of mine. I had even thought of killing myself just so I could be free, but I never had the courage.
Hours passed and the man waited patiently for me to calm down. In his arms, I felt warm and secure.
"Can I know your name?"
I moved back, wiping my nose and looking away. My face was red from the cold, crying, and embarrassing moments.
"Al-alexia." I muttered as he gave me a small smile.
"Nice to meet you, Alexia. My name is Luka." He introduced himself, giving a small bow.
"He-hello." I tried to return a proper gesture, bowing my head a little, but winced because of the pain in my back.
"Are you OK?" his eyes were filled with worry as I gave him a fake smile.
"I am fine. I just... fell." I didn't like how I lied to him but I didn't want to tell him what happened.
"Ok. But would you let me help you? I want to dress your wounds. It may get infected."
I was hesitant to agree, but his worried expression made me involuntarily nod my head.
"OK." he said before standing up. "Stay here. I will be right back."
He ran somewhere, leaving me alone once again. I didn't know what to do. Should I stay? He did say I should wait for him.
But what if he is just playing with me? What if I stayed here and wait for him but he never shows up.
As if my questions were answered, a voice filled my ears.
"Back!" the man was breathing heavily. He sat down in front of me before opening a cover filled with medicine.
He looked up at me as if waiting for my permission. I bit my inner cheek before extending my hand.
Each time he looked at my new wound, he would let out a low growl. He didn't ask what happened as he took care of my injuries.
Slowly and with care, he started to dress my wounds.
"This will hurt." he said as he poured the disinfectant onto the deep wounds on my shoulder. I grabbed his forearm, squeezing it tight because of the unbearable pain.
"It's ok. It's done." He placed cotton over the wound before starting to dress it.
When it was done, I smiled, thanking him for his help.
"Thank you." a brief pause filled between us before I voiced. "I have to go."
For a moment, he looked broken but nevertheless nodded his head. We both stood up and I craned my neck, noticing how small I was in front of him.
I knew that he was tall, but now that I am standing, I felt so tiny.
"Can we see each other again?" he looked at me with hope and it made my heart skip beats.
"How about um.... tomorrow?"
"Yes!" he broke into a huge smile as he nodded his grin excitedly. "Oh, but I won't be able to see you during the day..."
"You have work?"
"Yes. You can say that."
"It's ok. I won't even be able to meet you during the daytime."
"Um, then how about tomorrow night after 10.30? We will meet here."
"Ok."
"Then it's a date."
I couldn’t help but get excited. It felt like having butterflies in my stomach.
"Ok."
That night, for the first time in a long time, I walked back home with a huge smile, excitedly waiting for tomorrow night.
- Writer
