I Only Want You, Mate.

Chapter 3

Madison's POV

My first reaction was shock. Eyes wide open and jaw already loose ready to fall to the ground at any given moment.

“D-did you just… ” I stammered. "Excuse me, ” I mumbled, trying to gather my thoughts as I stood up abruptly, my heart racing with fear and confusion. The sudden attention from everyone around only added to my discomfort, their curious gazes following my every move as I stumbled towards the door, desperate to escape from this mate of mine who clearly loved PDA.

“Hey, wait!” my mate called after me, his voice tinged with concern. But I ignored him, my only thought was to get away from him as quickly as possible.

I darted down the hallway, my footsteps echoing off the walls as I ran, the sound of my heartbeat pounding in my ears like a drumbeat of panic. But no matter how fast I ran, I couldn't shake the feeling of his presence lingering behind me.

As I rounded a corner, I spotted an empty classroom and dashed inside, slamming the door shut behind me with trembling hands. Leaning against the door, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart and clear my mind.

But before I could even begin to gather my thoughts, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching from the hallway outside. My heart leaped into my throat as I realized I hadn't lost him as I hoped.

“Why are you running from me?” he asked, his voice soft and pleading as he stepped into the room, his eyes searching mine for some sign of recognition.

I backed away, my hands trembling as I struggled to find the words to answer him and also cover my face to avoid recognition but I remembered he already saw and kissed me. “I...I don't know you,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. “Please just leave me.”

He reached out to me, his touch gentle as he tried to close the distance between us. “My name is Rowan,” he said softly, his eyes filled with longing. “And I know that this is all overwhelming, but please, give me a chance to explain. I wouldn't hurt you, ever.”

I couldn't bring myself to listen to him, so before he had the chance to home closer, I pushed past him and bolted out of the classroom, my heart pounding in my chest as I raced down the hallway, desperate to put as much distance between us as possible.

I ran until my legs could carry me no further until the ache in my chest threatened to consume me with every breath I took. Finally, when I could run no more, I collapsed against the wall, my body trembling with exhaustion and fear. Luckily it was time for the next class so I found my way to another, doing everything in my power to avoid Rowan.

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, I breathed a sigh of relief. “Ready to go?” Andrew asked, his voice gentle as he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

I nodded, offering him a weak smile as we made our way out of the college and towards his car. As we drove home, the tension that had been building inside me slowly began to ebb away.

When we arrived back at the bungalow, Andrew reached into the trunk and pulled out a small package, handing it to me with a curious expression. “This arrived for you while we were out.”

I took the package from him, turning it over in my hands as I studied the plain brown wrapping. There was no return address, and no indication of who it might be from, but something about it made me a bit scared.

“It should be from Gaius,” Andrew explained seeing as I was a bit hesitant to open it.

Carefully, I peeled back the layers of wrapping paper, my heart pounding in my chest as I revealed the contents inside. It was some of the things from our rooms that didn't get burnt in the fire then a thick envelope, sealed with wax and stamped with an unfamiliar symbol.

“What is it?” Andrew asked, his curiosity piqued as he leaned in to get a better look.

“It's a list, I think,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper as I scanned through the heading. “A list of people I should stay away from.”

Andrew's eyes widened in alarm as he glanced over my shoulder, taking in the long list of names scrawled on both pages. “Who are they?” he asked, his voice tight with concern.

I swallowed hard, my throat constricted with fear and sadness as I scanned the list, my heart sinking with each familiar name I saw. “My teachers,” I said, pointing to the name at the top of the list. “And...and some of my closest friends and family. There's only one unfamiliar one though. Walker.”

“Do you think these people had something to do with the attack?”

I shook my head, tears welling in my eyes as I saw the names of people I loved and cherished on there. “I don't know,” I whispered, my voice filled with pain and disbelief. “They are all people who were very close to us. But… but I can't take any chances. I'd have to live undercover now pending the time we find my parents and everything gets settled.”

Andrew reached out to me, pulling me into a comforting hug as I fought back the tears. “It's okay,” he coaxed. “We'll figure this out.”

The next morning, as I stood in the mirror, a part of me wondered if I truly wanted to return to college after everything with my mate yesterday. I couldn't even sleep well because anytime I closed my eyes it was either I saw the fire or I saw Rowan trying to kiss me again.

With a heavy sigh, I squared my shoulders and forced myself to push aside my fears. Finally, on college grounds, I kept a wary eye out for any sign of Rowan, my senses on high alert for any hint of his presence.

Throughout the day, I did my best to avoid him, ducking into empty classrooms and crowded hallways whenever I felt his presence drawing near and I was successfully able to avoid him during the first half of the day.

Once it was fine for lunch, I breathed a sigh of relief and decided this time to eat in Andrew's office. I already got my food and was a few walks to the office when a strong hand closed around my wrist, pulling me to a stop.

“hey,” Rowan said, his voice soft but urgent as he drew me close, his eyes searching mine locked with mine. “We need to talk.”

I opened my mouth to protest, to tell him that I didn't want to talk, that I wanted nothing to do with him, but before I could utter a word, he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine in another quick kiss that left me breathless and bewildered.

I tried to pull away, to push him back, but he held me fast, and strong before pulling me into a hug, and although my mind screamed at me telling me to push him away, my wolf and I savored the peace and comfort we felt from just being wrapped in his arms alone.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, the sharp click-clack of heels drawing nearer with each passing moment.

“Quick,” he whispered, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards an open door. “In here.”

I stumbled after him, my heart racing as he led me into an empty laboratory, the door clicking shut. For a moment, we stood there, catching our breath.

Then, with a hesitant smile, Rowan reached into his pocket and withdrew a small gift-wrapped box, holding it out to me with a look of uncertainty in his eyes. “I...I got this for you,” he said softly, his voice tinged with hope.

I hesitated, unsure of what to make of his gesture. “Why?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I just...I wanted to do something nice for you,” he admitted, with a bright smile that made my heart flutter.

Despite my reservations and the danger that surrounded me, there was something undeniably genuine about the way he looked at me.

With a sigh, I reached out and took the gift from him, unwrapping it with trembling hands. Inside, I found a delicate silver necklace, and a small wolf pendant dangling from the chain. It was simple, yet beautiful.

“It's...it's lovely,” I said softly.

Rowan smiled, his eyes lighting up with relief. “I'm glad you like it. And that's not all,” he smiled again before turning around to bring a bigger box.

“You can open it when you get home but I'd like to see you open it now,” He said, looking at me like I was the only thing that mattered to him.

Not wanting to risk taking a tracking device or something worse to Andrew’s home, I decided to open it right there and what I saw made me look at Rowan then at the box in disbelief.

“I noticed you didn't have a proper school bag or a phone, so I decided to get them for you,” He explained. “Do you like them?”

I looked at the bag, one of the latest from the brand, and the phone, the current best in every pack.

“Wow,” I expressed in shock. No one ever gave me such expensive things aside from my parents so this was a first for me. “Thank you,” I muttered. “But I can't accept them.”

“What? Why?” Confusion was etched on Rowan’s face and the pain in his tone made me wince a bit especially because I knew I couldn't be with him. I couldn't trust anyone at this point, not when the people who attacked my family and me were still unknown.

“Please say something,” He begged.

“I just can't accept it. I'm sorry,” I whispered dropping everything he gave me back into the box, before heading to the door.

On getting to the door, I tried to open it but it was locked. Turning around, I was met with a chest, forcing me to take a step back, now leaning on the door.

“Why do you keep running from me, mate?” His deep and dangerously low tone filled my ears, causing all of the hairs on my body to rise as I started into those grayish eyes. “Ever since I sensed you, you've been driving me crazy. So crazy, I began to crave your scent, began to watch you just you see a smile on your face. But you keep running from me like I'm filled with poison, why is that?”

All I could do was look into his eyes, stare at his perfectly sculpted face, and lie to myself that I wanted to run from him. Truth was ever since I also sensed him that day, a part of me wanted to see him up close, wanted to talk and cry on his shoulders, not to mention the kiss he gave me and the way I felt during that hug made it hard to tell myself I didn't want him.

“It's complicated,” I whispered, taking all the strength in me to break our eye contact.

“Can I at least know your name?” His tone became softer now as he gently raised my chin, making our eyes lock once again.

“Maddie,” I whispered, unable to think of anything else but the sensation I was feeling just by being this close to him.

“I Rowan Walker, accept you, Maddie, as my mate and woman. No matter how much you push me away, I promise to come back to love and cherish you.”

Immediately those words left his lips, he placed a small peck on my forehead.

“I can't take the gifts back, Maddie. I got them for you and only you and I can't assure you I'd stay away from you but if that's what you want, I'll try my best to give you the time to see that I wouldn't hurt you, ever.”

After he said that, he unlocked the door and left, leaving me with tears streaming down my face. He might not have known but he just gave me another reason to run from him. He was a Walker, someone I should avoid till further notice.

“Is that even possible?” my wolf asked reminding me of the way he looked at me, the way he got things for me without even asking, the way he was willing to give me time just to come to terms that he was my mate and he wanted me.

My response to my wolf question was a sigh then I went back to the box wondering what on earth I would do with it.

I ended up carrying the box and my food, then headed to Andrew's office, hoping he'd have good advice to give. Just as I stepped out of the door the first person I saw was one of the teachers who home schooled me. Immediately I ran back into the laboratory, my heart drumming as I fell to my knees, using the table as cover so they wouldn't see me.

“Let's talk here,” I heard one of them say then a door opened. The door to the laboratory I was currently hiding in.