Chapter 12: King of Wolves
1162 Words
-Helena-
Taking your own life?
Wylder’s words reverberated inside my head. I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze as he posed this question. Yes, I had entertained thoughts of ending my life for some time. I had simply wished for everything to cease, yet it was only my mother who had kept me going. Despite feeling numb, I loved her dearly.
I could sense Wylder practically trembling with fury from the corner of my eye. He didn’t want to hear this, and as my mate, I understood. But we couldn’t remain mates. I didn’t want it. I wanted us to just... part ways. I wanted him to leave me alone, so I could just…
End our lives? Amaya completed the sentence for me, not with anger but with a resonance of agreement. Amaya was done living as well, too shattered by what had occurred.
Suddenly, however, Wylder seized my chin forcefully, and I winced slightly from the intensity of his grip. Despite the fact that I was a wolf, he possessed alpha strength.
“Never utter or insinuate such a thing again!” he growled at me.
I pushed his hand away. “It’s not for you to decide!”
“But it is!” he bellowed. “Now, as your mate, it is! And you will do nothing to harm yourself. You will not return alone. We will go back, gather some belongings, and then you’re coming to stay with me.”
I rose to my feet, and he stood his ground, meeting me with unwavering determination.
“That is not your call to make!” I snarled.
“It is! As your Alpha, it is!”
“You’re not my Alpha!” I shouted.
“But I am. The moment we discovered we were mates, I became your Alpha, and whether or not you accept it, that’s the way it’s going to be!”
“Well, then perhaps I should just reject you?” I challenged.
“What?” he inquired, shocked.
What?
I gaped in astonishment at Wylder, who had frozen completely, and so I suddenly realized what I had uttered, and I despised myself for it. I knew the implications of rejection. I understood the agony it caused and its devastating effects. And now, I had flung it in Wylder’s face. How could I do that?
“I...” I stammered, shaking my head lightly.
“Is that what you truly want?” he demanded, looking at me with anger in his eyes.
“No... I...”
“Helena, be honest with me now. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?” he growled.
I swallowed nervously, taking a moment to contemplate his question. Did I? I swiftly found my answer. Even my wolf recoiled. She might not wish to accept him either, but she couldn’t allow us to inflict such pain upon him.
“I won’t allow you to utter those words!” he declared, his tone dark. “Ever!”
“I don’t want to!” I yelled.
“Then why the hell would you say that?”
“Because you made me mad!” I exclaimed.
“You make me mad too!” he shot back.
“Then maybe we should just go our separate ways!” I suggested.
“No!”
“Why?”
“Because mates can anger each other, but they don’t use rejection as a threat!” he snapped.
“I’m sorry!” I said, genuinely meaning it, as I hadn’t intended to lash out like that.
Wylder appeared surprised, and some of his anger seemed to dissipate.
“You’re sorry?” he asked.
“Yes! I didn’t... mean to... say that. It just slipped out,” I explained.
“So, you don’t want to reject me?”
I sighed and shook my head.
“But you don’t want to accept me either?” he continued.
“I just... think it’s best if we have nothing more to do with each other. I just... want to be on my own,” I whispered, gazing down at the ground. “I think that would be for the best.”
I could hear Wylder sigh. He seemed to be growing weary of me, and who could blame him?
“I don’t agree,” he stated.
“I really am not someone you want as a mate…” I groaned.
“Why not?” he interjected.
“I am a…”
“And if you say ‘a lone wolf’, I’ll put you over my knee,” he warned.
I looked up at him, taken aback. What did he just say? He wore a smug smile, clearly finding himself amusing. He couldn’t be serious... could he?
“You don’t think I’d do it?” he teased, as if he could read my thoughts.
“Would you?”
“Do you want to find out?” he countered.
I eyed him suspiciously, sizing him up, then smiled faintly.
“You wouldn’t,” I challenged.
“Oh?”
“Why would you even want to do that?”
“Because it would teach you to speak more highly of yourself, and it would be a turn-on for both of us.”
My jaw dropped. How could spanking me be a turn-on for us? I almost turned to my wolf, hoping she had some insight.
Oh, don’t ask me! I’m as confused as you...
“Well, that certainly made you think it over. Ready to try it now?” he teased, stepping closer.
I shook my head and raised my hands defensively. “No, I’m good.”
“Then don’t let me catch you talking about yourself like that again.”
“Wylder…” I began.
“Give me a valid reason why we wouldn’t work or why I shouldn’t desire you as my mate.”
I pondered, searching for compelling reasons, but the ones I had already thrown at him seemed insufficient in his eyes.
“I’ve already explained why, and you refuse to accept it,” I reminded him.
“Then provide a convincing one,” he urged.
“They are valid!” I insisted.
“No, they’re not.”
“Do you realize the implications if you were to have a lone wolf as your Luna?”
“How fortunate I am?”
“No, how unfortunate,” I replied. “People would ridicule you. Your reputation would be tarnished.”
Wylder burst into laughter, leaving me stunned. I stared at him, unsure of what to say, and he noticed my expression.
“You truly don’t recognize who I am, do you?” he asked.
“Should I?”
“I’ll fill you in on the way to the house, but I must say, it’s quite refreshing,” he remarked. “It’s been a while since I’ve encountered someone who didn’t immediately recognize me.”
“And who exactly are you?”
“You could almost say... I am the alpha among alphas.”
- Writer
