Claiming His Mate’s Heart

Way Too Different

“Come on, mouse. Just jump and I’ll catch you.” Darius shouted from the ground while looking up at me. I’ve been stuck on the tree beside the river for an hour when he came looking for me. It’s already getting dark so mom must have asked him to go look for me since I don’t usually stay out this late.

“I can’t! It’s too high!” My voice cracked as my tears started to cloud my vision.

“I’ll catch you! Don’t you trust me?” D reassured me but I hesitated for a while. D is tall for a thirteen-year-old but the spot where I was is still too high to jump from for a chubby ten-year-old. He might get injured from the impact of catching me. Maybe if I can go down a few feet lower.

I look around and check if I can find a branch to move too. I saw one but it’s half a meter away.

Can I reach it?

“Don’t think about it, mouse!” He warned, seeing what I plan to do.

“I’ll just try to move there, “ I shouted back as I pointed to the thin branch on my left. “then you can catch me.”

He scratched his forehead, a sign that he’s getting irritated. “You can’t reach that. Just jump already. I won’t let you fall. I’ll catch you for sure. Trust me.”

I bit my lips. I trust him. I know he won’t let me get hurt but I don’t want him to get injured. Mama will scold me if she learned I got him into a mess again.

“Come on!”

“No! I’m too heavy for you to catch.” I went down a bit and held on to where I was sitting, then tried reaching my right foot to the branch nearby.

Just a little more…

I smiled when I felt the branch under my foot. My hand reached for a small brown branch but before I could touch I heard Darius shout.

“Sylvie, no! That’s a freaking snake!”

I was startled when the branch moved and a pair of slits stared back at me. I lost my balance and I went falling down.

“Ahhhhhh!” I screamed as I shut my eyes real tight expecting the painful impact.

I’m gonna die! Mama! but instead of the ground, I fell on someone’s body.

“Ugh!” Darius whimpered after a painful thud. His hold tightened around my legs and shoulders. He caught me and kept me sitting on him while he slumped on the ground.

“You saved me!” I cried, tears already flooding my face. I hugged Darius tightly but then I heard him whimper. “A-are you, okay?” I asked as I looked at his pained pace.

“Ugh! I think I broke my pelvis!” He answered as he lay on the ground. He let go of me and touched his back.

“S-Sorry!” I felt so guilty.

“Just get off me already… you’re so heavy!”

I scurried and got up. “Where does it hurt? Here? ” I pointed to where he was holding.

“No. I’m good. I just need to lay on my back.”

“Did you break your back?” I started sobbing again. “I’m sorry! It’s my fault!”

“Shhh, it’s okay. Don’t cry. You look more like a mouse with you're crying like that. Look, your nose is already as big as a tomato.” He grinned as he pinched my nose.

I slapped his arm for his teasing and he yelped.

“Sorry! Does it hurt?”

He gave me one of his most charming smiles then messed my hair. “ I’m good it’ll heal.”

“Thank you for catching me, D…” I started sniffing again but I tried to hold it in. D will tease me more if I cry again.

“I promised you I will. When did I break my promise?” His smile widened.

“Never.”

***

The soft screeching sound from the wooden stairs instantly woke me up from my dream. My ears twitched a little and my nose sniffed on the scent I caught.

Mate… Violet whispered inside my head but I didn’t open my eyes. Instead, I covered them with my arm to keep the blinding light seeping from the window from hitting my face before I whispered to her.

We don’t have a mate, Violet.

But… I didn’t hear her reply anymore as I quickly shut her out. I don’t want to argue with her.

Shit! This is the second time I’ve done this to her since she awoke inside me five years ago. She’s gone crazy since she caught Darius’ scent yesterday and I had to suppress her and that overwhelming desire to jump at him.

How can she betray me just like that? Just a sight and a wift of his scent and she went Gaga over him. I snorted at my thoughts.

I won’t lose my control. I swear I won’t.

I sighed and shifted on the couch. All I want is to catch more sleep since I had no choice but to look after Darius last night. I didn’t get a wink of sleep for three days because his fever kept going up. Uncle Roan insisted that he take care of the mess in the forest last night. The bodies of the new recruits were burned after a brief ceremony. They maybe rogues, but they are members of my pack now. They don’t have any family to mourn their loss but us.

“Alpha! What are you doing down here? You should be resting.” I heard Uncle Roan said as he stepped out of the kitchen.

Darius didn’t reply but I heard his footsteps walking towards the sofa where I was lying.

“Sylvie, we have to talk.” He said in a low, commanding voice.

Pfft. As if that’s going to work on me. It didn’t even make me flinch.

“Sylvie! I know you're awake. Talk to me.” He held onto the arm covering my face. I opened my eyes and raised him a brow.

“Can’t you see I’m still sleeping?” I raised one perfect brow at him but didn’t move an inch.

“Now you’re not.” he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me up.

“Tsk. Get your filthy hands off of me.” I growled low, shocked with the immediate spark of electricity from the simple skin contact.

I saw pain and confusion cross his eyes.

“You deft now?”

He sighed and let go. He raised both his hands in the air as a sign of surrender. “Alright. Now can we talk?”

“We have nothing to talk about.”

“How about almost killing me? And you having a wolf? I think we do have a LOT to talk about and I need answers now.”

“You stepped into my territory and killed my men. I could have your head sent back to your pack and get away with it. You’re lucky you survived.” I met his gaze with equal fury.

He seemed shaken by my words. Of course, he couldn’t believe I’d say that to him. He thinks he can just walk out and come back as if nothing happened. Him and his alpha pride. Tsk. Well, too bad he’s not the only, Alpha around.

His expression changed to that of rage but I only gave him a sly smirk. "I was looking for you. I was worried when I caught those rogues' scent."

"You didn't have to kill them. They are not rogues. They're my pack members"

"They attacked me first!" There was frustration in his tone as he proved his point. "What pack? I know a rogues' scent when I smell them, Sylvie."

"That's what you think, alpha." I let the insult slip on my tongue as I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Ah… kids, breakfast is ready. I made your favorite. Why don’t we eat first?” Uncle Roan tried to dispel the thickening tension around us but our eyes stayed locked with each other.

There’s no way I’m backing down. I eyed him from head to toe and back. He looked more mature with his broader shoulders and well toned muscles protruding from one of my old shirts he was wearing.

A small smile formed on his lips as my eyes went back up to his face making me hold my breath.

Damn it how could he possibly be more gorgeous than he was five years ago?

Gone was the boyish mischievous smile he always had plastered on his lips. It was a smirk with confidence I've never seen before. A knowing smile that's telling me he knew what's going on inside my head.

Our eyes locked and I knew I was right.

Damn it! What am I even thinking? I am an alpha and this is my turf. I should stand my ground and act like one. Not eye Darius like a freaking teenager. I’m not going to give in to that growing desire to feel his skin under my fingers.

I grabbed my phone and coat on the table and walked to the door.

"You walking out on me again, mouse?"

I stopped in my tracks when I heard him call me by my pet name.

Why did my heart flutter?

For a moment, a few of our memories flashed before me but the soft expression on my face quickly changed when I heard him ask another question.

"How could you change so much, Sylvie?"

The softness and sadness in his voice made my chest hurt. He sounded as if he really care. As if he really was affected with how much I changed. I would've believed him. Would've, but not anymore.

I felt the vile burning inside my stomach but I balled my fist to stop myself from stepping back to where he was.

How can he dare ask? How can he even think of asking as if he didn't know he was the main cause of it all? I screamed inside my head but didn't utter a word.

Nothing will change what had been even if I beat him to a pulp. It's been done and I've moved on didn't I? All his promises, those were all lies. He never wanted me. He will never catch me. Not the way I need him to.

"Are you not going to eat first? The meeting may take a while." Uncle Roan asked breaking the seemingly long silence and my thoughts.

"I'll just ask Piere to grab my lunch later."

"I'm not done talking to you yet, mouse."

I turn my head and slyly looked at him over my shoulders.

"Well I am," I turn to uncle Roan and in my alpha voice, I gave my command. "Make sure your guest don't go wandering around the territory. I won't save his ass next time. He's not welcome here. I'm sure you know why."

"What..." I heard Darius' protest as I walk out the house while Uncle Roan cut him off with a "Yes, alpha Sylvie" reply.