Chapter 8: A Mate For Tallia
1152 Words
TALLIA
Bryant still smelled of cut grass and musk, but now I could sense his wolf too and…something else. Something delicious and alluring. Something that begged me to run into his arms and never let him go. My wolf pranced in my head and preened as if he could see her.
Bryant sighed and scrubbed his face. “I'm the Alpha King. I'm in charge of all shifters." He waved at Zarron. “Zarron is my Beta."
I knew very little about shifter ranks, but even I knew about the Alpha King. Plus, I could sense the authority rolling off of him in waves. For some reason, I felt like it should have affected me more than it was.
I narrowed my eyes. “That's not why you smell like this."
It was more than just a scent. My whole body felt electric in his presence. Like he was metal, and I was a magnet.
“I am your mate."
I gasped and my body went rigid. I knew a little about supernaturals and their mates. It was a big deal to them. They bonded for life and there were more intense feelings involved than in a traditional marriage.
I honestly wasn't sure how to feel about having a mate. Everything had happened so fast. Though, I couldn't deny that I really liked the idea that I had someone that was all mine. I could see the appeal in the whole mate thing.
But then why didn't Bryant look all that thrilled about the news?
“You don't want me as your mate?" I asked. My wolf howled and my heart cracked.
Bryant shook his head, then shrugged. “I don't know what I want."
I nodded, appreciating his honesty. Maybe mating was a lot to take in. Although, he came here specifically for a mate. You'd think he'd be more prepared.
I shoved the hurt away and looked at Zarron. He didn't smell like a wolf. There was something feline about him.
“What are you?"
Zarron smirked. “Good nose. I'm a mountain lion. But for future reference, it's rude to ask."
Whoops. I shook my head. “I'm sorry."
Zarron held up a hand. “You're learning. It'll take time."
“Am I…am I dangerous? I don't want to hurt someone."
Bryant nodded. “You could be. It all depends on how much control you have over your wolf. It's best if you come with me to my pack."
My heart stuttered in my chest. “For how long?"
“You won't want to come back here. You'll want to stay around your kind. Even shifters who aren't pack animals in the wild want to be a part of a pack. It's in our shifter nature."
“So your pack isn't just wolves?" I knew wolves were the most common in America.
“We take all kinds, but in my pack you have to be selected to join. Everyone has a job. We rule over all the other packs, so it's not like a normal pack. We can't just take in anyone, or be exclusively one type of animal."
I nodded, “and you're selecting me?"
Bryant nodded slowly.
He really didn't seem all that thrilled about me joining him or me being his mate. It hurt. All I'd ever wanted in my life was to be accepted and for some reason I'd thought being like them would make them want me. It hadn't.
I lowered my head to glare at my lap. Was it really so much to ask for? To feel valued for once in my life? If I couldn't find it amongst the shifters, then I didn't think I'd find it anywhere.
My wolf nuzzled me and huffed. That was…nice. I kind of enjoyed having her around to support me and lend her strength.
I glanced at my bicep where I'd been bitten and saw it was completely healed. Only pale scars remained. Not like those of a mate bite, which were pronounced and purplish red for optimum visibility. Mine were like really old scars, pale and silvery.
I leapt to my feet. “Holy cow!" I twisted my arm back and forth.
“What? What's the matter?" Bryant took a step forward with wide eyes.
I grinned at him. “My bite is healed."
He blew out a slow breath and nodded. “It healed with your shift. Shifting will heal a lot of injuries, but that bite was special. It was a supernatural bite. Once you shifted, it became a part of you."
I nodded. I didn't really understand, but whatever. It was super cool that I could heal faster now. All I had to do was shift.
I winced. Shifting sucked. It hurt like hell, and I wasn't in a hurry to do it again. My wolf whined, and I apologized to her, but it was what it was.
“Okay. Pack up whatever you want. We need to get out of here," Bryant said as he eyed my destroyed door.
I blinked at him. He wanted me to leave. Forever.
I glanced around my studio and realized I didn't mind so much. Yes, this was my home, and I'd worked really hard to make it a nice space, but this was an adventure I couldn't turn down and didn't want to. I wasn't the sentimental type. I grew up in foster care and it didn't really allow you to get attached to things.
I moved to the closet and pulled out a bag before I started throwing clothes in it.
“Zarron, go catch that rogue. We're taking him with us."
I turned to face Bryant as Zarron exited through my shattered doorway.
“Why are you going after him?"
“It is illegal to turn someone against their will. We have a zero-tolerance law."
I nodded, but sighed. “I got the feeling he didn't mean to hurt me. He was hungry, or something was wrong."
Bryant shrugged and straightened to his full height. “It doesn't matter. Zero-tolerance is zero-tolerance. Anyway, if he can't control himself, I can't leave him running around on his own."
That was true. I nodded and went back to packing.
As I worked, I could feel Bryant as he moved around my apartment. His presence was just so…in my face. I couldn't ignore it and believe me, I tried. It was overwhelming, the way my body was so in tune with his. The way his scent filled my nose and made it hard to focus. The way my wolf tracked his every movement.
Bryant wasn't feeling the mate bond, though. I needed to play it cool and not pressure him. Heck, I wasn't even sure how I felt about it. My wolf and my body were all in, but my mind was fighting to remain logical.
I had a feeling it was a losing battle.
- Writer
