"What do you mean, he is your mate? Who is your mate?" I asked Aria, desperately hoping that I had misheard, but what are the odds?
"Exactly that!" She snapped at me. "The man walking beside the Alpha." Okay, a bit aggressive if you ask me. It had to be her wolf. Oh gosh, that bitch honestly, Aria needed to keep her under reins. But I'm one to talk.
"Then... if he's your mate, why would he just walk away?" I asked not to anyone in particular.
Aria stomped off, shouting that I shouldn't follow her. I knew she went to let her wolf out. So I walked into the hospital at a beautiful time when the doctor allowed Absalom to get his blond pup. I walked in when Malik was holding her. My chest tightened and immediately this desire to see him holding one that came from both of us hit me so strongly I thought I hold swoon. He sensed me at once, looking up from the pup to me. I swear I didn't know why, but tears came to my eyes. I quickly blinked them away and gave him a small smile. He handed the baby back to Absalom, who was more than happy to hold his pup. It was beautiful, actually, but Aria's devastated face popped into my eyes and I knew I had messed up. How could I lie to her? And for so long? How do I even apologize? I was a horrible friend. I knew everything about her, despite being the mouth of the group, when it was just both of us. She did most of the talking.
As if Malik sensed my distress, he immediately walked over to me and drew me closer to himself.
"I'm sure Aria just needs some time," he said to me, resting his chin on my head. I sighed.
"How many times have I told you to stay out of my head?"
"Not nearly enough," he replied. "Besides, you could always block me out, but you never do. Wanna know why?"
"Because I don't know how?"
"Oh please, it's nothing my little witch can't figure out, and that's by the way. You don't want to."
"Why the hell wouldn't I want to? I like my privacy." I scoffed.
"No, you like to me knowing what's going on, especially when you need comfort or scolding."
What?
"Huh?" I pushed away from his hug. "No, I don't! Why would I want that?" I looked up into his deep blue pools.
"Iris, I am the first wolf. I can sense a billion times better than the average wolf. I know even what your brain doesn't want to."
"Does that even make sense to you?"
"I know how it sounds."
"Do you? Really, do you?"
"Look, I knew that you were terrified of what I and the entire pack would do if we found out the truth about you, so I told them for you. I pushed you to show them who you really are. To stop your hiding."
"And that helps me how?!" I yelled.
"Do you mind?" Absalom called out from behind us.
"Sorry," I whispered immediately.
"We'll give you some privacy." Malik held my forearm, which I ripped out from his hand.
He grabbed me again and spun me to face him. My hair whipped around both of us as I turned.
"Can you just let me explain?" I eyed him and sat down on one of the hospital benches.
"Look, Iris, I know exactly how you feel each time. That night I knew that you didn't want to let yourself get close to me because you didn't want anyone hurting me or the pack because you believed you brought bad luck. I was just trying to make you see that we wouldn't care less if you were a witch because the moon goddess makes no mistakes. You're my mate and I love you regardless, you and your magic and your curse of doom." He whispered, reaching for my hands.
"I don't care if you carry trouble, because from now on we both carry trouble. In the same way, I wasn't fazed when I first met you and you rejected me because I knew that you didn't really want to. It may not seem like it most of the time, but I am in this for the long run."
No matter how hard I tried to find excuses for this as he spoke, I even began to understand my raging emotions better. "But don't you sometimes wish I was different? We are always fighting, and I realize it is your nature to dominate. Don't you wish you had a more submissive mate?"
"No, you are enough, Iris."
My heart warmed as I heard Malik talk about my fears and worries. I couldn't believe how easily he just accepted me. And all this while I've been pushing him away.
"Nothing in this world is going to make me leave you, Iris. And you know that which is why you don't ever really push me away, you never officially rejected me. Even when you left and you were in trouble, you sent Aria to get me-"
"Hey, I wouldn't say it like that. I sent her to get help, not you," I interrupted.
"Sure, whatever makes you sleep better," he grinned. I scoffed. "And now that is the reason you never really block me out. You want me just as much as I want you. Do you really think I don't know how much you think about me? All the thoughts you won't let yourself think. Iris, you are my better half and nothing you ever do or ever are would stop me from trying to love you. Okay? Now you can just let yourself have what it desperately craves, or keep resisting, but I'll warn you. I eventually break you, no matter how long it takes, but I'll definitely do it. But why torment both of us, huh?"
Was I holding on to him even though I didn't want to? I looked up to meet his eyes.
"How can you not care that I have a prophecy that puts your pack in danger?" I squeaked, tears already threatening to fall. How could anyone want to sacrifice everything for me, me? I was cursed, broken, evil, and useless. I hurt people, people who didn't deserve anything but happiness. I came into their lives and brought my drama with me and they got hurt.
"I don't care about anything anymore if you're not here." He held my face as I looked up at him. The tears spilled.
"Don't, please don't. I can't let anyone else get hurt because of me. You have no idea what's coming. It'll take so many lives. You have to let me go," I cried into his chest.
He just held me there, gently stroking my back. I wasn't entirely sure why I was crying, but it felt like a pleasant release.
"I already told you, that's never going to happen," he stated blankly.
I sniffed and wiped my nose.
"How can you even do this?" I asked.
"Because you complete me, Iris. You are my mate and that's that."
"Oh," I said weakly. I held on to him like he was oxygen. I was so confused and nervous. So what now? Do I love him? Do I trust him? It would be a relief to let go. I've been holding on for way too long now. I guess I could at least get to know him and his pack.
"Oh, Iris, you don't know how happy that makes me," he sighed.
"What part of stay out of my head so you not understand?"
"Not of it at all," he grinned at me. I had the urge to grab his head and put his lips on mine.
"You should really do that," his voice was low and husky. Just as I was about to follow instructions, we had to get interrupted.
"Am I interrupting something?" Absalom cleared his throat.
"Obviously," Malik growled.
Wait, what number was this? Gah, I lost count so I'll start again. One.
Malik looked at me from the side of his eyes. He knew what I was doing, but he just winked. My whole cheeks were red, and I was blushing like a big fool. This was so cringy, yet. It only made him smirk and inflated his already gigantic ego. I shook my head.
"Absalom dear," I smiled sweetly at him.
"Yes, Luna?" He replied with his brows raised.
Malik growled again. Two.
I got up and walked to him. "Do me a favor"
"Of course anything Luna."
"Tell me why the hell you walked away from your mate like she didn't mean a thing, " I spat with as much venom as I could. My sweetness disappearing.
His smile disappeared, and a scowl replaced it. I was taken aback. I didn't believe he had a single jerk bone. I even wished Malik was more like him.
I heard that.
I meant his charisma, Mr. overly jealous.
"With all due respect Luna, it's none of your concern," he retorted.
Huh, sass. This was probably the real Absalom. And here I was wondering how he was friends with my mate.
"Oh yeah? That was my best friend whose heart you just broke." I folded my hands.
He nodded in understanding. "Look, I'm not sure why anyone would want to reject a wonderful person like Aria, but she doesn't deserve this, at least talk to her," I tilted my head.
"I was always planning to," he grumbled.
"Good." I clasped my palms together, looking expectantly at him.
"Now?" He asked. I nodded and gestured towards the exit. He groaned and walked out.
I know Aria was angry with me, but I would never let her be hurt by anyone else, even if I was one of the people who hurt her.
Malik placed his hands on my shoulder and I felt butterflies when he came close.
"Look how affected you are by me, little witch," he whispered in my ear and nibbled on my earlobe. Heat rose up my cheeks, and I was sure my ears were red. I squirmed away from his touch and ran to the door. Before I could make much progress, he scooped me up and flung me over his shoulders, and walked out of the hospital.
"Remember the last time you carried me like this?" I asked as I bopped up and down while he walked.
"Do even think touching my ass is going to make me distracted again," he warned, but I couldn't miss the playfulness in his tone.
And I did exactly that, squeezing his butt and just as it happened like the first time, he loosened his grip and I slid down through his back and landed on my palms, trying to break my fall. I rolled over and stood.
He narrowed his eyes at me.
"So much for not being affected, huh?" I smiled at him. Giving him a cheeky grin.
"How about a race? The winner gets one wish." He looked at me, one eyebrow raised.
"And how fair is that? You're Lycan and-"
"And you're a witch? My little witch."
So I could use magic? I smirked, "Game on!"
Immediately, I was in the air. I looked down I saw Malik running slightly ahead of me. He wasn't even in his wolf form, and he was already in front. I needed to do better. But I couldn't deny the freedom doing this brought me. The last time I had used magic without fear of being found and chased was when I still lived with the witches, but now? I was soaring through the sky in front of hundreds of wolves. And as I looked down at them, they didn't have looks of disgust on their faces, intact it was they revered me. And it didn't seem they did that only because Malik ordered them to, but because they just did. For the first time, I felt drawn to this pack. For the first time, I really want to care for them.
I propelled myself even faster and barreled down. Rolling on my back and standing on my feet when I was just about one meter away from the pack house, I was in the lead. But not for long. Before I knew it, my legs were no longer touching the ground, and with the way I felt tingles and sparks, I knew I was in Malik's arms. He ran with me to the front of the pack house.
"Malik!" I screeched. "I was about to win. Why would you do that?" I felt his chest vibrating as he laughed. "Now who is the winner?."
"Well, it's my feet touching the floor, isn't it?" He said in my ears.
"That's not a rule," I whined. "Besides, I'm here too, aren't I?"
"Fine, then we both get wishes. If you want to think about it first there's no problem," he said.
I shook my head. "I know what I want."
"What's that?"
"I am ready to be your Luna, like your official Luna."