my mate

As my father placed me on my bed, I whimpered. My mother rushed in and forced my dad to leave. How are you doing, baby? As she sat next to me, she inquired. 

I moaned, "It hurts..." I scratched at myself while making a point of my abdomen. She pulled my hands away and sighed, "Stop, you'll hurt yourself." 

I felt like thousands of insects were crawling on me as my body itch. I thought I was going to die because my heart was beating so quickly. 

"What hurts more?" She inquired. 

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I choked and wept, "there's something wrong with my heart... it's... beating so fast... it feels-" I wheezed, "My chest... It hurts to breathe." 

"Baby, it's just your heat." She soothed. 

I choked, "Mom, it's never... Never like this." 

She looked at me and then shook her head. What? Do you have any idea what's going on?" I wept. 

She gave a thoughtful glance and occasionally shook her head. Why wouldn't she say, if she knew what was causing my pain? 

She trailed off, "It's not possible... unless you've met your mate..." I nodded for her to inform me that I was speechless because everything hurt. 

She exhaled deeply, "They say it feels exactly like you are describing, Clara." "When a bond starts to develop between mates, they've bonded together... If one of them is intimate with another wolf, the mate feels it." She elaborated. 

"So this isn't heat?" I asked as I choked back a sob and shook my head. My partner is with another person." I groaned. 

"Baby, some wolves don't wait. Is it true that you haven't smelled your partner? "Your wolf would have to have some sort of connection for you to be feeling like this," she said in a whisper. She added. 

"I know everyone in this pack, no one is away except Ethan and Mateo..." I choked as my eyes widened. 

"You are connected to both of them. When you were together, your wolf and theirs would have formed a bond. Have you spoken-" I abruptly stood up to interrupt her. 

"No! I moaned, "Ethan wouldn't do that." I choked as I reached into my pocket to retrieve my phone, "Mom, I need to call him." 

She raised her head with a nod. Shout if you need me," she said as she left my room with a nod. 

I gazed at my telephone, I expected to ring him... I expected to find out. He wouldn't tell me a lie, even if it could ease my suffering. I'm afraid of the response because if he hasn't slept with anyone, then he isn't my partner; however, if he has, then he is my partner and has hurt me in the worst way possible. 

I lose in either case. 

I pulled up Ethan's number and squeezed the call button. I kept waiting for him to respond, but he never did. As the pain returned, I cried out in pain. 

Mom rushed into the room and wrapped me in her arms. Clara, baby, breathe." She commanded. 

In an effort to get as much air into my lungs as possible, I took deep breaths. The aggravation vanished gradually, all I could feel was help go through me. My stomach hurt, but it was now manageable. 

She mentioned, "Ethan is calling you," as she handed me my phone. 

Before leaving the room, she gave me a quick glance and a nod. I picked up the phone and listened to it in my ear. 

"Clara?" He sounded winded, my breath trapped in my throat and I gagged. Perhaps he was just practicing? I'll tell myself that at least. 

"What's the matter?" "Clara, talk to me," he demanded. He begged. 

"My wolf has an association with you... There's no other person that has... Reinforced with her..." I wheezed. 

"Clara, take a deep breath." He coaxed and took a big breath of his own. I repeated that a few times as I dragged in a shaky breath and slowly exhaled. 

"Show me who you haven't slept with?" "Tell me what I'm feeling is just my heat and you haven't broken our promise," I whimperingly stated. I cried. 

He gasped, and I heard what sounded like a door opening. He exhaled deeply, and I held mine as I waited for his response. Clara, it will be your turn... I promise I haven't slept with anyone. It will be your turn. He mumbled. 

My throat was holding my breath. My thoughts were racing at breakneck speed. I don't know what to think or do. 

"Do you mean that I'm your partner?" "What are you feeling?" he asked in a low voice. He went on. 

I groaned and took the phone out of my ear. I wept and placed my hand over my mouth. This indicates that he is not my partner; otherwise, Mateo would be my partner. Gracious, Goddess, his sibling. 

"No, you are not my partner." "I have to go," I moaned. I threw up. I screamed into my hands of frustration after dropping my phone on the bed. 

The pain was gone. All that remained was a dull ache in the area between my legs—this is heat. The heat makes you want to sleep with anyone you meet just to get rid of the pain. However, at the moment, I am too preoccupied with the fact that Mateo is my mate despite having slept with someone else and Ethan not being my mate. 

As mom rushed back in, I cried into my hands. Clara, I'm so sorry." "I know how much you loved Ethan," she said as she took me in her arms. She grumbled. 

I screamed, "Ethan isn't my mate; he hasn't slept with anyone." I broke down. Mateo, it's me, mom." I cried. 

She held me as I wept. When my dad entered, the look on his face suggested that mom had connected his mind to let him know. As he stormed out of my room, he was furious and had black eyes. 

I nestled into mother's side as she stroked my hair. Soon, my cries turned into occasional silent sobs and hiccups. As I fell asleep, I felt her kiss me on the forehead. 

"Clara, could I enter?" Owen came to my front door. 

I haven't felt that pain in four days. Owen has returned home now that my heat has left. I haven't said a word to anyone who has been trying to talk to me. I have begun locking my door so that no one can enter my room and will not leave it. 

"Clara, open your door and let me in, please." He exhaled. 

I hid my head in the blanket and ignored him. I feel as though my life has been taken away from me. Yes, I wanted Ethan to be my mate, but it breaks my heart more than I expected to know that my destined mate didn't care much about his. 

"Either you unlock this door or I'm going to kick it down," he said. He advised. I tossed my blanket across the room as I moaned. 

I unlocked my door as I walked toward it. "Owen, I just want to be alone," I sighed as I opened it. 

He appeared to be uneasy. He didn't look me in the eye and was shuffled about on his feet. What?" I blinked. 

"Just now, Mateo and Ethan have arrived home." He responded. I retreated as I became pale. 

"Why, Nononono?" I bleated. 

He took a deep breath and said, "Dad went to Alpha Miles, he told him about you and Mateo." He elaborated. 

"Why would he behave that way?" I groaned. My eyes were blurred by tears, but I didn't try to wipe them away. 

"Because what he has done is wrong, Clara. He ought to have waited for his companion." He snarled, "and you're his daughter, he hurt you." He exhaled. 

A profound snarl resounded through the house. Owen, who was watching the stairs, made me freeze and stare at him. 

"Where is she, you idiot? Where is my companion? Mateo spoke in a rage. "The house was filled with rage, and I could feel it." Calm down before you go anywhere near her." My father warned 

Up the stairs, I heard thunderous footsteps. "You need to listen to him, Clara," I said as I wept and shook my head. Before turning and heading for the stairs, Owen whispered. 

Why would he abandon me in his care? Is Mateo not causing me enough harm? Now that I know what he did, I have to face him. I took a deep breath as Mateo entered my field of view. 

I scrutinized him with my eyes. He appeared rough, and his eyes lacked life. It appeared as though he had repeatedly ran his hand through his wild, tousled hair. 

He paused, raised his eyebrow, and said, "Clara, I'm so sorry... I would have come home when you turned sixteen." He came forward and blew his nose. 

"Don't... Don't even try." I felt cold. 

Shaking his head, he raised his hands. Can you smell my scent?" He inquired. 

I took a deep breath in, and all I could smell was his body wash; he didn't even look appealing to me. I gave a head shake and looked down at the ground. I allowed him to walk up to me. 

"May I experiment?" He spoke softly. 

I exhaled deeply and nodded. His eyes were filled with hurt and guilt when I looked up at him. I shakily raised my hand as he held out his hand in front of him. Nervous, I stopped in front of his hand. I didn't want to experience the tingles and sparks that come from touching your partner. 

I prepared myself for the feelings that did not come when he put his hand on mine. I breathed. "I don't understand..." 

He raised my chin to meet his gaze after hooking his finger under my chin. Why did you consider me to be your partner? He pressed. He wasn't enraged; rather, he was genuine curiosity. 

"Please accept my apologies, I figured it probably been you on the grounds that my wolf knows you," I muttered. I'm even more lost now. 

"Clara, that does not answer my question." He mumbled. 

"I felt my mate being intimate with someone," I exhaled. While keeping an eye on him, I whispered. 

His eyes became black, and he hummed a low growl from his chest. Clara, I am so sorry." Before turning around and storming out of my room, he whispered. 

I held onto the spot as I stood there. I was unable to move and could not comprehend what had occurred. Who is my companion if not him? Ethan wouldn't lie to me, so it can't be him. Would he? 

"Whether you're a future Alpha or not, you shouldn't do that to my sister!" Owen snarled, I heard. 

He growled, "She's not my mate." 

"Oh great, so you're not taking her seriously?" He berated. 

"I can't reject her, because she isn't my mate," Mateo huffed, I heard. I need to leave, listen." He moaned. 

I wanted to go downstairs and tell them he was lying, but they wouldn't let me move my feet, no matter how hard I tried. Even though I don't want to believe it, I am aware of my partner's identity. 

I tripped over again and fell onto my bed. I wept while holding my face in my hands. What made him do this? He promised to wait for his partner; since I am his partner, he ought to have been having his first encounter with me. I rolled over onto my front and cried even more strongly. 

The sound of Ethan's voice in my head, "Clara," made me gag. I have no idea what to do. "Dad!" I hoisted myself up. I shouted out. 

Before I could even make a sound, I was pulled into my dad's arms. He wrapped his arms around me and cradled me against his chest. Baby girl, it's alright; I'm here. He reassured me by stroking my hair. 

"What should I do, dad? What should I do?" I blinked. 

"You need to decide for yourself what is right and wrong; I can't tell you what is right or wrong." Perhaps you could talk to him?" He offered. After giving a deep sigh, I took a few deep breaths. 

"I told you to leave her alone, Ethan!" Mateo fought. 

My father went to see what was going on after I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Lads, slow down, wow." My father growled. 

"I must see her; I must explain." Ethan wept. 

Mateo was standing behind Ethan when he showed up in my doorway. My senses were immediately calmed by Ethan's scent, which made me gasp. I jumped up and charged at him because I couldn't help it. As he wrapped his arms around my back, he met me halfway and pushed his head into my neck. 

"I'm so sorry I lied... I couldn't tell you. I detest that I contributed to your suffering. He spoke softly. I deeply inhaled as I held onto his shirt. 

My lips parted as a deep growl escaped. "I glared at him and pushed him back. What gives you the odor of a she-wolf? I yelled. My wolf was on the verge of winning, and jealousy was coursing through my veins. 

"I can explain... The story is long." He groaned. 

Behind him, Mateo grinned and rolled his eyes. He choked, "You're my mate, Clara, she doesn't mean anything to me." It's you I need, I can fix this." He mumbled. 

"Either you tell her or I'll tell her." Mateo broke down. 

As Ethan spoke, he became pale and stuttering. "I held my breath. She might be having a baby." He spoke softly. 

She's pregnant, she's pregnant was all I could hear repeating in my head as the room spun and my body began to shake. 

"Shit, Clara, you need to let out some air, dammit!" Ethan was panicking. Before I hit the ground, I could make out Ethan and Mateo in front of me.