Chapter Six: Defending His Mate

CLAIRE's POV

I felt my body contort and distort. 

Okay that was disturbing.

My limbs got stretched, hind legs lengthened, face changed and in less than a minute, I was seated in the cool grass in my birthday suit, looking a bit disoriented.

“Finally, I thought you were having tea with your wolf or something.” 

I heard Blaire grumble beside me and I laughed.

“She has a whole lot of attitude.” I said, my grin stretching even wilder.

A soft growl in my head told me to shut the fuck up.

“Feisty bitch.” I muttered back and Blaire chuckled before tossing me a cotton top and jeans. 

“As much as I like to see you naked, your mate will not appreciate others seeing you like this.”

My smile dropped.

Mate.

My mate.

Oh, shit.

“Oh shit.” I repeated, suddenly all tensed and sweaty.

I quickly wore the clothes she tossed at me, grimacing at how my body seemed to learn how to work anew.

I looked towards the pack house, then I shivered. 

I really did not want to go there right now.

I did not want to face him just yet.

Okay that was a total lie.

“Oh shit.” I mumbled again. I was done for.

All my body seemed to crave was him. The cold, brooding bastard.

I wanted to hug him, kiss him, lick him.

Ew wait.

I stopped in my tracks and turned to Blaire, a frown on my face.

I opened my mouth but she cut me off. 

“Say oh shit one more time and I will punch your face.” Blaire deadpanned.

I rolled my eyes. “I was not about to say that.” I looked her over. “How did you know he was my mate?”

She scoffed. “Who would not know. It was pretty obvious, you know.”

I cringed. Oh goddess.

What was I supposed to do now? Oh gods.

Was he going to reject me? 

Who would not? 

I was the weakest of omegas.

How was I going to face the shame of his rejection?

Goddess help me.

Slowly, I strutted to the big house where I knew everyone would be waiting with their judgy eyes.

Before I walked through the door though, Blaire stopped me with a hand to my elbow. 

I looked back at her, my nervousness shining through my eyes.

“Chin up. Do not let anyone bring you down.”

I nodded, then turned to go again but Blaire grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet her eyes.

“I mean it.”

“I know.” 

My eyes welled up and I quickly hugged her before quickly walking in before I changed my mind and rushed for the forest again.

I walked in and all the small talks and chattering came to an abrupt stop as everyone’s eyes turned on me.

I took a small step forward. Not looking at anyone, chin up, I reminded myself. It was hard to forget anyway with Blaire’s figure solidly behind me.

I would not cower, I would not be afraid, 

My wolf growled in agreement with me and took a menacing step forward, alert and watching against any attacker.

Not that it was necessary anyways, everyone liked to verbally bully an omega but no one would like to have the blood of an omega -a wolf who could not defend themselves -on their hands.  

That was a show of weakness.

Stupid pack.

I kept my chin up, chest a bit puffed out as I walked to the center where I perceived my mate to be.

“Are you okay?” Enzo asked, wary about lacing his voice.

I nodded, keeping my head down in an act of submission to my Alpha. “Yes, Alpha.”

 Then, I felt it.

Eyes on me. Cold, calculating, dead eyes.

Alpha Dominik.

I did not know I had looked up till I felt his stare, his shocking grey eyes looking me over as if he was trying to know if I was alright.

As if.

I shifted my gaze from him to Enzo. “Alpha?”

If I were a normal wolf, I would definitely have a say in the matter but as luck and the moon goddess would have it… I happened to be an omega.

I had no say, not in my life, not in any important decision.

Like this one.

Like if I would accept a mate or not, like if I would be shipped off with a man I did not know.

It was obvious the hulking guy had not rejected me, I would have felt the pain. I knew that much. 

And even if every part of my body and mind yearned to be closer with him, I steeled my back.

I did not want to be forced into anything. Especially not in a mating bond.

I did not have a say so I had no choice but to look at Alpha Enzo and hope in my mind that he really did not just sell me off.

Enzo took a step closer to me, pain etched into his chiseled, handsome face.

Oh goddess, no.

I took a step back, shaking my head vigorously.

No.

Please.

“You will be going with him, Claire.” He cleared his throat and tried again. “You will be going with your mate.”

Then, right then.

My world crashed.

I had been mistreated in this pack for as long as I could walk, I had been outcasted. 

I had thought I would finally escape this nightmare when - if - I found my mate. That he would take me away, love me forever.

That seemed highly unlikely now, I could hardly find it in me to be happy, even if it was just for the fact that I would be leaving this god forsaken pack. 

My mind told me I was going from frying pan to fire, given the reputation my mate had throughout the continent.

A destroyer.

Evil.

That was who I was mated to.

I looked over to him, Dominik. But, he just stared at me. Arms folded, face expressionless.

I shook my head at him, then mouthed a single word. “Please…” I made sure my eyes showed how much I did not want this, how afraid I was.

Instead of answering me, Alpha Dominik just stalked towards me, eyes roaming over my body and before I could control myself, I found myself taking a step towards him, my wolf whining to be closer.

I looked up at him. Then I shook my head, once. 

“Please, no.” I whispered.

He looked me over. 

When he deemed it fit to speak, he said. “We leave in five minutes.” 

I could not help the fact that his voice washed over me like a silky caress, I slowly gravitated towards it. 

He looked at me as if daring me to say no, to challenge him.

I knew better. 

“Please.” I whispered.

“How do you train your omegas, Enzo?”  He gave a small, disdainful scoff. “I am disappointed.”

Oh how I hated him.

I hated him so freaking much at that moment.

I turned to Alpha Enzo with pleading eyes. “Please Alpha, I do not want to go with him.”

Enzo started to shake his head but Blaire cut in, pleading. “Brother…”

But he just shook his head. “The only person that has a say in this matter apart from me..” he sighed and looked at me, “is your father, Claire.”

Oh gods, how did this night turn this way?

The crowd parted silently and my father made his way to the front, a sick grin on his face.

I knew what the fucker was going to say before he even opened his rotten mouth.

My wolf growled angrily at both me and my father.  She could not understand why I was against the idea of our mate, and she did not like how my father glared at me.

I hated him, but I tried anyway. 

“Dad…” I took a step closer, eyes watering. 

This was really embarrassing. The whole pack was watching me plead with Alpha Enzo and father not to mate with the most powerful alpha alive.

I must have looked like a stupid brat to them.

They did not understand me.

I was about to go from the frying pan to fire. 

I was about to go into unknown lands. Who knew how they were going to treat me there?

Would I be accepted?

I was about to be mated with the devil alpha.

How was I going to survive this?

“Take her. Take her the fuck away.” He spat my way. “She has always been a disappointment anyways—“

In a blur, my father was pinned against the wall, hands choking his throat.

I looked on in awe as my mate leaned closer to my father and mumbled in his ear his voice low but still traveling to me.

“Talk about my mate like that again…”