My Mate

*Annabella's POV*

I drew closer to the outskirts of the pack border where he stood, the aroma of pine, filling my nostrils. He seemed in a daze, staring at me, his eyes glossed over with love and admiration.

"Mate" He whispered, taking a step forward to close the distance between us. "I've finally found you."

"You've been searching for me?" I blushed, my hushed tone equalling his breathy whispers.

He smiled, daring to reach out and pull me into his arms. I allowed myself to be engulfed by his scent, tucked securely in his arms. "3 years, 8 months, 2 days, and...." he glanced down at his watch. "49 seconds." He pulled back slightly to gaze into my eyes. "That's how long I've been waiting for you."

My heart fluttered at his confession, Stella purring gleefully at the thought of being wanted.

"Where are you from?" I questioned as I wrapped my arms around my mate. I'd hope he said somewhere far away from here because I'd gladly run away with him where I'm sure I'd be free, loved, and cherished.

"Promise you won't hate me or reject me when I tell you."

"Never!" I shrieked at the sound of the word rejection. "I'm never letting you go." My grip on him tightened, showing him just how serious I was.

He chuckled, his voice like music to my ears, then it died down and I felt him grow tense under my touch. "I'm a Rogue." He admitted. "But I'm not going to ask you to give up your life here for me." He quickly added as if afraid I'd be scared off by his status, or lack thereof.

He held his breath as I pulled back slightly looking into those blue eyes. "I'd gladly give up my life here to be with you."

His eyes widened, searching mine, hoping my words were sincere. Sensing his hesitation, I tip-toed and planted a kiss of reassurance on his lips. It was my first kiss– soft, sweet, and short, yet magical all the same, as my body buzzed with delight.

His eyes twinkled as he rested his forehead against mine. "Is it too soon to say I love you?"

I couldn’t help the blush creeping up on my reddening cheeks. "Maybe, but is it crazy if I think I love you too?"

It was a perfect moment under the moonlight with the stars bearing witness to our love.

After a few moments of basking in the love we've found, I lifted my eyes to his. "So when will we leave?"

"I'll be back for you tomorrow, my love. I'll beg your father for your hand in marriage and I'll promise before him and all other witnesses to take care of you for the rest of my life."

I froze at the mention of my father. Would he even approve of this union? would he accept a rogue as my mate? Would he willingly let me go free?

I feared the answer. "Maybe that isn't such a good idea."

"What, why... are you embarrassed of me?" His solemn voice quaked.

"Nono, that's not it. My father doesn't exactly like me."

"Impossible, how could someone not like you? You are beautiful and though I haven't known you for very long, I know you are a gem, rare and precious." The way his eyes lit up as he spoke of me nearly brought tears of joy to my eyes.

Stella could sense he wasn't faking it. He was genuine, wonderful, sweet... he was simply perfection in the flesh.

"I wish my dad thought of me as highly as you do. Do you know what my greatest flaw is to him? The fact that I don't have a Y chromosome. He never fails to let me know that I was a mistake, an accident. Today is actually my birthday but of course, it was too much to make the day about me, so he turned it into my engagement party."

"Wait, you're the ‐" My mate began, his eyes drifting to the lighted ceremony hall.

"Yup, bride to be and Alpha’s daughter here, but I left before I met the guy."

"Let me guess, a fellow Alpha."

I nodded causing him to sigh.

"But don't worry, soon we'd be far away from here, just the two of us, you and I, where we'd spend forever with maybe a few pups." I laughed, pulling him out of his thoughts.

I was successful, my heart swooning as he smiled. "How many? 3, 4, 5?" He kept counting as I shook my head.

"I was thinking more like 10 so that we could be a family of 12."

That got him laughing as he held me tighter. "I'd like that a lot."

"So should we leave now?" I asked after a few passed minutes.

"The journey home would take a few days, so go back and pack a bag, make sure to fill it with water and something to eat.... I'll be waiting here for your return."

I smiled as I released him, ready to go and eager to return to his embrace. "I'll be back."

I turned to leave but he quickly grabbed my arm, spinning me around and hugging me. "Sorry." He chuckled. "I've just missed you already."

My cheeks poked at my eyes as my lips stretched wider. I felt lucky. And when he cupped my face, bringing his lips to mine, I felt a spark flicker in the pit of my stomach and I knew I was truly falling for him. A warmth flooded me that I had never experienced before in all of my life.

"See you soon, my love." He waved as I skipped away, humming a joyful tune of love.

I made it to the house, which was thankfully empty since the celebration was still in full swing. I grabbed a few outfits before walking downstairs to raid the fridge and cupboard; and hopefully, by the time they recognized I was gone, I would already be far, far away.

I had it mentally planned out, except I forgot to factor in the part where my father would come looking for me.

"Where the hell have you been?" I jumped, feeling caught red-handed as Dad burst through the front door, his face contorted in rage. His eyes dropped to the partially packed bag and his nose flared. "And where the hell do you think you are going?" He lunged forward, and in anger grabbed me by my neck, sniffing the air. "Who is he!?"

I was shaking, fear rising like bile in my throat. "M-my ma-mate." I stuttered through breaths as his grip tightened around my neck.

"Where's he now, is that where you were going? Are you trying to run away?" His questions were fired one after the other without break, yet he demanded an answer to them all. His stern gaze demanded my compliance, but I couldn’t– I wouldn't let him lay a finger on my mate. He did nothing wrong.

Dad went silent for a while and a few minutes later his Beta entered. "Find the guy that matches this scent." He chucked me towards his Beta and like an obedient praise-thirsty hound, he took one whiff of me and went hunting.

Tears welled up in my eyes as both Stella and I understood the gravity of the situation. If my mate didn't run now, he'd be caught. Beta John had a keen nose and was known for his exceptional hunting skills.

But how would my mate know he was in danger? It wasn’t like we had reached the stage of mind-linking. It was only a matter of time before he was brought here on his hands and knees begging for his life.

My cries rose into the air at the cruelty of my life as I fell to the ground. "What are you going to do to him?"

"Well, that depends on you. Reject him and maybe he'd live."

My heart instantly broke at the thought of rejecting my mate.

Was this really the only option?

I sat on the floor, rocking myself as tears streamed down my face like a river. I hoped against all odds that he could escape, but suddenly, the door burst open and Beta John stepped in.... and he was not alone.

"Mate!" I screamed.