Chapter 3: Already Taken

Aria’s POV

What did she mean by that? I was 23 and I had lost all hopes of finding my mate. I was happy with Patrick. More than happy

I thought to run but the more I ran, the more restless she became.

“Mate” she cried out again. The smell of cinnamon filled my nose as I stopped. I looked around when I couldn’t take it anymore. I was running to Patrick initially, but this time, I turned and ran in the opposite direction.

I was not giving up on Patrick. I was only finding out who my mate could be. I was curious. After waiting for so long, I had every right to be curious about who he was and why he hadn’t shown himself to me while I waited for him all these years.

The more I ran and the scent became stronger, the more inquisitive I got. All of a sudden another scent hit my nose. It was an oceanic scent. Still coming from the same direction

I was left wondering if my mate had two different scents. I had never had a mate before so I didn’t know what to expect. I was hungry for information. All of a sudden I stopped thinking about Patrick. I let curiosity take control of my thinking

The more I ran, the more my wolf whispered. “Mate”, the more I became impatient.

I stopped at a tunnel where the scent led me. I should have been scared, but I ran in, hoping to find the man who made my wolf crazy. Not just my wolf but myself. I felt the heat get more intense the more the scents became stronger.

I was swallowed by the void of the darkness but I could feel a presence overwhelm me. I had never felt anything like it before. Suddenly I felt someone’s warm breath on my neck. His aura made me shiver. I heard footsteps but it sounded too busy to be one person.

I couldn’t take it anymore. What the hell was I doing in the darkness, waiting all because my wolf suddenly went mad? I turned to leave but was grabbed swiftly by my wrist. I was spun around like I weighed nothing and my eyes met with a pair of blue eyes.

I felt another person grab me from behind and I swallowed hard. I was in the hands of two men which I didn’t know. I could see nothing but their eyes as they shone to show the influence their wolf had on them.

“Mate” the one in front of me, growled cupping my chin. My breathing quickened as I felt the other one slipping his hand around my waist, going deeper. I was lost in both lust and emotions. I wanted to speak but my brain was blank.

“how long did you think you can hide from us?” The one at my back spoke up. His voice caused a cold shiver to run down my spine. I should have been scared that I was being held by two strangers but rather, I wanted them to hold me more.

Then suddenly someone spoke up again.

“This is the only chance we have Aria,” Patrick said in the mindlink

That was all I needed to snap out of the spell. I pulled hard from them. I shook my head at the pair of eyes staring at me. It was going to be the last time we saw each other.

“No” I breathed out sharply, looking at the edge of the tunnel which had the light. “We can't be together, I am taken by someone else” I paused, “You have to find another mate,” I said and ran as fast as my legs could carry me.

Where were they when I searched for a mate the moment I turned 18? I waited for years and when I had finally lost all hope of finding a mate, they decided to show up.

I took my bag which I had discarded at the edge of the tunnel and I took to my heels, ignoring my restless wolf. I chose to ignore her as I ran till my legs hurt and even as it hurt, I kept running.

As I approached the gate, I kept my head down trying to make sure no one noticed. It wasn’t illegal to leave the gates, but if someone saw an omega running at night with a bag in her hands, they would know she was escaping.

They wouldn’t look at the fact that I had been treated wrong all my life and I wanted freedom. They would see me as a betrayer. A person who leaves his pack was a traitor and I would be punished for that. I got outside the gate where Patrick waited for me

He smiled warmly when he saw me, hugging me tightly. I panicked, thinking he would pick their scent on me. He cupped my chin as he beamed.

“It is finally happening Ari” he spoke out as he took my bag. “I took a car from the parking lot,” he said, causing my eyes to widen.

“You stole a car, Patrick?”

“How else are we supposed to get out of here”

My heart skipped. Leaving was a problem on its own. The theft was included now which meant, we did not only betray our pack but we stole from them. I hoped more than anything that we didn’t get caught because it would end up badly for us.

He took my bag and with our heads down we ran further into the darkness. We got to the car. Patrick opened the trunk and flung my bag into it

“Come on, enter the car “ he could see how hesitant I was.

I entered the car, as well as him and he drove in an insane high speed. He didn’t stop to glance at me as he drove. I could tell from the way he was unsettled, it was clear that he was as worried as I was. We left the pack completely and the further we went, the more relaxed I became.

Maybe it was going to work, maybe we could escape and not get caught, maybe I get to spend the rest of my life with the love of my life. I placed my elbow on the window of the car as I breathed out a sigh of relief.

I spoke too soon because just when I thought we had escaped, Patrick hit something causing the car to come to a forceful stop.

I looked in front but didn’t see anything. We both panicked as we looked at each other. There was nobody there but it was certain that the car hit something.

“I’ll go check it out,” he said and he stepped out of the car. I watched him walk into the openness. He looked as confused as I was as he accessed the place, looking for what we hit. He turned back to the car and was on his way back, but something struck him.

He froze and dropped to the floor immediately. My eyes widened. I jumped out of the car, trying to rush to him, but someone grabbed me from behind, a strong grip which I couldn't wiggle out of.

I wanted to scream but I was planted by fear when I felt a sharp claw at the base of my neck.

Someone else spoke but I couldn't see who.

“Don't do anything stupid, the Alpha said to keep her alive”

The Alpha? What Alpha?