Chapter 2 - Mate!
Amaia's POV
"Dearly beloved," the familiar voice of my father's Beta, Beta Harrison, cracked with emotion. The sounds startled me, and my bewildered gaze snapped in his direction. "We are all gathered here today to say farewell to our beloved Alpha, friend, and husband!"
What the actual f*ck!
Am I dead?
Is what I am seeing real?
My hands instinctively moved over my body, frantically searching for any evidence that I was dreaming.
I pinched myself and yelped wide-eyed in pain.
"Holy cow!" I exclaimed, shocked. "This can't be real!"
Curious red-eyed gazes turned toward me, while the elders standing next to the grave were frowning in disapproval.
"Sorry," I muttered, and I quickly made my way to the far back.
I just couldn't believe it!
I couldn't fathom that I was alive! How the hell was this possible?
I examined the scratches on my wrists and the marks my fall had left on my skin. However, the skin was as smooth as ever, and there were no signs of Darna ever digging her nails into my skin. Neither were there any broken bones nor a single drop of blood.
"Was I reborn?" I whispered to myself.
The thought sounded so absurd.
My gaze slowly shifted to the funeral. A giant frame displayed my father's picture—it must be his funeral.
I narrowed my eyes as I remembered that some pack members had died that day.
There should be a horrific storm brewing on the horizon that would interrupt the funeral soon.
My gaze shifted toward the sky, and indeed a storm was brewing. The stunning blue sky transformed into darkness, mirroring the events of my past life.
The scene was so surreal!
Was this the goddess doing it? Was she offering me a chance to redeem myself?
Scenes and images of my last moments flashed before my eyes, making me freeze into place.
As I fell from the roof, I saw a figure leave the packhouse—an elder and a man.
The man, dressed in a dark, expensive suit, seemed upset. His jaw clenched tightly as he spoke to the elder, their hushed voices barely reaching my ears. He and the Elder seem to be in a heated argument. His face bore a chiseled expression of annoyance and anger.
"You can't keep me from her!" he growled.
The elder's brow furrowed deeply as he replied, his voice low but firm. "It is not a matter of keeping you from her..."
I could feel his aura, strong and powerful. The tension in the air crackled like static electricity, and I was drawn by the gravity of their exchange. I knew that whatever decision the elder made would ripple through our lives, shaping destinies in ways we couldn't yet comprehend.
"What is done is done, Alpha Lennox," the elder continued, bowing his head under the higher power. "I can't change—"
As if called, Alpha Lennox's gaze suddenly shifted in my direction. His eyes grew wide with horror.
Did you hear my scream?
Did I scream?
My body collided with the concrete surface, and the sound of my head hitting the ground sounded like a g*n shot going off. The horrible sound bounced against the packhouse walls.
The world spun around me, a chaotic blur of faces and shadows, as pain radiated through my skull.
Alpha Lennox's expression shifted from horror to urgency, and I could see him moving toward me, but everything felt distant, like I was trapped in a dream where I couldn't wake up.
I struggled to focus, my vision flickering in and out as my body fought against the wave of darkness threatening to pull me under. Just as I thought I might succumb, a strong hand grasped my shoulder, grounding me in reality and pulling me back from the edge.
"Sh*t!" his deep, husky voice sends a warm, tingling feeling to my heart. It was pure bliss to my body, making something stir inside me. His warm and strong hands left small electric sparks under his soft and delicate touch.
"Mate!" My inner being screamed at me.
"Mate," I soundlessly repeated.
"Stay with me!" Alpha Lennox cried out. "Please don't leave me! I need you!"
His words send a spike to the heart, making me fight against the darkness. I focused on his voice, feeling the warmth of his presence wrap around me like a comforting blanket. Using all the remaining strength, I battled the shadows that threatened to overwhelm me, determined to respond to his call. I forced my eyelids open for just a moment.
Warm, deep, worried blue eyes stared down at me.
"Get some help!" he yelled. "Find a doctor! Make it quick! I can't lose her again!"
The urgency in his voice pierced through the haze of my fatigue, igniting a flicker of resolve within me. I fought against the encroaching darkness with all the strength I could muster, desperate to reassure him that I was still here, still fighting. I wanted him to remember me like this—alive and full of hope, not as a shadow fading into oblivion.
My gaze slowly took a mental picture of his perfect and strong features. He was the most handsome wolf I had ever seen, appearing as an angel in the dim light of the packhouse. His presence radiated a warmth that seemed to chase away the darkness surrounding me, if only for a moment. I longed to reach out and touch him, to feel that connection solidify between us before the inevitable storm swept it all away.
His sleek, black, shoulder-length curly hair was combed back, and his beard was trimmed and well-maintained. He was huge and crafted like a Greek god.
I couldn't help but internally sigh when I saw how his broad shoulders flexed under his tailored suit.
His sweet dark chocolate and orange scent filled my nostrils and soothed the agony in my body, making me feel loved and at peace. As I lay there, momentarily captivated by his presence, I felt a warmth spread through me, as if his aura had wrapped around my heart. The world outside faded into insignificance, and in that fleeting moment, all my worries seemed to dissolve, leaving only the promise of something extraordinary.
A small smile tickled at the edges of my lips as I tried to move my heavy fingers. I wanted to touch him.
He noticed my attempt, instinctively took my hand, and pressed it against his cheek as my mind slowly slipped into darkness.
Strong arms lifted me from the floor, and I knew it was him. His beautiful scent surrounded me, while his heartbeat soothed the last bit of pain inside me.
He quietly murmured something in my ear—something I didn't understand—something foreign—maybe a lullaby—before darkness consumed me.
The flashbacks slowed and came to an end, and I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes. My heart feels heavy and raw.
My gaze unwillingly shifted toward where Darna stood, Lillian's arms protectively around her shoulders. Their eyes were red from all the crying.
This time I knew those tears meant nothing.
I balled my hands into fists; this time they wouldn't be able to take what's mine.
Revenge would be bittersweet...