25_ Mate

My heart hadn’t stopped racing since Dylan’s confession. Every word he’d spoken echoed in my mind, wrapping me in a strange blend of excitement and disbelief. His warmth lingered on my lips, his voice repeating over and over in my head: 'You’re the one I like.'

I was excited. It was what I wanted and it was finally happening.

But it wasn’t just my emotions stirring. My wolf paced inside me, restless and insistent, her whispers growing louder with every passing second.

'Mate.'

That word—foreign but resonant—shimmered through my consciousness. It sent a jolt through me every time she said it, though I didn’t fully understand what it meant. All I knew was the pull toward Dylan was undeniable, as though he were a part of me I hadn’t realized was missing.

Dylan and I sat side by side on the tree stump he’d used earlier to leave me breakfast. The air between us hummed with an unspoken connection, a magnetic energy that neither of us seemed to want to break.

“Ever since the first day I saw you,” Dylan began, his voice soft but steady, “there’s been something about you. Something I couldn’t ignore, no matter how hard I tried.”

His words sent a flutter through my chest, and I found myself smiling despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me.

“I feel the same way,” I said, my voice quiet but certain.

The corners of his mouth lifted in a small, almost relieved smile. “Katrina…” He hesitated for just a moment, then took my hands in his, his touch grounding me. “Will you be my girlfriend?”

A rush of warmth spread through me, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak. I nodded quickly, a soft laugh escaping me. “Yes,” I managed to say, feeling my cheeks heat with a blush.

Dylan’s smile widened, and before I could react, he leaned in and kissed me again. This time, I didn’t freeze. I leaned into him, letting the moment sweep me away. His kiss was gentle but full of emotion, as though he was trying to tell me everything he felt without words.

When we finally pulled apart, the world seemed a little brighter, the shadows of the forest less daunting. But then, I remembered Claudia.

I couldn’t help but ask, “What about Claudia?”

Dylan’s expression darkened slightly, but his tone was steady as he said, “Don’t worry about her. I’ve taken care of it. She’ll never come near you again.”

His words should have reassured me, but instead, they rekindled the anger and betrayal I’d felt before. My fists clenched involuntarily at my sides as memories of what she’d done resurfaced. All I could think of was why she did it. How could she even do such a thing to me? I just tried my best to ignore my disturbing questions and I recalled that I attacked her and she had seen me. Seen what I was.

"What are we going to do about the fact that she saw me?" I asked, worried.

Dylan sighed, his gaze softening. “Sabina has handled it. You don’t have to worry about her anymore.”

“Speaking of Sabina,” he added after a pause, his eyes flicking to my hair, “she’s waiting for us at home.”

I blinked, startled. “Why?”

Dylan reached out and gently ran his fingers through a strand of my hair. The motion was so tender that it momentarily eased the anger simmering beneath my skin.

“This,” he said quietly.

My breath caught as his gaze lingered on the stark white strands that now framed my face. The reminder of the prophecy—the stark mark of my fate—sent a chill down my spine. I had totally forgotten that my hair had turned fully white. I had been to caught up with rage to remember.

Dylan’s hand dropped, and he stood, extending his hand toward me. “Come home with me, Katrina.”

I hesitated for only a moment before placing my hand in his.

\---

The first thing I did when we got back to the house was head straight for the bathroom. The dirt and tension clinging to me felt unbearable, and I needed to wash it away.

The warm water soothed me as it cascaded over my skin, but even as I scrubbed away the remnants of the forest, I couldn’t shake the thoughts swirling in my mind. The prophecy. Claudia. Dylan’s confession. My wolf whispered softly, her presence both comforting and unsettling as she continued to murmur, 'Mate.'

By the time I stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in clean clothes and feeling slightly more like myself, Dylan and Sabina were waiting in the living room.

Sabina’s gaze landed on me the moment I entered, her sharp eyes immediately going to my hair. Her expression softened, a hint of sadness flickering across her face as she murmured, “Oh, Katrina…”

Her tone made my chest tighten. “What’s going to happen now?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended. “Has the prophecy been averted?”

Sabina’s eyes met mine, and for a moment, she hesitated. “Claudia is still alive,” I added.

“For now,” she said, surprising me.

"What do you mean by that? I can’t think of any reason I would want to her anymore.” I said.

"She's done the worst already," I muttered mostly to myself.

Sabina raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. “That’s what you said the last time.”

I sighed, the weight of her words settling heavily on my shoulders. She was right. I did say the exact same thing before and then I actually almost killed her. But then again, she did do something to deserve it.

Dylan, who had been quiet until now, leaned forward. “What’s going to happen?”

Sabina turned her attention to him, her gaze steady. “There’s one way to find out,” she said, her voice firm. She looked back at me. “Katrina, give me your hand. I’ll try to see the prophecy again.”

My stomach twisted at the thought of reliving that vision, but I nodded. Slowly, I extended my hand toward her.

The moment our hands touched, a wave of energy surged through me, and my vision blurred. Images flashed before my eyes—the prophecy, vivid and unrelenting, just as it had been before.

Everything was exactly the same but I managed to spot something that was different.

When the vision ended and Sabina released my hand, I stumbled back, gripping the edge of the couch for support.

“It’s still the same,” Sabina said, her voice tinged with resignation.

“No,” I said firmly, shaking my head. “It’s not.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Before, Claudia had a wound on her neck. Like she’d been bitten. But now…” I hesitated, the image still fresh in my mind. “Now she has a stab wound in her chest. It changed."

Sabina’s brow furrowed, and Dylan’s eyes darted between the two of us, concern etched into his features.

“What does that mean?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sabina’s expression darkened. “I’m not sure. But from the looks of things, Claudia is destined to die… just like you were destined to die as well.”

Her words sent a chill down my spine.