Chapter 18 Accept your situation
ZORA
My breath came in short. I had been running for over two hours now, who knew the field would be this long and I was just on my thirtieth lap.
Wesley had been watching me like an eagle from the sidelines, following his master's instructions.
I paused to catch my breath, keeling over and panting. My muscles feel like they are on fire.
"Here," someone said behind me, offering a cup of water.
I took it and drank greedily, grateful for the water.
I turned back to thank whoever it was and found Marissa behind me.
I gave her a frown instantly, "What are you doing here?"
She shrugged and glanced around, "The Beta told me to look after you. He has an urgent business to attend to."
I choked on the water, "Wesley asked you to stay instead?"
Since when did Wesley trust anyone to do his job and she of all people??
"Break time is over," she snapped, "start running."
I glared at her in a annoyance and continued running, ignoring her eyes on me.
Why would Wesley leave her with me. How did he even know her? She fucking came from the sewers.
After I was done and collapsed on the floor tiredly, she came back with another cup of water or so I thought until I drank it but couldn't stop because of how thirsty I was.
"What the heck was that?" I spat out in annoyance.
She snatched from the cup from my hand and turned on her heels, "Just some herbal drink to help you recover fast."
I scoffed at her but was cut short before I could say anything.
I gasped in surprise as I called the name I never thought I would, not in very long time.
"Ivan??"
"So glad to be back here." She replied in the most sarcastic tone but it didn't matter. She was back.
My wolf was back!!
Ivan had been so angry when our mate rejected us and so hurt that she disappeared.
"What's new in your life? Tell me you are lonely and we can finally die. That's better than being mateless or if you are down for one more adventure, would you go to Shadow Pack and allow me get rid of our ex mate. He doesn't deserve to be happy."
"I'm so glad you are back." I muttered to her.
"Are we going or not?"
I chuckled at the annoyance in her voice, "We are in Shadow Pack but can't do anything to our ex-mate."
"As expected, you still are boring as ever."
"How are you suddenly awake?"
"Still weak. If that's what you are asking and cranky. But it felt like I was pulled out of my slumber. Did you meet a witch or take anything?"
It clicked instantly,
That drink!!
I spurned on my heels in search of Marissa, she was nowhere in sight.
She definitely has something to do with Ivan being back.
"What boring thing are we doing today?" Ivan asked.
I smiled in response, wishing Ryker would just pass through. I really need her anger right now but I collapsed back on the field and took a quick nap. I was really tired and could barely stay on my feet.
I woke up still on the field, not like I was expecting anything, and dragged myself to my room, cursing under my breath at Ryker.
Few minutes after I'd barely entered my room, Agatha walked like she owned the place.
"Alpha Ryker has requested for your presence."
"Fine." I groaned, "let me take a bath. I'll be there."
"Now." She snapped.
I rolled my eyes at her and limped out, to his room.
"Ryker?" Ivan questioned, "Don't tell me it is really who I think it is."
"It is."
"We are in his house? Are you out of your mind? what are you doing here? begging for his love? He rejected you remember?"
I sighed and opened the door to his room.
"You are just unbelieva- Oh my gawwwwd!" She purred.
A frown graced my face instantly.
Three emotions crossed Ryker's face at that moment, surprise, anger and disbelief.
He wore a frown too, mirroring my exact expression.
"Mate......." Ivan purred again, the word unconsciously left my mouth too.
I slapped a hand over my mouth instantly.
No, no, this can't be. This is not possible.
No way in hell this is real.
Mate?? He is my fucking mate??
How can my first mate be my second chance mate?
Did the goddess hit her head or do I just have the worst luck in the world?
"Hello mate." He smiled, not one that reached his eyes.
Would things change now that I'm his mate?
The look in his eyes gave me the answers I needed. Nothing is ever going to change, not now, not even when hell freezes over.
"We can just do the same thing we did seven years ago." I suggested, "we don't necessarily have to be mates."
"And why would I do that?" He wriggled his brows, "You are my mate and my prisoner."
"You hate me. Don't you want to kill me again? Remember I killed your mother, Lydia?."
His eyes darkened in anger and the next second, my back was slammed against the wall.
"Don't ever call my mother's name." He growled into my ears, hands around my neck, choking and lifting me two feets in the air.
"Why not think about it?" I suggested desperately, clawing at his fingers, "This is both our last shot at finding a mate. If you kill me now. There will never be a third chance mate and you'll be lonely forever."
"I have you..... till then." He shrugged, " I'm not particularly interested in killing you again. There is no fun in that."
I gulp down in defeat and my heart dropped to the bottom of my stomach.
"Oh, so you'd rather be miserable with me?"
"I've made my decision," He said curtly, "I accept you, Zora Gwendolyn Hendrix, as my mate and the future Luna of Shadow pack." He smirked.
He waited, looking at me expectantly.
I scoffed inwardly.
He is crazy if he thinks I would accept him too and sign my life away to him when I have a lover and husband waiting for me back home. It doesn't matter that when he accepted me as his mate and said the words, I felt the onset of the bond forming. Almost like my opinion didn't matter. Someone really needs to check on the goddess.
A lot of things is going wrong, my life is going wrong.
He brought his lips closer to my ears, causing goosebumps to rise on my skin in its wake.
"You belong to me and this is your home. The sooner you accept that, the better for you."