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12. THEO

Chapter 12

THEO

“Woah!” Mia exclaims breathlessly in human form.

I can’t help but smile as I watch her chest heaving from the strength of her panting. With sweat bedewed across her forehead, there’s a visible glow on her face.

We’ve been spending the past three nights training together in the arena. Walking up to her, I gather her into my arms and press a chaste kiss on her forehead.

“Well done, Mia,” I praise with a huge grin on my face.

Her arms fold around my waist as she places her head on my chest and sighs. “I’ve really been enjoying training. But…” She looks up when her tummy rumbles, a blush creeping on her cheeks.

“You’re hungry,” I make the obvious observation with a chuckle.

Mia nods, pursing her lips. “But not for ordinary food…”

“Oh…” My lips form a pouted circle as it dawns on me. I hadn’t taken into account that she’d been using her wolf for training so much that it would need to hunt.

And what an incredible job she’s been doing with training! Growing stronger day by day, she’s been improving fighting in her wolf form.

“Exactly…” she says as if she can read my mind.

Frowning, I wonder if it’s something she can do now that we’ve become aware of the fated mate bond. The bond allows us to share communication in our wolf forms. As Mia pulls away gently, I reach out, trying to grab her wrist.

But even in human form, she proves to be too quick for me.

Following her back to the main house, I keep my distance from her only for the sake of appearances. Mia isn’t ready to tell anyone about our mate bond. And since I’m still unsure about where I stand with the Blackclaw Pack, we’ve agreed to keep this a secret.

Even from my sister, who adores Mia.

“Hey, wait up,” I call out to Mia when we’ve entered the house. Closing the door behind me, I breathe a momentary sigh of relief.

Checking to make sure that Anastasia isn’t around, I finally manage to grab Mia’s wrist and pull her back to me.

“Why don’t you stay in my bedroom tonight?” I suggest as I smooth my palms over her shoulders.

She looks up at me, batting her eyelids seductively. “Not tonight,” she says, completely contradicting her behavior.

Tucking my bottom lip between my teeth, I shake my head as she slips out of my embrace.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” I ask as I follow her to the staircase.

Mia nods. “I’m fine. I’m just tired, that’s all.”

“We’re gonna hunt tomorrow night,” I promise her. “I think you’re ready.”

She grins excitedly as she steps closer, planting a chaste kiss on my cheek. “I can’t wait! See you tomorrow, Theo.”

Frowning as I watch her climb the stairs, I stay behind to gather my thoughts. Though she’s been joining me for training these past few days, I can’t help but sense that something is off.

Like something is bothering her. As much as this whole alliance debacle is bothering me.

She’s probably sensing my energy and feeding off it, I head upstairs. I always dreamed about discovering my fated mate, but I always thought it would be easier than this. That once I found her, we’d live happily ever after.

I wasn’t counting on an outside threat disrupting our lives. This looming dread of the alliance with Blackclaw hanging over me like a dark cloud, things are not the way they should be.

“Any news on the human hunters?” I ask Liam when I meet him on the porch.

Having spent a night tossing and turning in turmoil of my impending decision, I’d called him early this morning.

He shakes his head. “Nothing,” he says. “The hunters in custody refuse to breathe a word of their motives. We don’t even know how many there are.”

“Great…” I huff in dismay. If we knew where to find the human hunters, we’d be able to stop the war from happening. We know as little about the threat as Cyrus does.

“I have some news, though,” Liam goes on.. “We’ve received word back from Cyrus Savage,” he informs me. “The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.”

“The Alpha of Blackclaw?” comes Anastasia’s worried voice. Both Liam and I turn in time to find her descending the stairs of the porch. She joins us on the lawn, her brows furrowed.

I hadn’t noticed her following me outside.

Anastasia stares worriedly at me. “Is this about Mia?”

I shake my head. “It’s about the alliance with the pack,” I reveal as guilt rears its ugly head. My sister remains oblivious to Cyrus’s demands.

It’s not fair on her.

“Thanks, Beta,” I turn to my best friend, offering him a nod of recognition. “I’ll see you later at the den.”

Liam nods in response, taking his leave. When it’s just my sister and me on the lawn. “Take a walk with me.”

Taking a deep breath to strengthen my resolve, I keep my hands linked behind my back. Anastasia follows me into the garden, picking a rose and lifting it to inhale the scent.

The innocent act squeezes my heart with the guilt of not being truthful with her.

“Is everything alright, Brother?”

Gulping, I stop between the lavender garden and turn toward her. “The alliance with Blackclaw…” I begin. “... Cyrus has made a very difficult demand in exchange for an alliance with them.”

“What is it?” Her eyes go wide. “Is Mia safe?”

I nod. “This isn’t about Mia. This is about you.”

Anastasia frowns. “Me?”

“Yes, Sister.” I hang my head with shame. Now that the Blackclaw Alpha is due to arrive in Overton, I have to be honest with Anastasia. “The Blackclaw Alpha wants you to marry him.”

A long moment of tense silence stretches for what seems like miles. Anastasia stares blankly at me in all that time, fueling the rage I feel towards myself.

“He’s not my fated mate…” she whispers, sadness evident in her voice.

I reach for her hands, offering some reassurance with a gentle squeeze. “I know. Which is why I can’t agree to the alliance,” I assure her.

“But what about the hunters you found on our turf? We can’t risk–”

“And I can’t risk giving you up to Cyrus,” I vow.. “It’s not–”

“Fair…” she cuts in. “Perhaps the fated mate bond isn’t meant for us, Brother.”

Staring at my sister in disbelief, I feel like a fraud for lying to her. She thinks that Mia is here only because she’d been kicked out of her pack for being an orphaned Omega.

She doesn’t know that I’d found my fated mate…

“I won’t let it happen, Ana.”

Anastasia shakes her head with conviction. “You need to do whatever you can for the safety of this pack. You’re our Alpha.”

“Ana–”

“No, Theo,” she refuses boldly. “I trust you.”

As my sister leaves me in the garden alone, the dark cloud over my head grows heavier. It weighs on my shoulders, bringing me down as I go through the rest of my day.

The only thing I have to look forward to is the training session with Mia.

“Hey, Theo,” Mia greets when she enters the empty training center, closing the door behind her. She appears cheerful, her positive energy radiating off her in waves.

“Hi…” I breathe in awe of her. “Ready for today?”

She nods eagerly. “I’m ready.”

“Good,” I praise as I take my position in the ring. Her determination to learn how to use her wolf is admirable. Pride swells my chest as she takes her position.

“I thought we’re hunting tonight,” she frowns.

“We will. If you can find a way to escape the arena.”

“Escape?” Her frown deepens.

Smirking, I nod. “You’ll have to get past me.”

Mia shivers as she prepares to shift. She closes her eyes and invokes her wolf, keeping stance on her side of the ring. Her eyes are wary as they dart all around, searching for an escape.

I watched her thinking carefully. Her eyes dart to every corner of the arena until she spots something she focuses on.

Without warning, she sprints in the direction of the metal benches, climbing each one like a step.

‘Mia! What are you doing?!’ I call mentally as I begin to chase her toward the bleachers..

‘I don’t wanna fight you today, but I’m fast,’ she replies as she reaches the very top row of benches. That’s when she climbs the wall, preparing to dive forward. ‘Catch me if you can!’ she teases, as if mentally sticking her tongue out.

She turns back to the wall, taking a deep breath before she lunges forward.

‘Mia!’ I call out with a whimper as she disappears over the wall. I finally reach the top and see her landing on the ground below.

Shaking my wolf head, I plunge down, landing on the soft cushions of my paws with ease. Hot on her heels, I bolt toward the woods as fast as I can.

‘Wait up!’ I mentally chuckle, flashing through the woods in an attempt to keep up with her.

She’s fast and agile, nimbly sprinting over logs and dodging trees as if she was meant to be out here.

In her natural habitat – I’m witnessing it as if for the first time. Of course, she is. She’s a werewolf, after all. Even if she’s just an Omega, her wolf form is extraordinary.

‘Come on, Theo!’ she taunts playfully. ‘You’ve gotta keep up!’

‘I’m trying!’ I grouch, almost knocking into a tree. It’s a close call, and when I regain my footing, she’s far ahead.

Chuckling to myself, I enjoy the free sprint. ‘To the mountains!’ I instruct as she heads to the base of the cliff.

When she reaches the base of the mountain, she slows down, gazing up at the steep incline. It’s fear I feel pulsing off her, and I realize that the chase is over.

‘We’re going up there?’

I catch up to her at last, panting as I slow down. The wind that billows through my fur is my reward for chasing her.

‘Mountain goats,’ I say through the mind link. ‘Think you can make it up there?’

Mia turns her grand chestnut head toward me, whimpering as if she’s scoffing. ‘Of course, I can.’

Again, she rushes out ahead, beginning the steep incline toward the top. I low growl escapes me before following her up, my wolf fueled by the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

When we reach the top of the mountain, she stops and gazes all around. The luscious meadow opens up to a crystal-clear view of the city below. Bright stars painted on a navy blue canvas, the view ahead is magnificent.

‘It’s beautiful…’ she marvels as she takes slow steps forward.

I remain behind, watching her in awe as she appreciates the beauty of the night. Perhaps it’s the mate bond that has me appreciating her more. I always believed that it would feel like this.

I just didn’t expect it to feel so intense. I see her for who she really is, and I feel my wolf chest swelling with the pride of knowing that she’s mine.

‘Did you hear that?’ she mentally whispers, snapping her head back.

A moment of silence passes when I hear the rustling in the bushes.

It’s her first time hunting, and yet, her hearing is sharp as if she’s done this many times before.

‘It’s time to hunt,’ I tell her, carefully treading forward until I get to her side without making a sound. ‘Follow me. We’ll find a spot to hide and watch our prey.’

Mia nods eagerly, following me as we find a spot behind a stump of a tree. When she engages the innate alertness of her wolf, I feel it pulse all around her like an invisible aura.

Stunned, I keep my eyes on her as if I’m enchanted. Her first time hunting, and she’s a natural. At that moment, all my worries fade away.

And I realize that the fated mate bond is worth every trial I have to face.

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