My "Mate"

"Why are you sorry?" I ask.

"I...I don't think I can help you with this Sis... why did it have to be him?" He says pacing the floor.

"That is not a flippin' answer Uriah!" I yell.

"You need to be in the meeting tomorrow." He continues not even looking at me. "Why him?"

"Stop it NOW!" I yell jumping up and stopping him. "Who is he!?"

Uri looks at me worry painting his face. He rubs the back of his neck. "Mini..." he says and trails off. "His name is Xander Brian Rockwell soon to be Alpha of the Black Water Pack."

What?!

How?!

No!

It can't be!

"Marie...Marie!?... are you ok?" Uri asks as I sit stunned.

"What is he going to do with me?" I ask.

"I don't know sis... but you're his now." He says.

"No! Maybe it didn't take! I mean I ripped a chunk out of his shoulder that is not exactly a mark!" I reason. "Maybe it didn't count!"

"Mini... ok maybe... let's test it." He suggests.

"How?" I ask.

"Link him." Uri says.

"But I can't..." I start.

"If you are mated you can... and the link will be exceptionally strong since you haven't... umm... completed the process." He cuts me off.

"Ok fine I'll try!" I yell just wanting to shut him up. "Give me a sec."

I take a breath and focus on him.

"Hello?...ummm Xander?" I ask.

"Ahhh my little mate speaks!" His voice fills my mind. I gasp and pull my mind out of the link without a response. I can feel his emotions. He is loving this!

"No, no, no, no, No!" I yell.

"I guess that means the mark took." Uri says. I nod.

"I... I can't even shift... my wolf is still blocked... I'm broken... what if?... what if he kills me. It's the only way to break the bond right?" I ramble.

"I don't know sis...he could... I can't fight them. They are too strong. They outnumber us 10 th 1 at least... I just don't know." Uri says talking more to himself than me.

"What's your name little one?" I hear Xander's voice again..."what's wrong? Why are you scared? Is someone hurting you? I'm gonna..." I cut him off.

"I'm fine... why do you care?" I link.

"You're mine!" He growls through the link.

I don't respond I don't know what to say.  He can't be this protective over me! He doesn't even know me!

"So what's your name?" He asks.

"Marie.... but everyone calls me Mini." I answer. I feel him laugh.

"Nice to meet you Mini." He says.

"Go to bed." Uri tells me bringing me back to reality.

"Umm... ok." I say and head toward my room.

"Be ready at 7am. The meeting is at 8." He orders.

"Yes sir!" I chuckle and he rolls his eyes.

I go into my room and lay in bed. What is going to happen? I don't want to leave with him but I don't want to die either. This is all his call. I have no say. He's a flippin' Alpha! How could I be so unlucky!

"You're upset again." Xander links me. "Wanna talk?"

I don't know what to say. He can feel my emotions like I can his. I can't lie to him. What can I do.

"I'm not going anywhere little one." He says.

"Why?" I link to him.

"Why what?" He responds.

"Why did you mark me?" I ask. I can feel his joy over this.

"You marked me too babe." He says.

"Don't call me that! I was defending myself!" I yell at him. I can feel his pain. My words hurt him. Why is he so upset?

"I'm sorry...I'm going to bed Mini... see you tomorrow." He says.

He is upset. I'd even say depressed. Why do I have to feel what he does? Why do I care? This is his fault! I fight to ignore his emotions flooding my soul but I can't. Eventually I fall asleep on a tear soaked pillow.

○●○●○●○●

"Dang it Marie! Its 7:30 get up!" Uri yells rousing me from my uneasy sleep.

"Alright I'm up!" I yell back. He storms out of my room and I jump up to get ready. I shower and am dressed in 20 minutes.

"They're here hurry up!" Uri yells.

I rush down to meet him.

"Come on." He says grabbing my arm and pulling me alongside him. "We're going to be late for a meeting at my own pack house great start!" He fumed as we move down the walkway.

"I'm sorry Uri!" I say struggling to keep up. He ignores me.

We walk up to the pack house and rush through the front doors. Three giant men stand in the entryway.

"About time Alpha Uriah." The eldest man says. "Not very respectful tardiness... but I'll overlook it." He looks to me and smiles. I tuck myself behind my brother. "And this must be my new daughter." He says with a creepy smile.

"Not so fast Alpha!" Uri says.

"Excuse me pup!" The man yells and I shake at his voice.

"Hay Dad, Uriah... maybe we should take this somewhere more private?" Xander says looking at me. The Alphas break the staring match and look at him.

"My office." Uri says taking my hand he leads the way. Once inside he sits down in his chair and I stand at his side.

"So Uriah." The man..well Xander's dad... the Alpha! says sitting in one of the chairs opposite us. Xander takes the seat next to him. "What makes you think you can stop me from just taking my son's mate?... I mean everything in our culture is on my side. You can't keep mates apart especially marked mates. We have every right to take her!"

"A forced marking... you really think that anyone is on your side in this?" Uri asks.

"You can't really call it forced. I've seen my boy's shoulder her mark is rough but who could blame her for getting excited." The Alpha laughs.

"I wasn't!" I start to speak but Uri stops me.

"You know that's not what happened Connor!" He yells. The Alpha shrugs his shoulders.

"Doesn't really matter how it happened." He says looking to his son. "They are mates. They are marked. You can't change that. Whether you like it or not she IS coming with me!"

I run out of the office. I don't know what to think. They want me to leave? Just go with them? I don't even know them! I burst out the back door and lean forward bracing myself on my knees struggling for a breath.

"Are you ok?" An unexpected voice comes from behind me.

"Like you care!" I say panting.

"How could you think that?" He asks shocked.

"This is your fault! Why did you mark me? If you would have just let me go I wouldn't be drug from my home! I wouldn't be stuck with someone I don't even know!" I yell.

"I don't get you Marie! I'm sorry I marked you ok?! I couldn't control myself! I would rather have gotten to know you first truly! But you! AHHHH! How can you stand there and act like you don't feel it?! You have to! You are driving me nuts?!" He yells back.

"What am I supposed to feel Xander! I didn't choose this!" I scream at him.

"My wolf has been screaming at me since I first caught your scent! I know you feel it too! You have to!" He grabs my arm pulling me to him and kisses me. I push him away. "Dang it woman! Talk to your wolf!"

"I can't." I say and his demeanor changes.

"What?! ... How?!... Wait a second... when your pack shifted to get away from us you didn't. You can't! Are you even a wolf?!" He asks stepping closer.

"Yes I'm a wolf you jerk!" I yell at him punching him in the chest.

"Then what's wrong with you?" He asks and I shoot him an angry look. "Sorry... I mean what happened? Why can't you shift or communicate with your wolf?"

"When I was 15 I was kidnapped they were experimenting on me. They gave me silver drugs that suppressed my wolf. We thought after I was rescued I would heal. After a while I got my heightened senses back. It was less than a year ago when I got my mind link back. I may never be a full wolf again. I can't even do a partial shift." I tell him.

"Well on that I'd beg to differ." He says.

"What do you mean?" I ask and he begins unbuttoning his shirt. He pulls it away revealing a nasty chunk ripped out of his flesh.

"Human teeth can't do that." He laughs. "Maybe she recognizes me and will come back soon."

"I doubt it we've tried everything... wait a second... are you saying I am your true mate?" It just dawned on me what he was saying. He laughs.

"That's what I've been trying to say!" He grabs my hand. "How can you not feel this!? The spark when we touch! The pull! Ahhh... I don't want to leave your side for anything. I'd never hurt you."

"I'm sorry." I say pulling my hand away. "I don't know what you're talking about... If you don't want to hurt me why are you trying to take me away from my home?"

"I want you to come home with me... if we were humans... well we are basically married now but... I don't want to force you. Forced love is not love at all... my Dad however... he doesn't see it that way. He is mad that I didn't have a ceremony. He was excited for me to find my mate and feels a little slighted that I didn't wait and include him." He sighs running a hand through his short hair.

"I think he had a speech already prepared for the occasion... He just wants you home. He wants to get to know you and I do too. I was impulsive and reckless I know that but... I can't change the past Marie."

"There you two are!" The Alpha says as he and my brother come outside.

"Pack a bag Mini... you leave tonight." Uri says.

"What? Why?!" I ask begging my brother.

"He is your mate. You two need to figure this out for yourselves. I can't stop that." He says.

"But"

"No buts Marie! You have to go. Pack a bag or have no clothes that's up to you!" I start to cry at his words and he pulls me into a hug "I love you sis there's... there's just... nothing I can do."

"Love you too Uri." I say.

Uri let's me go. I walk past Xander toward my house.

"Marie." He says trying to stop me. I shake his hand off my shoulder.

"Not now Xander." I say and walk away.

○●○●○●○●

I go straight to my room and begin to pack. I have this buzzing in my head ever since I left the Alphas. It is so annoying. I pack up as much as I can into my duffel. After it is mostly full of clothes I flop on my bed. I may never be back here.

I take the picture off my nightstand and look at it. Me, Uri, Mom, and Dad the last picture of all of us. I throw it into my bag as someone knocks on my door. The buzzing in my head gets louder.

"Are you ready?" Xander's voice rings through my room.

"Yea..." I take my bag and open the door "let's go." I say as I walk past him and down the stairs. I can feel him on my heels as I go to the front door. I look around but Uri is nowhere in sight.

"He is probably still with my dad." Xander says. I ignore him and storm out the door.

I head back to the pack house and see my brother with the Alpha out front.

"Let me take that for you." Xander says as he catches up.

"I'm fine Xander." I tell him.

"You're not. You're angry and sad and hurt and nervous and scared... But as far as the bag goes I'm just trying to be a gentleman." He says taking my bag.

"Well about time slow poke." The Alpha says with a smile as we approach... maybe it's not creepy and it's just his face... I don't know. I just shrug.

"Bye Mini... you better visit!" Uri says hugging me.

"Will I have a choice?" I say glancing at the men behind me.

"Of course little Marie. You are not a prisoner. You will be able to visit." The Alpha says. "Come along now we need to get going."

I hug Uri one more time and climb into the back of the massive Jeep as the Alpha holds the door. He closes it once I'm in and climbs into the passenger seat.