Chapter 13: My Mate?

I don't want to cry, I've been doing that a lot lately, and I hate it.

I turn away from Rosemary, whilst wiping the tears before they drop.

'Abigail, you don't actually belie...'

'I do cause it's true, we wouldn't have been there that day had it not been for me. I wouldn't have lost the two most important people in my life if I hadn't been a little b*tch that kept whining about the forest. Mom even said that day she didn't want to go, she felt off.' I can't hold back the tears anymore. 'But I whined, and I cried and I screamed, till she gave in. And now they are gone, and it was my fault.'

I make my way back to the bed, sinking my face into my hands.

I don't want Rosemary to see me crying.

'Abigail.'

'I...I have been dying for the past seven years, and...and I will finally go off the deep end, if I don't at least know, why I lost them that day.'

Her footsteps reverberate into my ears, as I feel her taking my side on the bed.

We didn't say anything for several minutes, but when Rosemary broke the silence, she promised she would help me.

Provided, I make a promise of my own, two actually.

The first being that I will be myself, and the second is that I don't get myself killed, no matter what.

I come out of my head, and I focus on the road, I can't be distracted anymore, because I am getting closer to my mate.

I keep close to the tree lines, avoiding the open road or the sidewalk.

Twice now I passed by two pedestrians, who were more than startled at my presence.

I think to myself that they may have been tourists from another country, or newcomers because wolves running rampant on the streets is the norm in D.C.

But I don't dwell on it, Elias is just around the corner.

My racing heart skyrockets at this point, I can't wait any longer to see him.

I pick up the pace, making my way into alleyways and traversing through multiple buildings.

My elation somewhat dies down as I make my way further into what would seem to be a ghost town.

Empty buildings, no sound of people anywhere, save for faint rustling in the distance.

And the smell of decay, dust, and cobwebs permeates the air.

A semblance of fear starts to creep into my bones.

If anything were to happen to me here, no one would find me for weeks, or probably ever.

I push these heinous thoughts aside and focus on something less sinister.

I hope my mate is not some homeless wolf.

I keep following the pull until I make my way into an open space behind all the buildings.

The space is enormous, warehouses row the area, and it is all surrounded by a chain-linked fence.

All of it gives the feeling of an airport, or a movie studio, albeit abandoned.

My ears twitch, and I can hear activity in one of the warehouses beyond.

I take several steps backward, giving myself enough space, then I dash ahead and leap over the fence relatively easily.

I stay low to the ground, keeping my steps as quiet as I follow the sound and smell of people.

I keep following my senses till I find one of the warehouses brimming with life, as lights protrude out of its windows.

Trucks roll up into the warehouse from the front, and meeting the trucks is...Elias.

What the hell is going on here?

I can't go to him directly, I have to find out what is going on.

I make my way to the back of the warehouse, then, I listen and smell if there is anyone around this area.

When I am sure there isn't, I change back to my human form.

The process is, as per usual, painful.

I stifle a moan as I endure the transformation.

When it is all done with, I end up finding purchase on my knees and panting hard.

But I can't entertain my recovery for much longer, I don't want someone to see me nude.

So I pull out my clothes from the bag I had forgotten was hanging across my chest.

Then I dawn it at once, albeit sluggishly.

After one more quick breath, I make my way into the warehouse, hiding behind crates and towering shelves.

Inside, are wolves gathering, and talking, while showcasing crates of wares I'm not too sure of.

Elias walks in from the front, trailing beside the truck as it makes its way inside.

I can hear what they are saying if I focus.

I close my eyes and pour my attention into my ears.

"Elias, you better have a bargain for us," A voice I didn't care to check before closing my eyes says. "Because acquiring all this wolfsbane was no easy task."

Wolfsbane, what...

"You've known me for this long, have I ever disappointed?" Elias' voice rings out, it is different, not as calm and understanding as I knew it to be.

"Yes, multiple times."

Laughs boom into the air.

"Yeah well, I can't afford to disappoint you this time, we need this haul."

"So I've heard, really gonna make your move against that brute Darius huh?"

Darius? Wait, is, is all this, because of me?

"I can't disclose that information, but what I will say, is that Darius will get everything coming to him."

They burst into laughter again.

As I continue to listen in, I hear and feel something shifting behind me.

By the time I turn to it, a hand with claws is already at my neck.

"And who do you..."

I lose all my strength when I find the wolf clutching my throat, is the same one that tried to assassinate me at the hospital.

She grins.