Samantha.
I waited for Eli to pass by me so he could lead the way. We walk quietly down the hospital halls, taking a few turns before we push through a set of double doors and are met with the humid summer air. It is still dark out, and I wonder what time it is.
"It's close to midnight," Eli speaks first, as if he read my mind. "So, I will try to be quick, and we can get you set up for bed."
I guess I am not going anywhere close to home tonight. I would have still been at work anyway.
"Why have you brought me here?"
I follow a few steps behind him through the parking lot and down a small path that leads to what seems to be a village of small modern homes. All the houses look the same, just some a tad bigger than others and, of course, added personal touches. Each house is built of lime stoned bricks, grey roofs, and stone walkways leading up to cherry wood doors. Some have gardens in the front, and windchimes, and even lanterns. Others are just plain but still beautiful.
"These are our pack lands," he begins, "All these houses, well most of them, are home to hundreds of werewolf families. Though separate, we all live and treat each other as one big family. That's what a pack is, our community. We protect each other. Even if we don't like one another, we are still one."
"Are there other packs?" I ask.
"Plenty." He nods. "We respect each other through wolf law, MOST of the time like your people. But, only here is our family. Everyone has their role here. Warriors, omegas, and so forth are put in place to help us function as one and make sure we do right by each other and wolf law. I am the Alpha meaning-"
"You lead the pack." I interrupt him, and he looks at me a tad bit impressed. "I've seen Animal Planet before." I chuckle, and so does he.
"You've met Gabriel, my Gamma, and third in command. Aside from him, I have a Beta, Tristian you'd meet him eventually. He's my right hand and best friend."
I nod.
"In our species," He continues, "We worship the Moon Goddess. She is the one who blessed us with our many gifts."
"Liiiike, turning into a wolf?"
"Yes, our wolves and other things," he smirks, "like speed, healing, incredible strength, and heightened senses."
"Ok."
"The greatest gift of all," he rubs at his neck nervously before shoving his hands into his pockets. "Mates."
There's that term again.
When he says this, he looks over at me, meeting my gaze. His eyes are soft and gentle.
"What does that mean? Gabriel mentioned it a few times, but I just don't understand."
"What's it means among humans?"
"I don't know if you're Australian. It can mean friend."
He chuckles.
"Or?"
"Or a fellow member of a group? Like a classMATE or teamMATE-"
"Soulmate!" He blurts out and comes to a stop. I walk a few feet ahead before turning to face him.
"What do you mean soulmate?" Is he implying that he and I are soulmates? Get out of here!
"A mate is like what you humans call a soulmate. A person made for you. You -" he turns around and again starts rubbing his neck.
"You think I am your soulmate, or rather your mate?" I am surprised. How could that be possible? I am a mere human. I don't belong in his world.
"Yes, you are mine." He faces me again, the gentleness in his eyes turning desperate. He is hoping I understand and accept being his "mate." But I just can't wrap my brain around it.
"The Moon Goddess gifted you to me, to love, and cherish. To be my Luna and protect this pack together." He spits it out all at once, quickly leaving himself breathless, and his face flushed.
"Luna, how can you be sure?" I am beginning to get overwhelmed by how confusing and sudden this all is.
"You're human. You can't feel it like I do. Once I saw you, I was drawn to you, and once I gained the courage to lower that window down and face you, I just knew. The way your smell intoxicated me. It filled my lungs, and now I need it more than air itself. When I held you, the sparks danced through me, sending a serge through my heart. You are my gift from the Moon Goddess. I waited 26 years for you." He rushed up to me, grabbing me by the shoulders.
This is too much. My anxiety is getting the best of me again. Everything feels so surreal.
I push away from him gently; his eyes fill with hurt as I put distance between us.
"I'm human, how can she give me to you if I'm not hers to give?"
He lets out a deep breath in defeat, one arm crosses his chest, and the other reaches up for him to pinch the bridge of his nose.
I feel bad that he is probably hurting, but I don't understand his world, and my simple human mind isn't able to grasp the concept because I can't feel what he feels.
"How can I fit in here?" I ask, "I am human. I am not fast, I am not strong, who am I supposed to protect?"
He closes the distance between us again. His hand wraps tightly around my waist. A tingling sensation seeps into me from his embrace, disabling my body from resisting him.
"For starters," he cups my face with his hands and leans in. "Me."
I don't know why, but I close my eyes, waiting for his lips to meet mine.
"Eli Romano." A woman's voice stops him in his tracks.
My eyes shoot open. The look on his face is a mix between apologetic and annoyed. He backs away from me, his hands retreating back into his pockets.
"Mother." He nods over my shoulder to the woman.
I turn around to realize we have stopped in front of a large house. It looks like the others in terms of color and design. However, this one has to be at least 10 times bigger. It also has a beautiful garden of wild flowers and shrubs that start and end with the long curvy grey stone walkway that leads to the porch steps. Upon the white porch steps stands a stunning elegant woman. She is tall and thin. Like her body, her features are also thin. Her skin is beautifully tanned, and she hides most of her age behind light natural makeup. Her black hair is pulled back in a tight french braid that trails down her back and just meets her waist. She is wearing a loose fit satin maxi held up by spaghetti straps, Sliver, with white heels. The only things that Eli has from his mother are his bright blue eyes and black hair.
"And this is?" She glares at me.
"Samantha." I swallow the lump in my throat. "Pleasure to meet you." I bow my head slightly.
"Hm, a whore with a name..thats new." I flinch at her insult. Even when she looks at me with distaste, I wasn't expecting her to be rude. He definitely didn't get her personality.
"Mother!" Eli growls.
"Son, how dare you growl at me?" She takes a few steps down until she is met with the last step. "Bringing home all these little toys is no way for an Alpha to behave."
Something about that statement makes my stomach turn with jealousy. How many other girls did he bring here? He supposedly waited his whole life for me. Unless that is his game plan, to get into my dumb human pants. I cross my arms over my chest defensively.
"To make matters worse you bring one of THOSE onto our territory." she emphasized and is clearly referring to me being human.
"That is forbidden. Besides until you find your mate, aside from your mother I am still your Luna and you will respect me as such!" She growls back.
"That's just it mother, she is my mate."
The womans mouth falls open and for the first time since she opened it, no witty comments come out.
Thats right bitch, I am his mate. I don't say that out loud, I am not as rude as her. I smile up at her instead, and nod. Wait, did I just accept it?