FATED COMPANION

They say love is infinite...something worth giving and receiving, but why was I here? Drenched in the heavy rain with my clothes clinging to my body?

Why, was nobody coming for me, to save me even from myself because I felt like a dead man walking.

How long did I have to keep convincing myself, like the rejection hadn't taken place, just minutes ago?

Like I hadn't loved him my whole life, waiting till this day, for him to pop the question, but ended up feeling this way?

"Oh my goodness I've been looking everywhere for you Lara." I heard Jamie's voice before the rain was parried from falling unto me.

He had his umbrella above my head while I stared into the atmosphere, numb.

"He's a jerk, you don't have to let it get to you. You'll catch a cold Lara, please let's go inside." I felt a hand wrap around my waist before feeling a tug to follow.

Still wounded by the effect of the rejection, I staggered a little, but he helped me balance, before I was finally able to follow him back to the pack and into our cabin.

Turned out every person here was waiting for me. But it wasn't for something good.

I felt a strong slap on my face.

"Kate!" Jamie spoke up, shielding me behind him.

"You stupid brat!" Kate yelled. "Do you have any idea how long I waited here? The Alpha would have punished every single one of us if I hadn't come up with an excuse."

"The Alpha? What was he here for?" Jamie asked.

Kate let out a humorless laughter. "I can't believe you didn't know even with how close you both are."

"Cut the crap Kate and go straight to the point." Jamie snapped.

"Oh you didn't know that your innocent bitch here was sleeping with the Alpha's son?"

"What?" Jamie furrowed his eyes in confusion while the words stung me to the core. Then he turned to me.

"She nearly got us all into trouble all because she wasn't here to take accountability!!"

"Wait wait." Jamie gripped my shoulders. "I don't believe what they're saying, it could just be a silly misunderstanding, isn't it Lara?" He shook me slightly we I didn't respond immediately.

My eyes stung with tears because everything she said was true.

"All these while she'd being whoring around with the Alpha's son!"

"Enough!!" Jamie growled, shutting Kate up. She stared at him with disbelief as she stepped forward.

"I don't understand why you still have her back Jamie. Don't you understand that she's nothing but bad luck? Can't you see she was just using you to while away time while she was sleeping with the prince!! Why do you keep allowing your emotions to cloud what you should be seeing?"

"I said, enough! I won't repeat myself again Kate." His growl was so intimidating, I thought he was going to snap Kate into two.

The fear was written in her eyes as she looked at him mixed with a little hurt. Then she stepped back and walked away but not before glaring at me with silent intensity.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Jamie looked down at me. "Is it true?" He looked into my eyes and I couldn't even give him an answer because of how overwhelmed I felt. "Lara." His calm tone warmed me as he cupped my face. "Tell me it's not true." His eyes stared at me with anticipation, coupled with a little bit of fear. Fear of knowing the truth.

I looked down, unable to stare at him in the face.

"Lara no, don't tell me it's true, that you've actually been... sleeping with the prince?" His last sentence was barely above a whisper, searching my eyes for some sort of denial.

But when I said nothing, he straightened before stepping back.

"Why?" He looked deeply hurt. "You never mentioned anything about your affair with the prince to me. Why had you kept it a secret?"

After a moment of silence, I glanced up at him with blurry eyes.

"I'm sorry." Was all I could mutter and nearly broke down in tears.

"You...you told me, clearly that Jaden was your mate. You said you and Jaden had a thing and that you loved him. But Jaden...how could I have been such a fool?" He groaned, rubbing his face. "Jaden didn't even make a move at you, and I was here thinking, he was a jerk, when you and the prince..."

"Jamie I..."

"I nearly killed him Lara! I nearly killed Jaden because of you! I thought he was in denial of you being his mate but still didn't want to reject you. Poor kid looked so threatened and perplexed and I never understood why...until now."

My eyes widened.

"Why did you lie to me?"

"I was going to tell you, I didn't mean for any of this to happen I swear." I said between tears.

He opened his mouth to say something when the guards walked into the room along with Kate and some other omegas before seizing me.

I looked about confused but Kate looked satisfied with what she was witnessing.

Jamie on the other hand pushed one of the guards off me.

"What the hell are you all doing?" He questioned and the guard, angered advanced towards him but Jamie stepped closer about to beat the guard up if he tried anything.

But the other omegas pulled them back. The guard yanked his hand away before gripping me again.

"You filthy omega." The guard grunted.

"That's not what I asked." Jamie stepped closer with darkened eyes.

"Jamie it's okay. Don't get yourself into trouble." Kate gently pulled him back even though his eyes remained on the guard. Then her eyes returned to me with irritation.

"Jamie..." I called finally. "It's okay, I'm fine." His eyes lowered to mine before softening, then the guards tugged at me before taking me out of the room.

I didn't understand what was happening, but what I knew was that they were dragging me to the field.

They tossed me like a ragged doll unto the floor while before scrambling to my knees.

The pack had gathered to see what was going on. I gently raised my gaze, seeing the Alpha Damien, and his son Matthias staring down at me.

My hands instinctively trembled because I didn't know what to expect.

"There are rules that guide us in this pack, rules to protect ourselves." The alpha began. "But once those rules are broken, the consequences are dire."

I breathed in.

"An omega is forbidden from having affairs with people except their kind." Then his eyes dropped at mine. "And of all people, you chose my son."

"I didn't choose him Alpha." The people gasped as I spoke back at the Alpha. He himself paused with his features contorting into a stern look. Nobody had ever defied him before. "The moon goddess did."

Another series of gasp filled the atmosphere while Matthias scrunched his brows in annoyance.

I didn't understand why. What did I do to deserve such behavior from him.

"What did you just say?" Alpha Damien questioned, stepping closer to the pillars of his balcony.

I gulped. "The moon goddess chose him as my mate, not me Alpha."

I was expecting some kind of punishment, but then he smirked.

"I see. So the moon goddess gave you the permission to have affairs with my son behind my back as well? If you say a word." His face twisted in fury I nearly passed out from how intimidated I was. "Okay then. Let's see. If Matthias accepts you as his mate, then perhaps I would give you a chance to live."

I looked around while the people watched in anticipation. Kate had a brow cocked and folded arms, but Jamie stood between the crowd, concerned as he looked at me.

I turned away looking at the prince and pleading with my eyes for him not to deny because my life was at stake.

"Son?" Damien glanced at his son and everything seemed to pause around me as I waited for his answer. My life was in his hands now.

Matthias smirked. "She lied."

My heart dropped.

"Guards take to the torture ground. Give her 150 lashes and more, until she's dead. And after that, she's banished from the pack." He said while murmurs filled the air. "Does anyone oppose to this?" He looked around. I did to, fearing for my life before I looked up at the prince who looked at me, with no empathy.

Tears stung my eyes because of how stupid I had been to believe he loved me.

Nobody dared to defy the Alpha. I didn't think anybody would unless they wanted to die.

The guards roughly gripped me and dragged me to the torture ground.

For the last time, I saw Jamie's eyes who seemed unable to take the scene that was unfolding before him. His eyes darkened at this sight of me.

And the last voice I heard was "Jamie are you insane?!!"

Before the guard dragging me fell limp on the floor.

I knew my heart skipped a million bits as I registered what just happened.

I slowly raised my gaze to see a black wolf standing in front of me and it shielded me from the pack.

"Jamie what have you done?"

Jamie's black wolf growled.

"No no no Jamie." I whispered to myself.

A loud roar echoed through the pack from the Alpha. The authority he wielded sent many cowering in fear. But there Jamie stood, unfeigned by the Alpha.

"Do you pray for death you fool?!" I screamed at him but he paid me no mind still staring at the Alpha in the face.

Kate looked sick concerned for Jamie as he stood to the Alpha.

"On the count of three, run." Jamie stated. Change and run."

"What are you."

"Shut the fuck up and listen to me for once in your life. Your disobedience got you into this mess in the first place."

I was silenced because he was right.

"Why are you doing this for me. I don't deserve it."

"You don't. But...I love you Lara."

"What?"

"One..."

"Jamie..."

"Two..."

"Jamie please..."

"Three...Now!!"

All hell broke loose as the guards raced towards us. I didn't want to leave Jamie, I really didn't. But the look gave me...tears trickled down my eyes as I shifted and ran.

"And don't look back." I heard him say telepathically. Then a mixture of growls and claws filled the air. He pushed a wolf that tried to capture me away flinging it towards the pile of weapons effortlessly.

Nobody helped him, nobody moved an inch, not even Kate. I sobbed as I ran into the forest. He told me not to look back and but I couldn't...I just couldn't.

I stopped, and looked back.

I never thought in my entire life that I would wail with this kind of grief.

His bloodied body was on the ground as the wolves overpowered him even when he still tried to fight...he was too weak to.

His eyes met mine and the pained furrow of his brows made me realize how much I loved him.

"I told you not to turn." The weakness in his voice made me sob harder. His eyes, still on mine smiled a little. "I love you too Lara. Now go.... please."

I turned swallowing my tears. I didn't even get the chance to take another step before I felt the silence breeze whoosh past me.

I paused blinking but stopped myself from turning back again.

He was dead.

Jamie...my Jamie was dead.

I ran without looking back, ran furiously like I was chasing the wind. My heart pounded in my chest as I hurried through the forest, I hated myself for allowing myself to get carried away. I hated myself so much for letting this happen to Jamie. I hated myself, I hated me.

I switched into my human form and let out a scream. Yelling out the pain bottled within me.

I trembled as I sobbed with agony.

"Jamie...Jamie..."

An hour passed, as the cold breeze brushed against my skin.

I looked down at my dirty palms, recalling the memories I had in my pack.

Jamie...he was the one who made my experience worth cherishing.

The coldness of the night made me remember the nights he warmed me up when I was cold.

The times he would bring me hot coffee and sleep in my room till late at night when I was sick, just to make sure I was okay.

I hiccuped.

I told him everything about myself, except one thing and that was my relationship with the prince.

I wish... my emotions...I wish I had not allowed my feelings to get in the way because it killed the one I loved most.

Gently, I rose to my feet, taking in the cold breeze.

"I won't let your death be in vein Jamie." I whispered to myself. They will suffer, all of them. Even Matthias. His death will be the worst of all, and I couldn't wait till that day finally came.

I ventured deeper into the forest when, I hard growls. I sniffed the air and the scent of decay and wood wafted into my nostrils coupled with the scent of blood.

Rogues.

I heard a low growl and slowly turned to see a pack of rogues aligning themselves before me.

I stepped back as fear gripped my chest. These wolves snarled at me dangerously snapping their teeths as they advanced towards me.

Wasting no time, I turned and immediately shifted into my wolf before sprinting into the forest.

I didn't even know where I was heading, but I wanted to be as far away as I could from the rogues.

I could hear their steps from behind me and knew they were catching up.

I cried inwardly searching for a place of safety and finally found a cliff at the end of where I was heading.

I would've stopped seeing that I was heading for danger, but I would rather be dead than be eaten by a pack of rogues.

I launched myself off that cliff, not giving a damn about the raging river crashing below.

Those mangy rogues could eat my dust. I twisted through the air and smashed into the freezing water like a boulder.

The current started whipping me around, battering me against rocks and shit.

But I preferred this to getting ripped to shreds by those mongrel furballs.

Finally, after feeling like I was caught in a fucking washing machine cycle from hell, the river eased up.

I clawed my way up the muddy bank, collapsing in a soaked heap.

Shifted back to my human skin, shaking like a waterlogged rat trying to gulp down some air.

"Well ain't you a sorry sight, darlin'."

I jerked my head up to see three grimy ass lowlifes closing in.

Bandits by the looks of their scraggly rags and shit-eating grins.

The head asshole grabbed a fistful of my hair, dragging me up.

"Ain't every day we find such a pretty little thing out here all alone."

"Get your fucking hands off me!" I thrashed against his grip, but the prick was built like a boulder.

"Now now, that's no way for a lady to speak." He leaned in close, stinking of piss and stale booze. "You're coming with us, nice and quiet like."

I hawked up a thick loogie and nailed him square in the eyeball. "Like hell!" As he recoiled, howling, I kneed him where it really counts.

The ass-muncher went down squealing like a stuck pig.

I booked it into the trees, the other two dingbats giving chase, crashing through the undergrowth behind me.

Up ahead I spotted a crevice in the rock face, just big enough for me to squeeze through.

On the other side was a small cave sloping downwards underground.

A dead end, but those shit-lickers wouldn't be able to follow.

I flattened back against the cave wall as one of the dickheads started shoving his way through the gap.

Didn't even have to think about it - I shifted into my wolf form, all fur and fangs.

My bigger body wedged me in tight, blocking them out. I snarled and snapped my jaws, making them piss themselves.

"Fuck me, did you see that thing?!"

"I ain't tangling with no monster mutt!"

The bitches turned tail and hauled ass out of there.

I shifted back, my whole body screaming from getting the living daylights beaten out of it.

Looked around at my shithole hiding spot, but I was too bushed to go anywhere else.

The gut-punch of grief smashed into me all over again.

I curled into a ball on the cold ground, sobbing until I was a snotty, wailing mess.

"I'll make them pay, Jamie...I'll make every last one of those fuckers pay for what they did to you..."

Must've cried myself into a fitful sleep at some point.

When I finally came to, a dim light filtered through the crevice entrance.

That's when I noticed the stash in the corner - some old clothes, bread, and a waterskin.

I quickly swapped out my sopping rags for the oversized shirt and pants.

I had no clue where the hell I was, but it didn't matter. One way or another, I'd get my revenge.

Matthias and his entire goddamn pack were going to suffer worse than death itself.

I'd make certain of it.

With that vow burning white-hot in my soul, I started making my way out of these godforsaken woods.

That's when I heard the low growl rumble out from the shadows behind me.

"Who are you?" It rumbled.

A huge black wolf emerged from the silhouetted trees as if born out of my worst dreams.

He was at least twice my mass, all muscle definition and sharp fur ready to tear into the air.

This hotheaded desire rose vivid in his amber eyes and their focus turned to me as if trying to knock the sense out of me.

The wolf's lips pulled back in a snarl, displaying long sharp canines while blatant growling the word "Mate. "

For a second, I slipped back, pulling myself together fast as a chill ran down my spine. "What did you just call me?" I snarled, refusing to accept the word mate. It got my best friend killed.

I felt the intense bond, but refused to pay any attention to it. This was strangely more important than the first.

He approached cautiously, that massive frame limber with muscular fluidity. "You are my mate. My luna. Mine. "

This one glared at me, and my hackles rising, I glared right back at him by showing him my teeth. "I don't belong to anyone."

The gaze he directed toward me at that moment... I swear I almost pissed my pants.

Those melting look in his eyes threatened to unleash a world of pain if I dared to disrespect him.

But maybe I'm just a goddamn masochist, because instead of keeping my trap shut I heard myself snarling back.

"And who are you to decide that?"

Before I could even open my mouth to say something, he was right in front of me.

One instant he stood a few feet away from me, the next, his face was within two inches of my own.

His hot breath then ruffled my skin as he said in beastly tone.

"I am Dimitri Romanov, the Alpha of this forest, this territory belongs to me and you, the female will succumb to me. "

I did not even blink my eyes, instead looking right into his eyes and dared him to say any thing. "Make me."

I hated mates now. After my experience with him...I couldn't bring myself to be mated to anyone.

That superior sneer spread over the wolfish visage. "Oh I intend to. "

The next thing I knew, I was pushed forcefully against the cave wall, and immediately enveloped by Dimitri's extremely muscular body.

My hands were pinned above my head in his vise-like grip. I tried to headbutt him, but he simply talked at me, tensing those powerful neck muscles to keep me at bay.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" I growled.

"Such a feisty little mate," he purred in a voice like dark velvet. "I'm going to enjoy taming you."

My blood boiled at his condescending tone and I spat straight in his face.

If I thought that would cow the arrogant prick, I was dead wrong.

Dimitri's smirk stretched into a full-blown predatory grin as he slowly.

The blatant act of dominance and disrespect had me grinding my teeth hard enough to crack molars.

"Real cute. You're making a very big mistake here."

He chuckled darkly. "Am I? We'll see about that."

With his free hand, he suddenly ripped open my shirt, buttons popping and clattering across the cave floor.

"Want me to continue darling? I know you feel the mate bond."

I felt it alright, so deep within I struggled to combat it.

"I've not even known you yet and I hate you already." I snarled. I thrashed violently, but I was completely powerless against his unnatural strength. "Get your paws off me!"

He titled his head, staring at me. "Don't make me go further mate. I'm being gentle."

I shuddered as his scorching gaze raked over every inch of my flesh like I was exposed.

The alpha's eyes seemed to glow brighter with primal hunger, pupils dilating.

"Such a gorgeous little mate," he rumbled in approval.

The crude implication of his words had heat flooding my cheeks.

I opened my mouth to protest, but the thunderous crash of his lips sealed over mine swallowed any objection.

Dimitri kissed me with a ferocious intensity and demand for submission that made my knees go weak.

His tongue shoved deep, staking its claim as he brutally ravaged my mouth.

I tasted hot musk and smoky cedar and something else...something wild and intoxicating that robbed me of any rational thought.

"Stop." Why was I so weak? How would I fight for Jamie if I couldn't even fight for myself?

I was utterly powerless against the onslaught of pure feral desire the alpha stoked within me.

By the time Dimitri finally released me, we were both panting harshly.

I slumped back against the rock, lips stinging and swollen.

"W-what the...why?" I rasped hoarsely.

Dimitri didn't answer. He just stared at me with those heated depths ablaze with undisguised carnal intent.

"Don't," he growled in warning.

Despite myself, I froze at the sharpness in his tone.

The alpha male reached out with one of those huge calloused hands and stroked my hair, surprisingly gently.

Dimitri leaned in close, lips brushing the shell of my ear. "You are going to be one disobedient little mate, kotenok."

His words vibrated straight down to my core, stoking that slow-burn simmering hunger even hotter.

"G-get off me..." It sounded more like a plea than an order.

His low, wicked chuckle made me shiver. "Soon, little mate. For now, you belong to me."

Dimitri seized my hips in those powerful hands of his before pulling me to himself. I whimpered due to the intense emotions whirling within me.

"That's it, kotenok," he crooned. "Give in to your alpha mate. Stop fighting it darling."

"I don't want you." I whispered loudly.

"Your mouth says one thing, your body says another."

The alpha male took his time drinking in the sight of me, those hooded amber eyes gleaming with wicked promise.

He looked like a wolf about to devour its helpless prey - a predator savoring the moments before the kill.

I struggled against him but he held me still.

"Shhhh mate. I'm not going to hurt you. I can sense your fear." He statesd causing me to gulp. "Calm down darling, I won't force you. I know you're scared." He whispered.

I found myself unconsciously leaning into him. I saw his eyes and the way the softened, like they could tell what I was thinking.

I sagged against his unyielding, feeling so suddenly safe in his arms.

"Who the fuck hurt you?"

Was the last question he asked before everything went black.