Page 3 of Unloved Mate

“Careful, my body still hurts.”

“He's alive.” Frey announced, still awestricken.

“You shouldn't be out of bed. You should be resting.” Logan added with concern.

“You must be hungry.”

“He’s back. He's here with us.”

“Was there someone here today?” I asked through the ensuing chaos, and Logan reached out to my shoulder and gave me an affectionate squeeze.

“We need to get you to bed first, then I'll holler at him.” Logan reassured me, signaling the others to take me back to my room and provide for me. I followed them up the stairs, listening to the praise they offered to the moon goddess for my well being and sharing endearing embraces from each one of them.

~

I was lying on the bed, fed, bathed and changed into the new clothes awaiting Logan, who was yet to return with the wolf blood that came to see me earlier. Now I was back, I had so much to do, not just lie on this freaking king sized bed. I had to check up on my father, considering if he was still alive and didn't die from the heartbreak of the death of his son, my duties to the pack, the training schedule, and perhaps Aiden. I rose from the bed, my entire body feeling better than the last time I took a stroll, and I paced the floor in anticipation of this stranger. The roughness of his voice as he said affectionate words to me replaying through my memories. If only I had seen him, even if it was just the color of his eyes, then maybe this wouldn't be as hard as it was. Still pacing the floor, I heard approaching footsteps. My heartbeat quickened, and I narrowed my gaze at the entrance, clutching the side of my shirt.

The door burst open, and he walked in with a relieved expression on his face. Before I could say a word, he had alreadywrapped his enormous arms around me.

“Ezekiel.” I mustered, reciprocating the embrace.

“Valor, you're… you're alive. I thought I'd never see you again.” He murmured as he held my face with a big sad smile. Zeke pulled me back into a tight clutch, squeezing like he never wanted to let me go. He was bigger, more muscular, even more handsome, and perhaps stronger than I last recalled.

“I am.” Was all I could say, still taken aback that my best friend, who had left the pack a long time ago, was here with me.

“I thought you were gone,” his voice was breaking, but he struggled to be strong. His eyes reflected the same yearning that raged within me. It had been so long. “You shouldn't be out of bed just yet. You need to get some rest.” He said and took me back to the bed, helping me in and tucking me into the sheets. Between the two of us, I didn't know who was more surprised to see each other. That I returned to life, such things don't happen every day, or the fact I just heard my best friend in the whole wide world say things that no one has ever said to me. It was him. There couldn't be any other person who came to visit me except him. Was there? Was he still my best friend, though? Because I haven't seen him for more than a decade. These thoughts sifted through my head as he sat next to me while I glued my gaze to the ceiling and panted. The silence between us was short-lived when I asked, “How long have you been back?”

“A few hours ago. I came back to uh,... but I heard you were dead. I. I'm not sure you'd understand.” He shook his head.

I didn't know why he wasn't open with his words, especially considering I had heard some parts of what he said to me. But I wouldn’t force him to open up to me. I was kind of ok with a man confessing his feelings to me. The past encounter I've had with men, with Aiden in particular, left me asking me if I wanted more than just friendship with him. I guess I'd usemy second chance at life to figure out who I truly am and what I want. “Yeah. But I'm glad you're here. It's been so long, and I don't want to stay locked up in my room. This is my room, and I should go and come as I please. They have the guts to lock me up here. I'm alive, and I should do lively things.” I complained and grumbled, my tone laced with equal parts of exasperation and annoyance. He let out a chuckle and rolled his eyes.

“If there's one thing that hasn't changed. It's your bickering. You really are still Valor O'Donnell,” he chuckled with an excitement in his eyes. “Come on, let's get out of here.” He rose to his feet and walked to my wardrobe. He threw me a leather jacket, and I wore it, following him straight to the door.

“Where are we going?” I asked with intrigue as we both exited the room, creeping through the manor until we had arrived downstairs.

We were almost at the foyer when we heard the incoming footsteps of Logan and his mate. Zeke took my hands and led me into the kitchen. He shut the door and placed me against it, caging me in his embrace. He closed his eyes and breathed an exhale. My eyes didn't leave his face or his lips, even when he had reopened his eyes. I had never been this close to a man and all I could think of was... I shook my head to get rid of the thoughts. Lucky for us, Logan and Frey hadn't caught us yet and had moved upstairs.

When he was sure the coast was clear, he took me out of the kitchen and we sauntered out of the manor. We walked down the flight of stairs and my eyes widened in astonishment when I saw the motorbike parked across the fountain. “This baby still alive?”

“Yes, she is. I mean, it still works perfectly. I had the time to look over at it,” he said; he mounted his bike and turned onthe engine. “Are you going to stand there and just watch me or join me?” He flirted with his eyes, and I chortled with a wide smile.

“Are you having thoughts about joining a bike gang?” I murmured the inquisition, my voice thick with a lifetime’s worth of happiness.

“Probably.” No wonder where all the dripping hotness came from, I thought. I joined him on the back, and I wore the black helmet and wrapped my hands around his waist to support myself. He started the engine, clenched his hand around the clutch and drove off the pack’s premises, following the path lined with trees that led out of the territory.

Being on this bike let me feel some sort of peace in my chest. One of the rarest times I had felt such a feeling, and it was all thanks to Zeke. For a very long time I wasn't happy, and my best friend swept in to save the day the least time I expected.

Zeke brought the motorbike to a stop in the middle of the tarred road, and we both alighted together. He pulled off his helmet and held it as he looked at the skies. “You see that.” He murmured.

“Yeah. You're the star sign genius.”

“It’s Leo.”

“As in my wolf’s name. You helped me name my wolf, remember?” I recalled. “Why have you been my whole life, Zeke?”

“Clearly, it was a stupid decision. Leaving,” he gazed at me for some second, then returned his glance to the skies. “But now I'm back here with you, and I, uh, I'm glad.” He said, our fingers slowly finding their way to each other and touching.

“You are back now.” I smiled and sighed.

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