Page 5 of Unloved Mate

Valor

It was a few hours past midnight, and there was no one outside. I sighed and spread out my arms, feeling the wind that whistled past the manor. I walked down the stairs, a smile stretching on my lips as I strutted past the fountain, knowing the feeling of what it was like to sense these things again. Alive and well. But the thought of what had happened with me and Zeke couldn't get out of my head. I kissed him. It wasn't deep or passionate but I still did. Goddess, what was I doing? Sneaking around with him, going out with him, holding his hands. I sighed. I had to think of something else.

I took the path down to the forest, a new sensation of nostalgia hitting me as I recalled running through these woods with Logan in wolf form during pack patrol. I couldn't find the words to thank the goddess for giving me a second chance to live. Being reconnected with nature was one of the best feelings in the world. And my wolf was excited as I was especially about the return of my best friend or whatever he was to me these days.

I came to a halt when I sniffed a scent in the air, the smell getting my wolf excited. I turned on my heels, glowing my eyes and scanning through the woods. As I wheeled back on my feet to continue the path, I stumbled into a man’s chest, pulling back immediately and taking three steps back. “Who are you?” I clenched my fist and narrowed my gaze at the man standing in front of me, his face hidden in the shadows of the darkness.

“Part of the patrol team. Just came out to let my wolf outfor a run. Why are you out here?” He asked and stepped into the light. He had shaved hair and a stubble on his jaw and his irises were very dark brown, matching the color of his black skin. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry as I tried to find my voice. Damn, he was so gorgeous.

“Just walking in the midst of nature, eh? I have never seen you before. Are you new?” I managed to croak and his lips curled into a hint of a smile.

“Yeah. I'm Kane,” he introduced himself, extending his hand for a handshake, and I shook him. “Still available for a short walk? I'm not really feeling sleepy tonight. We could talk about anything?” He proposed, and I shrugged. There was this feeling that this stranger who bore the name Kane brought with his presence, and his smile was just one of the most beautiful I'd ever seen. I gave him a nod, and we both headed down the path in silence.

“So I heard you're the one who came back to life?”

“How did you know about that?”

“Word gets around,” he shrugged and glanced at me with a smirk. “So, how's the new life and rebirth?”

“It's a bit overwhelming. I'm not sure if you'd understand.”

“Please, try me. I could.”

“A lot happened in my past and now my best friend is back, and I think he wants to be more, and I don't know what to…”

“How do you feel about it?”

“I don't know. I mean, I had a friend who was close to me and maybe it was more and I can't… I don't know.” I was saying, starting to even wonder why I was talking to the stranger in the woods, in the middle of nowhere. I turned to him, looking at my feet and raising my gaze back to his eyes which had this glint of unexplainable expression in them. Probably fascination if I hadto guess, and it made me blush.

“It takes time to figure out what you're feeling. You don't have to hurry through it. If your best friend really cares about you, then he'll give you the chance to get to understand what you want for yourself.” He proclaimed and smiled, stepping closer.

“Hmm. Thanks for the information. So, tell me about you?”

“Nothing much. Grew up in an orphanage. Moved around until I found my way back home. There's nothing really interesting about my life.”

“Please don't say that. I'm sure you'd have something that would interest me.”

“Well, I'm a good fighter,” he chuckled. His lips twitch with the ghost of a smirk, and I rolled my eyes at him. I wanted to know if he was lying, but it looked like my lie detection power was on detour. If I had to guess it was due to coming back to life. “And I know when I run into the most beautiful man I'd ever seen.” He flirted and I chortled, a sudden wave of panic clutching at my chest.

“Thank you, but I have to go now.” I murmured out of the blue.

“Sure.” He nodded and backed away, and we headed back to the path that led to our various destination, the rest of the walk leaving me to battle if I wanted to see him again. I finally gave in. I turned and asked him and offered a small hesitant smile, “Am I going to see you again?”

“If you want to.” He smirked and stepped closer until he could reach out to my cheeks. He caressed them with my knuckles and smiled at me. “I need you to know that what you feel is ok, and that you're the most beautiful man I've ever seen.” He showered me with praises, bringing a warm feeling to my chest. All my life only three people had seen me as special, this stranger included. But how could I believe him? I wanted to, butthe people in my life hadn't exactly made it easy to believe. There was something about him that made me want to come back and take one of our midnight strolls again.

“This time tomorrow?” I proposed with a tensed breath.

“Yes.” He nodded.

~

The next morning came, and I got up, smiled over at Zeke, who was still in bed, and headed downstairs for a coffee, only to meet some of the pack workers performing their duties. While I was sipping from a cup of coffee, Logan entered, already prepared for the morning pack patrol. We both exchanged greetings, and I helped him pour a cup of coffee, passing it to him. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?” He questioned.

“Wanted to let my wolf out for a run with you. We haven't gotten back on speaking terms since you know.”

“Yeah. Sure. Come on, let's head out.” Logan downed his coffee, and we both strolled out of the pack house, heading over to the forest entrance. During this time, he briefed me on everything that had happened with the werewolves and how his mate, our Luna, had broken a curse that drove the hunger for the blood of the hounds. Like Logan said, it was progress, and I was glad that in the middle of all the chaos, he found a way to bring peace to us all. Not just him, but him and his mate. We shifted into our wolves and circled the pack territory with ease, letting our wolves feel the air and the sensation of losing ourselves in the center of nature. By the time we returned to the field, the sun was already peeking out from the horizon. We shifted back and changed into our shorts and singlet, returning to the pack house. Somehow, my run with the Alpha had reminded me of the man I met yesterday in the woods.

He said his name is Kane. There's something strangeabout him. My wolf chirped into my thoughts as we both strode back to the pack manor, and I hummed in response. There was truly something, but I had to focus on figuring out my feelings and the nature of my relationship with Zeke first. I knew there was a little awkwardness between us, considering the closeness we had last night and how I just bolted into nowhere without informing him I was back or that I was heading out with Logan.

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