Page 6 of Unloved Mate

I returned to my room to freshen up and change into a new set of clothes, but I couldn't find Ezekiel. I gathered that he must have gone for a run himself or maybe went to reignite the bond of old acquaintances. I headed downstairs for breakfast, but to my surprise, he was already there, dining with the family. As I walked into the dining hall, the wolves met my gaze and they cheered, inviting me to join them. I noticed the new face in the group and if I had to guess; he was my replacement. The young, tall man, who shared the same color of my eyes and a darker shade of my hair, was no other than my cousin, Anthony O'Donnell. I gave him a small smile and settled next to Zeke. “Hey. I thought you were…” I was saying, but he interjected.

“I figured you needed some space, and I had a bath in another bathroom. Is that ok?”

“Yeah, sure. I'm not complaining. I was just worried. Besides, I had to catch up with the Alpha. I missed it. You should join sometime.” I nudged his shoulder playfully.

“I don't think that would be possible. I will be returning to the Eclipse soon.”

“Oh, ok.” I shrugged and continued on with my food completely surprised that he had no intentions of staying home. That he would run off the same way that he did years ago.

We finished breakfast, and everyone headed to their various duties for the day. The Alpha and Beta were takingcare of the pack businesses and housing construction while Frey and Alex concerned themselves with the pack training, which included the witches and wolves. Zeke and I didn't get to talk after breakfast, as he went to join the construction workers while I prepared to visit my father at the hospital. Though I was absent for sometime, knowing my father's condition, Logan told him I was taking on a very important mission for the pack and would return as soon as possible. This idea came when the witches had the intuition that there was hope for me. I was really grateful for Logan because I didn't know what my old man would have done if I didn't come to visit him ever again.

I recalled the day the wolf bloods carried my almost dead father into the hospital. They had left the country for some important meeting that involved another pack in a different country, and the pack asked my father to represent the Alpha. Upon his return, wolf shifters, formerly known as hounds, attacked them, and when I heard his predicament, I didn't stop running until I got to the hospital, seeing the condition he was in. He had lost his sight and also sustained injuries that left him with broken bones that healed over time, but unfortunately, he didn't regain his sense of sight. I spent that night crying myself to sleep and waking up with a headache from the only person who stayed with me throughout the ordeal to be Zeke. Perhaps this was it, his little way of showing his affections for me without being upfront about it. Perhaps there was something about me that had fascinated him all this while. I smiled. My thoughts returning to my father. I've had to visit him every week at the hospital and keep in touch with his needs as well. I had opted for him to return home several times so I could look after him, but he said he was ok staying at the hospital because he thought it was best for me under the pressure of being the Delta of the pack.

As I leaned against the doorjamb, I pressed my knuckles on the door and gave him a smile. He was lying on the bed, facing the ceiling, and as if he knew who was standing at the door, he slowly rose to a sitting position. “Valor, is that you?”

“Yes, dad. It's me.”

“Oh, dear goddess. Thank you for returning my son to me.”

“There’s no need to worry.” I said and hurried to the bed, joining him and taking his hands. Since he started staying here, the healers had made better accommodations for him.

“How was your journey?”

“It went fine, dad. How are you? I missed you so much.”

“I’m here, son. I'll always be here,” he muttered and offered me a smile, clasping my hands. “So tell me, what did you find? Any mates?” He pried with a chuckle. I couldn't tell my father the truth about my predicament with the fated mates I had. I felt with what he was going through, there was no need to bother him with such sadness. But even as he asked those questions, my thoughts ran straight to Zeke and the man in the woods last night, and I smiled. I wanted to talk to him about what's happening between Zeke and I. But I wasn't sure he'd understand that my best friend had feelings for me and I might feel the same. Besides, it had been a while since he heard about him. Anyway, I wasn't worried about telling him if I eventually developed feelings for a man, this just wasn't the right time. I should focus on reuniting with him because it has been months since we've spoken to each other.

“No luck.”

“Maybe you should choose a mate for yourself. You’re almost thirty-one, and before you ask, I still remember the night you were born.” He chuckled.

“Don’t worry, dad. I've got it all figured out.” I lied.

We spent the entire day reminiscing on old memories and laughing and chuckling at each other, and this time, I felt closer to my family again. Being with my father made me realize I could do this second chance at life thing, that I could find the path of a new purpose in my life.

“Dad, I have to get back to the pack house. I'll see you tomorrow. Is that ok or do you want me to stay over?”

“Nonsense. I don't want you sleeping over at the hospital. Go home and get some rest. You'll be needing it.”

“Thank you, dad. Goodnight. I love you.” I giggled and laid a kiss on his scarred cheeks. Then I rose from the bed and headed back home.

But the stranger from last night's encounter interrupted my short stroll from the hospital to the pack house, shaking me from the thoughts of the suggestion of finding a mate and dealing with whatever that was going on between Zeke and I. He pulled me into the nearby woods and held me against a tree with a smile dancing on his lips. “Were you waiting here for me?”

“Not sure if I could make it tonight. Just wanted to see you beforehand.”

“Well, that’s very thoughtful of you. I thought I would run into you during the early morning patrol, but you were a no show.”

“My schedules are on Thursdays only,” he pocketed his hands and looked at me with the ghost of a smile. “So did you get to talk with your best friend?”

“Not really. He’s, uh, a no show as well. It’s like he’s avoiding me.” I shrugged.

“That’s his loss. I’d do anything to spend every second of my life with you,” his knowing gaze slides to me and a soft smile played on my lips. “Would you like to talk about it?”

“I mean, I feel attraction with guys and it scares me alittle.”

“You don’t have to be afraid, little wolf…” The term of endearment rolled of his lips catching me off guard. I halted. My face flushed with color. The ghost of a smirk hovered on his lips as he walked up to me. I struggled to hide the rich excitement in my eyes and glare at him instead.

“Day two and you’re already giving me nicknames.”

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