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Chapter 8

Alaya walked a little further on from where her father and Fen still stood, Noah and the woman carrying her gently as their footsteps echoed behind her own. Once a little further into the darkness and out of sight of wary eyes, she came to a stop and stepped out of their hold.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Alaya whispered, hoping they were atleast out of earshot but unwilling to lead these people to the ones she cared about without at least that part of the puzzle. Noah moved towards her and everything inside of her pushed for her to mirror his movements but she fought them.

"I am Noah and this is my sister Neve. We are here for you," he explained. His voice was low and earthy, yet it seemed to roll over her like warm water whenever he spoke.

"Noah," Neve chided, nudging him with her elbow.

"What? She asked a question, I'm not going to lie to my mate," he hissed, turning towards his sister with a dark glare.

"You just need to stop talking otherwise your mate won't want to be anything to you, let alone be bound to you for life like me," she retorted, levelling him with an equally dark stare of her own. Alaya's breath caught as she heard him say the words she had thought but dared not say.

He was her mate...

Her true mate...

She had heard of things like this but true mates were incredibly rare these days. Non existent actually. Most married others of choice like humans did, not waiting for something that might never come along. Even her mother and father weren't true mates, their marriage had been planned well before they had even met. Tonight was the night for rarity it seemed.

"I'm your mate? I didn't think mates were even real. More like Santa, something parents tell their kids so they keep believing in love and rainbows and unicorns," Alaya begun to ramble, her mind struggling to catch up with what her body had known before they had even met. No wonder her wolf was going crazy. From the stories and myths that she had heard, wolves needed to be near to their mates once they had found each other. Some had apparently gone insane when the other died, their wolves constantly pushing, searching for its other half.

"Luna," he breathed into her ear and she quietened instantly. She didn't know when he had moved but was glad he had, being close to him helped her mind focus and her chest feel less constricted. Like before she met him she had been under the water, the world drowning her. His presence had lifted her to the surface and allowed her to breathe, even if just for a moment.

"Sorry," she said, consciously keeping her mouth closed. He smiled at her effort and took her hand in his, a motion that now felt as natural to her as breathing.

"You never have to apologize to me," he continued but although a smile on his face she felt the seriousness in his tone.

"I'll just stand here like a third wheel then shall I? Remember why I came along Noah," Neve interjected, pulling the pair out from one another.

"So that I didn't do what I almost did earlier. You make sure I don't die," he smiled and Neve rolled her eyes.

"How many times have you been taught you have to act like you obey? If they know the truth even I can't keep you alive, they will want your head and mine. Even hers," Neve continued, not making a lot of sense right now to Alaya. Why was she being brought into the soon to be dead club as if the three of them were alike? What did she mean by act like he obeyed? Of course he had to obey, her father was the strongest Alpha in existence. Unless that wasn't the case anymore? But that wouldn't mean she would be affected. So many questions swirled in her head it was beginning to make her feel dizzy.

"I'm sorry but I'm way too tired for whatever you two are talking about. One revelation is enough for me tonight," Alaya replied, walking off towards her house and thankfully her bed. But Noah's hand held her tight and she turned back towards him when he didn't follow.

"Why aren't you following me?" she asked, annoyance slipping into her voice as tiredness clawed at her limbs and eyelids.

"We can't stay Noah. Her father will want an explanation and we can't give him one," Neve urged through the darkness. Alaya's wolf became alert once more despite his closeness, as if sensing something was about to happen, something she wouldn't be happy about no doubt.

"Leave? You can't leave me," Alaya rushed out, pulling tight to his hand like a scared child. She didn't care though, she knew she couldn't allow him to abandon her when he had only just come into her life.

"Luna calm yourself. I'm not going anywhere without you," he reassured but Alaya didn't miss the end of that sentence.

"Without me? I can't go with you," she replied as she felt the panic creep back in at the thought of him leaving her behind. But she knew she couldn't leave her friends, her family with people she had just met, mate or not.

"You're not safe here but we know a place that will you be. Where there are others like us," he continued, pulling her slowly towards where Neve was stood. Alaya pulled out of his hold and wrapped her arms around herself. She had no idea what was going on or what she should do. She was just so tired.

"No. No. I promised my father a tomorrow and I will not just abandon him in the night. I am going home and I hope you chose to follow me. Whatever you fear or think I should fear I can assure you it does not exist in this community. You are safe here with me, I promise."

Alaya tried to calm their worries but was unsure she had even put a dent in them as she watched Neve's eyes dart around in the night. Alaya walked slowly from where they stood, praying Noah atleast would choose to follow. She heard their growls and hisses as she walked further into the darkness and did her best to focus on putting one foot in front of the other and keeping her wolf calm. Maybe her father was right and refusing to phase had been the wrong choice these past weeks? Her wolf obviously didn’t like to be caged and had somehow found a way around it, to break free from the confines of her mind. The fact unsettled her. To think, before all this she had felt she couldn't trust her wolf. Now she feared her a little.

"Luna. Luna wait for me," Alaya heard Noah footsteps as an echo to his words as he chased her and she allowed her steps to slow a little in response. Her heart smiled with him at her side once more and that was enough to keep her wolf at bay for now. She noticed as Neve silently fell into step beside him looking less than pleased but that couldn't be helped. This is where they needed to be for now, where she needed him to be selfishly for her own sake. Alaya was sure their fears were unfounded but she would find out as much as she could before her father arrived tomorrow, no doubt needing answers to the same questions she did.

As they came to her house, Alaya placed a finger to her lips before opening the door. It would be horrific if they accidentally woke anyone in the house. Especially Alaris. Or even worse, Luther. She crept as silently as she could on the mainly wooden floor and was relieved when it didn't groan under her weight. She guided them into the lounge as quickly and as silently as she could. The green blanket and spare pillows were where they always were, tucked safely behind the brown sofa. It wasn’t until they were all in there that she realised her mistake. There was only one couch and two very unexpected guests. She glanced over at the small two seater couch that was nestled in front of the only window and shook her head to herself. Not even Alexa would fit on there.

"Neve you can have my bed. And before you refuse know that I am tired and if I have to argue with one more person tonight I may kill them just so I can sleep," she threatened, although empty. But Neve wouldn’t know that.

"Fine but in the morning we all need to talk. Our lives may depend on it," she replied cryptically, giving no fight at all. Alaya eyed her sceptically before accepting that maybe she was just as tired as she was.

"I'll show you the way," Alaya continued past Neve and up the stairs, taking care to not trip or bang anything like she had a tendency to do. As she came to her door she paused, praying for it to open without the random creak it threw out on occasion. When silence still filled the air, Alaya blew out a soft sigh of relief and gestured to the bed in the corner. Neve stopped as she began to enter the room placing a hand on her arm. Her skin was soft and warm on hers and she felt a closeness to this wolf that she couldn’t quite explain. Although she couldn’t explain a lot of things lately so what's another thing to add to the list.

"We do need to talk Alaya," she whispered before heading into the room, not waiting for a response. Alaya simply nodded before closing the door and headed back downstairs to the man that was waiting for her. She hoped he would always be there waiting for her, as weird as that sounded.

As she made it back into the lounge she immediately spotted the cushions that were now all laid out on the floor. Alaya berated herself for not having thought of that before she had sent Neve upstairs and had enabled this uncomfortable moment to unfold. Alaya contemplated running back upstairs to fetch Neve and swap places but she would then risk waking Lenara or someone else and that just wasn't worth it. To be honest she just wanted to sleep right now.

Noah was half crouched on the floor much like when she had first seen him earlier that evening. His hair tumbled a little and she watched as he tucked it behind his ear and she smiled watching him.

"Staring is creepy," he jested without even needing to turn around. He felt her presence like she did his it seemed. Alaya knelt next to him before splaying out dramatically onto the carefully laid pillows, groaning with relief as her muscles relaxed.

"Hey, don't hog the whole thing. I need at least a bit of space unless you want me on top of you," he continued and Alaya’s eyes shot open, body frozen at what he had just insinuated. She scooted over quickly, causing the pillows to break apart with her haphazard movements.

"Luna it was a joke," he chuckled, placing a hand softly on her lower back. His touch stilled her but not because she was scared, it was because her entire body felt soothed, craving more than just his fingers on her back.

Alaya sat back up and pulled the blanket on top of her as Noah manoeuvred the pillows back into place. She still remained sat once he was finished, unsure how exactly the two of them should lay. This whole thing was so confusing. Never in a million years would she think of laying like this next to someone she didn't know but now the thought of him being more than a foot away from her made her heart ache. It was all so overwhelming. She felt as though she was tumbling down a black hole of emotion with no end it sight.

"I can lie elsewhere if you wish. The floor won't break me for one night," he offered, his silver gaze staring into her own.

"No it's alright," she replied, slowly lying herself down. Her body rejoiced once more as the pillows cushioned her, tired joints craving the rest. She felt as he lay beside her, his breath hot on her neck. The rhythmic breathing lulled her as she closed her eyes, sleep waiting on the other side.

"You will be here when I wake right?" Alaya asked sleepily, her brain not allowing her to completely surrender to her dreams until she was certain he wouldn't sneak off, leaving her alone in the night.

"I won't ever leave you."

And that was the last thing Alaya heard before sleep finally claimed her.

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