Alexa’s Point Of View
“Your story is like one out of a romance book.” I said and she laughed.
“Honestly, I still can’t believe it to this day. The man I admired from an oak tree turned out to be my mate. Crazy, but it was the best news I’ve ever received.”
Venusa had a bright smile on her face as she told me the story of how she met her mate and how they got to get together. From her story, she seemed like a silly and bubbly girl who has no worries. I wonder what changed her.
“So did you have a wedding ceremony after that?” I asked and she shook her head smilingly.
“Atlas proved stubborn.”
“Huh?”
She heaved a sigh and leaned back in her seat. “The next day after that, Atlas…”
***
“I can see that you and my daughter already have a connection so we should not delay the mating ceremony any longer and…”
“No.” Atlas interjected and Umbria raised her brow. “no?” She sounded offended.
“I mean… I have to think this through. This is on such a short notice. And honestly, you don’t think I’d say yes to this immediately, do you?”
“Atlas?” Venusa called, her voice breaking. Atlas looked away from her and stood up.
“I need time to… to think this through. I… I need to leave.”
Before Venusa could say jack, Atlas rushed out of the house. Telepathically, Atlas told Roma to meet him at their regular bar. Atlas got to the bar and met Roma already waiting for him.
“What’s wrong, Atlas?” Roma asked when he saw the disturbed look on his friend’s face.
“Something crazy is going on, guy.”
Roma squinted his eyes as he sipped his beer slowly. “What do you mean?”
Atlas looked around and realized that many people were around. He decided to tell him telepathically.
“I just found out I’m the princess’s chosen mate.”
Roma spat out his beer on Atlas’s face in shock. “What did you just say?” He exclaimed, gaining several glares from the other occupants in the bar. Atlas smiled apologetically at them and shot his friend a glare.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I could ask you the same question.” Roma retorted. “What the hell is wrong with your head? Ah, I see, you’re still drunk from last night’s beer.”
“I’m not joking, Roma. So the great mother sent for me this morning saying she had something to say to me. When I got there, she suddenly said I was her daughter’s chosen mate. I swear, Roma.”
Roma batted his eyelashes in disbelief. He gulped down the remainder of his beer and pushed the cup aside. “If what you’re saying is true, I’m so happy for you my guy!”
“There’s nothing to be happy about in all these.”
Roma’s smile faded. “What? I thought you liked her.”
“I… do but have you forgotten? What I am? What we are?” Atlas said telepathically.
Roma gasped in realization. “What if they find out?” He asked.
“That’s what I’m scared of. I like her but I won’t be able to bare it if she fears me when she finds out what I really am. And her parents, I’m sure they haven’t even met a werewolf before. They’d think I’m some monster sent to devour their daughter when they find out.” Atlas said telepathically.
Atlas and Roma are actually werewolves. Atlas is the next in line alpha of his pack while Roma is the beta. Atlas didn’t want to take over after his father so he ran away from the pack with Roma. They had nowhere to go so they just wandered around until they got to the cliff of a great mountain. Unsure of what they’d find down, they still ventured down the mountain. An ordinary human would die jumping off the cliff but they are werewolves so it was easy to jump down without having a scratch.
Like luck was on their side, they discovered Yok after venturing a few miles from the foot of the mountain. They settled on Yok when they were both twenty years old. Finding a mate wasn’t part of Atlas’s plans on getting on Yok but one faithful day, he saw a girl peeking at him from the top of an oak tree. The moment Atlas made eye contact with her, he felt it, the mate bond.
Venusa thought Atlas never noticed her until that night but Atlas chose not to let her know that he knows. The people of Yok don’t know about werewolves nor werewolves. They don’t even know that there is a whole civilization up the great mountain.
“Tell her.” Roma said.
“Are you crazy?”
“I’m not. That’s the safest option. She seems understanding and kindhearted.”
“What if…”
“Keep all what ifs to yourself. Just tell her. If she doesn’t want you after that then she’ll stay away from you quietly. I’m sure she wouldn’t tell the chief.”
“But-”
“Or do you prefer to lie to her all your life? What if she finds out by herself eventually. How do you plan to face her?”
Atlas sighed. “I don’t know.”
“Atlas!” Roma flinched at the sound of Venusa’s shriek. Atlas turned and found Venusa at the entrance of the bar, breathing heavily like she ran a marathon.
“Venusa…”
Roma glanced at Atlas and grinned. “You’re in trouble, my guy.”
Venusa came in and took Atlas’s hand. She turned to Roma and smiled. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Roma replied.
“You’re coming with me!” She pulled Atlas up and pulled him along with her. Roma shook his head and cackled.
Venusa pulled Atlas into an empty stall and locked the door. “Venusa…”
“Why did you leave like that?” Venusa questioned.
“I…”
“Are you angry?”
“Why would I be…”
“Don’t you like me? Is it because I… I kissed you without your consent yesterday?”
“Venusa listen…”
“Or is it because I inconvenienced you last night? Fine, I promise I won’t drink again, okay?”
“Just listen to me.”
“No, I wanna know why you left. Do you not like me? I can-”
Tired with her mumbles, Atlas pulled her closer by her waist and claimed her lips. Venusa’s eyes widened in shock. Atlas broke the kiss and said against her lips, “listen to me, okay?”
Venusa nodded, breathing heavily.
“It’s not that I don’t like you. I’ve liked you longer than you’ve liked me, Venusa.”
“Then why-”
“There’s something. I have a secret. I secret I fear would pull you away from me.”
Venusa shook her head as she took Atlas’s hands. “Nothing can ever pull me away from you, Atlas. Don’t you ever think that again.” She said with pleading eyes. Atlas searched her eyes for certainty. He wouldn’t be able to bare it if she leaves after this.
“Venusa-”
“I promise.” She said.
“I’ll tell you tonight. Under the full moon. Meet me in the Atmos forest.” Atlas said and Venusa nodded.
“I’ll be waiting.”
Night came very fast. Venusa didn’t waste time as soon as she saw the full moon before venturing to the forest. She met Atlas on a rock, staring at the moon as she approached.
“Atlas.” She called and Atlas turned to her. He smiled and got off the rock.
“You’re here.”
“Told you I’d come.”
Atlas breathed heavily and Venusa held his hand. “It’s fine.”
Atlas nodded and took a few steps back. Before Venusa’s eyes, Atlas shifted into a huge red wolf. Venusa’s eyes held shock.
Atlas saw the expression on her face. He contemplated whether to take a step toward her. Will she run? Will she stay?
Just then, Venusa came to him.
“Atlas?” She called as she caressed his head. “Can you hear me?” She asked and Atlas growled lowly, signifying he could hear her.
“Did you think I’d run after seeing this? I told you nothing can ever pull me away from you. I will always be with you no matter what, that’s a promise.”
Atlas looked at her and Venusa smiled. “It’s okay.” She whispered. Atlas shifted back and shifted back to his human form. Venusa yelped in shock when she saw Atlas’s nakedness.
“What happened to your clothes?” She yelled.
Atlas looked down and chuckled.
“H… here, use my scarf to tie your waist.” Venusa said as she took off her scarf. She stretched it to atlas without turning to him. Atlas wrapped the clothing around his waist. Thankfully, the scarf was opaque.
“You can turn around now.” He said and Venusa turned slowly. She sighed in relief when she saw that he was covered. She looked up and gulped at the sight of his bare chest.
“Are you… are you a werewolf?” Venusa asked.
“How do you know about werewolves?”
“I saw an image while rummaging through my mother’s ancient books. I was curious so I read about them. I thought they were just myths but turns out they are real. Are there more of you?” She asked curiously and Atlas smiled.
“Yeah. In a place far away from here.”
“How many?”
“A lot.”
Venusa gasped. “That’s fascinating. I wanna meet more.”
Atlas frowned. “Am I not enough for you?” He asked as he closed the distance between them.
“I’m not saying that. I just…”
“Whatever you’re curious about, you can find out from me.” He said as he circled her waist with his arms.
“Anything?”
Atlas nodded. “Anything.”
Venusa grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“So what do you say? Do you mind having a werewolf as mate?”
Venusa shook her head and kissed Atlas softly on the lips. “At all. In fact, I find werewolves sexy.”
Atlas smiled and claimed her lips dominantly. Right there, that night, Atlas marked Venusa as his.