Page 16 of The Alpha’s Seer (The Shifters of Stormhollow #1)

Chapter Sixteen

BLAIR

They're gaining on me. I can hear their feet pounding on the ground, and I throw myself towards the forest, my lungs burning. I slip on the mud, my fingers scrabbling for traction so I don't fall on my face.

“We can see you, pretty girl.”

I gasp at the cold air, but it burns, and I feel tears pricking my eyes.

Branches snap around me, and I panic, terror racing through my body as I try to run. The moonlight shimmers its empathy through the trees, and my limbs ache beneath it.

“There's nowhere you can hide,” the voice taunts, but I don't stop, even though my muscles burn and twist with every move.

Then I see the wolf that protects me, the one I know as Calix. His majestic stance commands my attention, his golden eyes glowing as he bares his teeth.

He's terrifying. He's beautiful.

But there are more wolves chasing me, and I know he can't save me on his own.

I try to tell him to go, but he moves closer, jumping in front of me when a hand grabs my ponytail. I scream, my scalp burning, then I smell blood and hear a roar of agony.

No!

“Calix!” I scream, choking on my voice.

“Blair!” Strong hands grasp my shoulders and pull me upright, the powerful scent of man forcing me to open my eyes.

I'm sobbing, snot and tears mixing as I wipe at my face with a trembling hand.

“Blair, it's okay, I'm here! I'm here.” Calix stares at me, his eyes wide, and even in the darkness, they glow.

I'm in Calix's bedroom. It's dark; I must have slept through most of the day and night. A whimper leaves my lips, and I try to breathe, but my chest is tight and sore.

“You were dreaming,” Calix murmurs, wiping away my tears. “What about?”

His proximity makes me dizzy, yet I cling to him like a raft in a storm.

None of this makes any sense.

I shake my head; the dream is still clutching on to me. Calix died defending me...

“Blair.” Calix rasps, dipping his head to capture my eyes with his. “Tell me.”

I shake my head and let out a quivering breath, trying to return to reality. “I was being chased.”

Calix tenses his jaw but lets me continue.

“I had wolves chasing me, lots of them,” I explain, closing my eyes. “And you saved me.”

Calix grins, but it's faint. “At least I'm a hero in your dreams.”

I say nothing. I can't tell him he died—it was just a dream—a nightmare. I stare down at my hands and see they're trembling. I've had nightmares since the accident, but never like this. Maybe the incident at the library triggered them.

Calix sighs and scrubs his face, sitting back on his heels. He dominates the bed, even though I know it's big enough for four people. Four humans, anyway. He's shirtless, and I can't help but stare at him as he speaks.

“I'm sorry for dragging you here.”

I wasn’t expecting that. I pause, watching as he grimaces. His hair falls in his eyes, and he shoves it away impatiently. He looks exhausted, and part of me wants to tell him to sleep.

Do werewolves sleep?

They must do if they can look exhausted, right? He's human too; surely he needs sleep.

“I just wanted you safe, and this is the only place I know you will be.” Calix locks eyes with me, and heat spins through my core, making me squirm. “And I'm sorry for... earlier.”

My cheeks flame at the memory of how he used me, but he's not so easily forgiven.

“Why? Didn't you enjoy it?” I remark cattily, enjoying how a smirk plays on his lips.

God, he's beautiful.

“Of course I fucking did.” Calix rolls his eyes, and I flush further. “But you’re my mate, whether you like it or not. Just don't say you're not my mate again. Please.” His voice takes on a pleading tone, one I've not heard him use before.

Does he not understand how difficult this is for me?

I've been attacked, and then Calix—a man I've never met in my life—has not left my side once; then I was taken away from my family, told werewolves exist, and watched a wolf shift into a human. Then Calix lost his temper and face-fucked me—not that I’m complaining.

So yeah, I'm feeling a little bruised from it all. I drag my legs under me and sigh, still exhausted despite the massive amount of sleep I've had. I’d wanted to leave so badly, but now? I wasn’t so sure, especially with how calm Calix seems. He’s easier to be around when he’s like this.

“It's not that I'm disputing being your mate,” I tell Calix, eyeing him warily. “I barely understand all of that.”

It's true—I don't. I’d said that in anger. If he says I'm his mate, then that's his belief. It doesn't mean it’s mine.

Calix watches me as I clear my throat, picking at the fabric of my onesie. Anything, so I don't have to look at him.

“It's just... a lot to take in.”

“I know.”

“My brother will be going crazy,” I comment, worrying at my lip. “Even though I left him a note, he worries. Especially after the attack.”

Calix stares at me. “Your brother is a drunk. He doesn't know how to protect you.”

My nostrils flare. “You don't know what he's been through.”

Calix leans closer, and I instinctively press myself further against the headboard. “I do. You lost your parents in an animal attack when you were young. You lived with your Aunt Ray until you were old enough to take over the house.”

So, he does know.

“We lost our parents,” I hiss. “You don't know how that feels. It destroyed us.”

Calix bunches the sheets into his fists and growls, his eyes darkening. “It is you that knows nothing, Blair. But you need to start learning, so let's start with this, shall we?”

The bed rumbles beneath his voice, and I swallow thickly. I have to remember he's an animal, and I don't know what he's capable of. All I know is that he's bigger than any man I've ever met, and he has a temper. One I never want to be on the receiving end of.

He leans closer so he's inches away from me, and my heart rate quickens. Every time he's near me, my body reacts in some way I can't control. I clench my thighs together as my pussy weeps, and when he speaks, I let out a whimper of desire.

What the hell is wrong with me?

“The night I watched you fuck yourself, with my dick in my hand, my pack was attacked.”

My heart skips a beat.

It was him in the woods that night! I knew it!

“My mother was taken. My father and brother were murdered, along with countless pack members. We lost too many that night, and we still don't know who is responsible.”

I can't speak; my voice leaves my body in a whoosh of disbelief.

He lost his entire family in one night?

“I'm sorry,” I breathe, finding my voice. “I didn't know.”

Calix glares at me, his lip curling. “No, there's much you don't know. Like you don't get to choose your mate.”

I am still. “You don't?”

So it's not like soulmates. Because even though some people believe you're meant to be together, it's still a choice.

There's always a choice.

“No.” Calix pushes away from me and rises from the bed. “I didn't ask for you to be here. I'm just as pissed off as you are about this situation. We're in the middle of a fucking war, and you're my mate.”

A war?

I blink and shake my head. “Why do you say it like that? You said you had to protect me.”

I don't understand. He seems unhappy to have me as his mate, yet he seemed to want to protect me earlier. My head throbs with the pressure of the situation, but Calix shrugs.

“You're human, Blair; you've got zero chance of survival without protection from me and my pack.”

“I can't help being human,” I snap, crossing my arms over my chest. “So what you're saying is that I'm a liability. Why did the wolf god choose me as your mate if I'm so useless?”

Calix says nothing in response, but he doesn't need to. It's clear how he feels. Anger soars in my chest, shrouded in frustration. It comes out in a blast of hot air and angry words.

“Why bring me here? Why not just let me die? Surely that would be easier for you?!”

Calix slams me against the headboard with such force it almost snaps. His breath warms my face as he growls, and I almost let out a squeal, but I don't, because I know he won't hurt me. Somehow, I just know he won't.

Which makes me even more defiant for some stupid reason.

“You are my mate. It's my job—”

“To protect me,” I bite out, staring into his eyes. “I get it. So what's my job?”

His gaze softens, but only slightly, revealing a side to him I wish I saw more often. But it's soon replaced with the scowl I've become more familiar with.

“Ideally, you'd help me run the pack. Have my babies and adore me back. But it's clear you have zero ability to run a pack, so maybe try accepting that you're my mate, for starters.”

His words sting, and I bite back with a snap of my own. Something along the lines of maybe if he explained things to me, I could help. I may be a human, but I'm not stupid. Even if I'm not his mate, I could help him.

How can I be his mate? Wouldn't I know if he was my one?

“I may not know much about wolves,” I state, lifting my chin. “But I know about love, and this isn't how you go about it. You speak to me like shit.”

Calix closes his eyes, and I watch the vein on his neck bulge.

Fuck, that's hot.

He exhales and gazes at me like he's trying to restrain something deep within him.

“I'm trying, Blair. This is hard for me, too.”

Then he shoves away from the bed, the wood cracking beneath us as he does. I watch his back muscles ripple as he storms off, slamming the door behind him.

My mate, ladies and gentlemen.