[Chapter {10}]

"What's a mate?" I asked curiously and oh boy was I met with so many astonished looks.

Was I supposed to know that?

"You don't know what a mate is," Veronica asked sceptically.

I shook my head in reply and her eyes widened.

"Nathan, why didn't you tell him," she asked glaring at her son.

"We started off on a wrong foot and besides I already ruined my chances of being with him twice, I didn't want to risk a third time. I came close to almost getting rejected and the feeling I got from that experience scared the shit out of me, it still does," Nathan replied whispering the last part with a pained look on his face.

"Honey, I'm sorry but you know you eventually have to tell him," Veronica said a sympathetic look on her face.

"I know," Nathan replied before sighing heavily.

This mate topic seems to be a really intense one. Considering the way they are going on about it, it must be something important and that thought is making me sort of nervous.

"Here goes nothing," Nathan mumbled turning to face me, he raked his hand through his hair before his eyes finally met mine. He took a deep breath before starting to speak.

"Callum a mate is someone who you're-" Nathan's explanation was interrupted by a loud bang. The sound seemed to have come from outside and from the looks of things, I wasn't the only one who heard it.

Damon was up in a flash Nathan following seconds after him. Damon ordered Veronica to gather all the women, children and aging werewolves and take them to what he called a ' safe zone '.

Nathan and other strong men probably the warriors of the pack followed Damon to where the sudden crash had come from. I turned on my heels ready to follow them but I was interrupted by the obstacle blocking my path.

I looked up to see Nathan glaring at me, "Where do you think you're going," he asked raising an eyebrow.

"I'm going with you guys to see what the disturbance is all about," I explained in 'duh' tone like it was the most obvious thing in the world, which it was.

"You're not going anywhere, go back with my mom so you can stay safe with the others," he said and I was struck speechless at the sense of authority oozing off him.

"But I want to help too," I whined but he flashed me an unimpressed look.

"I'm not letting you go out there, it might be dangerous and I can't risk loosing you," he said a hard look in his eyes.

Although my heart fluttered at his statement, I still wanted to help, "But I..."

"Go," Nathan ordered cutting me off. I glared at him before reluctantly trudging up the stairs.

I stayed there for a while and when I was sure he was gone, I came down and rushed out in the direction of where they went.

The path led to the back of the pack house which was surrounded by trees to keep it hidden from humans and other creatures.

I went out and rounded the corner to see all of them gathered around something but I couldn't see what it was because like always, all of them towered over me.

I came closer to have a better look and when I still couldn't see, I started weaving myself in between the tall muscular men so I could get to the front.

When I finally got to the front, what I saw sent a wave of shock and fear through me. I let out a gasp my eyes widening.

I must've been really loud because everybody's eyes snapped to my direction.

Nathan's eyes widened when he saw me but he replaced the shocked look with a glare.

"What are you doing here Callum, I'm pretty sure I asked you to stay behind with my mom," he asked and I shivered slightly at how deep and hard it was.

"I wanted to help you guys, besides your not my mom so you can't tell me what to do," I replied defiantly.

"You're right, I'm not your mom but I'm your mate and so I'm responsible for you," he shot back crossing his arms over his chest making his muscles flex.

I gulped before grumbling a, 'but I still don't know what a mate is.'

Nathan let out an exasperated sigh before ordering me to go.

"No I want to help and I can, it's obviously my name that's written on the floor so why should I leave."

Nathan looked ready to argue again but later decided against it seeing that it was taking us no where.

"Did you guys see who did this," I asked pointing at the words written boldly in red on the floor.

"No, they left before we came," Nathan replied still staring at the words on the floor.

"It's really strange that we can't track them don't you think, I mean they were here a while ago shouldn't their scents still be strong," a guy I recognized as Matt from school put in.

This may sound dumb, but I only just realized that Nathan's group of friends were werewolves too. The only person I haven't seen is Clara, the gorgeous blonde is really popular at school so it wasn't difficult to find out her name. That, and they both introduced themselves to me the day I bumped in Nathan unintentionally.

I looked at the writing on the floor more closely. CALLUM IS OURS was written in big bold letters. What really scared me was the fact that I wasn't sure if it was was blood or paint that was used to write the words, I'm hoping it's the later though.

I was about to avert my eyes from the words when I noticed something that made my whole body freeze.

"This is a vampire sign," I said hoarsely referring to the Chinese word written in really small letters at the end of the threat. Our first ruler had been Chinese hence the sign.

"How do you know," Nathan asked.

"I'm a vampire," I deadpanned and he blushed a little keeping his gaze on the floor. "Besides that's probably the reason you can't pick up their scents," I added.

"They came here for me, although I don't know why since they were the ones who had been treating us like outcasts back at the clan. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you but I think it's best if I leave so I don't wind up hurting any of you," I said turning around to go.

"You're not going anywhere, you're staying with me and we're sorting this out together ok," Nathan asked softly but I shook my head in response.

"Maybe Callum is right, I mean think about the park," Damon suggested looking at Nathan.

Although I knew he was right, it still hurt to hear him say it.

"For god's sake dad he is my mate, can you be any less selfish," Nathan growled staring at his father. Damon seemed to have noticed what he did wrong because he averted his eyes to the ground clenching his jaw.

"And you," Nathan said looking at me, "you're not going anywhere until I tell you to, got it," he asked but I didn't give a reply so he came closer.

"Got it," he whispered harshly. I gulped looking at him and immediately nodding my head frantically. The look on his face was scary, he looked ready to kill.

He suddenly shot out a hand and grabbed my arm pulling me back inside.

"What was it," Veronica who was now standing at the bottom of the stairs asked.

"Ask your alpha," Nathan replied not stopping his show of storming off.

When we were at the top of the stairs, I heard Nathan's mom yell a 'how could you' so I'm assuming that she was scolding her husband right now.

Nathan opened the door to a room before pushing me into it and entering after me. The room was huge with a king-sized bed in the corner. I'm guessing this is Nathan's room.

I was suddenly aware of the presence right behind me and I gulped before turning around to face him.

"You could have hurt yourself out there, why did you disobey me," Nathan asked before I could say anything.

"I just wanted to help," I whispered.

"It could've helped a lot if you listened to me, what if you got hurt. You're my mate and my duty is to protect you, I can't live without you either so I don't know what I would've done if you got hurt," he said staring at the floor.

"I think it'll be better if you explain what a mate is."

"A mate is someone who the moon goddess has paired you to live together with for eternity, it's like soulmates but in a more precise form. You're my mate Callum, if I loose you I loose myself too. With you present, I'm a lot stronger. The length of my feelings for you runs deep and I have no control over it. And this is only a vague explanation, you'll understand more when you see how mated wolves interact in our pack," he continued while I tried to process everything he had just said.

"I can't loose you Callum, I'd not be able to live if that ever happens," Nathan said softly tracing patterns on my cheek.

Something passed through his eyes and like he was suddenly possessed, he pulled me into him and kissed me hard and rough. He seemed to realize what he was doing seconds later and so he pulled back looking at me wide eyes.

"I'm so sorry Callum, I don't know what came over me. I promise I won't touch you again, please just don't reject me. I can't stay away from you because it hurts, please don't let me feel that kind of pain," he rambled on a panicked look in his eyes.

"Who said I was going to reject you," I asked cutting off his rambling.

He tilted his head to the side and gave me a confused look. He looked really cute right now and I had to resist the urge to smooch his cheeks.

"Nathan I think you're rapidly earning my trust and believe me it scares me how I have no control over my feelings for you. I can't control the fact that I trust you, or the fact that I think you're really cute when you're all flustered and confused, or the fact that I really want to kiss you now," I said taking a step forward with each sentence my voice coming out hoarse on the last sentence.

Nathan looked at me eyes and mouth wide and I had to stop myself from bursting into fits of laughter at how comical he looked.

"So you want me to," he asked a look of hope on his face.

"Yes I do Nathan and although my feelings are not as strong as yours, they are growing rapidly and that's both risky and exciting but I'm willing to take the risk."

"Oh my gosh Callum thank you so much, I promise I won't ever disappoint you. I'd even protect with my life if I have to," he rushed out excitedly before pulling me into a bone crushing hug.

"As cute as that sounds, dead Nathan is really not that appealing to me," I mumbled against his chest and he laughed his laughter causing me to vibrate.

"I promise to be the best mate there is," he said his voice suddenly serious as his hazel orbs stared into my blue ones. We had still not broken apart from the hug so the intimacy was killing me.

"Just shut up and kiss me," I grumbled and he chuckled before pulling me into a passionate kiss. I melted into his arms and for once, I knew I made the right decision.

******

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, thank you all so much for reading, voting, and commenting in the other chapters, it means a lot to me (continue to make me happy by voting and commenting).

PS: not proofread so you can point out my mistakes for me, thanks.

Love y'all.