#####Chapter 3 : Mate

Aurora's pov

Ever since that day in the library, it had become incredibly difficult to see the Alpha. It was like he completely cut me off.

One minute, I had fallen asleep in my bedroom and the next I found myself standing in a hallway that felt all too familiar.

I was back in my childhood home. But how exactly did I get here?

I definitely wasn't one to sleep walk or was I?

I allowed my gaze to move around the hall, the old wooden floors beneath my feet creaked just like I remembered. But something felt utterly wrong.

The house smelt of something rotten, I couldn't exactly see well since it was dark. Based on how long I lived here, I could still remember the sound of the numerous crickets here.

But now, it was utterly silent.

I pressed my eyes closed but when I felt my hand tighten on something, I was forced to look down.

In my hand, was a knife covered in blood. The blood was warm, sticky and slowly dripped between my fingers and onto the floor.

“What the fuck?” I screamed, dropping the knife to the floor with a soft thud.

My heart raced against my chest, my hand covered in blood trembled. What had I done?

Whose blood was that and why the fuck am I here?

The only thing I felt at that point was panic. I didn't remember picking up that knife or even stabbing someone.

My thoughts came to a stop when I felt someone let out a small cough. I froze, goosebumps forming on my skin as I slowly lifted my head.

Then I saw him.

A few feet away, my father stood there watching me. He held one of his hands pressed to his chest as blood soaked the front of his chest. He looked pale and exhausted.

But that didn't mask the look of disappointment in his eyes.

“D-dad? How?” I managed to say, already moving toward him.

He was supposed to be dead, how could he still be here? This had to be some sort of dream, right?

“Papa, what happened? W-who did this?” I asked, placing my hand over his top of his chest.

He slapped my hand off, then shook his head. The sadness in his eyes cut deeper than any knife.

“How can you stand there and ask me such a question?!” He yelled. “After doing this to me. To your father.”

Every muscle in my body went stiff at his words.

“What? No… I would… Dad, I would never do that.” I finally managed to force it out.

“But you did, Aurora. You killed me.” He responded, staring deep into my eyes.

“This isn't real, Dad. I would never do this to me, I love you—” I hurriedly tried to explain, but that did little to nothing in this situation.

Had I really stabbed my own father? Was the blood on my hands his? But, why would I do that?!

It just didn't make any sense.

He took one shaky step away from me, his eyes never leaving mine. Just as I opened my mouth to say something, I watched his eyes roll to the back of his head.

Before he finally collapsed to the floor.

“Dad!”

*****

As that scream left my mouth, my eyes snapped open.

I was back in my room at Alpha Gavino’s place, cold sweat ran down my skin and my heart pounded so hard it hurt. The room was dark, but when I stared down at my hand.

I could still see the blood from the dream. I frantically rubbed them against the blanket, shaking my head vigorously.

Tears streamed down my face as I trembled. Could this dream be a sign?

That father died because I wasn't here. The look on his face when he said I killed him… it felt too real.

When he died, had he been disappointed? Heartbroken?

The bedroom door flung open so hard I thought it would fall off the hinge.

Alpha Gavino stormed into the room, annoyance swirling in his green eyes. “Why the fuck did you scream?”

I stared at him through my tears, not answering. My throat felt tight and at that moment, I couldn't even breathe.

His expression changed when he stepped into the room, taking in the tears streaming down my face and how I was trying to breathe. The annoyance on his face disappeared instantly.

“I killed him.” I whispered.

He frowned, running a hand through his hair. “What?”

“I-i killed Papa.”

My voice cracked mid sentence, making me bite on my lip. Saying them out loud made the pain and guilt worse.

Alpha Gavino stood there for a second, looking confused, but he didn't leave. Then, he took a step closer to the bed.

“You know, I think what you said about me leaving is actually true. He said I wasn't his daughter anymore.” I said bitterly, fresh tears welling up in my eyes.

Alpha Gavino hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside me and pulling me into his arms.

I froze. This was the first time he'd help me like this. I melted against his chest without really thinking.

The warmth of his body eased the guilt I was feeling. I could hear his heartbeat, steady and strong, under my ear. It made me feel…safe?

Then, I felt a strange warmth spread through my body, making me frown for a second.

My wolf stirred suddenly and yelped, ‘Mate’

Time seemed to stop at that moment. Mate? Did I just hear… mate?

That couldn't be possible, right?

Slowly, I lifted my head to look at him.

Gavino's face had gone pale. His body was tense and his arms around me had gone loose. He stared back at me, the softness in his eyes was gone. He looked horrified.

“Gavino?” I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper.

He shoved me off him like I had burnt him and then stood up from the bed.

What the actual fuck?

“No.” He said, shaking his head. “No..this can't be possible.”