Omega Bound Chapter 52

Thane

Shit!

Little Wolf bolts. I don't even have time to think about what just happened or how I am going to repair this. All I know is that my mate is running from me, and I can't lose her.

I won't.

I have lost everyone.

I can't lose her too.

She is taking the stairs down and I am unsure if she is going to her rooms to shut me out, which I would prefer, or if she is attempting to leave altogether. Either way she is fast, but not as fast as me. I let her think she is far enough ahead as we run down the stairs. I don't want her tripping and getting hurt. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself.

"Ayla wait! Stop, please stop. Let me talk to you. Please just stop." I yell out after her, but it is pointless. She is laser focused on getting away from me. Her lavender smell is strong and potent since she reconnected with her wolf now. I am so proud of her for reconnecting. The lavender would smell amazing if it wasn't overcome with bitter fear.

She is afraid.

My mate is afraid of me and that hurts.

I would spend the rest of my life mending this if she would let me.

She says nothing. I need to hear her voice again. Even if she is cussing my name to the fates, I will be glad to hear it all the same.

Ayla quickly passes the door to our hallway, telling me she is bolting once she hits outside. She may be faster now that she has her wolf, but she is untrained, and her new strength needs to develop. I can't let her shift outside. Not yet. It has been too long, left unguided, she could experience a lot of pain.

"Little Wolf, please. We don't have to talk, but please just go to your rooms. Don't make me chase you." I bounce back and forth between letting Ronan chase her or myself. I don't want to frighten her, but I don't want to lose her either. Do I force her to return? Caveman her over my shoulder, or do I beg until she sees reason? I have no idea.

She hits the front door and bolts to the woods behind the pack house. Little Wolf thinks she can run away for good, survive on her own with just her wolf. She isn't thinking clearly. Too upset by the events, which will get her hurt or worse. I can't let her get lost or hurt. I will have to end this chase soon, but I will at least let her get a little deep into the woods, away from shifter hearing and prying eyes.

Ayla starts running through the woods. No rhyme or reason to where she is going. She is running on pure adrenaline and fear. One by one branches smack into her, she stumbles, but rights herself and continues pounding through the forest.

"Little wolf, stop running. Ronan is pushing against the barrier hard, trying to force a shift. He wants to prove he is strong enough to be your mate. He wants the chase. Just stop before I can't control him anymore and he claims you. PLEASE."

That slows her down and I grab a hold of her. She made it to the falls. Good girl. She remembers and has a good sense of direction. I am proud.

She is breathing hard, kicking and thrashing trying to get out of my hold. "Ayla, stop. Just listen. If I sit you down, will you be a good girl and just calm down and listen to me? I don't want you to get lost or hurt. You don't know what is out there or where you are going." She stops kicking and remains silent. I slowly place her feet down on the ground and start to remove my arms from around her. She uses the opportunity to attempt to run, but my reflexes are faster than hers and I grab her again, pulling her tight against my chest and holding her off the ground.

Her legs are kicking like an angry toddler. She is adorable when she is angry. I will have to remember that.

Despite the anger, I have a huge smile on my face.

I have a mate.

She is here, in my arms.

Sure, she would rather be somewhere else, but I know she can feel the bond pulling us together. "Ayla, you can't outrun me, and you can't leave. There is nowhere you would be able to go where I couldn't find you. The bond will always lead me to you." I turn her around, putting her on the ground, but holding her firm by her shoulders. She looks up at me with so much sadness.

It is cleaving my heart in two.

I did that to her.

"Ayla, stop fighting me and just listen. I did nothing to her. She came on to me while I was working. I had been with her many times before..." that gets her to start kicking at my shins and attempting to pull away from my hold. "Let me finish. Many times, before as friends. She always knew I was waiting for my mate. She means nothing to me, and I haven't done anything with her...I mean ANYTHING since you came into my life Ayla. The last time was right when I rescued you. I hadn't even kissed you yet. I swear. Please hear me." I plea with her. Hoping for something. Anything that would put her in my arms and in my rooms where she belongs.

She looks up at me with those beautiful teal eyes and they are no longer glowing. She must have gotten control over her wolf.

More than I can say. Mine is chanting "Mine. Mate. Claim." repeatedly in my head.

Little wolf slowly starts to pull from me, but I don't sense her urge to flee. "How can I believe you. You left me alone every time we were together?" She asks me, barely a whisper. A beautiful whisper that I want more of.

"I stayed with you all night. I held you in my arms and loved every damn minute of it! I only left in the morning because I was too big of a damn coward to see you. The guilt that I wanted you so bad while you had a mate was something I didn't know how to navigate or handle. I didn't know how to just be friends with you. I wanted more than that. I didn't want to hurt you."

The words leave me breathlessly but also remind me that I have a Kian to deal with. "You hurt me anyway."

"Yes, I did little wolf. I am so damn sorry. Please let me make it up to you. Everyday. Please let me try. I am so fucking sorry." I beg her, breathing fast and full of fear. I can't lose her.

"I may not know a lot about the mate bond. But I know what my mother taught me." I stare at her with slight confusion as she backs away from me more.

"I, Ayla Frost.."

No. fates no. She can't do this. "No, No little wolf. Don't."

"I Ayla Frost, Reject..."

"Don't you dare finish that fucking sentence Ayla. I waited my whole fucking life for you. I am not letting you go." I interrupt her, desperate to get my words out over hers.

"I Reject you..." she starts to rasp out, her voice still shaky and cutting in and out.

I rush her with the fastest speed Ronan can push through me and grab a hold of her, crashing my mouth down to hers to shut her up.

She can't reject me or this bond.

I won't allow it.

Her lips remain tight and firm, refusing to open, but I don't care. I will kiss her as a stone wall to never give her mouth the opportunity to open and spew such filth at me again.

I pull away and let go of her cheeks I was cupping, breathing heavy, trying so damn hard to catch my breath, but also losing it at the same time as the sensation of touching Little Wolf sends a shock and tingle through my hands and lips.

Everywhere we touch electrifies. The bond pulsing through us. I catch her leaning into my touch. Eyes closed, wanting to feel this too. "Don't you ever try that again. You hear me? You are MINE. You will NEVER reject me. I won't lose you."

She pulls away from me, tears streaming down her face. "I can't do this Thane. It hurts. It hurts too bad. You were all that I had."

"YOU ARE ALL THAT I HAVE LITTLE WOLF. YOU HAVE ALL OF ME. YOU DIDN'T LOSE ME. I DIDN'T LOSE YOU!" I growled out, reaching for her.

Her eyes started glowing, Aramana grappling for control. I don't know why. Hopefully she feels the bond and doesn't want to bolt. It is in our nature as primal creatures to be with our mates.

"I Ayla..." she starts again. No. I refuse.

"Aramana, I know you are in there and you can hear me.." I yell while grabbing Ayla’s forearms, never letting her go. "I know you can hear me...You have to stop her. Stop her from this rejection. Shift, I will take you to your rooms without anyone noticing and we can talk when Ayla is ready."

"No Thane, I don't want to shift. I want to reject you. I need to stop you from tearing my heart apart more. I can't take it. I can't." She is spiraling, shaking her head back and forth, holding her temples, while I hold her elbows.

She is starting to breathe rapidly. Ayla will panic and spiral. I need to save her from that. "I can't do this...I can't....I can't...." she keeps repeating over and over, looking lost and desperate. I have to help her.

"Aramana shift...I will get you into your rooms. Take control. Help Ayla."

"NO, Thane PLEASE." she yells out, but it is too late. Her wolf doesn't want to flee. At least, I hope.

She wants her mate, and she wants her other half comforted. She shifts and it isn't slow and painful like I feared. It is quick. Alpha quick, which shouldn't have happened, and I soon realize the real reason Little Wolf didn't want to shift.

All the clues coming together.

The secret revealed.

She is a white wolf, and she is beautiful.