CHAPTER 004: Mateo's Struggle

'Camila is mine!' Thunder growled in the head of Mateo, and he had been saying it since the moment their eyes met. The growls grew louder when Mateo assured them that everything in the perimeter had been inspected and they were now prepared to go.

Mateo may be feeling the protective instinct of his wolf more than usual. It was the first occasion that Thunder was insisting on having complete control of the body of Mateo and it was not what Mateo had anticipated.

The wolf of Mateo had never been disobedient. Thunder was not like other Alpha wolves. Thunder listened, and did what was asked of him, though he did not always agree. However, now, as the mate bond between Mateo and Camila was awakened, Thunder was turning into something different. The Alpha blood within him was straining to the surface and it was obvious that Thunder wanted to possess his mate.

'Relax. She’s yours. But we cannot tell Father of this yet. We should somehow save her. In the meantime Krane is the best we have to carry her home. You understand, right?'

Mateo tried to calm his wolf, but Thunder was not paying attention. Thunder was impatient.

'Camila rides with me!' This time Thunder required more. Mateo could nearly feel the power of his wolf beating beneath his skin.

'Damn it, Thunder! We’re doing this for Camila. Why should I tell Father why a rogue is on my back when the rogue was nothing to me? Mateo protested, and his impatience was choking.

'Camila is mine!' The growl of Thunder was insurrectionary, and Mateo heard it in his heart.

Mateo massaged his temples. He was forced to keep it in check, but Thunder was pushing him to the edge. Listen, I will allow you time with her, but only allow Krane to take her home. Then, I swear, she will not ride any wolves but you. Okay?'

Thunder gave a frustrated growl, yet Mateo could feel his wolf finally relax, and he was able to regain some control. Mateo was forced to put this in check before it made him insane.

Mateo returned to Krane and Camila. She sat under a tree, her arms round her knees. Her eyes were too sad to conceal, and it aroused something in the breast of Mateo. He did not wish her to feel so, but there was little he could do.

He came up to her, and seized her arm and lifted her up.

“Get up.”

Camila tried to push her away, but Mateo caught her and dragged her further into the forest. He had to have his privacy, and he had to have her remain calm about what was going to happen.

“What do you want?” Her voice was sharp, her eyes full of anger, Camila hissed. She was angry, and Mateo could read it.

He did not reply to her question at once. Rather, he sent a mindlink to Krane. See that no one goes where I took her. Should Father or his Beta return, give me warning.

Krane’s voice filled his mind. 'Noted. But, Mateo, you are going to... you know... do this now? Can’t you wait until we’re home?'

Mateo’s jaw tightened. 'Fuck you, Krane! I was not made to be submissive to any man! Just do what I asked!' Mateo broke off and severed the mindlink.

Camila pulled at her arm once more, attempting to free herself of him, but Mateo was not letting go. He pulled her along until they came to a big tree, and he pulled her behind it so that she could not be seen.

“Listen, Camila. My wolf wants to meet you. Give him a moment before we go, or he will kill Krane because he has you.

Camila glared at him. “It’s not my problem. Perhaps he had better kill all of us around here, you included!

Mateo growled in reply, his patience stretched to the uttermost. “Fuck! Will you simply attempt to be submissive once? This is becoming a pain in the ass!

“Submissive? To you?” The voice of Camila increased, and her eyes blazed with rebellion. She retreated, stiff in her body, her horror apparent. Not even you!”

“You’re fucking stubborn!” His muscles shrank, and he could draw back, cowering on the ground.

“And you’re an asshole!” Camila shot back.

“Can we just get this done?” Mateo gritted his teeth. Meet my wolf, and we are through with this.

Camila folded her arms across her bosom, and her stare was unblinking. She was complicating this more than it needed to be. The garments she had on were so thin that they stuck to her body and Mateo found himself staring at her a little and soon he turned his head. It was not only her body that was influencing him. Something was stirring within him by the bond, but it was not merely lust. There was something more.

He had been so preoccupied in his mind that he had not caught the signal. Mateo sent Thunder the mental signal. 'Behave, Thunder. Just for a minute, okay? Then I will leave you to your own devices.

Thunder growled in his head but obeyed. Mateo might have sensed the presence of his wolf when Thunder slowly rose and walked towards Camila.

Camila lowered her hands to her sides, and her eyes were opened as she saw Thunder coming her way. The friendship was becoming closer. Mateo despised to see her thus frightened, and there was nothing he could do. Thunder was obliged to meet her, and Camila was obliged to accept it.

But Thunder paused a few feet short, indecisive. He uttered a little whimper, and the heart of Mateo ached. His wolf, the same creature that had been so confident of possessing Camila, was proving weak.

Did Thunder get hurt by the fear of Camila?

Thunder stood still, and she ceased to move backward. She drew a deep breath, and her eyes softened, and a nervous smile came to her lips.

Mateo’s entire world froze. Something deep within him was aroused by the sight of her smile, her nervous, hesitant smile. It was not addressed to him, but that it was addressed to his wolf caused Mateo to tighten his chest.

Thunder panted, and his tail wagged as he crept slowly nearer to Camila, and stood just in front of her. She stooped down to the ground, and opened her arms to his wolf.

Thunder came to her, this time more slowly, as though he were attempting not to scare her. As he got to her, he licked her face and Camila giggled. Mateo stood and stared at Camila, who was petting Thunder, rubbing his fur as though she had known him all her life. He should have known who did this to her.

It was too hard to watch. Mateo had a wolf who wanted her, and Mateo wanted her. But he continued to tell himself that it was the mate bond. It was just lust. Nothing more.

Thunder was relishing this, and Camila appeared to be, too. She seemed so careless, laughing and smiling as the wolf kept licking her face.

But then, when the greater part of the mud had been removed out of the face of Camila, Mateo caught sight of something which paralyzed his heart.

She had fading blue marks on her cheek--not marks of this night. They were too large to have been so new. Had they been of to-night, they would have been swollen and fresh.

Had someone hurt her? Mateo’s mind raced. Was it her father? The idea turned his blood to boil.

The more he thought of it the more he experienced a wave of rage, yet he could not do anything about it--not yet. His voice was ferocious, and Camila was frightened.

Mateo was about to say something when he was interrupted by the voice of Krane. Alpha, Alpha Argon bade them all depart. We need to go now.'

Mateo awoke with a start. They were at loggerheads and it was making him mad. His rage changed when he responded to Krane. 'We’re coming.'

Mateo severed the mindlink, and hastened to his human shape. Thunder grumbled in his head, not liking the change, but Mateo disregarded it. He understood that it was safer to Camila so.

As he turned back to Camila, her hand remained on the face of Thunder. She opened her eyes and saw him in his human shape, and she instantly pulled her hand away, falling backwards as though she were scalded.

Mateo touched her to take her, but he did not lift her, but pressed his thumb over the blue marks that were fading. What was it here? he said to himself, attempting to maintain his voice even.

She struck his hand aside, and her face hardened as she rose on her own. None of your business, she said to herself, sweeping the leaves off her nightgown.

Mateo groaned, and pulled his hair. You ripped my favorite nightdress... He had never been long-suffering with anybody, but with her he was making the attempt.

The voice of Krane was heard behind him. "Alpha, we need to go."

Mateo did not struggle to conceal his smirk. “Shift now.”

Krane changed swiftly into his wolf shape, and the instant he did so Canon, the wolf of Krane, crouched, awaiting the arrival of Camila on his back.

Get up, Camila, Mateo said.

He shouted, more loudly this time, when she did not move, Now!

Would Mateo rescue Camila the dangers of the pack, or would his own past trouble them both? She scrambled to get on the back of Canon, but her nightgown made it hard. Mateo stepped behind her, and caught the hem of her gown and tore it half-way up her thighs. He hastened her up on the back of Canon.

“Why did you do that?” Swatting his hands, Camila hissed. Not every rogue that is caught rides on the back of a wolf, Mateo answered. She said the latter under her breath.

I despise you, I despise you, Camila said. “I’ll buy you a new one. Now take his fur and keep your head down lest you fall.

“I don’t want to do this! Mateo followed them, and he was thinking of Camila.

His task was to take their warriors home. They are either pulled or pulled by the neck. Now decide.”

Would Mateo rescue Camila the ills of the pack, or would his own past haunt them both? But she bent and caught Canon by the fur.

Mateo shuddered at her stance on the back of the wolf, and Thunder snarled in his head. Neither of them liked it. But it was for the best.

Go, Mateo bade Krane, and Krane led them on.

Mateo followed them, and he was thinking of Camila. His father was not there, but Mateo had to remain concentrated.

As they ran, Mateo’s mind raced. His task was to take their warriors home. Now he was Alpha, but something was drawing him back to Camila.

Would Mateo save Camila the dangers of the pack, or would his own history work against them both?