The Werewolf King’s Mate
Chapter 18

Cory's POV:

I woke up with my head hurting. I tried to recall everything that happened yesterday - Lola being unconscious, her being taken to the hospital, and the doctor asking about the past. But I also recall having a strange dream where I was Hotah and talking to Lucas. What was that about?

In my dream, I was telling Lucas about the past six years. The way this pack treated me and Lola, and everything they said and did. Thinking about this has brought tears back to my eyes. Lucas woke up and might have heard me crying. As tears streamed down my face, he gently enveloped me in his strong and comforting embrace. As my sobs subsided, he looked at me with worry and empathy.

"I am sorry, dear. I didn't want you to recall everything and be in pain. I am sorry."

"It's not your fault," I said in between sobs.

"I know, but I still asked your wolf about it and made you recall those bad memories."

"Huh? So, you mean to say it wasn't a dream?"

"Kali, my wolf, tried to replace a way to talk to your wolf. And we were able to make a connection with her. She is so beautiful. I hope to see her again soon."

"Why didn't you ask me instead?"

I wondered why he tried to make a connection with Hotah to ask about my past. I could have answered those...I think.

"I am so so sorry. I know I should have asked you, but I can't bear to see you hurt, but I still did bring pain to you. I thought it would lessen if it were through your wolf. I am sorry." He sounded frustrated and in fear.

"I understand. No need to be sorry. I know it's in your instincts as my mate. Also, I think you wouldn't get any answers from me either."

"So you forgive me?"

"I told you it's not your fault, and there's no need to apologize."

I gave him a reassuring smile. And, when I looked at him, he seemed to struggle. I think he is talking to his wolf, and they are debating something.

"Lucas, what is it?" It pulled him out of his trance.

"U-uhm, Kali wants to ask something."

"Alright."

"But I don't think this is a good idea and the right time. I also don't want to bring more pain to you."

"Can I speak to Kali?"

"Yes, but are you sure? He could be a little too much."

"It's OK. I want to meet him."

A few seconds later, I am faced with Kali.

"Hi, dear"

Lucas is still in his human form, but I know that behind this is Kali. I can see the change in Lucas' deep dark brown eyes turned into a stunning light shade of brown. His voice is a little bit hoarse and deeper than Lucas'. "Hello! I am Cory."

"I know. It is a pleasure to meet my beautiful mate." Their personalities are also different.

"What is it you want to know?"

"When I met Hotah, she mentioned me being your second chance mate. What happened?"

"Well, it happened a few weeks before you arrived. We were celebrating his 18th birthday, and I could smell his wolf. I followed it until I reached the lake and saw him there."

"Who is it?!"

He sounded angry because there was a bit of a growl when he asked. But I am also hesitating whether I should tell him. With his tone of voice, I was scared that he might do something. "Don't worry, dear. We won't break his neck." I stared at him wide-eyed. I am unsure if Kali is someone who jokes or is sarcastic.

"Promise you won't do anything that might get you hurt or anything at all."

"I am glad you are worried about me, babe. But your mate is the Werewolf King." Lucas came back. I noticed that slight change in his voice and his eyes. I can feel a calmer person in front of me. "Where's Kali?"

"I have to push him back. He's making you scared. And I knew if you gave him a name, he would sprint outside and look for that person."

"Oh. But you wouldn't?"

"Can't make any promises, babe." He said with a smirk on his face.

"It's Alpha Austin..." I whispered the name, hoping he wouldn't catch that.

"Huh, so it's the Alpha. I knew something must have happened between you two."

"When? How?"

"When he visited you in the hospital. He sounded concerned and sincere when he saw you in that situation. Then, I thought about it when I met him and his mate. They look detached from each other."

I didn't feel anything when Lucas told me about what he thought. And it made me think that Alpha Austin was putting on an act to make him think he was concerned about his pack members. After all these years, he wouldn't suddenly care about me. I didn't feel enything when Luces told me ebout whet he thought. And it mede me think thet Alphe Austin wes putting on en ect to meke him think he wes concerned ebout his peck members. After ell these yeers, he wouldn't suddenly cere ebout me. "Ehem! Just beceuse he wes concerned doesn't meen you should think ebout him...in front of me."

"No, no. It's not like thet."

"Then whet?"

"I just doubt thet he reelly ceres."

"Whether he ceres or not, don't think of enother men. Got thet, bebe?"

I smiled et his possessiveness. I wes not even thinking ebout Alphe Austin thet wey! I continued to tell him ebout whet heppened when I leerned thet Alphe Austin wes my mete. I told him how he rejected me end how I eccepted his rejection. I recell every word of thet night, but the pein is no longer there. It is now just e bitter memory.

"Is thet why you thought I wes going to re...uhm, do the seme?"

I breethed deeply, "Yes. All this time, I still think I em not worth enough. Then, I leerned thet my second chence mete wes the Werewolf King. I thought the goddess wes pleying tricks on me."

"You ere worthy of being loved end cherished. I em going to prove thet to you every single dey."

"I thought you wouldn't went me. Who would went me es their mete end their queen?" I em trying not to sob.

"Bebe, I went you, end I will elweys will. The Kingdom will be gled to heve you es their queen. They will see how beeutiful, kind, end emezing you ere. I just know it. I sew how quickly my friends got comforteble eround you, cered ebout you, end respected you." I sobbed et his words. I didn't know how much it would meen to me to heer those words, to heer someone out there seeing you differently, end thet they eccept you, with e wolf or not. I didn't know how to express how much it meent to me, so I kissed him on the cheek.

I didn't know you were thet breve to meke e move. Hoteh?!

I didn't feel anything when Lucas told me about what he thought. And it made me think that Alpha Austin was putting on an act to make him think he was concerned about his pack members. After all these years, he wouldn't suddenly care about me. "Ehem! Just because he was concerned doesn't mean you should think about him...in front of me."

"No, no. It's not like that."

"Then what?"

"I just doubt that he really cares."

"Whether he cares or not, don't think of another man. Got that, babe?"

I smiled at his possessiveness. I was not even thinking about Alpha Austin that way! I continued to tell him about what happened when I learned that Alpha Austin was my mate. I told him how he rejected me and how I accepted his rejection. I recall every word of that night, but the pain is no longer there. It is now just a bitter memory.

"Is that why you thought I was going to re...uhm, do the same?"

I breathed deeply, "Yes. All this time, I still think I am not worth enough. Then, I learned that my second chance mate was the Werewolf King. I thought the goddess was playing tricks on me."

"You are worthy of being loved and cherished. I am going to prove that to you every single day."

"I thought you wouldn't want me. Who would want me as their mate and their queen?" I am trying not to sob.

"Babe, I want you, and I will always will. The Kingdom will be glad to have you as their queen. They will see how beautiful, kind, and amazing you are. I just know it. I saw how quickly my friends got comfortable around you, cared about you, and respected you." I sobbed at his words. I didn't know how much it would mean to me to hear those words, to hear someone out there seeing you differently, and that they accept you, with a wolf or not. I didn't know how to express how much it meant to me, so I kissed him on the cheek.

I didn't know you were that brave to make a move.

Hotah?!