Chapter 11 - Sweet Pine

*******Maddison's POV*******

We continued to walk until we reached the river.

This was the most secluded place in these woods. You had to climb through a small cave kinda thing which was hidden behind large shrubs in order to get to it.

He seemed to let his guard down a bit whenever we came here and it would always confuse the hell outta me since the second we went back he would be back to his usual cold self.

But I guess it must be hard living amongst rogues every day. Heck I guess it must be hard even being a rogue. Yet I thought that rogues were wolves that didn't want to be part of any pack? So it's kinda their own faults I guess.

I couldn't stop thinking about my family and the fact that it was actually my birthday today. I was eighteen. I always thought of my eighteenth as being such a huge birthday but yet here I was on rogue territory with my kidnapper who didn't even know my name.

I honestly felt so worthless.

The tears kept pooling in my eyes and I would have to rub at them forcefully in order to keep them back.

He looked over at me a couple of times when I did this, probably wondering why I looked so damn frustrated but I just couldn't help feeling so angry and hurt.

Why could he not have settled for some rogue girl to be his slave? I love my pack. I love being a part of a family unlike these rogues.

Why me?

"You seem tense." He mutters, going over to the hidden spot under a tree beside the river where we usually sit down.

"I'm fine." I grumble, unintentionally though, failing at hiding how I really feel.

"Come here." He almost demands, his eyes scanning my face for any sign of emotion as I fight it back.

I take a moment, before giving in as something pulls me towards him.

I actually want him to comfort me as twisted as it all sounds. I wanted someone to be there for me today.

I prop myself down beside him, leaving a slight gap between us both as he sighs and watches the water run past us.

So peaceful.

"I can't do this." He suddenly snaps, placing his hands on my hips before lifting me up and onto his lap in a split second.

I freeze completely. Unable to process why he just did such a thing.

I feel his body relax around me his head going to my neck as he inhales my scent.

What the heck is going on?!

He releases a loud sigh, almost sounding frustrated with himself, before he turns his gaze back to the water allowing me to relax slightly.

What a day!

We sit like this for the next ten minutes. Him starting to draw small circles around the skin on my waste as I just sit and listen to the water.

I suppose I did ask for someone to comfort me... maybe the moon goddess listened?

We sit in the silence, both calm and collected, when suddenly a strong scent of pine invaded my nostrils causing me to take a sharp inhale of air.

As I smell the addicting scent, it's as if it fills my body, taking over me the more I breathe it in.

It's so strong and so good!

"What's wrong?" I hear a rough sexy voice ask from behind me, causing the hairs on my arms to stand straight.

I turn instantly, following the voice, to be met with him.

His eyes were green like emeralds themselves. His jawline sharp enough to cut. His lips were so big and perfect for kissing. His hair was dark, complimenting his slightly tan skin as his muscles flexed around me as I drank in his appearance properly for the first time.

He continued to draw the circles on my waist, each one sending a flare of happiness up my spine as I shivered at the contact.

This man was a beautiful creation.

A creation made for me.

This man...

This man has to be my mate...

"Mate" My wolf confirms, dancing in accomplished circles in my mind.

"Sh-Shit you know!" The realisation seems to hit him like a ton of bricks when he notices the shocked expression written across my face.

"It all makes sense!" I state, everything seeming to now piece together perfectly.

"You knew all this time. But you never ever told me?" I state, unable to understand why.

"I wanted to protect you! There's so much shit that goes on here that I don't want you to know. I tried to hold off for as long as I could!" He states, his grip around me tightening as if scared that I'll try to leave him.

"You brought me here because it was impossible to leave me behind knowing I was your mate after you first met me!" I state, him nodding shamefully in confirmation.

"You don't treat me like the other sex slaves in the cells because you don't want to hurt me like that because I'm your mate!" I continue, earning another nod.

"B-But why didn't you ever tell me?" I question, suddenly sad that my mate lied to me.

"I... I figured it was easier to treat you like you meant nothing to me in order for everyone to believe you were no more than a slave. People will hurt you if they find out about you do you understand me?" He says harshly, as if it's the most crucial thing ever.

"Why do you think I tried so hard to find out your birthday? I wanted to be able to plan out how I was going to handle you finding out yet you would never tell me! Hell I don't even know your fucking name! Do you know how hard that is? Being seen by your own mate as nothing more than a horrible kidnapper!" He yells, not loud enough to attract any unwanted attention however.

"You can't be serious! You took me away from all of the happiness that I ever had! My family will be broken right now! They haven't heard from me in so long! The least you could have done was tell me the truth and we could have worked something out! I wanted to find my mate and be happy just as much as you did but you didn't have to kidnap me and pretend I was a slave!" I argue, seeming to find my voice for the first time ever.

"You don't understand! I did have to do that in order to keep you safe and I couldn't just leave you behind either! It's impossible to leave your mate behind without rejecting them first! I have so much to explain but I'm not ready. I'm honestly not fucking ready to talk about it yet but just know that you're not safe here if anybody finds out the truth." He argues back with me, his eyes seeming to pool up as if he wants to now cry?

Does he really feel this bad about what he's done?

"I can't lose you. I've lost everything and I can't fucking lose you. I refuse!" He grits out, his jaw clenching as the first tear finally rolls from his eye, his grip on my waist tightening immensely as he shakes.

Wow I must really mean more to this guy than I could have ever imagined...

All this time when I thought I was sick and twisted for weirdly liking him sometimes makes sense now... the bond has always been there, it just wasn't as strong.

Hence why I couldn't leave him to die the other night!

I don't know what came over me next, but seeing his sobbing features made me pull him to me in a tight embrace which he immediately accepted.

He hugged me back like there was no tomorrow, silently sobbing into my neck as I held back my own tears.

This was the most unexpected birthday surprise of my life...