Isobel's POV
I am awoken by a deafening clang, and I instantly jerk upright in terror, my body tensed for a fight. The previous weeks' events flood my mind, and I sag under the weight of them; Isaac. I've lost him.

My surroundings are unfamiliar, my body lying on a bed, covered in a large blanket. The last thing I remember is falling asleep on the deserted beach so how did I get here?

Someone must have found us.

But are they human or werewolf?

Judging by the amount of clothing, probably a werewolf.

She's right; the room is drowning in clothes, with them practically everywhere; on the floor, on various wall hooks, some are even hanging from a hatch in the ceiling, all clearly a man's. I shiver in slight fear. If he's a guy, he saw me naked and he might have done something while I was out.

Most men don't take advantage of unconscious females Iz. Nothing feels different, so I think he did nothing but shift us here.

I give a sigh of relief.

Thanks Jack.

There is another loud clang from outside the room and I relax in relief; it's not a weapon: it's just pots and pans. Someone's cooking. My stomach crumples at the prospect of food; I don't have any appetite, my thoughts too clouded with Isaac, with what I've lost.

Tears prick my eyes and I hastily brush them away but they flow anyway. I soon give into my emotions, allowing sobs to seize my body and inhibit my breathing, but I am beyond caring; if this is life, I don't want it.

Hearing my sobs, the door opens and a man steps into the room, his expression concerned as he sits beside me on, presumably, his bed. I wipe my eyes but the tears keep falling. He offers me a tissue which I gladly take, drying my tears as he patiently waits for me to calm down and I sit up, pulling the blanket around me.

"Where am I?" The question quickly springs to mind; I have to know how far I've travelled from the beach.

"My house, not too far from where I found you. Lucas, by the way."

"Isobel."

"Where are you from Isobel? You have to moved here recently because I would have known your scent."

"The Dawnguard pack."

"That far away? How did you end up here then?"

"The river brought me here."

"Why did you leave?" He asks gently, somehow able to tell that this is a sensitive subject for me.

"They convicted me of murder. They made me a rogue again. And now I've lost my m-mate."

"You found your mate?" Lucas sounds surprised, as if the concept of mates is new to him, my curiosity draining my heartache away temporarily.

"Yes. Why?" I say, confused.

"I thought they were legendary. Rare."

"What? No. Everyone has a mate. Including you. You're a werewolf aren't you?" He nods. "Then you definitely do. You have a mate somewhere out there Lucas."

"They'd just reject me." He says sadly and my heart goes out to this mysterious man who found me on the beach.

"Why would someone do that?"

"I'm gay. They might not be. And I'm a rogue. Why would they want me?"

"Because you're their mate. The Moon Goddess does not pair incompatible people together. She only wants the best mate bonds. She wouldn't bond you with someone who would reject you."

He doesn't seem encouraged by my words, his brows furrowed in deep thought, his fingers tapping absentmindedly on knees.

"My mother never found her mate," he suddenly comments.

"Was your mother a rogue?"

"Yes. Before she was killed by a member of the Moonblood Pack."

"What?" I attempt to suppress my emotions at hearing the name of my old pack but I think Lucas notices as he gives me an odd look, misinterpreting my tone for confusion rather than recognition.

"The Moonblood Pack? Never heard of them? They're quite notorious round here for killing rogues. They used to be much kinder, my mother said. She once stole some food when she was pregnant with me and was caught. She would have been killed, except for ..." He trails off.

"Except for ..." I prompt.

"Except for a border guard spared her when she saw my mother was pregnant."

Dread seeps into my stomach. It can't be...

"What happened to the border guard?" I ask carefully.

"My mother killed her. When I asked her why when I as old enough, my mother said she was scared. It was a spur of the moment decision. She said it was the thing she regretted most in her life."

Tears prick my eyes but I quickly blink them away; it may not be the same wolf. It could be a coincidence. Lucas notices.

"What's wrong?" He asks softly.

"Nothing, nothing. How long ago was this?"

"About nineteen years ago. Why?" It lines up perfectly with when I lost my mother and I decide to tell him the truth behind my curiosity.

"The wolf your mother killed was my mother."

He stares at me, mouth slightly agape, then he appears to curl into himself.

"I'm sorry Isobel."

"You had nothing to do with it."

"I know. I just feel ... responsible somehow."

"It was your mother's choice, not yours, she did what she thought was necessary at the time."

"How are you so calm about this?"

I shrug.

"It was nineteen years ago. I wasn't old enough to really remember my mother. But through her sacrifice, your mother survived and had you."

There is an awkward silence that stretches out between us and he clears his throat.

"Why do you have so many clothes? I don't think I've ever seen so many."

He laughs.

"As a rogue I often have to suddenly shift if attacked, which destroys a lot of my clothes. I don't like going into town too often to get new ones as it puts me at risk of attack on the way. The best thing to do is buy loads and only go once every so often and not have to go for another few months."

"That's honestly the most logical reason I've ever heard for an abundance of clothes," I say sincerely.

"I know, right?" He passes me a grin. Lucas is such a cheerful person. He pauses for thought. "I was making lunch before you woke. Do you want some?"

I shake my head and his face is filled with concern.

"You haven't eaten anything for a while judging by your ribcage. When did you last eat?"

I shift uncomfortably under his piercing gaze.

"Two weeks ago," I whisper.

"What?! Isobel, what were you thinking?" He scolds. "Actually don't answer that; it's clear you weren't. I take back my offer; it is non-negotiable. You are going to eat, regardless of whether you want to. You need to have some food. Now come on."

I somehow drag myself off the bed and he hesitates. "Pick whatever clothes you want. Except the ones in the corner; they're not clean." I give him a brief nod and he quickly leaves and I change into a pair of cycling shorts and a navy t-shirt.

I exit Lucas' bedroom to find him waiting outside for me and he drags me through the house to the kitchen where a delicious scent is coming from and my stomach grumbles.

He pulls me up a chair and I collapse into it, my lack of energy due to self inflicted starvation. Lucas places a small plate of waffles in front of me and I stare at it, the will to eat having deserted me as my thoughts flicker back to Isaac and the pain in my heart intensifies.

"Isobel, you need to eat. You want to see your mate right?" I dully nod. "Then you need to eat. If you die from starvation you will never see them again. Try to eat, okay?"

I slowly pick up my knife and fork and, like a baby, cut off a tiny piece of waffle and eat it. The moment I do, I feel much better and soon the entire waffle is gone but my stomach complains from the sudden intake of food.

"Isobel, you look a bit green."

"Uh uh." I say while trying to keep the waffles down, my gag reflex being incredibly unhelpful at this instant. Eventually though, I manage to force them down and I relax. "I ate too fast."

"I did wonder if it was that. Now you've eaten there are other things we should talk about, like your mate."

"No. Not right now. Not after - " I abruptly halt in my sentence, unable to continue.

"Not until you're ready then, okay?"

I nod furiously, glad that I do not have to relieve my memories of Isaac. I need the will to survive if I want to live and I will lose that if I talk or think about him too much.

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Let's get this out of the way ...

Lucas gives a clearly logical reason for the amount of clothes. I also needed a way for Iz to know she was in a werewolf male's room that would fit in with the story. IT IS NOT BASED OFF THE STEREOTYPE OF GAY MEN OKAY?

Sorry, I felt that I needed to say that before people started to attack me in the comment section for it.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
WORxxx

Message Man - TØP

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