Filed to story: Wolf Crying Mate of the Alpha by Jazz Ford
‘No,’ she whimpers, washing the remainder of the blood off her face. ‘Have I missed any?’ She asks, asking me to inspect her.
‘No,’
‘How did you know I was here?’ She asks.
‘I didn’t. I just happened to find you,’ I tell her honestly.
‘I’ve heard werewolves are bad,’ she says.
‘Not all. Only some,’ I say.
‘Why are you here?’
‘I was looking for you,’
‘Why?’
‘Because we are mates, I want to be near you. I feel protective of you, and I feel happy when I’m with you,’ I say, desperately wanting to caress her face again.
‘I haven’t been this close to a man before,’ she says, and I sense she is beginning to trust me.
‘It’s okay,’ I say, inching closer to her.
‘There are many things I don’t know. I haven’t had parents to teach me. Although I’ve just returned from Vivian’s house, she explained many things,’ she explains.
‘Who is Vivian?’ I ask.
‘My friend. She lives in Wellmore Village,’ Maia explains.
‘Do you live in this cave?’ I ask her.
‘I do,’ she says. ‘With my fox Ember.’ I pity her. She has no parents, and she lives in a cave. I step closer to her, take her hand, and plant it firmly on my chest over my heart.
‘Do you feel that?’ I ask her, knowing she feels my heartbeat beneath her fingers. I gaze into her violet eyes. She is so sweet and innocent.
‘I do. It’s so fast. Why is it so fast?’ She asks, surprised.
‘It’s fast because I’m happy,’ I tell her, softening how I feel about her so I don’t scare her off.
‘Do you desire me?’ She asks, and it’s a question I wasn’t expecting. Maybe she does know about the birds and the bees.
‘I do, Maia. I do, in the deepest way,’ I tell her, staring into her eyes. She bites her lip and contemplates my answer. I don’t know what she is thinking.
Once we’re clean, I follow behind her out of the water, and she goes inside the cave.
‘Give me a second. I just need to fetch my clothes,’ I tell her running to where I left my tunic, breeches and boots. I retrieve my clothes and dress quickly, hurriedly pulling each boot onto each foot before sprinting back to her cave.
Thousands of glow worms illuminate the cave inside. It is quite beautiful.
I make my way through the cave until I spot Maia, a fox and a basket on top of a tree stump, being used as a table. On the ground not far from this is a makeshift bed with a straw-filled pillow and a wool blanket. Daylight shines through a square hole in the cave wall, and water cascades over it outside. It’s the waterfall that runs into the pool we just bathed in.
Maia moves to her bed and lies down flat on her back, on top of the blanket. Her fox cuddles in the curve of her waist beside her.
I lie next to her, and she lifts her head and instinctively rests it on my chest. She turns onto her side and moves closer to me, so our bodies are pressed together, and I wrap my free arm around her tightly. No words at this moment are needed. I have been dreaming of this for a very long time. I smell her hair and bask in the scent of violets and honey, and we fall asleep.
The next morning, when I wake, we are in the same position. Ember is licking my face. I scratch him between the ears, and he makes a sound similar to a cat purring, but almost a chuckle.
Maia stirs. I let her roll from her side onto her back. She gently pushes Ember away, and with her eyes closed, she speaks.
‘Ember. Don’t wake me. I’m so warm and comfy. I’m going to stay like this forever,’ she says dreamily.
Her eyes flit open, and she stares at the cave’s ceiling before turning her head and looking into my eyes.
We’re breathing in tandem, and she knows we both know this.
‘Good morning,’ I say, smiling, and she returns the smile.
‘You are still here?’ She asks.
‘I’m your mate,’ I say softly and calmly.
‘I’m not a werewolf, though. Only werewolves have mates,’ she says, rubbing her eyes.
‘Untrue. Any species can have a mate. Love is universal,’ I say, taking her hand and placing it on my chest over my heart so she can feel my heart beating for her. Maia keeps her hand where it is and ponders what I’ve just said.
‘I know what you are, Maia,’ I tell her, kissing her fingers. She smiles at the sensation.
‘What do you mean you know what I am?’ She asks.
‘You’re the one in the stories… you’re the Forest Princess,’ I tell her assuredly and smile.
‘Oh. I know that,’ she says.
‘I know much about you. Hundreds of years ago, it wasn’t just humans on these lands. There were also orcs, witches, vampires, fae, sprites and mages. You’re a sprite,’ I tell her.
‘A sprite?’ She asks, frowning again.
‘There are five kinds of sprites. Four who control an element each. They’re Pyrokinetic, Hydrokinetic, Aerokinetic, and Geokinetic. The fifth sprite is called a Primal sprite. A Primal sprite controls all the elements,’ I explain.
‘I’m a Primal sprite?’ She asks, her face instantly alight with excitement.
‘Yes,’ I assure her, smiling. ‘Primal sprites are of royal blood,’ I say.
‘Royal blood?’ She asks.
‘Well, it means you’re a sprite princess,’ I smile.
Maia sits up and crosses her arms in consternation and ponders what I’ve said. Then, after a moment, she relaxes.
‘What happened to the other sprites? Why am I alone? How did I get here?’ She asks.
‘My Gamma, Eric, is doing some research, so I’ll answer your questions soon,’ I say, slowly reaching for her hand and waiting for her to drop her hand in mine. ‘But you’re not alone. Not anymore,’ I say, staring deeply into her eyes. She blushes and looks away, and attempts to withdraw her hand from mine.
‘Please, don’t pull your hand away, my love. I would never harm you,’ I tell her earnestly. She looks into my eyes intently, trying to read me.
‘Why are you so frightened of me, Maia? What makes you think werewolves are evil?’ I ask her.