Soul Mates, Part 1 Ch 3:
Introduction
Ailia looked around her, and then back to the honey-eyed man in front of her. "Was that...was that you?"
The man tilted his head. "Was that me, what?"
"That was you, that said 'mate' in my head, right?"
His mesmerizing eyes widened slightly. "You could hear that?"
She nodded. "Yeah...well, not heard, but...what was that?"
He chuckled. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Ailia's eyes narrowed, frustration across her face. "Try me."
He looked her over, and raised an eyebrow. "A spirited one, aren't you?" He grinned. "I'm glad, because I wouldn't have my mate be any other way."
He looked over Ailia's shoulder and saw another woman coming his way hurriedly. "Ah, hello Ms. Williams. I trust everything is going well?"
Ms. Williams was the director for Pupside Dog Shelter. A wiry, thin, grey-haired woman, she looked like she would fit in at a library more than a dog shelter. Despite that, her heart had as much room for the dogs at the shelter as Ailia's did, and took great pride in making sure the shelter was running smoothly. "Of course, Mr. Greyheart, if you exempt an employee going missing. She probably ran off with that weird boyfriend of hers!" She gave a loud hmmph of annoyance.
"That's...rather unfortunate," Mr. Greyheart replied, a frown on his features. "I had plans of stealing Miss Ailia here from you in the next few weeks or so."
"I'm going to lose both girls?" Ms Williams stood, mouth agape. "How am I going to be able to run this place?"
"Now, Ms. Williams, I have never left you hanging. I care for these dogs as much as you all do; they are like family to me. In return for Ailia, I'll be sure to send a few of the boys along to help you with the caretaking of the shelter."
"Miss Ailia," said Ailia, through gritted teeth, "is standing right here, and has no idea what you want or who you think you are deciding my future for me." Her eyes flashed in anger. "I don't even know you."
"Oh, you're right about that." The man grinned. "My name is Lucas Greyheart, and I am the owner of this shelter and many others in the area. You may call me Luke."
Ms. Williams leaned over and jabbed Ailia in the side. "He's a very important figure around here, and is the only reason this shelter is still open today. So get your attitude together and apologize."
Ailia stared at Luke Greyheart. Her eyes once again found his golden-yellow eyes, and drowned in them. It was like...it was like opening a door between their souls, and she realized she could stare like this all day. It stirred something deep inside her, something deep and primal, something uncontrollable.
Yes, uncontrollable. Just feel all that undeniable lust, that anger, that need. Loathing's voice popped into her thoughts unbidden. You could just let it all out, you know. You don't need to hide it from the world. You don't need to hide US from the world. The world has done nothing for you; take control of it, unleash your wrath. Have justice. All it takes is a moment. All I need is a moment. Give me a chance, Ailia; why don't you take a rest for a while?
Ailia visibly flinched at Loathing's intrusion into her head. "O-of course...sorry, Mr. Greyheart...I didn't mean to be so rude." She could feel their stares at her sudden change in demeanor. "If it's alright, I-I'm gonna get back to the dogs." Ms. Williams nodded, and she turned to go. A hand grabbed her arm, and she instinctively pulled out of it, backing away from the two.
Luke quickly raised his hands, showing he meant no harm. "I'm sorry Ailia, I didn't mean to hurt you. I'll be here for the day, so could I ask you to meet me outside when you're done working today?" Luke frowned, feeling a disturbance in her mind. He actively focused on sending her sensations of warmth, comfort, and acceptance, reassuring her that everything was alright. "I'm not going to do anything; I just want to talk to you," he said gently.
She visibly relaxed, and shrugged at him. "Sure, I guess. Got nowhere else to be."
Luke paced outside, nervously. His wolf was restless. They could still feel discomfort coming off of Ailia, in waves that ebbed and flowed with her thoughts. He didn't dare intrude into her thoughts to see what was going on; he wanted her to come to trust him, and he figured from her reaction to his touch that overstepping her personal boundaries was not the way to her heart. But her stressful mind was pouring out emotion, and the sheer weight of it, the effect it was having on her, was worrying. Her sudden fright...her unwillingness to be touched...her need to get away from both himself and the director...it was as if she was shielding herself from an attacker that could not be seen. And that was so frustrating to sit back and do nothing about it. He leaned against the grey concrete wall, a sense of sorrow overcoming him. She had spirit. She had a bright, luminous soul inside of her that could heal and comfort so many. It was her destiny. Something had happened. Something must have happened. There was no way someone so strong and bright would be brought down so easily. Was it a response to Gavin dying in that grass in front of her two days ago? Or was there something more to it?
A soft click brought him out of his reverie, and he looked over his shoulder to see the door opening, and both Ms. Williams and Ailia stepping out. Ms. Williams locked the door behind them, and with a stern look at Luke, walked to her car. The engine roared to life, and she promptly left.
Ailia leaned against the door, staring at the ground. She gave him a side glance, and caught him watching her. "You wanted to talk, you said…"
Luke pushed himself away from the wall, and stood in front of her. "Indeed I do, Ailia. I have so much… so much to tell you, that it's overwhelming. And I have so much to ask of you as well; as I am sure you have many questions to ask me." He raised his left hand, keeping it an inch off of her. "May I?"
She nodded, and Luke placed his hand on her shoulder. Instantly, that pull and desire was back again. She wanted nothing more than to lean into him, to feel his warmth and his touch on her skin. She caught herself before she could move, and shook her head lightly to clear her head. She refused to look up into his golden eyes. Luke slid his hand down her arm. Gently taking her small hand in his own, he backed away, gently pulling her along with him. He led her over to his own car, a beautiful blue-green chroma flair Chevy Camaro, and sat on the hood. He looked at her and patted the hood next to him. "Please, come sit with me. I'd hate to leave you standing this whole time."
"A-are you sure?" she asked, hesitating. "I mean, this paint looks beautiful, and I know the car is pretty expensive. I'd hate to get it dirty, or ruin it."
He smiled. "Dirt can be washed off, love, and it would take more than just you to ruin it. The paint is not so flimsy."
Ailia nodded, gently sliding onto the hood of the car and placing her feet on the front bumper. Luke noticed the care she took in settling herself on the car, and it only made him admire her even more. He looked at her.
"So...you were the one that my cousin Gavin saved, two days ago."
She whipped around, staring at him in horror. "Your cousin?!"
Luke nodded. "My family is a large one, and while it is only a branch of a full-fledged clan, we are still quite close. The clan is spread all over America. Our leader is a brave man named Dillon Jacobs. I grew up in a clan mansion in Tennessee, and it is my home. My uncle, my brothers and my cousins all live in the mansion. I came down here last week, to check on the dog shelters I own here. Call it a gut feeling, if you will, but something told me I needed to be here."
He sighed. "I was there that night. Gavin and I had been in that forest over there," he pointed at the forest, "and we heard when you left the building. We saw you walking our way down the trail after that conversation with the couple in the Mustang. Gavin was just faster."
Ailia was frozen, and tears began to stream down her face.
"He did pride himself on his speed and agility," Luke continued. "It was one of his best attributes. He was always racing other family members, partly to show off and partly to make sure he was the best he could be. So when he sprinted the distance between us and pushed you out of the way of that Mustang, he knew he could save you."
"H-he d-died because of m-me," Ailia whispered softly. She wiped her eyes on the hem of her shirt, but more tears came behind them. She balled her fists in the wet stain on her shirt.
"Not quite, love," he replied, his voice gentle. His wolf strained, wanting to comfort his mate. But he held back, knowing it was not yet his place to do so. "Gavin died for you; for us. But not because of you. It is not your fault that Gavin is gone, but rather that jerk's fault. Gavin would have done the same for any member of our clan."
Ailia stared at her soaked, wrinkled fists and shirt, not believing his words. "I'm not one of your clan, though. What do you mean, he died for us?"
"Before I answer you, I need to ask you two questions of my own. They make no sense on their own, but they are a smaller part of a larger answer to your question. First of all, do you believe in destiny?"
"What? Well...I guess I would say that I believe we can make some of our own decisions in our life and make our own way in the world, but that some events are critical and can't be prevented or changed. So, not fully pre-determined, but a few things are."
"Would you believe that a person might have a job, or position, or obligation to fulfill in life that they were given when they were born?"
Ailia shrugged. "Well, sure. I don't believe in any particular religion or belief, but I do believe there is a higher something out there in the cosmos somewhere, and they have a hand in what goes on."
"Fair enough," Luke commented. "I do believe in a goddess myself, but all of our clan does. The Great Luna protects us, and is always beside us. If you are lucky, she may come to you. Second question: do you believe in magic?"
Ailia stared at him as if he had grown a second head. She absentmindedly noticed that she seemed to be doing a lot of that around this man. "Magic? As in, conjuration and apparition?"
It was Luke's turn to shrug. "Magic, in any sense of the word."
Ailia wiped her eyes once again, and carefully leaned back on the hood of the car. "The only magic I believe in is the magic of love. True, pure, wholesome love. The love of soul mates, who understand and support one another."
Luke smiled. "I believe in that as well. In fact, my entire clan lives by that philosophy. For each man or woman, there is only one other in the whole world. While there may be other lovers or partners in our lives, there is one soul mate. Love is the strongest power in the world, and it should be cherished and defended. And that, Ailia, is the reason why Gavin was willing to give his life, for us."
He stood and moved in front of her. He decided to take a gamble, and slid his hand into her line of sight, placing it gently under her chin. She didn't recoil away. He lifted her face to look at his.
"You, love, are my soul mate. My one and only, for as long as we both shall live."