Breathe (Mates Saga #1) *Wattys2015*

Chapter 19

        I studied my reflection in the mirror, pain flashing across my face.

        My eyelashes were curled with thick mascara and my eyelids painted scarlet. My lips were glossed with cherry-flavored lip gloss that made my lips look perfect. My cheeks were lightly dusted with blush, considering I was paler than a corpse at the moment. I really didn't want to go through with this, but there was no way for me to get out of it without risking the lives of everyone in Will's pack. Everything I did was for him.

        I sighed. This was the end.

        Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I turned around to face the offending slab of wood, my wedding dress swishing around me, and fixed it with a glare as if my pain could be blamed solely on it.

        "Come in," I muttered, turning back to the mirror and placing my hands on the desk.

        There was the sound of quiet breathing and I recognized the scent as Maria's, the only one in the entire pack who knew the truth about Preston. Maria padded across the floor to me softly, quieting her steps so that Preston wouldn't hear. When she was close enough to me, she wrapped her arms around my waist, giving me a gentle hug.

         I leaned into the embrace, finally allowing my emotions to show. My shoulders shook with my silent sobs, tiny drops of my pain dripping down on to my clenched fists. I figured that was why the women applied water-proof make-up, seeing as I couldn't hold it inside anymore.

        Maria rubbed my back soothingly, humming a lullaby. Her voice was relaxing and eventually, my sobs stilled.

        I turned around and hugged Maria tightly. "Thank you for everything," I murmured into her hair, one last tear falling down my cheek and splashing against the hard-wood floor.

        Maria stroked my hair, quieting her humming until all was silent. "I'm sorry, Ella," she whispered, and I shook my head, pulling away.

        "Don't ever blame yourself for this, Maria," I said firmly, and Maria stared up at me with wide eyes. "I am the only one responsible for the entire thing and for that, I must bear the brunt of the pain."

        Maria slapped me across the cheek, and my head snapped to the side. When I turned back to look at her, tears slid down her cheeks as she stared at me fiercely. "I'm sorry for slapping you, but you need to get your head out of the clouds. Don't ever blame yourself for this, Ella. If anyone is responsible, it's him."

        I brought Maria into another embrace, stroking her hair gently. "Thank you, Maria. You brought me back to my senses. If only Will were here."

~ ~ ~

        Preston was walking around his pack's village, overseeing all of the preparations for his wedding to Ella. He was deep in thought when a gray wolf ran past him. The moment he realized the wolf was not from his pack, he shifted and chased after the wolf.

        When he was close enough, he lunged, landing directly on top of the other wolf. The two went tumbling for a few moments, but when the dust cleared, Preston was on top.

        Preston shifted back, his clothes reappearing upon his body, and he glared down at the wolf until it shifted back as well, revealing Eric. "What are you doing in my territory, rogue?" Preston hissed, and Eric winced.

        "I'm no rogue, sir," he said, his gaze casted downwards. "I'm a member of one of the packs here for your wedding."

        Preston narrowed his eyes and moved on to his next question. "Why were you tearing through my forest so quickly? What has you in such a hurry?"

        Eric gulped, not liking the menacing look Preston was giving him. "I scented my mate, sir. May I continue my search for her?"

        Preston stared at Eric for a few moments, and Eric began to get an uneasy feeling in his stomach. "No," Preston growled, and Eric's mouth fell open.

        "N-no? Why not, sir?" Eric stammered, chewing on his lip nervously.

        "Because I said you cannot," Preston stated, a snarl rising from deep within his throat. "Now go back to your pack before I tear you apart."

        Eric shifted into wolf form and ran back the way he had come, tail between his legs.

        Preston continued on his way, hiding his self-satisfied smirk.

~ ~ ~

        Will was leading the other pack members through the woods to the section of tents set off just for them when Eric suddenly came running up to him, looking as if he had been scolded badly. Will asked him what was wrong, but Eric shook his head and refused to shift back, whining to himself as he rested his head on his paws.

        Will hadn't wanted to stoop so law as to order his friend around, but if Eric kept moping around like he was, his wolf would take over and go rabid. Will had to stop that from happening, so he placed his hand on Eric's furry head, steeling his emotions so he could do what he had to to protect his pack. "Eric, this is an order: shift back now!"

        The effects of Will's tone began to bite at Eric, forcing the fur back inside of his body. His teeth slowly dulled, returning to the teeth of a human. He struggled against the change back, but once ordered by an Alpha, the order could not be disobeyed no matter what.

        Eventually, he finally was human again, on his knees before Will.

        Will removed his hand from Eric's head and looked down at his friend. "What is it? What's wrong?"

        Eric shuddered at the reminder of what had happened and looked up at his Alpha with hurt, desperate eyes. "He won't let me find my mate."

        Will's eyes flashed dangerously and the other pack members took a few steps away from him. "Who won't let you find your mate?" he growled, his voice low and murderous, as if he was moments away from shifting and hunting down the person who had forbidden his friend from finding his soul-mate.

        "T-the Alpha," Eric murmured, his eyes glassy.

        Will rose from his kneeling position before his friend, a loud, furious snarl ripping out of his throat. It was one thing to be rude to them, but when you started to try to hurt Will's pack, that was when he lost it.

        And lose it he did.