8: Never Enough

**ESTELLE**

Bruises that won't heal. A head wound that is hidden in my thick hair. A fresh stab wound on my back that is still on fire.. I am pretty sure my ribs are broken. But I have no choice but to put on a small, fake smile for a visiting pack. I am drained, physically and emotionally. 

 The wound in my head isn't bleeding anymore, but it's throbbing. The wound on my back is still leaking but only slightly. I am keeping it covered with a bandage in case it leaks through. I have to make sure no one ever sees my scars or bruises.  Ever.

'It's happening.' Darra purrs and then retreats into my mind. I get the call that I need to deliver the drinks to the wretched Alpha in the meeting with his guests. Once these drinks are on the table and I leave the room, I am running as fast as I possibly can to the borders and I am leaving.. I can't take it anymore. I can't do this anymore. 

If one more bad thing happens, I'll kill myself.. Before Alastar ever has the chance to, I will do it myself. 

I let out a deep sigh before knocking on the door. Alastar quickly intructs me to come in.. But I smell something, it's familiar, soothing to all my senses. I can literally feel the exhaustion on my shoulders start to slightly melt off of me. 

When I walk through the threshold of the meeting room, my eyes immediately fall on someone heaven sent and a little hell bound. 

'Good one, now go to our mate.' Darra whines. My eyes widen at the realization that the scent emanating from the God like creature at the table is my mate.. My mate. 

I keep walking to perform my duties. I don't know why he won't come to me though. Claim me. He just sits there, staring at me. He could take me to his pack, away from the monster I have to deal with silently and alone.. But having a mate could be a fifty fifty chance of survival and living. But before I can say anything or go to him, I remember where we are. If he doesn't claim me first, in front of Alastar, that means he might want to reject me. And honestly, who can blame him. 

"I apologize for the intrusion, gentlemen. Estelle wanted to make sure we weren't thirsty. This is my chosen mate, Estelle Wyatt." His words sent a chill through me that I didn't know I would recover from. He grabs me, pulling me by the hand, squeezing it hard. Not to the point of breaking anything but hard enough it'll bruise later. A wanring to go along with what he says or else.

And even with that fake fucking declaration, my mate.. Ughh, my mate doesn't even budge. Why? 

There is a silence in the room. No one is speaking, barely anyone is breathing. The man at the head of the table smiles a small, and almost sad smile towards me. It's like he knows that I am the loser in the situation. Being a 'Chosen Mate' to this evil Alpha. 

"Congratulations, Misses Estelle. We wish many years for you next to your Alpha." The man sitting across from our Gamma declared with a bow of his head. Our Beta and Gamma were just as shocked as I was at Alastar's announcement. The Beta even looked as if his head would explode. 

A small grow and a look from my mate to his Gamma, weakens my knees. His face gets completely red, a small growl covered by a cough, and a death glare to his Gamma makes me feel like something is going on.. Maybe he doesn't want to reject me... No that can't be it. Something else..

He sends a look to his Alpha. Who then begins to speak to Alastar. 

"We would like to interview a few of your pack members at random. Just to see if an assortment of members haven't seen or heard anything suspicious. Would that be okay?" The Alpha asked. Trying to be polite but you could tell her wasn't giving Alastar a chance to say no. 

"I don't see that being an issue." Alastar says smugly. 

My mate shifts in his seat, glancing at me every few minutes. "Good we would like to talk to your Beta, your head warrior, your head nurse for your pack hospital, and Misses Estelle." The mention of my name sends excitement and also fearful chills through my body. 

Alastar's grip on my hand tightens to the point of discomfort. I grimace against it but I don't move from my position.

"And what order would you like these interviews in?" Alastar asks through gritted teeth. Everyone on the room could tell Alastar was not enjoying the idea of another Alpha and his ranked members talking to his pack members. But the amount of disdain written on his face sent a terrifying shiver down my spine. 

"Well since your Beta and Misses Estelle are already here we can begin with them. I am sure your Beta has duties he may need to handle to Estelle can go first. It will be quick and then she can get back to preparing for her Luna Ceremony." The Alpha says, folding his arms across his chest. 

"Very well, but like you said she is busy with her own duties so try not to be long." Alastar turns his attention to me, a cold and determined look in his stare. He leans in, I flinch slightly but not enough to gain the attention of any one. "Be careful, My Luna. If you need me, I'll be down the hall." He says loud enough for my mate and his friends to hear him. He leans in even further and places a small kiss on my cheek. Which causes me to clamp my eyes shut before I can even think about my actions. When I snap them open my mate is staring directly at me, his eyes welling up with, what look like tears.. But tears? Why? 

My head is spinning from the events in the last 20 minutes, that I don't know what is going to happen when Alastar closes the door behind him. 

But just as he said, he leaves the room.

The moment the door closes and their Gamma goes to lock it, my mate is in front of me so fast I do the only thing I know how to do when a male of his stature comes at me too fast, I flinch and cower. 

Small tears falling from my eyes. But instead of something bad happening to me, he leans down to my level, slowly putting one hand on my shoulder, and the other under my chin to raise my face to eye level to him. Our eyes locked on one another, I watch as a shooting star runs through his, and my eyes must have matched his because he gasped. 

That could only mean one thing.. 

"True Mates." He whispers in the deepest whisper imaginable, as he takes his thumb and starts brushing my tears away.

If I wasn't confused before, I definitely am now.. All I know is that Darra is purring in my head and filling my mind with more hope than I should even be thinking of. But how can I not help it. His beautiful, coal colored hair and tiny grey streaks in certain spots, his bright golden eyes shining like little droplets of the sun have kissed them. A scar in his eye brow. 

Perfection, pure perfection has graced my presence. 

But my dreams are soon crushed when he speaks to me. 

"Estelle, you are my mate.. But I cannot take you with me.." And that crushes any hope that I had of having a normal life, someone amazing to love me, and the oppurtunity to get away from this hell hole..