(9)I'd Be Lion If I Said Everything's Alright

I pace back and forth infront of the hot guy currently placed infront of me. My eyes trail from his smirking face to the ground as my feet crunch the leaves beneath them. Im to the point of being overwhelmed by the emotions swirling and crashing through my body at this very moment. How could i have two mates! And please tell me i am not going to be like my mother!

The lion shifter finally got tired of my pacing and took hold of my shoulders to hault me. "Now darling, this shouldnt be a shock to you. Most shifters that reject their first mate get a second one, its common knowledge." he said this in a way that was almost demeaning but smooth enough to pass as kindness. I didnt like it one bit.

"Looky here mister, im not some child that is oblivious to the world around her! My mother is the freaking moon goddess for crying out loud! Im worried because i dont want to become the same mess she did! She went through over 400 mates that rejected her before she found 'the one', and me finding a second one only minutes after rejecting my first one is concerning to me! Live with it!" I seethed out of clenched teeth. Luckily my yelling wiped the smirk off of the Lions face real quick.

"Im sorry for the way im acting. I grew up in a castle surrounded by people who only acted like they loved me. Im horrible at this feelings/mate stuff. The science behind mates has been drilled into my head since i was a child, never the emotions that came with it. I hope we can start over, darling" he said in a remorseful tone.

I glanced over at him and shook his hands off of my shoulders. "I dont know! My feelings are all over the place! I just dont know if im ready for another mate yet..." i trailed off after seeing the pain shoot through his eyes.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a second before opening them once more. "Alright i understand. For what its worth, my name is Jake Sareth. I hope you will atleast come with me back to the castle so i can be sure you are safe?" I thought about his offer for all but two seconds. It was a logical idea as i really didnt want to go back to Pyro.

"I guess that would be alright...but no funny business! I might be your mate but that does NOT mean that i am yours for the taking. Dont forget who my parents are. At the moment, if you try anything i dont like, all hell will break loose" i threatened.

He simply replied with a hesitant nod before holding out his hand towards me, waiting for me to take it in my own. I done what he wanted and we began the trek towards the Lion Den.

I was hesitant to walk past the tree line once we got to the castle grounds. I forgot that with a castle came a King and Queen i will have to meet. I glance at the muddy jeggings i was wearing and my muddy, once white, shoes. I hault in my steps completely, the Lion haulting also while shooting me a curious glance.

"I can't walk in there like this! I look awful, i can't walk into a castle and meet a King and Queen looking like this!" My eyes shoot around in fear, my hand barely grasped in his as i shake in anticipation. He simple shakes his head and lets out a bellowing laugh.

I jump back in surprise, my hand leaving his, and suddenly feel anger stir inside me. No one should dare speak to me like that! With the Lion still busy laughing i began to shake and quiver, not with fear, no the fear was long gone... anger took its place. The Lion finally stopped laughing once he heard a low growl escape my lips.

The anger grew, and a pressure i had never felt before entered my head. Its as if an invisible force was trying to make its way out of my head. I collapse to the ground clutching my head, growls and snarls still slipping through my clenched teeth.

Soon enough im on four legs instead of two, have ears sitting on top of my head, and a tail sprouting out of my behind. I panicked and ran, i had no idea what was going on and i was afraid. I heard clothes rip behind me and knew that the Lion had shifted.

I could hear his large paws pound at the earth, his powerful legs causing him to gain on me quick. I glanced behind me, he was only a few feet away. I looked forward and pushed myself to my limit, trees going by in blurs of green and brown.

I skid to a stop at a cliff, but i was going too fast and couldnt stop fast enough. I let out a small squeal and turned my head to glance at the water coming towards me. I was shocked, not because of the water but because of what i was. I had all of the body shape and features of an Amur Leopard but i wasn't normal. No, i was far from normal. My coat was completely white save for the black spots scattered across my nose and eyes. My eyes...they were a blazing turquoise that shined unnaturally.

Too bad i was about to die...the water was coming fast. I had no way to save myself. My last fleeting thought was, i never got to get to know my second mate.

Then i felt sharp teeth grab me by the scruff of my neck.