C5 ~Can't Fight Fate~

Otis is getting restless and is ready to start the day, 'Wake up!' he growls from deep within Sterling's chest.

He keeps his eyes closed, 'What is it, buddy?' He's trying to calm him and lighten the mood.

'Don't buddy me, I want my mate!' He growls in impatient anticipation.

Sterling sighs, "I know but it's too late!" He wants her to but it's too and it hurts his heart.

The shadows around them are restless and eager. Their whisper comes like a gust of wind from the trees,"It's not too late!"

"Who is that?" Sterling demands with worry seeping from his lips.

'It's the shadows, they want us to find out mate!' Otis starts to force Sterling into a transformation. Sterling howls in pain, "Stop this!" Otis ignores him and continues the painful transformation.

"I want my mate!" A hungry and angry growl escapes from deep in his chest.

"I will break the curse!" Otis stomps his paws into the ground and takes off into a sprint.

'Stop this!' Sterling growls from inside. 'I will never stop!' Sterling's anger grows but fear overtakes him when he notices that they are being followed.

He watches in horror as the shadows leave the trees and follow them. The wolf's shadow is nipping at the wolf's feet. He trips and stumbles and falls through some trees.

Pain flows through his body as he flies off the edge of a cliff. His wolf howls for help but it's too late. Water smacks his wolf body. Causing Otis to cry out for help. Everything goes black and when he comes to he cries out in pain.

He hears a voice, "We need our mate." He looks around but doesn't see anything. He starts to walk away but hears it again, "We need our mate!"

With every movement that Otis takes, he feels pain shooting up from his muscles. The lack of control over the situation is driving him crazy.

"How could you do this to me?" His heart is broken by the betrayal. His sadness is replaced with anger, and anger flows through him, "It's too late!"

The shadow's voices start to enclose on him and they argue, "She's closer than you think!"

"Show yourself!" He demands to them hoping that they will back off.

The whispers calm down and the voice is calmer, "Look down," It suggests.

He looks down and jumps backwords. His butt splashes in the water and he gasps for air, in shock. Slowly and cautiously he looks back down at his reflection.

"How?" He asks. His reflection laughs, "We are about to be doomed for all eternity. All rules are out the window!"

His reflection continues, "If we marry Anna we will lose all control. If you let Otis take over power, you will forever be arguing with him and trying to get back control!"

Otis is defensive, "Now, that's not true!" The reflection is relentless, "Is too!" Otis is about to argue again but Sterling reminds him, "You've been in control for the past hour! You've refused to listen to me!"

Otis sounds defeated, "I guess you are right, but that's not fair because you're the one who refused to listen to me first!"

The reflection is trying to persuade him as it suggests, "Maybe we should all agree to listen to each other from now on?"

Sterling grips his hair in his hand. Gripping his fists in agitation. He wishes they could understand, "We can't just run away!"

The reflection is insistent and it sternly asks, "Why not, why are you fighting this?"

Realization hits him that he isn't going to win. With defeat Sterling collapses into the water, "Anna has been there for me. How can I break her heart like this?"

Otis lets out a sorrowful whimper, "She has been a good friend, but we need our mate!"

The reflection image is still in motion from the abrupt smacking of the water, "If we don't find out matter we are doomed."

"I know!" Sterling hits the waters with his hands, again.

"Will you stop that!" The reflection is starting to get annoyed with him.

Sterling's face drops and his eyes soften. His voice is filled with compassion, "I want our mate but can't we at least tell Anna?"

Otis remains quiet and the reflection is calm and compassionate, "Fine, we will go and try it your way.."

Otis cuts him off, "If your way doesn't work then we do it my way!"

Sterling's heart grows heavy but his voice is firm, "Yes, if my way doesn't work then we will do it your way."

With that, he transforms into his wolf and they make their way home.