20

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Aaron paced the room

"Alex, I know you're busy but can you tell me one thing, were you messing with me?"

"I wasn't messing with you. Fuck I'm guilty alright. Clearly, she was drunk, more drunk than I thought, and doesn't even remember it. I just thought she was embarrassed and that was why she never mentioned it. I told her I loved her man. I told her I loved her and then kissed her."

"You love MY mate!"

Aaron roared through their bond.

"Did you fuck her?"

"Fuck you Aaron. Of course I didn't fuck her. We were kids. Shit man, I couldn't tell you before. You didn't like how close she and I were. You got so damn jealous, but she was my best friend other than you. I got confused, hormones or whatever, and thought I loved her. I grew out of it. The kiss confirmed it, it was like making out with the most beautiful girl in the world and feeling nothing. Then she ran off."

"Fuck Alex, you should have told me the whole thing. I just accused her of fucking you. I am screwed Alex, my mate is going to dump my arse and my pack hate me."

"Quit your whining, she won't dump you. I will talk to her. Tell her what an idiot I am. The pack don't hate you."

"It's gone way bigger than that. Where are you?"

"No way man, I'm too far away for you to come kick my butt, it is the only reason I feel safe saying this. You need to talk to her. You told her you've loved her for years, right?"

"How the fuck did you know?"

"Give me a break. We shared a room. I've heard you cry out her name in your sleep. I've seen you fill that drawer with all your treasures. She's had you for so long and now you finally have her, stop fucking this up."

"She hates me bro, I accused her of fucking both you and Luc. Gem wants my head, Luna is disgusted with me. By the time Thorn finds out I'll be lucky if I'm allowed to even stay."

"Chill out. Look I'll think of a plan but right now we're in a bit of a tough spot so I can't chat much longer."

"You okay?"

"Yeah we came through the ambush fine and arrived at their pack lands a while ago. This place is a nightmare Alex. Some of these wolves are never going to recover."

"Fuck, sorry man I shouldn't have even bugged you with my personal crap."

"Hey, I'm partly responsible. I was a brat when we spoke and got you all worked up. I didn't think about the consequences."

"Yeah, neither did I. Alex be safe. I'm going to kick your ass when you are home safe, but don't let anyone else hurt you."

"I'm not coming home for a long time, so hopefully you will have your mate sorted and be too loved up to worry about knocking me out. I love you bro, and I am sorry."

Aaron hadn't long ended the communication when Jane knocked on the door. "Excuse me Aaron, Kate is wanting a few things may I come in and collect them?"

"She's not even willing to come to get her stuff?"

"She isn't really in a good way right now."

"Come in, I'll get out of your way. Can you tell her I'm sorry? I'm so bloody sorry."

"Sit down and listen to someone a little older, and much wiser. You guys are all the same, you think the minute you find your mate everything will be easy. That because you were destined to be together, two halves of a whole, there will be no problems. You're all young and stupid." She took a deep breath and started gathering a few of Kate's things. "Don't you growl at me, young man. That girl loves you and it is obvious to everyone you love her, but you are both hurting right now. Her pain is of course magnified with her being in heat..."

"She's in heat?" Aaron stood, "Where is she?"

"Sit back down. I thought you would know. You were up with her, Luna and Gem weren't you?"

"I was, until we fought and I was sent away."

"She was already in heat when you fought. Luna is so strong over a dozen of the mated females have gone into heat. Luckily she doesn't seem to have pulled in any of the younger unmated girls. So while she was locked in a room with two beautiful women, in heat, when you know she appreciates a good looking woman, you decided it was a good time to go all macho mate and have a go at her?"

"I did not go all 'macho mate' I made a mistake. I was given misleading information."

"You're linked though. You knew she was telling the truth?"

"When I calmed down, but right at that time, fuck and for an hour either side or so..."

"She's right you are a moron."

"Hey. I thought you were trying to help?"

"I don't even know how to help you when you don't even help yourself. You are mated, you are linked and you don't see her, don't hear her, feel her?"

"Fuck you sound like her. I see her. I've always seen her. She is so damn gorgeous I close my eyes and she's still there. I remember every time she has ever smiled at me. I remember what she wears. I see her."

"Not what she looks like or what she is wearing. Her. The woman she is. The person she has made herself. Her hopes and dreams. Her fears. You don't even know her. You only just mated but you've known her all this time, and yet don't know her at all?"

"I know what she has been through with her mother. I know how amazing she is. She is kind and loyal to all her friends. My family adore her and she adores them. She feels this insane need to push herself so hard in everything she does. She got top grades through school, then her Bachelor of Science she topped the classes, she's taken a year off her Bachelor of Medicine because she added extra classes and still managed to be close to the top in all of them..."

"Why? What drives her that hard?"

"I don't know. It's just who she is."

"Meh, you think you're just a playboy? It's just who you are?"

"I am not a playboy."

"Many would think so. The women, there have been hundreds, no?"

"Not the one I wanted."

"Why? What drove you?"

"I have, had, nothing else."

"You're a lost pup. You need to find something that matters to you."

"Katie matters to me. She has always mattered to me."

"So you think she'll be happy with a mate who has nothing to challenge himself, no passion, no drive?"

"No." Aaron flung himself backwards on the bed. "She's too good for me."

"Rubbish. You're both young. Both young and stupid. You will find your passion. You and Kate will get through this and be happy for hundreds of years. It is what wolves do. We grow up together, we start out young and stupid, we find each other and we drive each other to be the best we can be, then we have families and we try really hard to raise them to be the best they can be, then we laugh at all the young stupid pups. You'll see."

"Is Kate okay?"

"She is in one of the safe houses. Lucas and Gem took her there before they went to the dungeon. Gem and Lucas are trying for a baby. Luna and Thorn too. It is exciting. So many new members to the pack. So many positive changes coming. Luna is going to be so good for us."

"Gem is in heat too, not with Kate? Fuck, Kate's alone. I need to go to her."

"She isn't alone I left her with Myra while I came to get her things. I will sit with her tonight."

"I'm her mate. She needs me."

"You're a good boy Aaron, not very bright, but a good boy. She's in heat and feels her mate doesn't love her or trust her. You think you'd be good company for her? She and you would either fight, that is not good. Or she would beg you to fuck her and then regret being bred while your relationship is such a mess. That is definitely not good."

"I wouldn't breed her. Shit we aren't ready for that. I could..."

"Use a condom? Yeah, not many of the pack have managed to stick to that plan."

"Fuck. I need to talk to Thorn or Luc and both of them are busy. I need to talk to Kate and she has blocked me completely. I need to..."

"Go for a run. Then go to the restaurant Glen and the others could use an extra pair of hands."

"I hate the bloody restaurant."

"Stop pouting. While you work you can't wreck anything. While you work you can think of what you want from life. You can make a plan to get your Kate to forgive you. So run, then work, until you can't stay upright, then sleep, tomorrow you do the same again. Okay?"

"Fine."

Jane leaned over and gave him a kiss on the forehead, "Such a good boy. I will try to talk to Kate."

"Thank you."

"Now give me her ipod and anything else you think she may need, because I am old, what would I know about young women and what they want?"

Aaron laughed loudly as he hugged Jane, "You aren't even middle aged and I think you know what everyone in this pack wants and needs."

"Maybe not so stupid after all." Jane grinned.

Aaron packed a bag for Kate and then offered to carry it down to the house for Jane. "I won't cause trouble or come in I just want to help and know where she is."

"Okay. You take the bag, I'll take the ipod." Jane scrolled through the first playlist, "I'm not going to mind listening to most of this. She has good music. I was worried it may be that Justin Beaver."

"Beaver? Did you say Beaver?"

"You want me to talk to Kate or not?"

"Sorry, there is definitely no Justin Beaver on that ipod. I promise."

"Maybe I'll add a couple of his songs and see how long before she realises?"

"You're putting your life and your ears at risk." He chuckled as they went down the stairs together.

"Maybe not then, I still have some good years left in me."

"Lucky for all us stupid young pups. Maybe you should step in a bit earlier, give pre-mating classes."

"Good idea. I'll talk to Luna about it. You lot need all the help you can get." She laughed as he opened the door for them both.

They walked to the safe house and when they got to the door she stopped. He knew she wouldn't enter the code while he was there. "Wait, I want to write Kate a note." He took a notebook out of his pocket and quickly wrote a short message and tore it from the book. "Can you try and make sure she reads it?"

"You still drawing?"

"Yeah, not as much."

"Run, walk, eat, draw, sleep, think. They are all you need to focus on this week okay?"

"I think there may be a bit more than that."

"Yeah you'll have other shit to do, but they are the focus. You should ask Melody if you can use Harmony's studio. Shame there isn't a picture of you and Kate in that room up there."

"Okay. I'll add that to my list. Take care of my girl Jane. Thanks."

"Scram, if you aren't out of here quick enough Myra will come start to tell you what to do. She's not going to be as nice about it as me."

Aaron left at a run and kept going towards the lake.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Hey Myra, how's our girl?"

"She's resting for now. Just had a long session with some of those toys. The girl knows how to scratch an itch."

"I can hear you." Kate growled from inside the large cell.

"I know dear, talking behind your back would be rude." Myra grinned.

"I have your ipod, some personal stuff and a note from Aaron."

"Keep the note, give me the rest." Kate said as she walked naked to the bars.

"Now sweetie, you either read the note or I keep the ipod."

"Keep it then." Kate went back to the bed and threw herself down.

"How is the boy?" Myra asked Jane.

"Aaron is feeling very stupid right now. Seems he is realising how out of control things have gotten. He didn't trust his own instincts to believe Kate which he desperately regrets. He let his own insecurities get the best of him."

"Insecurities my ass." Kate mumbled into her pillow.

"What was that dear?" Myra asked.

"He doesn't have any insecurities, cocky, arrogant, son of a bitch just thinks all women should fall at his feet and suck his..."

"Now Maggie is one of the loveliest bitches I ever met, and I'm fairly certain you did not mean to say anything about how much you love giving your mate oral but sweetie we all have insecurities."

"Not him. He's too busy screwing everything with a vagina and judging everyone."

"Sounds like there is some harsh judging going on in here right now. Maybe you need to scratch that itch a bit more? You seem a little on edge."

"I hate him. I hate him. I hate him." Kate screamed into the pillow.

"Yes well he was quite broken about that. Seems to think ending his life is the only option since you're breaking the mate bond and all. Guess at least you won't have to hate him for long." Jane made a cup of tea and sat next to Myra. "So sad to see such a good young man broken like that. Katie here is too young to see it now but she will and it will be too late."

"I know. Do you remember when you first mated with Ron? You were useless. The two of you fought like brats in kindergarten and the number of times you threatened to break the bond. It was embarrassing."

"Tell me about it. If he hadn't fucked me senseless and bred me who knows what might have happened?"

"You'd have both died. You know that much. I wasn't much better."

"At least you had known Gray your whole life. You knew who he was. Ron was practically a stranger throwing his demands around and getting in my face if I dared to disagree."

"I knew Gray, but I didn't KNOW him at all. He was so handsome and boy that man can build anything he puts his mind to but he thought I would be disappointed in him as a mate and tried to reject me before I could reject him. I had to take Melody's advice and get him a bit drunk then seduce him."

"I'm not stupid, if you have something to say, say it." Kate turned her head to glare at the two women.

"Honey we always say exactly what we want to say, how we want to say it. You think all the couples you admire just mated and then everything was peachy? You think they didn't all have obstacles and worries?"

"He rejected me, twice. He then finally mated with me, probably only because the damn pull was so strong, and then he accused me of wanting his brother, of being with his brothers, two of them!"

"Well he is young and stupid. He is also really scared."

"What is he scared of?" Kate sat up. "What could he possibly have to be scared of?"

"He has been a playboy working in his parent's restaurant, while you've been out building a future for yourself. Planning a life. Growing more and more beautiful. He hurt you as a child and you haven't forgiven him. He has no idea who he is or where he is going. You have it all figured out. He finally finds his mate and is blindsided by it. He is so happy to have you but then he starts doubting himself, thinking you're going to leave him, find him wanting, so he gets wound up and a few things happen that escalate and he hurts you again and you run. Proving his point. You've rejected him Kate. He didn't reject you."

"He is not a playboy. He loves his family, why wouldn't he hep them out until he knows where he is meant to be, what he is called to do. He is so damn gorgeous every girl in the area has climbed him like a damn tree. He didn't hurt me as a child. He was a brat, but he didn't hurt me. He picked on me, yeah, but he also stood up for me like nobody else. He told me I was beautiful, that my hair was the best colour in the world, the colour of autumn leaves. That my freckles were kisses from angels. He didn't want me when I found him. I'm not all curves and sex appeal. I'm too smart and boring. He..."

"So you see a lot of good in him do you?"

"Of course I do. Fuck he puts himself behind everyone else in his family. He does everything he can for them. He was a wreck when Alex was missing. But without him the family wouldn't have got Alex back. Nobody remembers that, but I do. He looked out for Lex and Glen when nobody else had seen what was happening. He just got back from a mission to save humans that he has no connection with at all and yet he willingly put himself at risk. He has already bonded with Emily... fuck Emily? Is she okay?"

"Of course she is. We didn't think she needed to see you in naked masturbation mode so we've got her helping some of the omega girls and it will give her a chance to make some friends too. Besides Aaron will look out for her, you know that."

"Sounds like I may have been wrong about Aaron. He doesn't sound like a playboy after all." Myra barely contained her smirk.

"Give me the bloody note." Kate walked back to the bars.

"Please?" Jane teased as she approached.

"Please?" Kate hissed through her teeth. "If this is another accusation I swear when I get out of here I will..."

"Breathe sweetie. Breathe and read the note."

Kate,

Baby, I am so sorry for all the stupid shit I have been thinking. I am so sorry for not trusting you right from the start. From the second you walked into the bar and blew me away with that kiss. That amazing kiss. I've been in a state of shock. I can't believe you are mine. That I finally get my dream girl. But your moron as usual fucked it all up. I should have trusted you but I was a big chicken and so I spoke to Alex, and he accidentally made my fears grow further. He may have already contacted you by now I don't know, but I know the truth and I am so fucking sorry baby. I know you don't like me calling you that, but I just can't stop it. You are my baby. I will love you and cherish you, and look out for you for the rest of my life. Even if you never forgive me I will always be here for you. I'm not asking for you to forget and forgive today. I'm asking for a chance to prove to you I'm worth forgiving, worth loving. I will always love you baby.

Your Moron xx

"So come on, what does it say?"

"Myra that is none of our business. Now why don't you go see how everyone is at the lodge and I'll stay here tonight?"

"Yeah alright I'm going, I'll be back in the morning."

"Myra? Can you check on Aaron?" Kate asked quietly. "He wouldn't really do anything, um wouldn't..."

"You could check on him yourself." Myra saw Kate's face and didn't push, "Yeah I'll check on him. I'll let you know."

"Thanks." Kate moved back to the bed and read the note again.

"Alex?"

"How mad are you with me?"

"Tell me exactly what happened and then I will decide."

"The night of your birthday I told you I loved you and kissed you. Seems Aaron saw us."

"You did not."

"Yeah I really did. Look I thought you never said anything because you were embarrassed about the whole thing. Believe me I was embarrassed enough for both of us. I had such a crush on you and then there I was telling you I loved you and kissing you like I needed to inhale you to exist and..."

"Alex I was so drunk that night. You were molesting me when I was too drunk to even remember? That is so wrong."

"I'd had quite a bit myself and I did not molest you. I kissed you. I kissed you and felt like I was kissing my aunty or something. In my drunk state and in my puppy love I kept kissing you thinking any second there would be fireworks and you would say you loved me too ... but you pushed me away and ran."

"Fuck Alex. Fuck."

"I know. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I was young and stupid and you were my best friend and I got confused and..."

"And you told Aaron we made out?"

"He asked me about that night. He asked what happened. I told him we had kissed. I didn't tell him you and I had never talked about it. That you pushed me away."

"Why? If you are my friend why would you do that?"

"I thought he knew. I thought you knew and that he was being a dick about it. I wanted to wind him up a bit. I was also pissed that he implied I could only spend time with you if he was there. He should trust both of us more than that."

"YOU KISSED ME!"

"I know. I am trying to tell you I am sorry for the kiss. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you. I'm sorry for being a prat and making him get jealous and sulky about something that you don't even remember."