Loving Luna - All Grown Up

Chapter Seventeen - The Cell (6)

❤Dennis

I didn’t have to be a wolf to know that I had a mate. I also didn’t have to be a wolf to know who my mate is. I glanced over at him and sighed. Whether or not he had picked up on it, was the main question running through my mind as I slowly chewed on the chicken thigh we were having for dinner. I had picked up on his scent, his aura, the second I had walked into the dining hall that day. I still didn’t know if he felt it. I could tell by his features that he was younger than I. However, that wasn’t my main concern. I had to wonder how he would feel about having a male mate. He laughed at something the female said next to him and I felt somewhat jealous. I wanted to be the one to make him laugh.

“Can you get done?” Tana, the only female in my cell, spat out as she glared over at me. I forced myself to look away from my mate and down at my plate. I had barely touched it.

“I’ll get done,” I informed her as I seriously started to eat. Although my eyes and ears wanted to look and listen, I stopped myself from doing it and concentrated on my two cellmates and my dinner.

“I hate this place,” Felan remarked as he pushed the tray away from him. He had cleaned up and so had Tana.

“At least the food is good,” I commented softly as I continued eating. Felan gave me a dirty look and then he stood up.

“If you weren’t older…”

“Yeah, if only,” I quickly interjected. Felan may be a whole two years younger than me but he did feel and act like he was the one in charge. He knew as well as I, that the eldest is the leader. No questions asked. That is how it is in the panther community. Felan hurried away from the table and caught Tana watching me. “What?”

“Can’t you be nicer to him?” she asked, and I rolled my eyes.

“I could, but then he would have to grow a pair,” I chuckled at my own joke as I finished off my dinner. Now that I was done, I allowed myself the privilege of looking at my mate. I desperately wanted to go over there, introduce myself, and just get to know him, but something told me it wouldn’t go down very well. I decided that I should approach one of the older wolves. Preferably one of them that seemed close to my mate. I stood up, ready to make a move when the guards called out for everyone that time was up. I watched as my mate quickly shoved in the last bit of food on his plate into his mouth. I smiled, was he scared of growing hungry during the night? I followed Tana and some other shifters out the door. Felan soon joined us and it didn’t take us much time to get back to our cell. I longed to shift, to run, to feel the breeze rush through my soft silky fur but I knew that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. I glanced around the boring brick cell and made my way to my bunker bed. Top. Of course. Tana and Felan both went into the bathroom, probably to clean up after dinner, and I laid back and relaxed. It was my time now and I was free to picture my mate. He was lean, not too small and I could only guess that he was probably an Alpha’s son. I wasn’t a wolf, but I was well acquainted with them. I knew all about their customs and all that. I didn’t particularly find it interesting, but I suddenly referred back to each and every memory and lesson. I didn’t want to face my mate clueless. Of course, I had to think about why I had been taken in the first place, why I was here and what was the point of it all. I had already discussed this with some of the other shifters and they have no idea. We were all in the same boat. We had been told that we would be informed but we were all still waiting for that to happen. I frowned as I thought about the situation but then my mate's smile popped in my head, distracting me. He was quite cute. I would love to know his name and more about him, but that would have to wait until breakfast. When I heard Felan and Tana come back, I got up and jumped off my bed, gracefully landing on my feet.

“Show off,” I heard Felan mumble, but I decided not to respond. It would be pointless and would only end in an argument. So, instead, I went into the bathroom to freshen up before going to sleep.

 ❤❤❤

I hurried to the dining hall and I was relieved to see the female at the end of the service line. I rushed forward and grabbed a plate.

“Morning,” I greeted her and she glanced over at me.

“Morning,”

“I’m Dennis, panther shifter,” I quickly introduced myself. I wouldn’t have a lot of time.

“Tina, wolf shifter,” she said as she turned to face me. She was smiling and I couldn’t help but smile back. Now all I had to hope for was that I had chosen the right wolf to question.

“May I ask, who is that?” I pointed over at my mate who was already seated and eating.

“Liam?” Tina asked and I nodded. Liam. What a lovely name. “Why? Do you plan on eating him?” she questioned as she started dishing up some boiled eggs, bacon, beef patties, and fries.

“No, I don’t eat human or other shifters,” I hurried to answer. “No, um, may I ask a bit about him?” I wasn’t sure how to do this and I suddenly no longer felt confident in my plan to find out more about my mate.

“Why?” Tina had stopped and was now staring at me. I could lie but she is a wolf, so, surely, she would understand.

“He is my mate,” I whispered as I leaned in closer. I didn’t want to take the chance that Liam was listening in. Tina backed up and she looked shocked. Well, I’d say I had been shocked too, but then again, I hadn’t been. “What?”

“It’s just…well, um…you know,” she was embarrassed as she looked me up and down.

“What? It’s because I am male?”

“Well, yeah,”

“Does gender really matter when it comes to finding one's mate?” I asked curiously. Tina shook her head and I smiled. “Exactly, but I am curious, does he not pick up that I am his mate?” I glanced over at Liam, who was stuffing his face, chatting, and laughing with the other wolves.

“I don’t think so, he is only fourteen,” she informed me. Well, I suppose that makes sense.

“When would he pick it up?”

“I’m not sure, to be honest,” she looked sad that she couldn’t be more helpful, but I shrugged, she had already given me more than enough. For now.

“Thank you,” I said as I finished dishing up. Tina nodded before heading over to the wolves table. I didn’t hesitate as I rushed over to Felan and Tana. They both didn’t look too pleased to see me, but I didn’t care. After all, I just wanted a good seat. I sat down and looked over at Liam. Perfect view.

“I hope you will be somewhat faster today,” Tana commented.

“I’ll try,” I muttered out as I started to eat. Watching Liam was captivating, and it did cross my mind that it may be a little bit weird. Liam, aged fourteen, was three years younger than me. I wasn’t too concerned about that. It meant that we had plenty of time to grow. I wanted to get to know him more, to talk to him, to ask him questions but I also didn’t want to freak him out.

 ❤❤❤

“Hey! Um…Dennis!” I turned around to see Tina running towards me. Odd, normally the wolves where in front. I waited patiently for her to catch up and I couldn’t help but spot Liam not far behind her. He was looking at me and for the first time in an exceptionally long time, I blushed. Tina noticed and glanced back behind her. “Oh,”

“Sshh,” I turned back around and continued making my way to the dining hall.

“Listen, Dennis, I spoke to my brother last night…” I wanted to freeze, I wanted to question her, but I couldn’t. I knew that Liam could hear us.

“Not now,” I hissed out as we entered the dining hall. Tina nodded and fell back to her group. Somehow everything suddenly felt different. I was super aware of the fact that instead of me being the one to watch Liam, he was the one watching me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking so I kept my eyes down.

“Are you ok?” Tana asked me and I nodded without looking at her. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, why?”

“Because for the first time ever, you are done before us,” she pointed out and I knew what she meant. I had finished eating already. I quickly stood up, grabbed my tray, and left. I kept my eyes lowered as I dropped off the tray and headed outside. I didn’t go far, those where the rules, and I could feel the guard's eyes on me as I moved.

“Dennis!” I looked up to see Tina rushing towards me. I sighed loudly but I was also curious as to what information she had. “Sorry, Liam is asking questions about you now,”

“It’s ok,”

“Listen, I spoke to my brother about you and Liam and he told me that…” she looked behind her, I suppose to make sure we where alone. I noticed a tall, muscular guy with thick black hair, standing by the entrance but other than him, I didn’t see anyone else. “Anyway, he told me that Liam needs to be fifteen in order to feel the mate bond,”

“Oh,” I wanted to feel disappointed, I wanted to feel frustrated but honestly, I was somewhat relieved. Maybe this was for the best.

“However, Colin did mention that the mate bond can grow until then,” she informed me, and I thought about what that could mean for me and Liam. “I can’t imagine what you are going through, Dennis, but have faith. Liam may be young, but he is a bright young wolf,” the guy standing by the door had inched his way towards us and I didn’t feel comfortable with him so close. I reached out to pull Tina closer but the sound that the guy made was enough to have me freeze.

“Um,” I gulped loudly as I sized up the guy. He was much, much, bigger than me and I didn’t want to know what he could shift into. My senses told me he wasn’t a wolf, so he had to be something else.

“Oh, stop it,” Tina growled out to the guy before turning to me once again. “Don’t mind him, Dennis, he is my unexpected mate,” I nodded as I thought how nice it must be that they both recognize that. I took a careful step back and smiled.

“Well, I’d like to get to know Liam, but I won’t push him,” I said slowly. “Please don’t push him either, let him come to me on his own,”

“Alright,” Tina agreed before she left me alone and went back inside with her mate. As curious as I was about their relationship, I had bigger things to think about. I looked down at my hands and sighed. I would love to shift, right now, and just take out. I considered it but then again, where would it get me? I had no idea where I was or how I had gotten here. I didn’t even know how far away from home I was. But most importantly, I couldn’t leave without my mate, my Liam. I waited for him to leave and when he did, he smiled over at me before going on his way with his cellmates. He smiled at me!