Her Mates Fates

Chapter Six

Freya POV

“How may I help?” I ask Layla as I walk into the supply room startling her out of her thoughts.

“Have any ideas on what we should bring on a hike? I am good at tracking, but not survival packing…” she fades off looking around in wonder at the enormous room filled with camping gear.

“I was thinking we would need somewhere to sleep, shelter, water, food, and warmth,” I suggested.

I go over to the closet and find 12 backpacks. I set them on the workbench at the far end of the room and look to Layla for help. She searches around and grabs 8 metal canteens from one of the shelves. That’s all they had.

“I linked Amber and told her to bring you down three extra pairs of clothes per person.” She states as she starts to stick water containers into each bag. “Couples are going to have to share.” She shrugs her shoulders at the absence of 4 water canteens.

I thank her and head to the pantry for nonperishable food items. I pick out a variety of high-protein items that include protein bars, jerky, nuts, and peanut butter. I also grab some crackers, rice, beans, flour, and salt. I place them in a waterproof duffel bag, adding a small pot and an iron skillet.

“I’m going to go find some firestarter in the shed. Will you set some more things out for me to pack?” She asked. I nodded and went in search of more.

I found some rope, two first aid kits, a sewing needle, some fishing string with some hooks, and some solar lanterns. “The path that we will be taking, will there be caves for us to shelter in.” I link Abel. “Four out of six of the nights we plan to make it to some type of cave.” He replies to my question. We shouldn’t need tents in the fall weather, the skies are usually clear around this time of year. I round up two tarps just in case and set them out for Layla.

“Here are the extra clothes for everyone” Amber says as she pushes in a cart. “Everyone should have three sets of clothes for the trip.” She smiles at me and dismisses herself before I can thank her. I set the clothes on the workstation with the other supplies and step back. I’m fairly satisfied with my work.

I know how to survive on little to nothing, I’ve had to for the last six years. Sometimes I would go weeks without food, or even warmth in my room. I’ve learned a trick or two. I notice on the wall behind the racks are knives and other sharp items hanging neatly. Yeah, we are going to need some of those. I examine the collection and choose some of the more obvious needs: a small ax, a hunting knife, and a machete. I snicker when I see a tomahawk hanging near the door, he will appreciate that too.

“Hey, I found some sleeping bags in the shed, there are only seven, but we can make do. I gave them to Ms. Rachal to launder.” Layla comes strolling in, pleased with her efforts. She sets the fire starter on the table and studies everything I have brought out.

“Dang girl, you outdid yourself!” she teases.

“Please let everyone know to bring their own hygiene products. Have them place them in a Ziplock bag with their names on them.”

Layla smiles at me knowingly. “You can tell you were raised by Alphas. You have a natural way of taking the lead. You’re going to make a great Luna one day.” She compliments.

My cheeks light up from her comment. I don’t know how I feel about being a Luna. I always thought I would be mated to a warrior and wouldn’t need to help lead a pack because my brother would be our Alpha. It’s a little overwhelming to think about. I want to object to her and tell her that I will not be a Luna… but I don’t. Last night, after he told me he was going to mark me, he stopped halfway through it and left the room. He acted so strangely and now I'm confused.

“If you’d like to go, I got it from here. Thank you for your help.” Layla says. She takes out her earbuds and shoves them in her ears, dismissing me. She begins to sort through the supplies and pack the bags efficiently.

I leisurely make my way up to the third floor where my room is assigned, taking the time to study the pictures that hang neatly on the walls. I recognize some of the people in the photos that live here in the pack house. There are other pictures of faces I do not recognize; pictures of children in front of schools, business owners cutting their Grand Opening ribbon, and even a few pictures of what looks like various parties.

“Before Alpha Kingston, our people were not granted much freedom.” A voice startles me, and I whip around to see an older woman looking at the pictures too. “Once Alpha Kingston took over, he urged us to put our children in school, open businesses, and celebrate life. He taught us the importance of blending in with the world instead of secluding ourselves from it.” She said. I smile at her use of Abel’s last name; it makes me feel as if I was home again. She nods to someone past me and walks away in a hurry.

I smell Abel before I ever see him. “Can we talk?” he questions. I swivel around and see him leaning against the wall of the hallway looking like a wet dream. Goddess, he makes me want to do things I have never done before. He makes it hard to stay mad at him. “Sure” I shrug.

He looks past me with a worried look on his face. “Somewhere private?” he asks shyly. I nod my head and gesture for him to lead the way. I follow in his footsteps and my body rushes with anxiety. He leads me to my room and opens the door for me like a gentleman. He sits on my bed and pats the spot next to him. I join him with hesitation… what is this about?

“What’s up Abel?” I ask with a bit more attitude than I meant. I place my hands in my lap trying to keep them occupied so I don’t do something stupid. My wolf is constantly wanting me to touch him. Being this close to him makes my strength to resist him diminish.

He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “I’m breaking up with Layla tonight. I want to be with you. I want you to be my Luna. I want to watch your belly grow with each of our pups. I want to mark you, but I can’t until you have gone through the ritual.”

“Wh-.” I try to ask him why I need my powers to be with him but he cuts me off.

“You have to trust me. I promised the Luna I would wait until after you have finished your ceremony to claim you. It’s hard to fight my wolf to stay away from you. You’re f*****g intoxicating. But Luna wouldn't have told me of her vision if it wasn't important. You and I both know that.” He leans over and kisses my cheek, getting up to leave.

My heart sinks at his confession. Is he talking about my mother? “The Luna? As in my mother?” I ask him standing up and catching him by the arm.

He looks me in the eyes with a pleading look on his face. “I can’t tell you what she said, Freya. You know what that could do to someone’s fate. Please, can we wait until after the ritual? I know how hard it is going to be to stay away from one another, but we have to.” His eyes are hopeful as he stares at me. My heart aches for him. I can feel his love for me, but my wolf also whimpers from rejection. She doesn’t understand the concept of waiting. Mates don’t wait.

The look in his eyes makes my knees buckle. He is fighting with his wolf just standing next to me. Whatever my mother told him had to be major for him to hold himself back. I nod my head in agreement.

“Okay.” He says. He leans over and places a soft kiss on my cheek again, savoring the feel of my skin on his lips. Prickles roll down my body at the contact. I place my forehead on his and close my eyes relishing in his scent and the feel of his skin on mine. His fingertips trail down my arm in an unhurried caress. His nose rubs against mine and my heart quickens. I place my hands on his shirt and push him away. I open my eyes and look into his. He looks at me with love, lust, and so much longing.

“You should go” I murmur.

He leaves my room without hesitation, still in a lust-filled daze.

Every single day since I lost everything, my life has been so complicated. It feels like when my family was ripped from me, so was the chance to have a good life. My mother had the gift of seeing visions, and she used to tell me that I was destined for greatness. “My sweet girl you will question the Moon Goddess countless times, but don’t give up faith. You are destined to be great. She will bless you beyond measure my daughter.” She used to say. Right now, I do not feel blessed. I feel like every good thing that was ever promised me is being torn away, thread by thread.

I eventually join some of the pack members down in the dining hall for an early dinner. Tori was getting hot flashes and wanted some fresh air so I took her onto the deck to feel the breeze. She puked behind a bush a few times before she told me she was going to bed. I stayed out on the deck for an hour or so before I finally retreated to my bed for the night. I had the strangest feeling like there was something evil lurking in the woods watching me.

Elias POV

Three patrols have already passed me without detecting my scent. What is a group of Crescent Moon wolves doing hiding amongst ordinary werewolves? I need to make them all return home with me; they are not safe here. These woods are crawling with witches and vampires. Such creatures know better than to show their faces several miles from my land. If she is my fated mate, she will have no choice but to return with me, with or without her pack. If she is mine, her safety is my number one priority. If any of the realms learn who she is, or what she is, they will come for her and they will stop at nothing until she is dead. The prophecy mentions this.

I catch a glimpse of Zora’s wolf coming my way. I shift out of my wolf to better communicate. Her bones rearrange when she sees me. “Elias.” She greets me with a bow.

“Zora.” I return her gesture. Zora has become a dear friend of mine, a mentor almost, within the last few years. She sought me out when 90% of her pack was blinded and slaughtered by this very pack. Their young Beta took over and has made some questionable decisions that have angered Zora. She has been waiting for the prophecy to be fulfilled before coming to join my pack.

“We leave in the morning. I had to lie and say that you were a lone wolf who knows the land. Abel does not take to strangers, especially now that she is here.”

“Does the Beta know of the prophecy?”

She peeks over her shoulder and lowers her voice. “You are the only one who knows of the prophecy besides me.” She says.

“Then why is he on edge now that she is here? I do not understand.”

I could harvest the energy from Zora’s nerves she is so anxious. She panics and starts to pick at her fingers. “Because she is his mate.” Her voice is almost inaudible.

“Impossible. I’ve seen the prophecy too. If this girl is truly the one to fill the prophecy, she is my fated mate. I saw her become my Luna. I felt our bond through the vision. I kissed her pregnant stomach that contained my pup.” My tone is clipped and irritated. If that Beta touches my mate, I will rip his head off after I make him watch me claim what is MINE!

Zora strolls over to a tree and pulls a backpack from behind it. Throwing it to me, she explains more in detail about the woman. “She is an ordinary Alpha right now. She never completed the Crescent Moon ritual. I have searched for answers and have found that because of this, her wolf has yet to accept her true fate. She will not be your mate until she has completed the ritual. New fate equals new mate. Which is what we are doing tomorrow, setting out for the journey.”

I catch a whiff of something sweet that wakes my beast up. He growls deep inside my head. “Mine” he claims. I search the area for the smell and my eyes land on a small black-haired girl sitting on the pack's deck alone. I watch her as she stands up and turns around. She’s beautiful. She wraps her thin arms around her chest and peers out towards the woods. For just a moment, I feel her soul tangle with mine. She is sweet, feisty, and pure. But most of all, she is boiling over with an abundance of raw power just waiting to be tapped.

She is magnificent, and she is all mine!

“That's my mate.” I whisper to Zora and nod my head toward the packhouse in the distance.

Zora gasps and squeezes my arm. “Elias, that’s Freya…" Zora and I look at each other. ".. the prophecy is true.”