Her Fate, His Mate

Chapter 5

I felt myself being lifted. I must be dreaming, as I felt warm and weightless. I was suddenly surrounded by comfort and wrapped up. I never opened my eyes but fell into a deeper sleep. I awoke in a state of confusion. I don't remember getting into my bed last night.

I was mentally exhausted. The last few days have been draining. Grant had been almost attached at my hip and although nothing has happened sexually between us I could tell he was growing impatient. I tried to speak to Gracie but every time I tried talking to her she would pretend I didn't exist and walk away from me. My heart broke for her, our friendship and the loss of losing her mate. I wanted to tell her I didn't want Grant, he's forcing this, just like he forced their rejection. I just needed her to see the truth.

My stomach growled bringing me out of my thoughts. I got up out of bed and dressed into sweats and a tank. I pulled my hair up into a messy bun and walked down into the dining hall. I was required now, being future Luna, to dine here with everyone. It's not that I didn't like it, I just felt like I didn't belong. Which, in a way, I truly didn't belong here, in this seat, next to our future Alpha. I felt arms on my shoulders and looked up to see Grant smiling down at me "Good morning my sweet."

"Good morning." I said dryly.

He frowned coming around and sitting in his spot "Grumpy? I'm planning a magical birthday surprise for you next week."

"Oh? Yeah?" I watched him move to the seat next with me. "Like what?"

"A bit of light traveling around the human territories. Maybe some beaches, mountains, big cities, or country side wineries?" He placed his hands on my own and smiled.

"Oh, that sounds wonderful." Honestly I was a little excited about traveling. I wanted to see everything I could. I gave him a warm smile and he kissed my cheek.

"Have dinner with me tonight my sweet?" He placed a kiss to my bare shoulder.

"Okay, I can do that. What time?" I looked down into my coffee.

"Seven? I'll meet you at the top of the stairs?" He stood "Lets get you some food." He walked off into the kitchen. I heard him talking to the staff to pick up the pace. They were down two cooks. One of the ladies had a baby and the other was out sick. I sipped on my coffee and leaned my head back against the chair.

"Annabelle?" I heard a whisper. I looked up and glanced around seeing Gracie. She looked like she hadn't slept in days or ate. Rejection was always hard. "I'm sorry but I can't talk to you just yet. I needed you to know."

I nodded to her "I am sorry, truly. I don't want any of this happening."

She looked to the door of the kitchen and back at me for a moment. I wanted to stand, go over to her and hug her but I couldn't. I wasn't even supposed to be talking to her, but she's my best friend. I watched her disappear around the corner of the door that leads into the dining room and I was alone, once again. I sat there with my thoughts, thinking about the mess all of this has turned out to be.

I wasn't alone very long, when Grant and Liam came walking through. The plates piled high and I found myself not very hungry. I was, however, grateful for a buffer in conversation with Liam coming out. I had feared that I was going to be eating breakfast alone with him. Now, try not to make it awkward and put on a brave face. I smiled when they both looked at me. "Hello again and good morning Liam."

Liam glanced up at me as he was placing a large piece of bacon into his mouth and smiled "Good morning Annabelle."

Grant sat down next to and placed my plate in front of me. It was my absolute favorite breakfast items. French toast dusted with powdered sugar and topped with maple syrup, scrambled eggs, thick cut bacon and sausage, with a side of mixed fruit. My appetite must of made a quick return because just as my plate hit the table my stomach growled. The guys looked at one another and Grant leaned down a kissed the top of my head "Eat up, my sweet."

There it was, I nearly cringed at his pet name every single time. I could not stand it at all. It just seemed like it was so forced and not natural. To me it was like nails on a chalkboard, sending shivers down my spine. Just completely awful.

I began to slowly eat, placing the food in my mouth a small moan escaped my lips. This was beyond delicious, more like heavenly if I'm being honest.

I just listened to them talk amongst each other. Talking about the threat from a neighboring pack, what needs to be done, as they ate away. I acted uninterested and pushed the food around on my plate, taking a bite ever so often. It was way too much food. They talked about going to the training grounds and preparing for if we were to come under an ambush.

"Would you like to come train with us?" Liam was looking at me and my eyes widened.

"Me? Oh I planned on going for a run later this morning."

He nodded and looked over at Grant "Training may give you a better workout, right bud?"

Grant nodded "You should come and refresh your skills at the very least. That way if something happens you can defend yourself better."

I sighed, nodding my head, "Very well then. What time is training starting?"

Grant smiled "Whenever you're finished pushing that food around you plate."

I pushed my chair back away from the table and stood up, "Okay let's go. I'll meet you two down there in a moment I have to get my shoes and I'm going to clear this table off."

I cleared our dishes from the table and walked back up to my room. I sat down on the chair and looked at my shoes trying to decided which one would be the best fit. I ultimately decided on a pair of boots. It rained last night and it may be muddy.

Training with the two of them is probably a good thing. Refresher course for myself and as an added bonus, I could help protect myself against him. I would not be able to overpower him but I could surprise him enough to get my point across. I wanted to show him that it wasn't going to be easy. I refused to be marked by him before I could find my mate. I just hope whoever he is, is just as big, of not bigger than Grant. He's going to need all the help. Luckily enough, for whoever my mate truly is, Grant rejected his true Goddess given mate. This makes him weaker, that is, until he marks me. Then our bond will be united, together.

As I approached the training ground I heard the sounds of struggling. I looked up to the overcast sky and was thankful it wasn't scorching hot outside. I stopped just outside the barrier line and was placing my hair into a messy bun. There were more than just Liam and Grant, the other warriors were here too. They all bowed their heads to me as a sign of respect and I smiled warmly to them. "Good afternoon fearless warriors, you may relax and resume what you were doing."

I shook off the nerves and began stretching out and loosening my muscles, preparing them for the beating about to happen. As I finished stretching I heard my name being called a few yards away "Anna I want you to come meet our wisest trainer, Asher." It was Liam who spoke and I looked around and didn't see Grant around. Odd, considering he said he would be here, but I'll be able to train better without him glued to my side.

I walked over to the pair of them and took the older gentleman's hand in a soft shake. "Hello I'm Annabelle, but you may call me Anna." I smiled up to him. He may of been older but he was muscular and lean. He was about 6'4 or so and had grey hair that stopped at his shoulders. He may have been in his late 40s or early 50s.

"Miss Anna it is then, I am Asher, head trainer and Lead Warrior on the battlefields. Well used to be, now I just train all you young pups." He smiled with a wink and I instantly knew I could trust him. I just needed to find out, and make sure my gut instinct about him was correct.

There was something about him I just couldn't lay my finger on. I don't ever really recall hearing or seeing about him around the Pack until about seven to ten years ago. "Shall we begin Asher?" I c****d my head to the side and he clapped his hands together before extending his right arm in the direction we were to go. I walked along side of him silently and we stopped in front of a group of warriors circling in the ring. He spoke and was explaining how to properly size your opponent up. "Look at the way they move, study their feet movements. Are they limping at all. What is their dominant side." He pointed at the men.

I nodded as we watched them start. It was interesting to see how he could almost call what was going to happen by the way they moved. One of the men's legs got taken out from under him and once he was in a compromising position the bell rang. "Winner James Moore!" The men clapped and the winner helped the other guy up. They laughed and walked back into the mass of warriors. "This is going to be interesting. So when can you start teaching me?" I looked over to him and he smiled.

"Tomorrow we will start. Today we must learn about each other. In order for you to trust me in teaching you, you should know me and my background. That way you know why I am teaching you the way I am. Also why I am having you do things the way that you will be doing. You're a female, you're smaller, and easily to be over powered; but remember this, you are quicker and can maneuver easier then the big bulky men. Come on, this way." We walked together making small talk about the day at hand. When we reached the offices, we walked back to his office and he had me sit in a chair and he sat down opposite of me. "So Miss Anna, tell me, what are you scared of most. Please remember anything you tell me does not leave this room. It's just you and me." He smiled and I relaxed some.

"The future Alpha is forcing me to be his Luna of this pack, his mate, and has rejected his true mate. He barely let's me out of his sight. Thats the real reason why I agreed to do this." I looked at my hands nervously. He was quiet for far too long. He said nothing to me, before he stood and walked out of the door. Crap.