Love and Fear

7- Mates?

Lucy was desperately trying to rest before dinner. Her head was swirling with what to do. She practiced what Axel had taught her, some kung fu clear your mind trick, but it was not working, and she was feeling so agitated. She almost roared when there was a knock at the door.

"come in," In walked a jaw-dropping beautiful redhead. Her freckled face was perfect! She thought for a minute she might ask her what she used for face cream. Her forest green eyes were all too familiar.

"Hi, I'm Treena, Killians sister. He told me you are his mate."

" I haven't accepted him" " oh, I know he thinks you are going to reject him, but let me tell you why that would be a huge mistake" " I don't think I can be Luna to a pack like this one. You seem very nice, but I am just not...." Lucy trailed off, not wanting to finish her excuse. When really, she was just afraid. "Look, Lucy, I know Killian's reputation makes him seem cold, hard and unloving, but there's more to the story. Rogues murdered our parents. Killian was only 15 and expected to take over after a m******e like that. Packs all over we're trying to take our territory. He had to be cruel to keep us safe and alive. Wouldn't you do the same for the people you love? He was a child. I was only 10, we were a peaceful pack, but the world turned dark. But honestly, Killian never gave into the darkness, he could have let his wolf make him feral and be like the rogue king and kill and devour and take whatever he wanted, but he didn't. He only killed evil Alphas and bad wolves. All children and women, and men who chose not to fight were welcomed into our pack and given jobs and homes. That's what the rumours leave out. The kindness he shows to those he holds no loyalty to. He even welcomed a Luna of a pack that attacked us first. She was young, a chosen mate to an alpha who had killed his first mate."

"I..... that's a lot of misinformation, how do I know what... I just, I need time."

"Okay, I get that. Promise me you'll give him a chance to explain? You won't regret it."

"Alright, fine."

as Treena was leaving, Axel walked in. "Hey Luc, you ok?"

"ya, I'm fine, just overwhelmed and tired from all that's been going on lately" Lucy wanted to tell Axel about Killian, but she was afraid he talked her into keeping him as a mate.

"I'm heading down to dinner. You want to join?"

"no, I'm going to eat in my room. I need rest."

Lucy didn't want to tell Axel that she needed rest to meet her mate.....

Lucy POV

I debated not coming, but Treena promised I would not regret it. I sat by the edge of the waterfall, watching as the sun began to leave the sky. I had to reject Alpha Killian. I could not be mated to such a cruel man. I had to keep it together. He was so delicious it took my breath away, but I convinced myself it was just the mate bond playing tricks on my mind. I'm a Bennet Wolf, I could have abilities he would take for granted and use to gain power. How could the moon goddess get it so wrong! Or maybe this is my punishment for killing that hiker. That day still haunts me, the blood, the fear, the anguish.

I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard the sexy voice again! " Hello Lucy." I turned to see him, he was wearing a button-down navy-coloured dress shirt tucked into dark jeans that hugged his body perfectly. I closed my eyes and took a breath. "I Lucy Bennet....." before I could finish, Killian smashed his lips onto mine. I couldn't help but kiss him back with just as much passion. It's like I could feel his desperation and need for me, our emotions mixing into desire. “I know you feel it too,” he whispered breathlessly. “It doesn't matter how I feel! Emotions are dangerous and can't be trusted.” I cried. “Give me a chance, the moon goddess wouldn't have made us mates if it wasn't destiny.” I had to admit I did agree with him, but I just can't. Astrid had been quiet ever since we had met Killian, but this made her stir in my mind.

“Lucy, I've tried to let you make the right choice for us since I've caused you so much pain over the years, but you can't reject our mates. They were made for us. Diesel was made to keep me calm, to help me navigate my anger, my emotions. Killian will be the key to us finding peace with each other.”

“Alright, Astrid, for you, I'll give him a chance, but I'm not accepting him.”

I was pulled from my little argument with Astrid by a low sexy chuckle. “Arguing with your wolf?” “I guess you could say that.” My stomach grumbled, and that's when I noticed Killian holding a picnic basket.

“I noticed you were missing from dinner. That's part of the reason I was late, I wanted to bring you something to eat. Axel said, these were your favourite” Just then, he pulled out another small basket with grilled pepperoni and cheese sandwiches. I was utterly shocked and amazed. Maybe there is something to this stoic, stern man, perhaps he does have a soft side. Just as I was about to reach for one, he placed a blanket next to the waterfall and the he pulled out the food and a bottle of champagne. I was about to say something snarky about drinking champagne when he pulled out a carafe of orange juice. "I was told you only drink something called a mimosa?"

"What did you tell Axel for him to give you all this information?" "That's for me to know, and you hopefully never find out," he laughed. I was beginning to love that sound, "He's quite protective over you. It surprised me that he was mated to your sister when he is so fond of you." " It's kind of a long, complicated story" I said. "Well, it just so happens, I enjoy long and complicated stories, and we have nowhere to be." The twinkle in his eye told me that he really did want to know me and my long, complicated story. I decided to tell him all of it, the good, the bad and the ugly. I thought he would flinch or something when I told him about the hiker and how Astrid constantly kept me on edge, but he just looked at me with so much understanding and compassion, it made me feel completely at peace. Something I don't think I have ever felt. He told me about his parents and what he went through to become Alpha and protect his sister and pack. I felt more connected to him than I ever had to anyone in my life. I left out the part about being a special wolf. I wasn't ready for that. The more we talked and laughed, the more I could feel the mate bond. We both fell asleep listening to the waterfall. It was absolute bliss, I don't know that I have ever felt this safe and content.

I woke up as the sun was rising, locked in Killian's arms; I looked up and brushed my fingers across a faint scar that sat right above his seemingly always furrowed brow. He began to stir and loosen his grip around my waist. I hated leaving this beautiful man, but if I didn't get back soon, Axel would definitely try to kill someone. I placed a very gentle kiss on Killian’s cheek and darted off back to the pack house. When I arrived back at the main entrance I could hear screaming and very stressed Ellen. I ran through the door to find out what was going on.

“LUCY!!!!” Lainie cried

I turned to see Axel and Lanie being restrained by four very large warriors. Ellen was still sobbing and it took me a minute to figure out was going on. Before I could think Astrid took control, her eyes burning into the men who had their hands placed on my family.

“What in the hell is going on! Get your hands off my brother and sister you disgusting mutts," she roared so loud it shook the house. Ellen stopped crying and the men began to shake. They let go of Axel and Lanie, Lanie grabbed onto me and sobbed, “I couldn't find you, I looked all over, Anna took over and hurt some of their warriors. Axel tried to calm her but they tranquillized Anna with wolfsbane and Axel killed their guards.” I tried to stay calm and breathe but all I could feel was Astrids debilitating Rage, rage so strong and vengeful it made me dizzy trying to stay calm. Astrid began to fully take control shoving me to the back of our mind, like a prison cell, then everything went dark.