The Orphaned Luna

Chapter 7

Donovan's POV

"Zadie.... she's my mate."

Did I just hear him right? My best friend just told me he is mated to my cousin, who has always been more like a sister to me since her parents raised me.

Thinking back on our childhood, it kind of makes sense. They were always close, and he seemed drawn to her back then. And when her family "moved away" after their vacation, or so we were told by my mother, he was heartbroken. I never really understood why.

Now, I guess it makes total sense.

"Say something," I heard Rex say quietly, almost like he was ashamed. I looked up at him to study his face. He was worried about my feelings. I let out a little laugh before finally responding to him.

"Dude, if she's your Goddess given mate, who am I to stand in the way of that? But you better treat her right. No more Stacie and Tracie, or anyone else for that matter. You've been kind of a man wh**e since you turned eighteen and didn't find your mate right away. All that's gotta stop. If I find out you have mistreated her in any way, I'm gonna kick your a**."

Even though he is the Alpha, and I'm only his Beta, I'll still give him a good beating. Knowing him if he felt he deserved it, he'd take a few punches as punishment. Rex visibly let out a sigh of relief at my answer, knowing now I wasn't pissed. I couldn't help but laugh.

"I thought you were gonna be pissed," he finally said. "Naw, man. It's all good. You're not the worse person for her to be mated to," I told him with a shrug as we both laughed. I could visibly see him relax finally.

Rex was a good guy. He fought for the people he loved and was a good Alpha. He'll be a good mate, I have no doubt. I just hope he can be patient with Zadie as she's been gone for so long. I don't want him to scare her off and lose her all over again.

I told him my feelings and he agreed. He would take things slow with her. "I think I'll keep my distance from her for now. Just so Apollo doesn't take control and try to claim her like he did earlier. Please don't take that as I am disrespecting her in any way. I just know how Apollo was smelling her on you last night and seeing her for the first time today. He's howling in my head and trying to take over to go claim her," Rex told me.

I get it. Well, I don't really get it as I haven't been lucky enough to find my mate yet. But we've been told how strong the mate bond can be. And for him as an Alpha, I can only imagine how hard it was to hold back his wolf and not claim her the minute he saw her.

Finding your fated mate as an Alpha makes you stronger. Makes the pack stronger. But only after you have marked and mated with her.

"I give you serious props, man, for being able to hold yourself and your wolf back. I know it can't be easy." Pouring himself and me a drink from his liquor stash, he says, "You have no idea. When we were kids I always wished she was my mate. I was in love with her back then. Only to find out twelve years later she really is my mate, and she's been in an orphanage this whole time when she could have been here with us, I feel cheated. Cheated out of the time I could have had with her. If your Mother wasn't already dead, I think I'd kill her myself for her selfishness."

"I wouldn't blame you. I hate my Mother for her lies as well. She was never really my Mother anyway, only the woman who gave birth to me. I'm just thankful I went through her journals when I did."

Rex looked at me with so much gratitude in his expression. "You have no idea how thankful to you I am."

"Well, I'm going to check on Zadie, see if she needs anything before I turn in for the night." Finishing my drink in one large gulp, I put my glass down and started to head out of his office. But before reaching the door, I hear Rex ask, "Why do you think she can't feel the mate bond? She is eighteen, after all."

Turning to him, I could see the hurt and longing in his eyes. "Well, she is a wolf/witch hybrid. We don't know much about that. Maybe it's just different for her. We'll figure it out, though." With a nod of acknowledgment, I could see the thoughts turning in his head, so I turned and walked out the door.

Making my way back to the Beta floor, I knocked on Zadie's door, waiting for her to reply before entering. "Come in," I heard from the other side. Opening the door and closing it behind me, I made my way over to the sofa that was situated in front of a large TV and sat down next to her. She was watching some show I'd never seen before.

"Do you have everything you need for tonight?" I could tell she had something on her mind before she replied very timidly. "I think I'm all set."

"What's on your mind?" I asked her. I wanted her to be comfortable talking to me and telling me anything. But I also didn't want to force her and make her feel uncomfortable. After all, I've only recently come back into her life. "You can talk to me."

She studied my face for a moment, and finally replied, "Did I do something to piss the Alpha off? Maybe I shouldn't have come. He doesn't seem to want me here at all."

"Oh, Zadie, it's not that at all. He's very happy you're here. Do you not remember him from when we were kids?" She looked at me with sadness in her eyes and shook her head.

"You and Rex were inseparable as kids. You'd always tag along with your brother when we would get together to play. It always made Trey mad, but Rex was always so happy about it. The two of you had a special bond and would follow each other everywhere." Pausing for a minute so she could take it all in. "I hope you're able to remember it one day."

With that, I got up and walked around the back of the couch before resting my hand on her shoulder. "I'm glad you're here. Rex is too. Believe me when I tell you that." She looked up at me and gave me a small smile and a nod.

"Goodnight," I told her as I turned to leave.

"Goodnight, Donovan."