Her True Mate

Chapter 2 - Needing Sleep

Present Day

Kaitlin's POV - Flashback Continued

I chuckled, grateful for the momentary distraction, lightly smiling down at the intricate pattern on the locket.

When I open it, I see the four of us squashed together, smiling. It’s my favorite picture of us crowded on my family’s massive single sofa seat. I am amazed that we could still fit on that one loveseat today.

“Sara had to make a copy of your photo. I am surprised you didn’t notice it was missing.” He looked at me, smiling.

“I guess I haven’t noticed much these days. I am sorry about that.”

He hugs me tightly and tickles my ear with his finger to make me laugh again. Goddess, he loves doing that, and I cringe every time.

I’ve known Peter my whole life. He’s my brother’s best friend and Beta, but he’s also family.

Despite being Mark’s little sister, I always felt included. Even though I’m not too fond of his finger teasing in my ear, he does this to remind me that there is still joy and love in the world, which breaks my melancholy mood.

Why couldn’t Peter be my mate? He is attentive and caring, and how he looks at me right now leaves me questioning the moon goddess.

At 22 years old, he still hasn’t found his mate. Sometimes, I hate that we are fücking werewolves blessed with one person to spend forever with but have no say about who it is. Sure, we can take a chosen mate, but most don’t, as they don’t make us as strong as our fated mates do.

We can find our mates when we first shift at 17.

Mates are our Goddess-given gift—the one person who was made for you and paired with you by Selene herself.

Once you find them, you are bound together in a love so deep nothing can break it, or so I hear.

Mates often don’t live long if they lose the other to death once marked and mated. Rejecting your mate these days is very rare as mates are harder to find.

It is also not typical to be as old as Peter and not find your mate, but it seems to be happening more lately.

My heart breaks for him, for me.

“That is why you are here with us now!” he says, breaking me from my thoughts, and smiles so broadly I can’t help but grin back.

"So true, my good sir, so true."

“We are so excited for you to break free of this place and explore the world! I don’t believe the world is ready for you, Kait.” He says, and I swear my knees go weak at his smile.

My smile gets even more prominent, and I look back at my brother and his mate, who are now face-sucking. I wonder if they can even breathe.

They are some of the lucky ones. They found each other almost immediately. Mark was on a patrol run nearly a month after becoming Alpha at 18 as per our duty, and Sara was out playing with her niece, whom she was visiting in our pack. It was love at first sniff for them both!

I cleared my throat loudly, and they snapped back to reality and blushed.

“Sorry!” They both say in unison.

“Anyway, I think Peter beat us to the punch, but we just want to feel like we are there on your epic adventure!” Mark says excitedly. “We are so glad you’re getting out, Kait. You need this.” He looks at me with love and a little concern in his eyes.

“I love it. Thanks, guys!”

--- END FLASHBACK ---

My phone buzzing on the nightstand ripped me from memory, replaying in my mind. It was a text from Blayn, my best friend, and Beta.

*I can practically feel your pain from over here. You okay?*

Fück. I groaned, throwing my phone down on the bed. I should have realized that Blayn would pick up on my trip down memory lane and ensured my mental shields were locked into place.

I felt bad for keeping him up somehow with his crazy ability to read me.

Reluctantly, I picked my phone back up. Unlocking the device, I hit reply.

*Yeah, all good. I was thinking of Mark that day at Gillian's.*

The phone buzzes almost instantly.

*Shït.*

*I’m sorry. Do you want me to come over?*

Do I? I feel like I am giving this guy whiplash with all my emotions. He’s my best friend and knows every detail of my life better than I do lately.

Things have been more than complex lately. With my family gone, the stress of running the pack with little—well, no help from the former ranking members has fallen to us all on our own. He takes it in stride, though, making it more manageable day by day. A crutch, almost—the thought burns in my heart.

*No.*

*Get some sleep.*

*I’m sorry for waking you up.*

I took another deep breath. I am beyond grateful to Blayn, regardless of whether I have abused his position.

When I finally returned home after getting the news, he was there to pick me up from the airport. Despite all that had happened between us, he was there.

His comforting presence was precisely what I needed. Aside from Mark, he was my best friend and even closer to me than any of the she-wolves our age.

Our friendship was broken between us before I left because of him. I would never forgive myself for allowing that to happen.

Blayn had hugged me so tightly when I slammed into him, and in that hug, I knew I had been forgiven. I never thought I would deserve it. I said some hurtful things to him once ‘The Idïot’ was in the picture, but there we were, picking up right where we had left off as if nothing had happened.

My parents were the acting Alpha and Luna, so they sent Blayn to pick me up. I understood I would be the next Alpha but never trained for it. I wasn’t supposed to be the Alpha.

I thought I had time to figure it out with them there to help me.

We weren’t expecting my parents to give us the titles when we returned to the pack house.

I was taking over as Alpha immediately.

Me.

In one blow, I lost my brother, his mate, and Peter. My parents were struggling with his loss as well. They loved Mark and Sara deeply. They loved me, too, but knew I never wanted this life, to be forever in this town, and the responsibility of being Alpha.

We cried all day together, and I assured them I would do what was needed.

Then, they were gone... the next day, both of them. Dr. Owens said they died of broken hearts. I collapsed right there on the spot, my heart exploding in pain at the deaths of my whole family.

Blayn stayed with me till I could function and snapped me into work mode.

Mark had done an excellent job at being Alpha. All the records and paperwork were immaculate and up to date, so there wasn’t too much I had to figure out. I spent the next several days returning to pack life and reviewing his meticulous records. The warmth from pack members at my new position made my heart swell with pride.

They never even blinked when I, a woman, was sworn in as Alpha three months ago. It was as if this was where I belonged.

I shake my head, clearing my thoughts. I want to be home. I am tired from all the traveling we have been doing. My phone buzzes

*I can still hear you thinking in there.*

*Do I need to bust down the door?*

This man was amazing. A small smile creeps on my face as I tap reply on the screen.

*And I can smell you from here.*

*Stop farting. My room smells terrible already.*

I giggled, Blayn would die before anyone heard him fart.

Blayn had also found his mate at 18, Tyler Myers. He is a warrior in our pack. No one knew that Blayn was gay until they shouted “MATE!” at each other. I did, and I loved him all the same.

His mate was also not out. I remember my family’s overjoyed call when they announced their mating in training. We all knew it was a perfect match.

Our pack never discriminated. My grandfather made sure we were welcoming in every sense of the word. We were often the haven for wolves looking for a safe place to call home without fear of persecution. It’s now up to me to protect all of it, and I intend to.

I look at the incoming message.

*Oh, missy, your ass is mine in the gym at 06:00.*

Ah hell. I glanced up at the time: 04:43 AM.

Sighing, I set an alarm for 05:30 and settled in. What feels like 10 minutes later, the annoying alarm is blaring in my ear.

Time to get my äss handed to me.

I put on my leggings, sports bra, and cropped hoodie, leaving my long brown hair down. I hurried to find my training shoes in my bag, laced them up, and grabbed my small gym bag with a spare set of clothes before heading out.

I see Blayn leaning against his door.

“Good Morning,” he smirks at me, clearly seeing the dark circles under my eyes.

“Fück Off.” I smile sweetly back, making a vulgar gesture, and he stands up—his tall 6-foot 2-inch drool-worthy ripped frame tenses at those two words, his eyes narrow at me.

He’s wearing the most minuscule shorts I have ever seen and a loose tank that leaves everything on display. It’s such a shame he bats for the other team.

“Excuse me, missy?” He glares through slitted eyes.

“Oh, I am sorry, Your Highness. Was I supposed to wish you a great morning? You forget who is more important here.” I chuckle and pretend to queen walk down the hallway.

He is stunned for a second and quickly catches up to me before slapping my äss. Hard.

“That is for the sass, missy! I am here for you, but I refuse to be a punching bag before coffee. Understood?”

“Sir, yes, Sir!” I snap at him, saluting and spinning around quickly, only to jam my finger into the down button. Ouch.

I finally replied with a serious response as he chuckled at my misery.

“It hasn’t been a good morning in a few weeks, and you know it—I can’t say it yet,” I say, bringing down the mood. He tenses up again but eases quickly.

“I am sorry, Kait. You know that, but I must also remind you that life is currently happening around you.” He has a point as he waves his arms in a circular motion. I smiled wearily at him.

“I know. Lack of sleep and this city put me on edge,” I say softly. “I am sorry, too.”

“That is why I have a morning planned for you to get you through it!” He says, grinning from ear to ear.

Well, fück me.