LUNA CATHERINE ( PUBLISHED)( SAMPLE)

Chapter 5.

" He's your bloody mate?!" Travis booms, barging into the guestroom that I'm currently occupying.

I silently turn my head away from the window, facing him as he paces back and forth.

" Calm down."

" Don't tell me to calm down, he, he....." He takes a breath, trying to calm himself down. " How could he do this, to his own mate?" He says, stopping to face me.

" A part of him wants me but something has built a shield, some kind of force, to make him resist the mate bond. You know what happened to me years ago, I'm afraid I won't have much influence, to push more on the mate bond so he'll accept it."

" He's too caught up on his battles, his childhood, to break down those walls." He sighs.

" It's the way he was raised, am I correct?" He nods.

" It's always a challenge to have someone see in a different light, when something else was grilled into their mind all their lives."

" Well, maybe he needs more fists on his face to knock some sense into him." He massages his bruised hand.

" What did you do?"

" I punched him the minute I found out. I was too pissed off to see reason."

" He is your alpha." I remind him.

" He's also my friend, my idiotic, foolish friend." I just shoot him a look, not saying anything.

" I should go apologise, right?" I nod, feeling glad that he knows me so well.

He huffs, folding his arms and pouting like a little kid. I can't resist the small giggle that bubbles out of me. His mood instantly changes, lightening up as he watches me.

A minute of silence passes between us before he joins me by the window, leaning his side against the wall, and staring out at the beautiful forest.

" I think back to when we first met, you were so small and silent, yet headstrong. You were more powerful and smarter than I was, so calm and mature. When you defended me against that rogue, even though through your situation, I pretty much was in awe of you." He turns to face me, as a soft smile takes place on his face, a far away look present in his eyes.

" You were also brave, so funny, and had a temper on you. Well, you still do." His brow rises at that. " And you gave me a sense of belonging, so I want to thank you."

" I should have gone back for you." He shakes his head.

" No, I'm glad you didn't, because you found your mate. You're a Beta and you are happy." I say, meaning it.

" Yeah, but what about you?" The question alone puts me at a pause. I turn away from him and stare out the window.

" Maybe happiness comes last for me." I shrug, looking at him again.

He opens his mouth to speak, when there's a knock on the door.

" Let me get that." I say, walking over to open the door.

" Hi, look, about what happened in the cell, you know? Me, hitting you and........" She stops mid sentence, when her eyes move behind me.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see Travis standing right behind me and into Kylie's view. His eyes are focused on Kylie and he looks less than thrilled.

" What, did you just say?"

" Trav ---------"

" You hit her." He states.

" Travis -------" I try to speak, but he holds up his hand to silence me.

" Don't even defend her right now." He warns me before he shakes his head slightly, disappointment filling his eyes.