Chapter 11

**Justin’s POV**

Michael and I were finishing up another training session, with the future warriors. Kataleya has not been in a session since I saw her training with the Alpha. Michael and I have not spoken since the incident with Anna, and I was determined to talk to him today after training. I needed him to understand that Anna did not and did not mean anything to me…I was truly being serious when I told him that I wanted to get to know Kataleya.

‘Instead of fucking every she-wolf, maybe you should have listened to me when I said not to touch that bitch.’ Ares growled in my head.

‘Damn wolf. Always so damn temperamental. Happy? I regret it. But, at the same time, I am not actually seeing anyone right now, so I could technically screw whoever the hell I want to.’

‘Or you could have been waiting for our mate like I have asked of you since our first shift. I can feel her. She is near and I don’t think she is going to appreciate it when she finds out that her mate has been screwing around with she-wolves throughout the entire pack.’ Ares growled back at me. Rarely, my wolf and I disagree. For the most part, we are on the same page. The only thing that we had mostly disagreed about was waiting for my mate. He believes that I should be some form of the “Virgin Mary” when we meet our mate, but I think that until I meet her, I should be able to do anything that I want to do. Not like she knows who my past flings are, and I don’t expect to know who her past flings are. Plus, could you imagine what it would be like to not find your mate until you were 30? Can you imagine a werewolf being a 30-year-old virgin? I silently laughed at myself. Neither could I.

As the last pack member is leaving, I holler out, “Hey, Michael! Wait up!” I rushed to catch up to Michael. “Can we talk for a moment?”

“Sure. What’s up?” he responded.

“So…about the other night, what you walked in on. I want you to know that there is nothing going on between Anna and I. Sometimes, we just use each other to get our frustrations out, but I promise it is nothing more than casual sex. I was being serious when I told you that I wanted to get to know your sister. I like her personality, her spunk. I was just frustrated the day of the party; I was pissed off. She had turned me down again and it sort of hurt. I was frustrated and angry. I deserved the hits that you threw at me and I promise it won’t happen again. I am sorry that you got the wrong impression from it.” I rushed to finish my sentence.

Michael looks me up and down before speaking. “I am sorry about the other night. I overreacted and I could not see that at the moment. All I saw was white-hot anger. You had just bared your soul to me, hours prior, and then I caught you fucking some other female after just telling me how much you wanted my sister. I just could not handle it. But it did not give me the excuse to attack you as I did, and my wolf helped me understand that. Please accept my apology.”

“Of course. No harm, no foul. You really helped me see the error of my ways with that face pounding though. Hurt like a bitch, but it helped me see what I was doing was wrong. It was wrong of me to use Anna in that way and, even though there is nothing between your sister and I, I still want to be a man that she could be proud of and that she might hopefully give a chance too. Even if I don’t really deserve that chance with her.”

Michael and I continued walking together until we reached the pack house. As we prepared to enter the pack house, Michael turned and looks at me. “Please don’t give up on her. She is difficult. She is stubborn. She is a pain in the ass. But we all want her to move on. I know it is not fair for all of us to know this big hidden secret that no one is willing to tell you, but know that it is because we care about her. She did not want anyone to know what happened to her.”

I nodded to him and promised I wouldn’t give up that easily. I decided to go for a walk. It has been a while since I went for a walk without having to worry about going somewhere. As I walked, I let my thoughts trail to Kataleya. What could have happened to her that caused her to not want to get close to anyone? She does not even like having new friends, which is odd. I remember when I was younger wanting to come to this pack to meet the elusive children of the Alpha, who everyone that had originally come from my pack praised. They would tell me about Kataleya’s heart and how likeable she was, she was easy going, and very well liked among her peers.

Before I knew it, I was in the park, and I found an empty bench to sit on. I have always been drawn to parks when I need to think, but it has been a while since I have felt this drawn here.

I wondered what my wolf meant when he said that my mate was close, that he could sense her. Does that mean I should stop pursuing Kataleya? I do not want either one of us to fall in love and then find out that we are not fated…that would hurt. Incredibly. As my wolf already stated, he will not take any other she-wolf as his mate. He wants the one the Moon Goddess destined for him.

As I sat in the park, I observed a couple walking hand in hand using the greenway. That is something I want. I want to feel loved. I want to love someone. I am tired of being alone. I am 19 and I am ready to meet my fated. I decided to fuck it. I will pursue Kataleya and see if there is something to the pull that I feel for her. I am determined to continue to ask her to hang out with me, even if it kills me every time, she rejects my offer.