Chapter 19

The Elders left my father’s office and I waited for them to shut the door before I said anything.

“How many warriors do you think they are going to make me fight?” I asked as soon as the door shut.

“Kat, probably at least 10, plus your brothers, Oliver, myself, and Beta Damon. I wish you did not have to do this, but I am confident that you will be able to do it. But, starting the day after your birthday, we are going to increase your training regime. I am going to talk to Gamma Sean and see about bringing five random warriors into your training and have you fight them at the same time. Maybe I will switch up the warriors each day, just so you do not get used to them and their fighting styles. Then, I will see how you fair against Gamma Sean and I at the same time. I will have Beta Damon observe the fight between the Gamma, you, and me.”

“Yes, Alpha. I am going to go ahead and go to my room. I need some rest. The Elders have given me a major headache.”

I made my way from my father’s office and headed to my room in the packhouse. I was not in the mood to deal with my brother’s or my mother’s questions if I went home. I lay on my bed and got lost in my thoughts. Before I knew it. I succumbed to the darkness.

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I woke up and the sun was shining through the curtains. I rolled to my side and grabbed my phone. 6 a.m. I slept all day. I am shocked that no one came here to try and wake me up. Usually, my mom would have tried or at the very least wake me up with a link to ask where I was.

I got out of bed and grabbed a sports bra and some short leggings and made my way into the shower. I let the hot water rush over my body as I contemplated my day. I knew I needed to hurry, so I could make it to training on time, but I was nervous. Today is my birthday. I was worried that I would find my mate. I do not want to be a disappointment to my family or to Skye and I definitely don’t want to see disappointment or even hope in my mate’s face. I doubt my father is going to let me hang out in my room all day and avoid the world.

I guess it is time to face the music. I finished my shower and got dressed. I made my way to the kitchen and grabbed an apple before beginning my walk to the training grounds.

As I get halfway to the training ground, I catch the most amazing aroma. The fresh scent of orange blossom and sandalwood is wafting towards me and it smells so good.

‘Mate! Mate! Go find mate!’ Skye began yelling in my head.

‘I am not ready, Skye, please!’

‘You promised, Kataleya! I want to know who my mate is! You either take me willingly or I will force control over your body, so that I can see who my mate is!’

‘Fine, fine. Only glimpses. We do not stop and talk to him.’

‘Fine!’ Skye huffed. I could tell she was going to be sulking the rest of the day if she did not get to see who the unlucky man was to receive us as a mate.

I continued to follow the wonderful scent of sandalwood and orange blossom. It was leading me towards the outhouse by the training grounds. I made my way inside and I stopped right outside the men’s locker room. The door opens…

‘Mate! Mate’ Skye screeches in my head. She is being so loud I can’t concentrate. This can’t be. He can’t be my mate. I don’t need a mate.

I turned around and I took off, running back to the packhouse.

‘Dad, I am not feeling well, I am going to lay down. Can we cancel training for this morning and maybe reschedule this afternoon?’

‘Sure, sweetie. Happy birthday, Kat.’ He responded. I did not respond back. I continued to run until I reached my room. I threw myself into the room and locked the door. I slid down the door and started crying.

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**Justin’s POV**

The Gamma asked me if I could attend Kat’s Alpha training today, so that she can spar with other people that do not include the Gamma or Alpha. I had happily agreed. I went to the outhouse that held the locker rooms on the training grounds. As I was getting ready to leave the locker room, I caught the most amazing scent. Vanilla and espresso. My mate. She was near.

Ares started to go crazy in my head. ‘Mate! Mate! Mate! Mate is outside the door!’

‘Okay, I get it. Calm down, you damn heathen.’ I told him. He was physically jumping up and down in excitement.

I opened the door, and I froze. Kat stood at the other side of the door. Kat is my mate. I was happy about this, but she looked anything but. She was terrified. I went to reach out for her, but she took off running.

Not even five minutes after Kat ran, Gamma Sean linked me to tell me Kat was not feeling well, so we were going to reschedule training for this afternoon. She did not want me. Ares whimpered in my head.

‘Mate does not want us…” Ares cried in my head.

‘I am going to fix this. Don’t worry about it Ares. She will not reject us and if she does, I will not stop pursuing her. Eventually, she will accept that we are hers and she is ours.’ I tried to comfort my wolf, but I was not sure it was going to work. Who can I talk to about this? I have no idea where Kat went, but I do not want to physically force her to see us on her birthday.

‘Alpha, can I meet with you in your office? With Michael?’ Hopefully this worked. I needed to tell someone and who is best to tell besides those that know her the best.

‘Sure, Justin. I am heading to my office now and Michael is already with me. Is everything alright?’

‘I do not know right now. I want it to be alright, but I do not think it is.’ The Alpha never responded after that. I continued to make my wait to his office, praying to the Moon Goddess that they would be able to give me some insight into Kataleya.

As I made my way to his office, I contemplated what I was going to say to him. This was not an easy topic to broach. In one sense, they should be happy that Kat found her mate, but at the same time, should I even be the one to tell them? If it was not for the fact that I do not know how to handle her or how to approach the topic with her, then I would not even tell them. Unfortunately, I do not know what sort of trauma Kat has faced. She does not like talking about herself. She prefers to ask me questions or talk about neutral things, such as the weather or training.

I knocked on the office when I got there, and the Alpha told me to come in. I slipped into the room and took a seat in one of the chairs across from Alpha and Michael.

“What’s going on, Justin? You sounded a little distressed when you linked me?” The Alpha asked me.

“I just need advice and you two are the best to give me advice on this specific topic. I would not come to you if I did not think that it was something that I could handle on my own, but I am scared that I am going to fuck this up and I do not want to fuck it up.”

“What is going on Justin?” Michael asked me.

“I found my mate.”

“That’s great! Congratulations! What seems to be the problem then?” Michael and the Alpha said at the same time.

“Normally, that would be great, and I am happy to have found her. She does not want me though. Once she saw who her mate was, she took off running. I do not even know where she went.”

“Who is it?”

“…Kataleya…” I watched as both of their faces fell when I told them who my mate was. I knew it was going to be bad, but I did not think they would react like that.

“Justin, do not take it to heart. Kataleya does not mean to be like that. She is scared, terrified of having a mate. She does not know how to handle one. Her trauma…”

I cut off the Alpha as he started to make excuses for her, “I understand she has trauma, but that does not fucking help me. No one will tell me what kind of trauma I have to deal with. I have been trying to get to know Kat for an entire year! She does not open up. Hell, she does not fucking want to talk about herself. And dammit broke she ran off today before I could even say one fucking word to her…I know she is broken. I know she is struggling. I just want her to let me in, so I can help her. I want her. I wanted her before I knew she was my mate and now I just want her more, but she does not want me.”

“I know this is not fair to you, Justin, but this is not our story to tell. Kat needs to tell you what happened to her. I will not break her trust like that. I am sorry. I know, I keep telling you to give her time, but she needs it. She is not going to trust easily, and she is not going to give her love easily,” Michael said. I can tell that it is going to be a lot of work to convince Kataleya to come around. I just pray that she does not reject me before I can convince her that I will not hurt her, that I will love and cherish her.

“My daughter is difficult, stubborn, but she has a heart of gold. I promise she will not hold out forever. From now on, I want you to be one of the warriors to attend Alpha training with her. This will allow you to spend time with her. I will pretend that I do not know who her fated mate is and Michael will not say anything either. We will let Kat come to us. Please, promise me you will not tell anyone that you two are mates until she is ready. The Elders will have a field day if they realize that she has found her mate. They will try to force her to mate with you and I do not want her to be forced. I want it to be something that she truly wants.” The Alpha quietly stated. I could see his worry for his daughter. Hell, I worried about whether I could actually do this. I nodded my agreement. I will not tell anyone about us until she is ready. I will be whatever she needs right now, even if that means being a friend.