Chapter 20

**Kataleya POV**

I do not know how long I have been lying here on my floor. I do not want a mate. I cannot handle a mate. How does someone like me even be a mate? Why Justin? It would have been easier if it had been someone that I did not know that I had not spent the past several months getting to know him. Justin was a nice guy, but he is too nice for me. I would break him.

I feel like someone is trying to force a mind-link.  I opened up my mind, just to receive a link from my father. ‘Kat, we went ahead and rescheduled training for today at 3 p.m. I cannot wait to see you. Also, your mother expects you at dinner tonight. You know how she is.’

‘Yes dad.’ I responded quietly.

‘Kat, is everything alright? You seem kind of down.’

‘Yeah, I am just tired. I did not sleep well last night. See you later, dad. Love you.’

‘I love you too, honey.’ After he responded, I cut the link. I sat on the ground for a few more minutes before I had the courage to get off the ground to go take another shower and clean my face. Once in the bathroom, I looked in the mirror. My face was red, and my eyes were bright red and puffy. I looked like shit. Once I finished showering and cleaning my face, I put back on my training clothes and checked the time. 2:30 p.m. I guess I had better head down to the training grounds. Hopefully, I do not run into Justin again. At least, I hope not.

I make my way through the packhouse and as I am exiting, Elijah runs up to me, picks me up, and swings me in a circle. “Happy birthday, Kat!” I giggled as he sat me back on the ground. I turned around and saw Michael catching up with us.

“Are you heading to training?” Michael asked.

“Yes, we rescheduled training this morning because I was not feeling well.”

“We are heading down as well. Dad has requested that both of us attend today with you.” Elijah informed me.

As we got closer to the training grounds, I caught a whiff of his scent. Sandalwood and orange blossom. My heart starts beating erratically. My breathing becomes labored. I stopped in my tracks and just started at the training grounds. I could not bring myself to move forward.

“Kat, are you okay?” Michael asked me. I could not hear him; it was like he was speaking through a tunnel. All I could think about was his scent and how he was on the training grounds. I cannot train with him, but I cannot tell them the reason that I can’t do it. They will not understand my struggle.

‘Skye, please give me some of your strength to get through this without losing my shit. Please do not attack him. Please promise me you will not do anything to acknowledge the bond. Let me wrap my head around this and then I promise you I will try not to reject him. I will try to let you be happy, even if it means that I am not.’ I whispered in my head to Skye.

‘Kat, I love you. You are a part of me just as I am a part of you. I do not want you to be unhappy. Yes, I want my mate, but I know you need time. I know your trauma. We share your trauma. I will refrain myself today during training, but I do not know how long I will be able to refrain myself before I want my mate. I respect you and your wishes. I promise.’ As Skye said the last word, I felt her strength flow through me. My heart slowed down to a slow thump. My breathing evened out and I was able to focus on my surroundings.

Michael was standing in front of me, gripping my shoulders. I blinked a few times and then I opened my mouth, “I am fine. Sorry, I just forgot something that I needed to do. Let’s go.” Michael and Elijah glanced at each other, as if they did not believe me, before nodding their heads at me. We finished walking the rest of the way to the training field.

Once I stepped inside the circle of the training grounds, I was able to clearly see the figures that were standing on the training grounds. Right there, standing in the middle of the field talking to my father and Gamma Sean was Justin. As soon as I stepped into the proximity of the training field, Justin’s eyes snapped to me. He gave me a small smile, which I could not bring myself to return.

I felt someone pushing on my mind-link, but I did not want to open it. I had a feeling it was going to be Justin trying to talk to me, but I was not ready yet.

‘Please Kat, just see what he has to say.’ Skye pleaded with me. I sighed internally. This damn wolf was going to be the death of me. I hate when she pleads and gives me those damn puppy dog eyes. Against my better judgement, I opened my link and Justin linked me.

‘Kat...can we please talk after training? I will keep my distance from you. I just want to talk about this. We can take it as slow as you want. Please just don’t reject me until you have the chance to get to know me better,’ he pleaded with me. I looked into his eyes, and I hated seeing his sadness staring back at me. Guilt was starting to gnaw at me the longer I stared into his eyes. I nodded my head in his direction, but I did not respond to him.

As I reached the rest of the group, my father turned around and smiled at me.

“What did you do invite half the warriors to train with us?” I asked my dad sarcastically.

“Actually, Kat, no I did not. Most of these warriors are about to leave. They were only hanging out since their training had just ended. Only Jacob, Justin, and your brothers will be staying for your training,” he responded. I internally groaned. Of course, Justin was staying for training.

“Kat, we are going to be starting with you fighting Justin and then Jacob will randomly throw himself into a fight. For this spar, you do not need to remain in human form, you may shift to your wolf.” I nodded my head in acknowledgement towards my father. I do not think I am going to let Skye shift. That could just end badly for me. I am not sure if Skye will be able to control herself around Ares, Justin’s wolf.

“Go ahead and take your stances,” Gamma Sean said to Justin and I.

Justin and I took our stances across from each other. At the sound of the Gamma’s whistle, I launched myself at Justin, aiming to punch him in his jaw. He dodged my attack at the last second. He twisted his body out of the way of my oncoming attack and then used his right hand to punch me in the nose. I felt the slight feel of sparks along my face where he hit me, followed by the gushing of my blood. Justin looked horrified at what he did to my face.

While Justin was distracted by the damage that he had done to my face, I went in for the attack again, using a big, right overhand punch. As Justin was blocking my attack, I used my left shoulder and shoved it into Justin’s shoulder, making him stumble backwards. Before he could recover, I swiped my legs, but I lost my footing, and I fell with him, landing right on top of him.

Sparks were flying all over my skin, everywhere that Justin had touched me, tingles rushing up my arms. I froze. Could I really do this? Could I really hurt my own mate? Before I could move again, Justin flipped us over, so that he was straddling me.