Alphas Broken Mate
Chapter 34

Catalina's

POV

I woke up and noticed Liam wasn't in bed. We had made love into the late hours of the night. I figured he got up early to get ready for leaving today. My heart pinged knowing he'd leave and something could happen to him. I get up and head to the shower. I shower and wrap a towel around me. I walk out to the room and see Liam laying in the bed.

"Hey beautiful I got us some coffee." He says handing me a cup.

"Thank you" I say taking the cup.

"I figured you had to get ready to leave today." I said getting into bed next to him.

"Unfortunately I do. But I wanted to get you some coffee and wake you up." He says kissing my nose.

"When do you plan on leaving?" I asked.

"We will leave this afternoon. We want to get to his territory late at night." He explains. My stomach feels ill.

"I have a few more meetings but I'll get you before I leave." He said getting up from the bed.

"Carrie is on her way up. I'm sure she will keep you busy while I'm working." He says. He kissed me goodbye and left. I sat on the bed and drank some more coffee just enjoying the quiet, Then there was a knock. It's probably Carrie.

"Come in." I say. Jet walks in and quickly closes the door behind him. I stand up surprised that it's him and surprised by the action.

"Jet I'm sorry I thought you were Carrie." I said realizing I'm just in a towel.

"I don't have much time Lina. Alpha Liam isn't your second chance mate." He says flatly. I look at him confused. Kayla said I could mark him, and to trust him. I felt the feelings of a mate bond with him. They weren't as strong as they were with Andrew and a bit different but I definitely felt something.

"What do you mean?" I ask

"Carrie isn't your friend. She is your babysitter." He adds ignoring my question.

"I don't understand." I say

"Lina do me one favor. While Liam is gone try to leave the pack area for some reason, try and call anyone from your old life." He says taking my hand. I'm so confused.

"Try spending one day without Carrie." He whispers. A knock comes from the door drawing our attention.

"I stayed too long." He whispers.

"Wait a moment in the bathroom." I say. He goes in the bathroom. I go to the door. I crack it only a little.

"Hey Carrie" I say opening the door.

"Can you do me a huge favor, can I borrow that yellow dress you wore last week. I've been looking through my closet for something but I can't get that yellow dress out of my mind." I give her puppy dog eyes. She smiles.

"Fine but only because Liam is leaving today and I want you in a happy color. I'll be right back." She says and heads back down the hall.

"Thanks you're the best." I yell after her and she waves her hand in the air. I head back to the bathroom.

"You have to go now." I say and drag him to the door.

"Think about what I said." He says as he heads down the hallway. I watch him disappear down the stairs and make sure no one sees. I close my door and lean my back against it. What was he talking about? Could he just be crazy? Jealous? But then why would he say Carrie is my babysitter. I went back and thought how if Liam wasn't with me, Carrie was.

"Kayla is Liam my second chance mate?" I asked. She didn't answer. Then I heard a knock behind me and it scared me. I hopped away from the door and opened it. It was Carrie with a smile and the dress. I open the door and smile.

"Thanks you're the best. I'll get dressed." I walk into the bathroom and get dressed. I look in the mirror still confused about what just happened. I'll test his theory, but I have to wait until Liam leaves. So I have to get through today. I push it out of my mind and step out into my room.

"That dress looks so good on you." She says.

"You ok?" She asks. I must not look ok.

"Yeah, just worried about Liam leaving." I say. She smiles warmly at me.

"I know. But I'll be here to keep you company and he'll be back before you know it." She says. I smile back.

"What do you want to do? We can go to the lake? Go for a walk? Hang out and watch a movie?" She throws out a few suggestions.

"The lake sounds nice." I say. She takes my hand and we head downstairs. We pass by some pack members and I hear some whispers and notice some looks. What was going on? Carrie kept pulling me ignoring everyone. When we got outside I take a few deep breaths. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing I'm fine. I just need a minute." I say. I place my hands on my knees and take a few more breaths I think I'm having a panic attack. I need to calm down.

"You look pale are you sure?" She asks

"I'm fine!" I growl and she takes a step back. I take a few more deep breaths.

"Lina I can't come out to calm you. Not yet. Everything will work out. You say you trust me. You need to fully believe it." Kayla says

"Is what Jet said true?" I ask point blank.

"I know you want answers and I will give you them in 2 weeks. In 2 weeks you will know everything. Just trust me until then." Kayla says not answering my question.

"So I'm just suppose to carry on? Blindly trusting you?" I snap back.

"Has anyone done anything to hurt you?" She asks.

"No."

"Do you feel happy? Safe?" She asks.

"Yes"

"Stop fighting who you are Lina. Stop letting other people tell you what to believe. Believe what is in front of you, believe what is inside you. I am apart of you. I have protected you for years. What happens to you, happens to me. The Moon Goddess has given you the greatest of her gifts, me, her only true daughter. Stop fighting against it. Embrace me." She says. My breathing has calmed.

"Fine Kayla, but you can't vanish on me anymore. If I ask a question you can't answer you have to say that. Don't just go quiet. If you want me to trust you, I need you around." I say.

"I will not leave you again." She says flatly.

"One last question, should I try the things Jet has said?" I ask

"No" she says back. Kayla is right. I need to believe what I say. I won't try them. I will trust my wolf. I forgot for a moment I was with Carrie. She was looking at me but she looked confused.

"Im sorry Carrie I didn't mean to growl I was having a panic attack and needed to calm down. But I'm calm now. Please forgive me." I say. Her face softens.

"Don't be sorry I didn't realize how hard you were taking Liam leaving. You sure you still want to go to the lake? We can just veg out if that helps?" She was talking softly to me.

"It's good for me to get out of my room. I don't want to turn into a couch potato." I say trying to lighten the mood. She smiles and we link arms but this time she doesn't pull me. We walk slowly over to the lake and we sit. I enjoy the scenery and my new sense of trust for myself and Kayla. I wonder what will happen in 2 weeks that will give me more information. Maybe the next event. Maybe the war will reveal something. Maybe I'll burn up into ash and I'll be at peace. Honestly at this point nothing scares me. I can't hide who I am anymore and I need to stop being afraid. I am the High Alpha, I need to act like it.

"Kayla, Liam suggested I try to practice and control my fire. Is that possible?"

"It will be. But you aren't powerful enough yet. It's a good idea when you come into more power." She said. I like having my wolf back.

"I never left Lina. It's just hard. I don't want to affect the outcome. You need to become this High Alpha on your own." She adds

"Do you know things because of the Moon Goddess?" I ask

"Yes because of my connection with her."

"Will I have a connection with her?" I ask

"If you become the High Alpha, yes you will." She answered my question.

"I can't wait." I say and smile.

"I'm glad you're smiling. I'm not going to lie I was a bit worried back there." Carrie says. I forgot she was here again.

"I know, I'm sorry again." I say. She bumps my shoulder playfully.

"I'm just glad you are ok. I don't really have many friends and I worry about you." She says. She was my friend, no matter who she really was, she's been a friend to me.

"Why don't you have many friends?" I asked.

"Well that's a long story and I'll tell you one day, just not right now." She smiles. I nod and look back over the water. I feel almost light. Like worries have left me and I'm physically lighter now.

"Hey we need to head back, Liam wants to appoint you to your guard team." Carrie says. We stand up and head back to the pack house. When we step inside I see Liam talking to 3 pack members. Without even thinking about it I walk up to him and stand next to him. He smiles at me.

"Men, your future Luna." He says to them and they bow. Some I have seen at training.

"Lina this will be your private guard while I am away. I know it seems like over kill but I just want to make sure you are protected while I'm gone. I know you can kick anyone a*s" I pull him down and kiss his cheek.

"I understand." I say. Because I honestly did. Mate or not, he's been nothing but sweet and kind to me. I'll worry when I have something to worry about. He just smiles at me again.

"This is Mateo, Jim, and Kinsey. They will basically just follow you around, but I have another guard who will be with you more." Just then Sarah walks in.

"Sarah will be your personal body guard." He says. Well I'm glad it's someone I like.

"Yup looks like you'll be stuck with me for awhile." She says with a smile. I smile back.

"Thank you." I say to him.

"Anything for you." He pulls me into a kiss, I don't even care how many people are in this room. When I pull back I look back a Sarah and notice a weird look on Carrie's face. But it's gone quickly. I'm not going to worry about that.

"How about some lunch before I head off?" Liam suggests. Can he really eat before heading off to eat? I nod and we had to the cafeteria. We sit down and food is brought to us.

"So I was thinking when I get back we can have the mating ceremony." He says.

"Good I hate not being able to link with anyone." I say. He laughs.

"I was thinking we could also talk about completing our bond. When you're ready of course." He adds. I put my fork down and look him in the eyes.

"I just need you to come back to me, ok? We can do whatever you want." I say. He smiles and pops a piece of steak in his mouth.

"I'll come back Lina. I promise." He says. I go back to eating.

"What happens if your gone and I go into heat?" I ask. He almost spit out his food. I giggle.

"Then you lock yourself in your room and stay in the cold water. I don't want anyone around you if that happens." He was very firm, and I couldn't tell if he was trying to use his alpha command, but it wouldn't work on me. Not just because I'm his mate but because I was High Alpha. That's right, I'm embracing it.

"Ok I was just asking." I said trying to calm him.

"Carrie will call me if that happens. I'll do what I can. I know it will hurt." He says more calmly. We finished our meals and it was almost time for Liam to leave me. I saw Alpha Francis in the living room.

"It's time for you to go, isn't it?" I ask. He looks down. Then he grabs my hand and we dash upstairs and into my room. His lips land on mine as he picks me up. I wrap my legs around him. He pins me up against the wall and kisses me hard, biting my lower lip. When he pulls back, he looks at me.

"I love you Lina. I will come back to you." He says looking in my eyes. I put his face in my hands and meet his gaze.

"I love you Liam." I say. He smiles at me and kisses me hard again. A single tear falls from my eye. He hugs me tight. I don't want to let go. Not now. But I have to. I let go and he places me on the floor. We make our way back downstairs to the group. Jet is standing among them, I don't make eye contact.

"Are we ready?" Liam asks and Alpha Francis nods.

"I will be back before you know it love." Liam says to me.

He called me love. I melt. I watch as they pile into cars and drive off the pack lands. I feel someone behind me, but I don't take my eyes off the last spot I saw the cars. Mate or not I hope he's ok. I feel a hand in my shoulder.

"He'll be alright." Sarah says behind me. I stand there a little bit longer. Sarah's hand still on my shoulder. I take a step back inside the house and close the door. I feel all eyes on me.

"Sarah please stay. The rest of my detail, if you could please patrol the exterior of the pack house and give me some time." I say. They nod and head outside.

"Oh I think I like bossy Lina." Sarah giggles. I appreciate her attempt at lightening the mood. I give her a small smile.

"Why don't we get junk food and wine and watch a movie in your room?" Sarah suggests.

"I don't want to drink alone." I say looking over to Carrie, Sarah can't drink as my guard.

"I'm in." She says and we head to the kitchen. Sarah grabs snacks, I grab wine, Carrie grabs water for Sarah. We head upstairs to my room. When we get inside I see a note on the bed. Sarah goes to the bed and picks it up. But she smiles and passes it to me. It's from Liam. I didn't even see him put it in here. Sneaky.

Catalina,

I thought it would be romantic to leave you a letter while I'm off fighting in battles. But in reality it's sad. I am writing this letter while I sit next to you as you are sleeping. You are so beautiful and peaceful. I will miss waking up to your face and smell. You smell like coconuts and it drives me crazy. I know we haven't known each other long, but I can't wait to make you mine forever. I can't wait to come back to you. Just know that I am thinking about you and missing you, my love, my mate, forever.

Liam.

I feel tears in my eyes. The girls are looking at me. I hand Carrie the note, I know she wants to read it, and I pour myself some wine. Rachel was right, I have grown to love it.

"He really didn't make this easy, did he?" Carrie says passing the note back to me. I place it on my nightstand.

"I don't think it was ever easy." I say back. I know what she meant.

"But I like that he left me something. It's so thoughtful." I say.

"Now what should we watch?" Sarah turns on the tv as I pour a glass for Carrie. She seems a bit distant or maybe it was just me.

We watched Downton Abbey, my new addiction. We watched until Carrie and Sarah had passed out. I was having trouble falling asleep though. The wine made me think of Rachel. I got out of bed and left my room. I walked down the hallway into the spare office. I closed the door and picked up the phone and dialed Rachel. It rang three times then she answered.

"Hello?" She asked. I had no idea what time it was, she sounded tired.

"Rachel." I whispered for multiple reasons.

"Lina?" She whispered back I'm assuming for her own reasons.

"Yeah, I miss you." I say

"Oh Lina honey. I miss you too. But we can't talk just yet. I'm glad to hear your voice." She says. I guess she knows things. Kayla told me not to reach out. But I missed my best friend.

"Bye Rachel." I say.

"Good bye honey." She says. We hang up. I my was short but I'm glad I called. Even though nothing was said and nothing happened. It really was nice to hear her voice. I sit here for a moment in the silence. I get up and bead back to my room. I crawl back into bed and fall asleep this time.