My Soldier Mate

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN:

ALEX POV:

When I got told, I was being placed with Nala. Something in me shifted. This is becoming very real. I know that I have a great team already, and I know Nala can kick ass when she needs to. That is no problem and she is tough as nails. I have seen her scars. She never takes a break. She is either training, studying, eating and sleeping. She would talk to Jason, Julia and me. But that was it. She also talks to the first sergeant. One day after training one afternoon. I asked about her scars, but she never answered me. She didn’t even acknowledge I asked her that question. I understand she didn’t want to talk about it, but it hurt to know she didn’t trust me enough to tell me anything about her life before she came to the pack’s space. I never told Zane about them because that is her story to tell. If she wanted to tell him, she would. But I do know she knows something about Julia and Jason because she is always covering for them when Corporal asks where Julia is at. She is always saying she is showering, or in the training hall or just studying. She is an amazing friend. And when I had to go out for a wolf run, but she didn’t know, she had my back. She didn’t ask questions, she just got my back and told me to go have fun with whatever I was doing. After dinner was done, we all started to walk out of the chow hall. I asked Nala if she wanted to come with us to go relax and have a movie night. Nala replied, “Not tonight, but I am going to go get in the shower after I ran off those pounds that I put on after dinner. But next time I promise.”

I replied “Nala, you need to take a rest so you don’t burn out. Please have a relaxing night. I promise we can run more tomorrow please. You are so focused, and so structured. But you also need a break.”

Nala replied, “fine. "I will have a movie night tonight.” I smiled because she normally doesn’t agree with anything that isn’t working out or staying focused. I have actually never seen her relax. I think she was never allowed to relax and just be. Like she was always on the go and doing things. She has to keep moving like if she didn’t, she would be hurt. I wonder if that is how she got those scars. But I pushed that thought in the back of my mind, and we walked to the lounge. Once we got there, we all sat down. I sat on the couch near the arm rest. Nala sat in the recliner. And Julia and Jason sat on the love seat. I picked an action movie and when I hit play, I saw, in the corner of my eye, Nala. She was relaxing. She put her head in her hand and actually watched TV. The movie started to play. Kelly came into the room and asked if she could join. Jason said “Sure.” Once I said that, she came and sat down right next to me. I noticed once she sat down she was staring at Nala for some reason. I was wondering what that was all about, but I kept that question to myself. We were halfway through the movie. When I looked at Nala, she was nodding off in the chair. I looked over at Jason, he was also looking at her. He was smiling. Julia finally spoke quietly, “Have any of you seen her nod off like this?”

I replied “never she is always doing something. Or staying busy.”

Jason replied, “I wake her up when we are going to our rooms so she doesn’t get into trouble. I mean she is number one in our class, and she deserves a break.” We all agreed, but Kelly had other plans. Kelly got up and said she was going to bed. When she walked past Nala, she bumped into her chair. That is when Nala shot up and pinned Kelly to the floor. Kelly yelled “hey get off of me.” That is when Nala realized where she was, and she let go of Kelly. That is when Nala started walking towards the door. I said “Hey wait. You don’t have to go. Please stay and finish the movie.”

Nala replied “maybe some other time.” With that she walked out. Kelly said “What the hell is her problem?”

I replied “What the hell is your problem? You purposely bumped into her chair. She hasn’t done anything. I know you were staring at her for most of the movie. So what is your problem with her?”

Kelly replied “I don’t have to tell you anything. I am going to bed, so night.” With that she walked away. I looked at Jason and Julia, they just shrugged. So we called it a night. While Jason and I walked Julia back to her room, I heard something in the woods. I looked at Jason. He said, “Go on dude. ""Check it out.” So I left them alone and went to follow the sound. That is when I started to run. That is when the scent hit me. It was Nala. I went to where I was going to find her. Once I was able to see her, I just watched her to figure out if she was going to be okay and what she was doing. I noticed she was just training like she always does. It is like this woman doesn’t have an off switch. That made me think about what was in her head that made her want to train so hard. Once I realized she was okay. I turned to walk back to my room. About ten minutes later, I was walking into my room. Jason was still awake. When he saw me coming into the room, Jason asked “what was that?”

I replied “it was Nala, she was training again.”

He replied, “Does that girl ever just take a break and rest, even for a little bit?” I mean it was nice she was watching a movie with us for a little bit, and she was actually falling asleep and shutting her body down. I don’t understand her need to constantly train.”

I replied “I don’t know a man. What the hell is up with Kelly? Have you ever noticed that she is constantly watching Nala, like I mean watching her and only her? Like she is planning something. I mean she is always in the background just watching.”

Jason replied, “Yeah, I noticed. "I was about to talk to Nala about that, but I didn’t know how to bring it up to her, because anytime we ask her about her personal life, she doesn’t say much or anything at all.”

I replied, “Maybe Julia could get close enough to ask a question, or I could see if Zane could ask her grandma about it.” He smiled and nodded his head and told me he was going to sleep. I shut off the light and got into bed and fell right to sleep.

The next morning, my alarm clock went off at 0430. I woke up and just lay there for a few minutes. Jason then rolled over and asked “dude, you awake?”

I replied, “Yeah, just thinking.”

He replied “about Nala.”

I replied, “Yeah. I don’t know how to get her to trust us enough to open up to us.”

He said, “Yeah, I was thinking about that as well. But I think we should just be there for her when she needs us and don’t pressure her. But I do think we need to tell her about us because we need someone who is on our side over there. I mean, I know she has our backs here, but I don’t want to keep lying to her. "Maybe she knows something and that is why she is not talking to us, because we are not honest with her about everything.” I got up and while I was getting ready for training, I thought about what he said. And he is right. We need to tell her, but I have to ask for permission from Zane first, because I don’t want to get into trouble with telling her. Once, I was ready to go to training. I walked out of the bathroom. I said “Dude, you are right, but I have to talk to Zane to make sure he is cool with it. I believe he will be since she is his mate, so.”

Jason said, “Call him right now. "And, plus, I still have to talk to him about moving to his territory.” I grabbed my cell phone off the charger. And hit video calls. It was in the third ring when he picked up. Zane said “Hello, Alex, are you okay?” That is when I saw Ashley in bed with him, naked. I got pissed but I didn’t say anything. I answered, “Yeah, everything is fine. But I need to talk to you about something that is important.”

That is when Zane got up and said “Okay, hold on, let me get into my office, that is in my room to have this conversation.” He then started to walk into the room. I heard the door close. And he said, “Okay, what’s up?”

I replied “Well, I am going to tell Nala about what we are because when we will be over in Afghanistan and I don’t want to keep lying to her because she has had our backs over here, but it feels wrong. What do you think?”

Zane replied, “Yeah, that will work when you and she come back home. "So she won't be freaked out about what we are.” I can’t believe what he was saying, because he was literally naked with another girl, and he was thinking about Nala. That is so wrong. But I pushed that thought away. And said “Okay, cool. Oh, and Jason wants to ask you something.” With that, I gave him the phone. And Jason started to talk to him and I kind of zoned out, thinking if he got with Nala he would only hurt her. And I don’t want that for my friend. She is a sister to me and I will protect her from everything, even my own brother. That is when Jason started to try to give me my phone back. I snapped out of my thoughts, and grabbed it from him and asked “So what did he say? Sorry I wasn’t really paying attention. I was thinking of something.”

He replied “he said when I got back to come over, and we could make it official. And what is in your head?”

I replied “I saw my brother naked with another girl who was not Nala. And that if they get together, he hurts her. I will be the one responsible for it because I got them together, and she will basically hate me. And how I have to protect her even from my brother from the hurt because I know for a fact she has had it hard just based on the amount of scars she has.”

Jason replied “that asshole. I am sorry. I thought your brother really thought about fated mates and what that means. I am sorry, but I will help you with keeping her safe. But that is nasty. But hey, we have to go to training.” With that we headed out.