Mate Bond - Finished

Chapter Three - Wrong

SERENITY POV

When my alarm went off at 3:45 for 4AM training, I considered faking an illness to stay in bed. This was a daily struggle and typically my duty to my pack won over my desire to sleep. I could sleep in on the weekends, and I reminded myself of that every weekday.

I went downstairs, still in my pajamas, and waived a toe out the front door to test the temperature. There was already a warm breeze in the air, a welcome change to the mornings where the breeze nipped at my cheeks and made me shiver before I warmed up. We'd been getting this warm weather for several weeks, a true mark that the end of May was bringing in summer. I dashed upstairs, opted for shorts and a tank top and then plopped on a stool to grab an apple in the few moments I had to stuff my face before training.

My siblings were much more morning people than I was. I was closest to Mika and Haley in age. Both were my half siblings. Mika and I shared a father. Haley and I shared our mother. Outside of them, I had two full siblings, Layla and Garrett. When the five of us were all home, it was a houseful, and watching their backs halfway to the training field while I was barely making it out the door sometimes made me feel left out. I was the oldest, at fifteen. Then Mika, at fifteen, we were just a few days apart because our moms were pregnant by our dad at the same time. Haley was fourteen and Layla was thirteen. Garrett was younger, eleven years old.

Training dragged. My back was sore from the events yesterday, but I was satisfied that any visible evidence had faded overnight – a benefit of being a werewolf. I slacked a bit during the training, but my father didn't seem to notice.

Finally, I was able to go upstairs and get ready for school. I showered and got dressed, brushed my teeth and ate something more substantial for breakfast. I went back up to my room to grab my bag and noticed something sitting on the corner of my dresser.

Shit. I thought to myself. It was a small birthday bag with a curly ribbon attached and pretty blue tissue paper poking out the top. Today was Kale's birthday and I had made him a leather bracelet. I debated with myself before finally grabbing it to take to school with me. I ran downstairs and met Luka at his car.

“For me? My birthday isn't for three days!” Luka said.

“It's Kale's birthday. I don't know if I should even give it to him now.” I said.

“Honestly? f**k him. He shouldn't treat you like that. You could date an Omega and be doing better for yourself.” Luka said. Omegas were the lowest ranking members in the pack.

“I'm going to try to ride it out until school ends in a month. I'm honestly a little afraid of him.” I explained.

“Your father, my father, too, wouldn't let anything happen to you. Neither would I, for the record.” Luka said.

When we got to school I felt a pang of nerves in my stomach. I wasn't sure how Kale would react. Would he be as mean as he was yesterday? Would he ignore me? Would I have to sit next to him in silence all day? I took a deep breath and followed Luka inside the school.

I was putting the books I wouldn't need until after lunch away at my locker when I saw Kale. He came and stood by me, waiting for me to finish sorting the books in my bag and my locker.

“Happy Birthday.” I said, handing him his gift. I was hoping to break the tension.

“Thank you. I wanted to say how sorry I was for how I acted yesterday. I would never hurt you. I just, I care about you a lot Serenity. I get so upset whenever I see you talking to another male. I turned seventeen this morning and I knew as soon as I saw you. I felt it. You're my mate.” He told me.

I held my breath and felt butterflies start going in my stomach. His mate? We really found each other so easily? We'd been dating all this time and we were mates all along?

“We're mates? Really?” I asked with a huge smile on my face.

“Yes. I know you're only almost sixteen, you won't feel the bond the same way I do until you turn seventeen. That's how the bond works. You feel it when you turn seventeen.” He said.

I would be sixteen in five days. Luka and I were almost exactly a year apart. The rest of the school day I was in a daze. I couldn't believe I'd found my mate so soon. I bet my parents would allow me to date him, now. I bet if they knew we were mates it wouldn't be a problem. I daydreamed about Kale coming home to meet my parents. I imagined us being allowed to stay the night together now and start planning our wedding. I would be the Luna of his pack.

When the school day ended, I met Kale outside after we had two classes separately from each other. He was technically the grade ahead of me, but I had some advanced classes and he had some repeat classes, so our day mostly aligned. We were in front of the school and he kissed me. My stomach turned and I immediately felt wrong. My heart started beating quickly, my stomach was in knots and I felt like I needed to run. Why? This was my mate.

I practically ran to Luka's car. He was waiting for me there and immediately looked concerned.

“Your face is all red.” He said.

“Somethings wrong with me.” I blurted out.

“What?” He asked. “Are you hurt? Am I going to have to f**k this guy up or what?”

“No. It was his birthday today. He turned seventeen. He told me we're mates, he felt the mate-bond. I obviously won't feel it until next year when I turn seventeen. When he kissed me just now, everything in my body was screaming to run. My stomach hurt, I was sweating, my heart was racing. How can I feel that way about my mate?” I said, rising to a slight panic.

“He's not your mate, Serenity. It's the werewolf's oldest pick-up line. Your body wouldn't be telling you no like that if he was your mate. He's lying to you. He's manipulating you.” Luka said. “I'm sorry. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news here but I can't let you think you're his mate for the next year. Have you been paying attention in studies? If you find out who your mate is before they're seventeen, you CAN'T tell them! It's punishable by banishment unless there's a really good reason. You think Kale would risk being a rogue to be with you?”

“Oh my god. You're right.” I said.

“Look... you have to get away from him.” Luka said.

“I can't. Not yet.”

Secretly, I was still hoping he was my mate. I loved him. I didn't know who I would be without Kale.