Luna Catalina (ENG)

Capítulo 16

Kayden's P.O.V

Bela's party had started a couple of hours ago, but Catalina still hadn't shown up. Zeus and I were anxious to see her. Ever since we had seen her during the rogue attack, first about to be killed and then covered in blood, Zeus and I had had an uncontrollable need to know where she was, to know that she was all right. I had commissioned Mark to follow her wherever she went, keeping me informed of her every move. I had forced Catalina to come to the party, not because I needed her to ask questions around, but because protocol required Ian and Mark to attend. If neither of my two best men could be with her, she would have to come to the party. She had to be close to my reach, where I could protect her.

I finally noticed her presence in the garden. When Casandra approached to greet her, I turned to study her. Any words used to describe Catherine would be insufficient, mere words could never capture the reality of her beauty. Her hair was in a ponytail, falling like a golden waterfall. The emerald-colored dress enhanced her perfect figure. I had to control my most primal instincts not to grab her and take her to my room, to make her mine forever. Zeus howled, ecstatic at the sight of our mate. "You look beautiful," I said, unable to control myself. Her cheeks instantly turned red, causing me to smile inwardly. 

When Miguel told her how beautiful she looked, I was about to jump on him and rip his head off. I didn't like the relationship he had with Cat at all. Miguel was clearly the person Cat trusted the most, she always went to him for everything. Besides, he followed her everywhere, like a shadow. He was the person who managed to transmit security to Cat and not me. This generated in me a jealousy and envy that I would never admit out loud. I hadn't taken Miguel away from Catalina because it didn't seem fair to me. I had rejected her; I could not make demands of her. I must admit that I had put my self-control to the test. We, mighty Alphas, were impulsive because of our wolves, and only the best of us were able to control ourselves under stress and pressure.

Catalina and Miguel went off to ask questions to members of other packs, so, following their example, Ian and I started to greet and talk to the rest of the Alphas and Betas. They had all had rogue attacks, but, like us before Catalina noticed, no one had looked to see if any people were missing. Much less if there were any missing hybrids in their packs. Everyone promised to look into the matter. When we finished greeting everyone, I approached one of my best childhood friends, Caleb. Caleb was the Alpha of a nearby pack, and we had a great friendship because of the relationship our parents had had when they both ruled. Caleb was one of the few Alphas who didn't withdraw their support from me after what happened. 

As Caleb, Ian and I were talking, Catherine and Michael approached us. I couldn't take my eyes off her. That woman was like a magnet to me. I don't think she knew it, but she had a confident, elegant gait that made her immensely attractive. I must not have been the only one who thought this, because to my right, Caleb was studying her up and down with voracious eyes. Caleb had always been a ladies' man; no woman could resist him. To say I didn't like the look Caleb was giving Cat was an understatement. Before I could stop him, Caleb approached Catalina and Lily and introduced himself. 

Zeus was snarling, furious, struggling to get out and tear Caleb apart. It didn't matter if he was our friend, no one was supposed to look at our mate like that. I felt my whole-body tense, and I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists to try to control myself. I watched as Catalina introduced herself. 

-“Alpha Caleb, nice to meet you. I'm Alpha Kayden's best friend," he said smiling at Catalina. 

"Friends for a short time if he gets close to her," I heard Zeus growl in my mind. I noticed how Ian was watching me intently. He was clearly worried about my reaction and feared what I might do.

- "I see you have several bodyguards." Caleb said, looking first at Miguel and then at me. Then Caleb pointed at Miguel and asked. -"Are you mates?"

-"No." Catalina replied dryly. 

-“Then..." Caleb said, looking lost. Then he looked at me, and that's when he seemed to understand. -"But...?"

Catalina mumbled an excuse and left with her friends. Caleb approached Ian and me, amused. His amused face made me even angrier if that's possible. 

-“So, Catalina is your mate, am I wrong?" he asked. 

-“I don't know what makes you think that.”- I replied annoyed, walking away from the table where Cat and her friends were. Ian and Caleb followed me.

-“Come on, Kayden,"- Caleb said, still smiling. –“I've seen you on many occasions with other women you've dated. They could have jumped off a cliff and you wouldn't have cared. Instead, you almost cut me to pieces just for shaking hands with that girl."

-“It's complicated." I just replied. 

-“Did you get a good look at her?"- He said with a mischievous grin. –“I don't think there's anything complicated about accepting that beauty as your Luna.”

I gave him the punch I had been holding back for minutes. Instead of getting angry, Caleb burst out laughing. He'd always been like that. A hard person to piss off. Everything was fine with him. 

-“I've already told him he needs to cut the crap and accept Cat as his Luna." Ian interjected. –“You'll never find someone like that, Kayden, Cat's one of a kind.”

-"I don't deserve her. Having me as a mate would only be a punishment for her."- I just replied, watching her from afar. She looked beautiful, laughing animatedly with her friends. Ian and Caleb were among the few people I could be honest with.

-“I think that's her decision, not yours,"- Caleb said, reminding me of what Catalina had said a few nights ago. –“Honestly Kayden, you deserve someone like that. You need to stop living for your pack. It's all you've done all these years. Just focus on you and try to be happy."

Caleb rested his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it lightly, conveying his support. We changed the subject and talked until they started singing happy birthday. Without much haste, we walked towards Bela. I hate crowds of people, so I decided to wait for everyone to congratulate my sister before approaching. When we finally got close, I was petrified. Miguel was kissing my sister, and everyone was celebrating. We approached Cassandra and Cat, who was carrying Lily in her arms. 

-“Miguel and Bela are mates?" asked Ian, showing the confusion we were both feeling at the moment.

-“You really didn't know?"- Cat asked, laughing in amusement.

-“Did you know?" I asked, confused.

-“We all knew." Cas said, laughing too. 

What do they mean, everyone knew? Ian was just as lost as I was. Neither of us had any kind of suspicion. In fact, we were both sure that there was or had been something between Miguel and Cas. In fact, Ian had even asked Casandra about it, but she had told him he was crazy to think it. We both thought she was simply covering up her friend's relationship, so that I wouldn't know. But, seeing now how happy Cat was for Miguel and Bela, I realized that Casandra had told the truth. 

I took Lily in my arms and we went over to congratulate Bela. 

-“Happy birthday," I said, hugging her.

-“Congratulations!" -Lily shouted happily, handing her a small, wrapped box. -"From Kayden and me!!."

Bela opened it and tears welled up in her eyes. For her 18th birthday we had ordered a pendant that mimicked one our mother had had. She hugged and kissed us both, repeating how grateful she was. 

-“If you do anything to my sister," I said, turning around to look at Miguel, and becoming more menacing in my tone, "I swear I'll kill you”.

Bela rolled her eyes and grabbed Miguel by the arm, ready to leave. However, before he left with Bela, Miguel looked at me and nodded, accepting my words. Good. 

Ian and I stayed with Lily, apart from the rest. Lily had been obsessed with the subject of mates for years. Every time she saw a new pair pop up, she wanted to know how they worked, asking a thousand questions. Ever since Ian had found Casandra, Lily considered him an "expert on the subject," so she forced him to be on her quiz rounds. 

We were in one of those rounds of questions, when I started to feel a strange sensation in my chest. A feeling I hadn't felt since I was a child invaded my body: fear. I started to look around me. It was then that the sound of a glass breaking caught my attention. I turned my head quickly and I understood where the feeling was coming from: Catalina. She was standing very stiff, not moving an inch. In front of her, protecting her, was Miguel. In front of Miguel was Richard, the brother of Bela's friend, and his Beta, whose name I can't remember. 

-“Stay with Lily," I ordered Ian, who nodded, taking her in his arms. 

I quickly approached Catalina and Miguel. Just then Catalina moved to Miguel's side. I could still feel her fear through our bond, but much more subdued. She had managed to put her feelings in order. Or at least that's what she was conveying. 

-“Richard," I heard Catalina say, with clear contempt.

-“It's Alpha Richard to you," he said, a smirk on his face. 

-“I only call people I respect by their title. And you don't deserve any respect, Richard." She replied defiantly, her voice not even trembling.

Everything that happened after that was very fast. Instinctively, I placed myself between Catalina and Richard. The latter's smile had left his face, and he was threatening towards Catalina. A single hand was enough to stop him, as I bared my fangs menacingly. One more step towards her, and I would rip his head off right there. I watched as Catalina walked away, while Richard looked at me in surprise. It was unusual for an Alpha to interfere with another Alpha's actions. Quickly, Richard regained his composure, and put on a stupid smirk again. 

-“Are you going to let a mere Omega talk to me like that?" he asked, trying to expose my actions in front of everyone. In a pack, an Omega is any werewolf who lacks high rank. In the eyes of many Alphas, this implied that they did not deserve any respect. 

-“Go near her and I guarantee you'll be dead seconds later," I said, my tone more intimidating and leaning over him. 

Without another word, I left the place, following Catalina's trail. I found her with Miguel in the garden by the main entrance. She looked exhausted and had trouble breathing. As soon as she saw me, she took off her heels, gave them to Miguel, and ran off into the woods. I made a move to follow her, but Miguel stepped in front of me, stopping me. I shot him a murderous glare, ready to take him out if I had to. 

-“Let her go, she needs to be alone.”- Miguel just said, looking at me seriously. 

-“I need to know that she’s fine.”-I replied, unable to hide the tension I was feeling at that moment, "What the f**k has Richard done to her?

He looked at me and considered his words before speaking. 

-“She made me promise not to tell you anything," he said, looking at me intently, "But if you really care about Catalina, make sure Alpha Richard stays away from her. Keep an eye on him.”

Without another word, Miguel went into the house. Immediately, I ordered Ian, through our mental link, to follow Richard, keeping an eye on him. Then, I went to the nearest tree and unloaded all my anger. I punched it until my knuckles were raw open. I was furious with myself. I had never seen Catalina be afraid. I'd always seen her control her feelings and keep her cool in an impressive way. Even when her brother was dying in front of her, she had kept her cool. Today, however, Catalina had felt real fear. It wasn't clear to me yet what had happened, but for me to have felt her fear so intensely, without having marked us yet, it must have been something important.

With my knuckles still bleeding, I went into the house and into the garden. The party was back to normal and people were drinking and dancing lively. However, away from the party, Casandra and Miguel were arguing heatedly in Spanish. Beside them, Bela, Caleb, Mark and Kate, who was carrying Lily in her arms, looked at them confused, not knowing what to do. I ordered Kate to put Lily to bed and turned to Casandra and Miguel. I was furious and wanted an explanation immediately. 

-“What the f**k happened?" I shouted angrily, using my Alpha tone. Miguel hadn't yet, but Casandra was part of my pack, so she was bound to answer me. 

Before either of them could answer, two blonde figures rushed towards us. One of them was clutching his side as he walked. They looked almost as angry as I was. 

-“Where is she?" -one of Cat's brothers shouted at Miguel, grabbing him by the collar. –“We shouldn't have trusted you to look after her, where is she!”

-“She said she needed to clear her head and went for a run," Miguel replied calmly, as if he wasn't being grabbed by the throat.

-“Let him go!!!" shouted Bela, hitting Catalina's brother with her fists.

Catalina's brother, I don't know which one, because they are both the same, didn't seem to be fazed by Bela's punches. He did, however, let go of Miguel. The twins, Casandra and Miguel resumed the argument, speaking in Spanish. The brothers seemed furious with Miguel, and Casandra, who a few minutes ago was also shouting at Miguel, now seemed to defend him. Fed up with being clueless, I growled authoritatively at them, shushing them. After all, I was an Alpha, and they should respect me. 

-“I want to know immediately what happened between Catalina and Richard," I ordered. 

As soon as I said that the two twins turned with a surprised and hateful look on their faces towards Casandra and Michael. 

-“Alpha Richard!?!" one of Catalina's brothers shouted at Michael and Cassandra. –“Did you know that the person who raped Catalina was Alpha Richard and you said nothing?!”

In one swift move I grabbed Catalina's brother by the throat and slammed him against a tree. It couldn't be true what he had just said. 

-“What did you say?" I roared, furious, almost out of control. 

He looked at me defiantly, saying nothing. I turned to Casandra, and using my Alpha tone asked her the same question. With tear-filled eyes, Casandra nodded her head. After that gesture, I lost control, and it was Zeus who took over the driving of our body, leading us towards the main entrance garden. Caleb and Mark followed.

-“Where are you going?" shouted Miguel, following us. 

I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at him. It wasn't me who answered, but Zeus.

-“We're going to do what you haven't been able to do. We're going to go find Catalina and bring her back. When she's safe, we're going to go kill that scum who thinks he's Alpha."

-“We're coming with you," said one of Catalina's brothers. 

-“Me too, me and my warriors will accompany you wherever you go," Caleb interjected.

I nodded, agreeing. Without further ado, I transformed, and began to run through the forest. As I ran, I heard Ian speak to me through our mental link. "I followed Richard and his Beta to the edge of the territory. I thought they would leave, but they have gathered their warriors and have come to the cliffs. Catalina is here. There are too many of them for me to intervene alone. Run." I howled at the moon in a war cry, vowing that none of those people would make it out alive. I quickened my pace even more. Catalina's brothers must have understood that something was wrong, because they picked up the pace as well. 

When we reached the clearing in the cliffs, I looked around quickly to survey the situation. Catalina was pushed up against a tree and her eyes were tightly shut. Her dress was torn. Richard had her pinned against the tree, holding her by the neck and grabbing her breast. I had never felt so much hatred for anyone in my life. Zeus and I howled at the moon, declaring war on Richard and swearing to the moon that we would kill him. Ian, Mark, Catalina's brothers, Miguel, Casandra and Caleb joined in my howls. Seconds later, we attacked.

I pounced on Richard without a moment's hesitation. The only thing echoing in my mind was the desire to kill him. I had to kill him. I reached for his neck with my teeth, but Richard moved, dodging me. I noticed how, for a split second, his eyes turned away from me, and looked behind me. I immediately knew who he was looking at. I growled angrily and backed away to protect her. No one, absolutely no one, was ever going to touch her again. I moved into a defensive position, waiting for Richard to attack. That would be his last attack. I planned to kill him instantly. However, to my surprise, Richard transformed went back into his human form. 

-“I think this has all been a misunderstanding," -he said, smirking, which made me want to rip his head off even more. I growled menacingly at him. –“Catalina is my mate. Therefore, invoking the ancient laws of Emerson, I request to take her into my territory."

Everyone froze at his words. I narrowed my eyes, furious. How dare he utter her name with his foul tongue. How dare he say that Catalina was his mate. I braced myself, ready to pounce on him and finally end his miserable life. Just as I was about to pounce, Ian's wolf stepped in front of me, stopping me. 

"If he has invoked Emerson's laws, we can't attack him." He said to me through our mental link. I growled at him, making it clear that I didn't care that he had cited those stupid laws, he would pay for what he had done to Catalina. "Kayden, listen to me. I know you're furious, we all are, but you have to stop. You can't attack him. They will exterminate your entire pack Kayden, including Lily and Bela." I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. His words had been enough to make me think objectively. I transformed into my human form. All the remaining wolves followed my lead, regaining their human form. 

-“You can't fall back on Emerson's laws when the motive isn't real,"- I said, glaring murderously at Richard.

-“I don't understand what you mean," he said, still smiling. 

-“Catalina is not your mate, so you can't go near her," I replied menacingly. 

-“I don't know what you're basing your assertions on, Kayden. Since you have no evidence to the contrary, I'll take my mate and we'll get out of here," he said, taking a step towards Catalina.

In one swift movement I stepped in front of him, blocking his path. I could feel my aura radiating extreme power right now, and Richard trembled at my power. He tried to hide it, but Zeus and I had noticed. I tilted my head, to bring my eyes level with his, since he was shorter than me. 

-“Catalina is not your mate, because Catalina is my mate. She.Is. Mine." I growled at him.

Richard's face turned into a look of utter surprise. I noticed how all eyes were on me. I had just recognized Catalina as my Luna, there was no turning back. It didn’t matter, because I didn't want to turn back either. Catalina was mine, no one else's, and it was time for everyone to know it. I would announce it to the four winds if necessary. 

-“It's not possible, she's my mate, and we've been for two years. You're nobody to her, nobody!" Richard bellowed, furious. 

His words were an instant reality check. The memory of Catalina telling Lily that she'd had a mate came to mind. 

-“It was you! You rejected her!" I accused him, furious.

-“I didn't do anything, I never rejected her. Therefore, she's still my mate and I demand to take her." He said, trying to move towards Catalina.

-“Take one more step and I'll kill you right here without a moment's hesitation," I said, grabbing him by the shoulder. –“Catalina is mine, and I'm not going to let you take her away.”

-“Very well. There is no other choice. As dictated by Emerson's rules, a tribunal made up of the Elders of each pack will resolve the problem." He said, folding his arms.

He was trying to intimidate me, but he wasn't even close to succeeding. I fixed my gaze on him. A gaze filled with hatred and a desire to kill him. He cowered and marched off, accompanied by his Beta and the few warriors he had left. I ran to Catalina and took her in my arms. She was unconscious, very pale and full of wounds. My heart shrank at the sight, I had never felt so much pain at the sight of someone suffering. I took her gently in my arms, to take her to the hospital as soon as possible. 

I started walking, fast. I noticed how Miguel and Catalina's two brothers caught up with me, walking fast too. They were all arguing in Spanish, talking very fast. The twins seemed furious with Miguel, and I could imagine why, but, at that moment, I didn't care. I just wanted to save Catalina, to make sure she was okay. Just then, she opened her big green eyes. She looked at me like she was looking at a god, like she was in another world. She said something in Spanish, which I didn't understand. However, Miguel and the twins instantly shut up and looked at her with a horrified look on their faces. 

-“What did she say?" I asked, in a tone that clearly demanded an answer. 

-“She asked you if she's dead," Miguel finally replied. 

I looked quickly at Cat and saw anguish in his eyes. 

-“You're not dead, Cat," I said, trying to calm her down, "We're going to get you to the hospital and you're going to be fine, I promise.”

My words did nothing to calm her down, quite the opposite. She began to scream in Spanish, saying things she didn't understand, to shake in my arms and to cry uncontrollably. 

-“You're not dead, Cat.” I repeated, holding her tighter. "And I'm not going to let you die."

I would never let Catalina die. She had come into my life unexpectedly and had turned it upside down. It had been hard for me to come to terms with the fact that I wanted Catalina to be a part of my life. But as soon as I saw her against that tree, bleeding and clutched by Richard, I knew. I was completely in love with this woman.

I would never let anything bad happen to her again.

I wasn't willing to lose her, Catalina was mine forever.

I would do whatever it takes to save her