Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

I'm well and fully the conductor of my runaway train, the train that best describes not only my continuing untruths to my family, to those that care about me the most, but the fast paced out of control journey I am taking myself on...no doubt on a path for collision. I had the front row seat to my own destruction. Especially as I am waiting inside the small vintage styled tearooms, a thirty minute drive from my pack grounds.

- Cleo ~

My head rests in my hands as I listen to the other patrons as they go about their business, chatting about their own lives.

Their noise giving me peace in my ever chaotic mind.

I had bolted out of my own first scan, what sort of a mother does that.

I need to do better, I need to be better for this little bump of mine.

I have to tell him, no matter what. I have to do this for the baby, my child deserves the best life possible and if that is with a modern step family, then so be it.

He or she will just have extra people to love them, to protect and guide them in life. What could be wrong about that.

I don't hear him enter, it is only when a clearing of the throat in the seat opposite to me draws my attention that I even look up. A small smile spreads out on to his face as he picks up a menu, seemingly deciding what to order.

When he places the menu back down he looks at my order, the half eaten tea cake and cup of tea, alongside a half empty glass of apple juice.

I was hungry, until nerves and nausea took over.

One of the servers comes over to take his order, he orders politely, even cracking a joke which makes the young female giggle.

I watch her walk away, even glancing back over at him...she was half his age yet he seemed to have charm.

"Thank you for meeting me." His attention returns back on to me, his eyes moving around the tearoom to check he didn't recognise anyone I presume.

I think that, because I did the same, especially not being too far from pack grounds.

"Well, you were rather keen in your text messages.." I quirk my eyebrow at him, relaxing back into my chair trying to come across as indifferent.

I was quite the opposite, I was intrigued as to why he was so keen on meeting me again.

"I mean what I said Cleo, I can help you." He leans forward, his arms resting on the table as he intertwines his fingers.

"How's that?"

"I have a position available within my pack, within my household actually."

"Your household?"

"Yes, a role that I have been needing filling for quite some time." He removes his hands off the table in a polite move when the waitress comes back, placing cutlery out for him.

He silently watches her, our conversation on a pause until she smiles out at him and moves back to behind the counter.

"I'm not looking for work." I'm keen to carry on the conversation, I didn't want to stay here for longer than I had to.

"No of course I didn't mean that... I meant within my household, a member of my household."

"I don't understand." Isn't that what someone working in the household is, he was confusing me.

"Luna, I'm looking for a luna."

My lungs eject a sharp puff of air, the sound coming out as a scoff but it's more a gasp from being completely flabbergasted. Did he just offer me what I think he did...

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"You want me to be your Luna? But we are related?" I have to dull down my high pitched voice as a few of

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the patrons turn to look at me.

"Not like that...purely contractual. Nothing physical, like you say we are related."

He's very cool, calm...maybe he's practiced this.

"Then why?"

"To help you. To help me...to help my pack."

The waitress comes over, placing a coffee out for Alpha Than followed by extra milk and a small pot of sugar. He's watching her again but I'm watching him.

I'm unable to take my eyes off him, looking for anyway I may be misinterpreting this.

"Why do you think I need help." I watch him place two brown sugar cubes into his coffee just as the server moves to clean a table.

"A young female she-wolf being sick on the side of the highway says a lot Cleo. How far gone are you?"

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as an icy coolness runs through my blood.

How did he know.

He was right though, it's not every day a she-wolf is ill, unless in the early stages of pregnancy.

What would be the point in denying it, soon enough the entire shifter community would have access to the information when Dad announces it.

At least for now I was in control of deciding who knew.

"Two months."

"Is your mate dead? A warrior injured in battle or something?"

His words yet again take me by surprise, my head shaking as I try to think on how to respond.