"I don't think I'll ever be luna." A broken voice stopped me from entering the room where my mother was. My mother was in no health to be out of her room yet here she was in my mate's room. "Besides, I don't think I'm staying here much longer."

Why would she say that?

My stomach felt like it was churning at the thought of her going far from the pack house again. Everytime I'm not watching her I feel like she's in danger.

Then just make her you luna.

My own conscience was bothering me about that.

If she becomes my official luna, the pack would protect her for me. I wouldn't have to worry to much about her because the whole pack would keep an eye on her. I can speak from experience since every single time my mom went out when I was young, almost a dozen pack members would follow her around, fearing for their luna's health and safety.

I would say the same for Phoebe, but for some reason everybody has some sort of vendetta against her. I usually have to order some guards to follow her around school and her little shopping adventures.

"You can't leave!" A high-pitch, very loud voice broke through my thoughts. I think that was Rachel, Brennon always spoke fondly of her but since she's still 15 we won't know if they are mates yet. "We need you here!"

There was something inaudible, my mate's broken and muffled voice sounded like she was crying while being hugged.

Something inside me broke, listening to those muffled sobs. I tried to walk away, but my feet were growing roots in the floor every second I was there.

"I can't stay here any longer!" There was a cry, not as loud as you would think but it echoed in my mind, constantly haunting me with such ferocity. "I can't stay here and be rejected again!"

"He's not going to reject you again," My mom's voice came out clear and full of the crisp authority she usually has, "Right son?"

My whole form stiffened, my hands actually started to feel clammy.

Of course my mother can sense me, being half white-wolf she's always had her own 6th sense. Feeling like this was a good time to finally enter, seeing something that just ripped the heart out of my chest.

My mate's teary face.

Her usually pale face was a little flush, especially in her soft-looking cheeks and her adorable button nose was particularly pink. Her thick lashes were glistening with her tears and her deep dark locks with its natural waves made her look like a living doll.

I walked just close enough to see her clearly. Her plump pouty lip was trembling, probably from fear. Her whole form was actually shaking, but she was clutching her hands together.

I tried to look in her in those hazel eyes that seem almost golden, but she was avoiding my gaze, just staring at her hands as they shook violently.

Something deep down inside me wanted to just hug her and hide her away from the world, but the rest of me was frozen.

"Hello Axel," My mom finally spoke after a while of silence, "Can you watch Miss Vennett while Rachel and I go find Brennon who is taking quite a while with her meal?" My mother got up and took Rachel, holding her arm and walking away with a sly smile on her face.

She even went ahead and shut the door, trapping me and my mate together.

I could smell the fear pouring off of her as her trembling increase as well as the volume of her heartbeat that was almost unhealthily loud and fast.

"I'm not going to hurt you," I start, letting out a huff as I pulled out the desk chair and sat down with a heavy slump. "But we do need to talk." I couldn't take my eyes off of her, she looks like she walked out of a fairytale book.

She was back to being silent, staring at her hands as they continued quake. It was heartbreaking to see her like this, being afraid of me and not even daring to look at my face.

"Mable, please look at me." I just want to see her eyes, those soft golden orbs that seem to calm and clear my mind. She flinched, stiffening more while turning her head slightly away from me. I just sighed, leaning at forward just to try and get a glimpse at her face. "I'm sorry." I whisper.

From her shock she whipped her head in my direction, her adorable eyes wide with surprise. She stared at me for a few moments, before realizing she was making eye contact with me and turned back away.

But just for that moment I was completely mesmerized, she is utterly beautiful.

"The whole pack now knows you are my mate," I began, knowing that she's listening since her whole form seem stiffer than usual, and her heartbeat picked up again. "So you ne-"

"I need to leave, right?" She finally spoke, her voice so quiet that if I wasn't a wolf I wouldn't have been able to hear her. "I can never be a luna, let alone your's." Her long curls were blocking my view of her face but there was a crystal droplet falling from her curtain of hair and onto the previously dry sheet.

Something inside me broke, and all I wanted was to hold her in this exact moment.

But I didn't know what to say, "No, you don't have to leave." I just need her to stay in the territory where she'll be safe. "You just continue to live here as usual. I'll assign a guard for you now that everyone knows you are my mate you'll be a target for my enemies."

She nodded stiffly, "The bond will fade soon, so I'll leave that."

Our bond?

I forgot that I rejected her.

She won't be mine soon, and I'll be free.

So why is it destroying me.

"I said you don't have to leave!" I growled out, my rush of anger faded as quick as it came when I saw her tears fall faster. "You can stay here, it's better than you becoming a rouge."

"O-okay." She whispered, still looking away from me. "I'll s-stay."

"Good." I huffed, satisfied that she'll remain a member of my pack. Oh wait, she's just a guest. "I'll prepare for your induction ceremony."

She just nodded, not looking in my direction as I got up to leave.

"If there is anything else you need just have Brennon or Clint tell me." I want her to be comfortable, her life here should be enjoyable.

She whimpered slightly, nodding as I walked just a little farther from her.

As I opened her door to walk away, something flashed in my mind, haunting me forever.

It was a memory from a few days ago, when she was suppose to move to our territory.

Her beaten-to-death body limply lying in my arms, my clothes being stain with her blood as her hazel eyes were glazed over with the scarring look that haunted my every waking moment.

I couldn't think of anything but her and keeping her alive in that moment. But when I noticed those boys trying to run away when they saw me I couldn't hold back.

All I saw was red.

Even as I was ripping them apart I could even hear their screams.

They hurt my mate.

And they payed for it.