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

Kaia POV

Exhaustion took over me last night and I gave into it. I let my body rest on the bed, wrapped in the towel from my shower...waking up the next day with the morning sun beaming through the gaps in the curtains. My body succumbed to the desperate call to sleep after my euphoric sensation with Hector.

I dressed myself to look irresistible, I wore a tight blue ribbed dress that enhanced my small curves and let my hair hang loose

No, I had nothing to feel awkward about, my question was a reasonable one...even if the timing was off.

Heading downstairs I hear Aubrey cooking breakfast until I reach the bottom of the stairs and his scent engulfs me, it seems stronger this morning than ever before.

Turning the corner I find him cooking breakfast, not Aubrey.

His white shirt was loosely open, revealing some of his chest. The pull to him is like that vortex from last night and I worry that if I get sucked in, I may never be able to climb my way out again. "Morning...sit." He orders as he glances behind him as he returns to the hob. Sitting at the breakfast island I peek over to the sight of eggs in the frying pan.

Soon enough he plates me up and I take a bite.

"Hmm I like these eggs."

"They are how my Mum used to make them." He casually states as he sits on the stool next to me and a sense of intrigue takes over me.

"What was it like for you....her passing I mean." As soon as I ask the question I wished I hadn't. Hector's mood shifts completely as he places his cutlery down to look at me. "Shit, sorry...I shouldn't have asked."

"No it's fine. I don't really talk about it much...I suppose my situation is different to others."

"Because your mother and father weren't mates?" I gently press...he knew so much about me, but I knew

nothing.

"My Mum was human and I don't care how much he denies it, he loved her completely. Then he found his mate and, well, Medea is very different to what my Mum was like,

Let's just say I think if there wasn't a mate bond he wouldn't have given her a second thought. Then Mum died and I moved in with them." The words roll of his tongue too matter of factly for my liking, his words well rehearsed.

"To your father's pack?" I take another bite out of the eggs, his eyes watching the fork upon my lips.

"Yes, the Amber Desert pack..." He pauses again, there's a rawness in his eyes, did he not like talking about his childhood.

"Then what happened?" Now that he was sharing with me, making him less of a puzzle... wanted to know more. Wanted to decode this enigma before me.

"I commenced training as the alpha, but Medea made it very clear that my brother was to be the next alpha, because I was only half a werewolf. Father cracked in the end, so I left when I could." He shrugs her his eyes continue to watch my lips. "Where's your brother now?"

"He's the alpha, he runs the pack but we don't get along."

"Why not.."

"A number of reasons, the first being it was my birth right not his." A darkness takes over his eyes and I can see the hurt and resentment within them. He truly believes he was ripped off his title unfairly.

"But you have this pack."

I don't think I can think of Hector being in another pack. A pack that most likely wouldn't even exist if it wasn't for him.

"Only because I made it myself." I don't miss that resentment again in his tone, the bitterness towards his family.

"Sounds like you carved out your own future Hector. I wouldn't dwell on the past, as you can see it can disappear at the click of a finger. It seems the moon goddess had a clear path for you and you've proved him wrong anyway." "Who?" His eyes follow my fork again as I move it to my mouth, my tongue deliberately now teasing him knowing his eyes were on me. I was starting to like this power I had over him.

"Your father. You've proved that you are the strongest alpha around. Wait... the Amber Desert pack...isn't that the pack Alora grew up in?"

"Yes..."

"Then you grew up with her?"

"To a degree, yes."NôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.

What does that mean, to a degree...

"So, she knows your brother too?"

"Yes they are mates."

I shouldn't have cockily been teasing him, I was now choking on the piece of egg that had lodged itself in the back of my throat.

"What?" I bolt upright, trying to clear my airwaves...this was news I wasn't expecting.

"She didn't say?" His shoulders tense.

"She..." I try to think back, my brain did have moments of blurriness when it comes to recent memories,

and I think it is also down to it still healing. But I couldn't place a recent memory of her telling me such an important thing.

"No...she hasn't mentioned a mate. Why isn't she with Him?"

"Their relationship has always been very toxic. Very controlling."

I felt guilty that she had offered to stay and run the pack even though she had a mate out there that would want, need, to be with her.

Almost sensing my internal debate, his hand reaches for mine.

"Them not being together...it's a good thing Kaia. It gives her a chance to grow, to come out of his controlling shadow." A level of coldness takes over Hector, an absolute...his opinion isn't for turning. He must know things, must have witnessed things. Suddenly it pains me to be away from Alora, a feg of needing her close. Of making sure she is safe, happy. I would bring pain upon anyone that hurt her, past or future.

"You're not painting him in a good light." I scoff slightly, a bit concerned.

"No, and for good reason Kaia."

"I thought mates were destined for a reason.."

"In some ways they are, but not all mates bring out the best in each other Kaia. Sometimes the mate bond can be cruel. Sometimes people take advantage of the mate bond."