The Young Luna

Chapter 36

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"I imagine this wasn't how you planned to spend your seventeenth birthday" Chris commented, as dawn began to break.

"Not really" I sighed, leaning my head on Chris's shoulder. He put his arm around me as I soberly glanced at the door – hoping, and praying, that Seth was going to come through any minute. "Are you sure you don't want to get some sleep?" I asked Chris, eager to change the subject.

"I'll head home once Alpha Zev comes back" he replied. Chris had gotten through his first shift quickly and uneventfully, before we'd hidden inside the guest house and waited for my mate. Morning was almost here and yet I hadn't slept since arriving back at my birth Pack – it felt like years since this trip had started.

"You can call him Seth you know" I said.

"Nah, it doesn't seem right. He may be your mate, but he's still the most powerful Alpha in the country. He's just never going to be a 'Seth' to me" Chris shrugged. Silence fell between us and I could feel Chris's glance on me. He was desperate to cheer me up since I'd slipped into my foul mood. "Why don't you tell me what you had planned to do on your birthday? If you were back with the Equinox Pack?" he suggested.

I shrugged, "hadn't thought about it too much".

"That's a lie" he snorted.

"Yeah" I admitted, shooting him a momentarily smile. "Alright, I'll save you all the mate details. But, let's just say that Seth would take the morning off and we'd spend it together. Most of it in bed, but he'd also make me breakfast – probably something that is bland but he'll think it tastes good because he has an awful palate and even worse cooking abilities. Then maybe I would see my friends, or do some shooting, before going out for dinner with Seth".

"Sounds nice".

"Doesn't matter, ain't happening now, is it?" I deadpanned. Yes, I was in a shitty mood but it was my seventeenth birthday and it wasn't going how I wanted to go. Chris couldn't get me out of my mood, no matter his words of comfort, but luckily he was saved when Seth returned a few hours later.

me against his body with almost desperation. "What happened? Did you kill Rafa? What happened to the girls? Why

eyes almost as large as mine. He offered me a small smile, almost sad, as he ran a finger over my cheek in

I demanded, pulling from his embrace and glaring at

looked stressed and tired. For the first time since I

who broke the spell, "I'll take my

at Chris, "thank you for having Mabel's

he shrugged nonchalant. He said another quick 'happy birthday' wish to me, before leaving to get some

Shifted?" Seth asked

I nodded, "but never mind Chris. I don't care if it's my birthday, I

He headed up the stairs and I quickly followed him. I hounded him the entire time, but he simply ignored me. "We should get at least an hour or two of sleep"

.

.

.

"But--"

in such distress made my heart ache. Before my shift, I probably would have carried on pushing him until we argued or he told me. But, I was a lot more attuned to his emotions lately and I just didn't want to push him further, I

beaten. And it didn't make any sense to me since he'd just

pause in the doorway to the bathroom and turn back to

will be. For me? I'm not so sure anymore". With that he walked into the bathroom, seconds later the shower turned on. I sighed heavily, shaking my head as I untangled my wild curls from the confines of a scrunchie. It had been in the same position for such a long time that my head

me. Despite my whirling mind, exhaustion won out and within seconds I was fast asleep. But it was short lived as I woke up the

turned around to face him. Seth wrapped his arms around me, holding me to his chest, but stayed silent. My eyes were threatening to close again, but the

in

told you that nothing bad will happen to you, Mabel. I will never let anyone hurt you". He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of my head. I pulled

If you're in trouble, Seth, then we're both in trouble. We're mates, that's

So I knew it was bad, whatever it was, it was really bad. "I didn't