Thank you for the support for The Luna's Fated Mate. There is lots to come in this story and I appreciate you joining the journey. Be sure to share your thoughts on what you think so far. Next chapter update tomorrow. Ellie xo
Carrie POV Jessica and I pivoted from looking to Mandy to looking at the voice at the door of the hospital room. The Gamma was standing there. “I do not know,” I reply quickly. Too quickly. “You are lying. How can we protect you, if you do not tell us what is going on?” he asks as he steps into the room. He cringes when he looks at the bed with Mandy’s bruised body. “I am sorry I could not do more to stop him before it came to this,” he murmurs sadly turning his attention back to us. “Well?” he asks. “Why should we trust you?” Jessica asks harshly. “It is not like you have been able to protect us so far,” she adds. His face goes red, partially with embarrassment and partially with anger. “Contrary to what you have experienced to date, we protect our own. The Luna is our own, therefore you are also our own,” he says quietly to Jessica. She looks at him and I can see a part of her desperately wants to believe him. She needs to believe some
Jackson POV I see the fear in my mate’s eyes, and I want to go to her. I move to touch her, but she moves away from me. I frown as I try to reason what could cause her to move away from me when I know my touch would ease her worry. Of course, I could not forget how she had been abused by my Beta and me sticking her in the dungeon in the first place did not help. “Just tell me what is going on. I can decide if it is too risk for our Pack to support you,” I say to her calmly. Jessica looks at me with disgust, Christian sighs, and Carrie smirks. I do not know what I can do to ease her concern. Agreeing with her has not worked, disagreeing with her has not worked. I am confused and uncertain what else I can offer. “I will think about it. For now, I need you to bring Jessica and Mandy into your Pack,” Carrie says to me. Before I can agree or disagree, Mandy leans forward, “You do not make decisions for me. I will decide when I am ready to be pa
Carrie POV My heart stopped beating. And then it was racing. What did he mean he knew? He had known all along that I was running from my chosen mate. “What did you say?” I whisper. Jackson leans forward, elbows leaning against his knees. “You heard me, Carrie. Tell me what is going on, so I can protect you,” he repeats himself. I toss the covers off my legs whipping my legs over the edge of the bed and standing up. I frantically look around the room as Jackson stands. I can feel the sparks on my arm where he is holding me. I rip my arm from his grasp. “How much time do I have?” I demand of him angrily. “What are you talking about?” he asks confused. “How much time do I have before he comes for me?” I ask angry that I cannot hide the terror that is consuming me. “Nobody is coming for you. I said I wanted to hear from you what was going on. I did not call Alpha Adam,” Jackson says to me. I do not know if I can believe him.
Jackson POV I sit there lightly rubbing my mate’s arm as fire rages within me. My mate has suffered. Immense loss and I was not there to protect her. I would protect her from now on, but it would never change her past. It would never replace the darkness in her eyes. I know it will take time for her to trust me, but I can only hope, with time, that we are able to come together fully. I want her to believe in me. And to trust I will always be there for her. I would spend my last breath making her happy. Making her my priority and protecting her from the evil that lurks around us. I am starting to feel tired and want to lay down beside my mate. To close my eyes for a few minutes. Since she arrived, I have been on this high wire, trying to find my balance but afraid I would topple at any moment. Just as I put my head gently on the pillow beside my mate, I am startled awake by a yell from my Gamma, “Alpha!” I hear through the mind-link. I jum
Jackson POV “You are full of shit. Her mother died in a rogue attack,” I say turning away from him. I had no more time for his crap, and I needed to get back to Carrie. “That’s what her father wanted her to think,” he says causing me to stop for a moment. “If that was the case, why not tell her when you had Carrie?” I asked turning back to face his smirking face. “I did not need to tell her. She was a good little servant. I underestimated her. That won’t happen again,” he says with a chill to his voice. I take a step forward until we are almost nose to nose. “It will not happen again. She is not going with you … not now, not ever,” I say turning away. “I have proof,” he says as he tosses a picture to the ground at my feet. I stop to pick it up. It is of a woman, frail looking, abused. It meant nothing to me. I did not recognize this woman. “This means nothing,” I say as I pass the picture to Christian. He takes it and will study it t
Jackson POV I held Carrie while she was passed out. I had yelled for the doctor who quickly assured me it was a panic attack and that she would wake shortly. I sat there worrying about her. How would she be able to handle an investigation if the thoughts of what happened were this disturbing for her. And how would I be able to assure her I would not let her go. I thought back to the picture Christian had taken. I open my mind-link and contact him. “Yes Alpha?” he responds. “What have you learned of the photo?” I ask. “It looks legitimate,” he replies sounding a little frustrated. “What is wrong?” I ask curiously. “First, I had wished it was a fake and second, I cannot tell where this is taken. It does not look like a dungeon and is not an area that we have visited in the past,” he replies. “Perhaps the Luna will remember?” he asks. I quickly fill him in on what is happening, “I am sorry for that Jackson. I hope she knows none of us will
Carrie POV Hearing I belonged to Jackson was melting my hardened heart, but I reminded myself I needed to be practical. He has the best of intentions; however, I knew not to trust intentions. At one time Adam tried to convince me he had good intentions, but he quickly destroyed that illusion when he showed his true colors. “You shouldn’t make promises you cannot keep,” I say to Jackson stepping away from the doctor and moving to go around Jackson back to Jessica and Mandy. Before I can move away from Jackson, he grabs my arm pulling me back into his arms, so I am flush against his hard body. I feel the sparks between us. More shocking I feel a sense of desire I have never felt for a man before. My heart is starting to beat faster in excitement, and I see Jackson move a little closer to me, so he is looking straight into my eyes. “I only make promises I can keep,” he says sending a chill of excitement down my spine. I feel like we are the only
Carrie POV The three of us talk away as anxiety builds inside of me. Wondering what is happening with the Beta and hoping they figure something out. We are talking about our plans if things do not go as hoped. Both women are prepared to go with me, regardless of how much I plead with them to not do so. I want them safe, and they will not be safe on the run with me. Hearing footstep approaching the door, as I have for the past couple hours, I watch the door intently. I see the door start to swing open and my breath catches until I see Jackson walking through the door. Christian is directly behind him; Jackson walks over to me immediately. “How are the three of you doing?” Jackson asks. “You are looking at it,” Mandy replies quickly. “Have you planned your escape yet?” Christian asks with a smirk. The three of us look a little guilty as Jackson chuckles. “Did you think the guards could not hear you? They were quite concerned that you were go