Falling For My Cruel Mate
Chapter 85

I release my hold on him reluctantly. A heavy sigh escapes his lungs as he turns and makes his way into the bathroom. I roll over in the large bed, shoving my face into the plush pillow. How did my life become so complicated? Why is this all happening to me? I just wanted a passionate love, instead I'm falling for a man who only just opened up to me a few days ago. His dark past makes my heartache, but I still feel as though I don't know him that well.

The worst part is, I may not even get the chance to get know him the way that I want to. As fate may have it, I could die tonight... a lot of us could lose our lives tonight.

Pushing those dark thoughts to the back of my head I pull myself out of Ajax's bed. I hadn't really planned on doing much today, but apparently there is still so much to do. What exactly? I don't know. Alpha duties I guess.

Ajax:

I slip on my black jeans along with a matching long sleeved shirt, with a pair of boots that can withstand the snow. I was never a fan of the white fluff that just began to stick to the trees and grass.

As a child it always meant that I wasn't permitted to go outside. My mother would follow the example of all the others and keep the children inside to keep warm, but our home was cold and empty, never warm. Snow just meant spending more time with my abusive father and crazed mother. The mark did something to her I've never seen before. She had done everything and anything my father asked of her, it was as if it was her life mission to please him every second of the day. I never understood it, even now that I have a mate. Yes, I have these unexplainable feelings for her and I want her to be her happiest whenever possible, but my mother took that feeling to the extreme.

A shiver racks its way down spine at the thought of her frail body hanging from the ceiling fan. She had done it for him. For the man who was supposed to be my father. She left a note, it was a crumpled piece of paper with three words on it. She had snuck underneath my pillow and I hadn't found it until two days after her death.

I had too.

That's all it said. She loved him more than me, something I will never be able to understand. I sigh heavily and I try to shake away the weight that began to dawn upon my shoulders. Because of me the life of my mate rest in my hands along with the hundreds of warriors who are putting their life on the line for their Luna. It's all my fault.

A low growl rips through my chest as I punch the wall angrily, putting a hole through it. I could feel the heat rise and my body start to shake, my wolf threatening to break through. I hate this. I hate that all of this is happening and none of it is in my control.

I stalk out of the closet, my anger still evident, and make my way down to the first level of my home where Samuel promised to meet me in five minutes. We have a lot to discuss and I don't want to waste anytime.

Pacing the length of the foyer I run my hands through my hair nervously as I go over battle strategies in my head. The west and east borders are the ones that need the most reinforcements. All the children, elderly and those not yet fully trained in combat need to be escorted to the bunker out in the woods as soon as possible.

Settling against the wall I focus my hearing up to Octavia's room. I can hear her shuffling around her room, the opening and closing of a door before the shower turns on. I doubt she will agree to going to the bunker with rest of the wolves who aren't fighting. She will want to be out there, in the middle of the battlefield... But that is exactly what I don't want her to do.

A series of knocks at the front door yank me from my thoughts. I push myself off the wall and open the large oak door to reveal Sam and Cynthia.

"Alpha," Cynthia beams as she bows her head in respect. "If you don't mind I thought it would a good idea to keep Luna Octavia company."

I nod once, not having any problem with her being here. Although her chirpy smile and attitude made me uneasy. We're gearing up to go to battle and she is as happy as ever. I step aside and allow both of them to enter. Sam rolls his eyes as his younger sister practically skips up the steps and over to Octavia's room.

"Why is she so happy? Doesn't she know what's going on?" I ask my anger building up inside of me once again. My hands begin to shake slightly and I immediately shove them into my pockets. I shove the anger down and nearly choke on it. What is going on with me today? I can barely control my emotions.

"I have no idea, but she's been driving me insane all morning. I'm glad she's off of my back." Sam's face was serious and his shoulders tense. It was so unlike him, he's usually so laid back and care free.

"Come on, man. Let's get this over with so that we can start taking people over to the bunker." I head up the stairs and into my office.

We talked territory lines for a while and a bit about battle strategy, but that is more of Weston's department. He's working with a few trainees who only have one more lesson until they complete their training. We need all the warriors we can get. We sat in my office for a long time, nothing but stressed filled sighs and angry grunting came out of me as we tried to figure out how to best escape this situation with the least amount of casualties.

"Take Marcus and whomever you deem fit and trustworthy to go with you and make sure the bunker is stocked and ready. Then I want those who won't be participating in battle moved over there in intervals of fifty. Let's not make a big fuss out of this. It's just a precaution."