Healing His Mate

Aaliyah POV

After we go downstairs, Aaron gives me a deep kiss and leaves for the pack cells. I sigh a small dreaming sigh as I watch him walk down the path and into the trees.

"You daydreaming about my son?" Zea whispers into my ear. I nearly jump out of my skin from not hearing her come up to me.

Then her words register and I feel the heat wash over my face, "No."

She just laughs, "It's okay. I still daydream about my mate too and we've been together for over two decades."

I smile at the thought of being with Aaron for so long. Knowing the relationship Zea and James have, I want that for Aaron and me.

"I was thinking we could go for a walk today. Just get out of the house for a while," she suggests.

I nod in agreement and throw on a pair of shoes and a light jacket before heading out the door with Zea.

We walk along the path near the center of the pack. I can see the pack house off in the distance and I can hear the familiar sound of wolves running somewhere in the trees.

"I love the beautiful colors of fall," Zea says from next to me, her arm locked in mine as we stroll. The bright oranges and yellows of the leaves surround us and the scene reminds me of living in Europe with my mom, "You know if you ever want to talk, I will always listen. I know you've been having a lot of trouble after going through the sharing, but you're not alone. When James and I went through the sharing, there was a lot about my past that hurt to relive, but it reminded me that my mate would always be there for me, good and bad."

I turn to her, shocked that the perfect woman in front of me was ever fearful of the world. The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them, "It reminded me how broken I am."

She yanks on my arm, causing us both to come to a stop, "What?"

"I'm sorry. I just meant-" I try to apologize, but she cuts me off.

"Aaliyah, you aren't broken," she makes the statement as if she has never spoken truer words, but I know the truth, "Oh, Angel. You really believe that, don't you?"

I shrug my shoulders, "I broke a long time ago."

I look out towards the fields so I don't have to watch her face fall. I know if I look I'll see the pity there and my heart can't take that.

"What about Aaron?" she asks, "What does he say?"

I feel my lips lift up in a small smile, "He said if I'm broken, he'll put me back together again."

She laughs at her sons words.

"I think he may be right," the words break through the light breeze blowing by us.

"Why?"

I shrug my shoulders again, "I don't feel so broken anymore, and I know it's because of him. Aaron puts me back together."

She's hugging me before I even know she moved to put her arms around me. I lean into her as I feel the familiar feeling of being in a mom's arms.

I feel the thoughts of my mom float around my head. I want to believe more than anything that she's out there somewhere, but my life has taught me the hard truth that it's just false hope.

After a few moments, she pulls back, "I'm so happy that Aaron is what will heal you from your past. It's what mates do."

"Your mate healed you?"

"Yes. I was a lot like you when I first came to this pack."

"Afraid of the world?" I ask.

"Yes and no," she answers honestly, "I was in hiding. Not from hunters, but from other shifters."

My eyebrows cross in question, "Shifters were hunting you?"

"Yes. You see my father is the Alpha of the Black Stone Pack. I am his first born child and I have the alpha gene. By law, I am supposed to be the alpha, but the council refused to allow it."

"Because you're a girl?" I guess.

She laughs loudly at that, "With the group of old men who sit on the council, it's a good assumption but no. Alpha goes to the first born with the alpha gene no matter the sex. There are plenty of female alphas," she explains, "The problem was that I am a gifted wolf."

"I don't understand."

"The council thought if I was a gifted alpha, I would be too strong. They thought it would disrupt the balance and other shifters may see me as a threat, so they told my father that they would not allow it. He nearly went to war with them over it."

"What happened?"

"I found out the council wasn't completely wrong," she sighs, "My best friend and I went to a concert on the outskirts of the pack and we were attacked by a sleuth of bears. They were after me and killed my best friend. After that I was so afraid of someone else I loved getting hurt, I seceded the alpha to my younger brother and ran away."

"You just gave away being alpha?"

"Honestly, I never really wanted it. My father thought I deserved it and I should be allowed the choice to choose it, but I wasn't meant to be an alpha," she smiles, "My gift is to heal others. I care more about helping my pack than leading it. I'm too soft to be an alpha."

"You're a Luna," I state.

"Exactly. When James and I met, I pushed him away. I was blaming myself for my friend's death and fearful that other shifters would still want me for being gifted. I was afraid."

"Are you still afraid?"

"Sometimes, but James taught me that fear isn't something to be afraid of. Having my mate made me see that if you stop living because you're afraid, the fear wins," she smiles, "And fear isn't allowed to win."

"I don't want to be afraid anymore," I confess.

"Then we beat the fear."

"You say it like it's so simple."

"It's not, but it's worth the challenge."

We sit in silence as Zea let's me think over our conversation. I can see a group of pups playing near the pack house and their laughter echoes around the trees.

"What did the council say, to you becoming a Luna?" I ask, curious how they would allow it.

"Oh they were pissed," Zea throws her head back laughing, "They couldn't stop me and James because we are fated mates and fated mates trumps every rule. The irony is they refused to allow me to become alpha because they thought I would be too powerful, but they never accounted for the fact that as a Luna, I am even stronger."

"Stronger? How is a Luna stronger than alpha?"

"Aaliyah, we are the Luna, the heart of the pack. Every member of the pack is connected to the Luna on a spiritual level," she says, "As well as the Luna is the only member of the pack who the alpha will follow orders from."

"And now I'm supposed to be the Luna. I breakdown at the mention of being in the same room as a doctor. I don't think I'm strong enough."

"You are. You went through hell and are still standing. You still have much healing left to do, but when you are ready, I will gladly pass the mantle to you."

I feel a tug at my heart upon hearing her words, "Thank you Zea. For everything."

"It's what family is for, so when you are ready to talk about the lab and what you saw during the sharing, I'm hear to listen. Aaron isn't the only one who will help you be put back together."

I feel the tears swell in my eyes as I choke back a sob.

Moving back to sit on a park bench, we let the conversation go. It means everything to me that she isn't pushing to open up. She's letting me digest her story and to let myself come to the conclusion that letting people in will help me heal.

I look back over to the kids playing. A little boy with dark chestnut hair is chasing after his friends, laughing and shouting. He has not a care in the world. No fears or anger. He is just happy.

That's what I want. I don't want to be trapped by fear. I just want to be happy. I want to be happy with Aaron.

My thoughts drift back to Aaron. I know he’s in the cells with the hunter now. I hate him being so close to that type of monster. I can feel a sense of anger washing over him.

I see a blur grab my sight as a tug pulls on my mind away from my body. My heart races as my vision comes into focus.

I'm not standing in the fields any longer.

I see the cement surrounding me and I can feel the silver bars at my back. Kneeling on the floor by my feet is the hunter. Blood covers him as I take in all of his wounds.

He whimpers out as I slam my fist down and into his face. I feel the crunch of his cheekbone under my knuckles.

I move to punch him again when I stop short. My fist hovers midair.

"Dude, you good?" Zach asks.

I shake my head at his confused look, then suddenly my sight is cut off. My eyes close, leaving my sight in darkness.

"Aaliyah," my name leaves my lips. But when the whisper reaches my ears, I hear my mate's voice.

Aaron, I answer him through our bond. I'm not sure if he can hear me when I'm in his head, but I feel my heart force his unspoken question. I am here.

You shouldn't be here, angel. I don't want you to see this.

I didn't mean to, I tell him honestly, I'm sorry.

There is nothing to apologize for, but I need you to leave.

But-

No, Aaliyah. I will not let this violence touch you.

Aaron, I whimper, not wanting him around any either.

I know, he says, knowing my thoughts, We'll talk about this later, angel. Please go.

Knowing I have to give this to him, I agree, Please be careful.

With that last thought, I let go of the connection and feel my mind leave his again. When I open my eyes again, I'm back in my own head and my mate is still in that cell.