The Alphas’ P**n Star Mate

"She wants to reject him?" Miles asked, like it was something he couldn't even fathom. Rejecting your fated mate is not something to take lightly. "Shouldn't they talk first?" "That's what I told her, but she said that every time she gets close to him, he acts like he's gearing up for a fight."

I leaned my head back on Mick's chest, thinking for a few minutes as he and Miles talked about what a rejection could mean for Boyd in his current condition. I was just vaguely listening while my mind ran through any and all reason for Boyd to be acting like that towards a fated mate. I mean, I even had a hard time overcoming the mate bond with Camreon. He was a complete asswipe, and I knew that from the start, but even I couldn't resist the pull of the bond when he touched me, or even got close to me in those first few months.

"He doesn't feel the bond," I concluded out loud, interrupting whatever my mates were talking about. "He can't. That's the only thing that makes sense. He's not an Alpha, or that strong-willed. If he's not claiming her, it's because he doesn't feel it. And I think I know why." Miles nodded, catching on quickly. "The snakes. It's because of dark magic."

"They must have done something to him when he was at that hotel."

"The Luna of that pack was his former mate. What if she did something to him?"

"Huh," I pursed my lips, continuing to think. "Boyd doesn't treat women badly. Like, ever. That has to be it. What if that Luna did something to make Boyd not feel or scent his second-chance mate?" "Why though?" Miles asked.

I shrugged. "That's the million-dollar question. We're going to need to talk to Boyd to figure it out. But... But I don't think we should let him know too much about what we know. About what's going on." "Why? Do you think he's got stockholm syndrome for his former mate now?" Mick asked.

"No, but I keep getting this nagging feeling in my head that we can't say anything that I just told you guys to anyone else. It's like a force inside me is trying to stop me, and I trust my new magic a lot more than I trust Boyd or anyone else outside this room right now. I even got that feeling around Paulina and Driana." To be fair, there were lots of other people in that room, but I'm going to be careful around everyone just as a precaution.

"But you told us," Miles pointed out.

"Yeah, because you're my mates. You're both a part of me. I think that's why I don't get the feeling with you."

They both stared at me with a heightened level of affection on their faces. I could feel their appreciation for me revealing everything to them with total trust in them both. "Thank you for telling us," Mick whispered in my ear.

Miles reached out and took my hand. "No more secrets between any of us anymore, right?"

"Right," I smiled, squeezing his hand in return. "I do think we need to talk to Estel about Boyd though. Not about everything, but just enough to where she doesn't reject him prematurely before we figure out what's going on with him."

"I think we need to leave that up to you," Miles said. "If you're getting these feelings and urges for when not to speak, then it should be on you to discuss it with her. That way, we won't cross any boundaries we don't know about."

When Mick got a text from Estel at the end of our meeting, he showed it to me, and I knew that it was my time to clear the air with our guest. I was the one that snapped at her upon arrival. I still think I was justified. I mean, even if she was in distress, you don't whisper in a mated Alpha's ear like that.

I did initiate the hostility between Estel and myself though, so I definitely need to be the one to smooth things over.

What better way to clear the air and get a fresh start than sparring?

"You're petty ass just wants to know you can kick her ass if need be," Cortina scoffed in my head.

"Shut up, hussy. Go back to your after-sex nap."

"I don't think I will," Cortina said smartly. She's intrigued about what's to come next.

"Luna, uh, are we going to train?" Estel looked over the empty training field. "No one else is here."

"Lenny and I are here," I said brightly. Too brightly. My voice sounded fake, even to me.

Okay, I might still be feeling more than pity towards Estel. The bitch let her scent linger on my mates. I need to kick her ass just once to feel better about it. That might be that psycho behavior Mick was talking about, but now that I know they're okay with me acting a little more toxic, I'm not going to worry too much about playing nice when I'm pissed.

"So, you two are going to train with me?" Estel raised her eyebrows as we descended the hill to the field.

"Train. Spar. It's all the same really." I waved my hand back and forth in the air, like I was comparing the two things.

Lenny chuckled, knowing my petty side enough to know where this sparring would lead. He's the one that told me she was a warrior. Warrior women are built differently. We don't settle our differences with pretty words and tea. No.

We do it the warrior way, with our fists and blood.

"So you want me to spar with you or him?" She looked between us.

"Me of course. If you can still stand afterward, feel free to fight Lenny too."

She looked at me in disbelief, and then a slow grin spread on her face. "Is this to get even with me for whispering in your mate's ear?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe. I think it's the only rational way to clear the air between us and start fresh."

"The warrior way," she was beaming now.

"The warrior way."