Chapter 29

Sam POV

I couldn't stay in this pack. How could I?

If the last few days had taught me anything, it was that I wasn't going to have the happy ending i had always dreamt about.

I had found my mate.

Something I had longed for. The long hours spent alone in my small room, back at my old pack house; were filled with thoughts of running away. Finding my soul-mate. And living the dream.

That all lay in ruins now.

I had found my mate. And he didn't want me. He didn't need or want the mate bond. Maybe seeing it as a weakness. I looked at the small digital clock next to the bed and saw it was barely 6am. I knew i wouldn't go back to sleep. After all. A 6am start for me was practically a lie in. I threw the coves off and strode into the ensuite bathroom. Sorting myself out, physically and mentally.

I would have to leave, today. I would go to Katie. I missed her. And i knew that the pack that had accepted Katie would also accept me. The Luna's had said as much on the plane. Before and after the crash. Thinking about the last few days brought unshed tears to my eyes. Katie, the Luna's and me had all been through so much. Pulling myself together and pushing the maudlin mood that was trying to take over, away. I stood and walked over to my bag.

I didn't have much to pack, even thought i had taken some clothes from Lumos the previous evening. I still only had a handful of items that needed to be packed. I walked around the room quickly, shoving my old and new clothes into the depths of the back-pack. Whilst i was doing this i heard a knock at the door. I hesitated. Not knowing if I should open the door or feign sleep, and ignore the persistent knocking.

I mentally shook myself again. My father had not raised an impolite child. He would be ashamed if he knew i was thinking about being so rude. Of course I would open the door. I let out a small sigh as I pulled the door open. I didn't know who to expect on the other side.

Would it be friend or foe?

Turns out, it was neither.

Standing on the other side of the threshold, stood a man, a tall man. That should have been a shock, but it was what he was holding that made my eyebrows disappear into my hair-line.

He was laden with clothes. Lots and lots of clothes. I recognized them all as the clothes I had seen and liked whilst in Lumos's bedroom. I gestured for the tall man to enter my room. He did so and deposited his armful onto the bed. He gave me a quick nod, and let himself out, closing the door softly behind him.

What the hell was I supposed to do now? I lifted up a beautiful emerald green jumpsuit. It was so silky soft, as I let the fabric flow from my fingers. There was far to much here to pack. There was no way they would all fit into my back-pack. But how could I choose what to take, and what to leave? It was while I pondered this question, that I heard a soft knock on the door again. This time I simply called out, asking the man to just come in.

I had a fright when the door opened and Lumos's head popped around the frame.

'Can I come in?' Lumos asked softly.

'Of course,' I replied, warmly. Lumos walked in. I could see her looking at the clothes on the bed. I also saw her eyes move from the pile of clothes to the open back-pack, sitting next to it. Lumos frowned but before she could say anything, the man appeared at the open door and walked in, his arms once again full. Not with more clothes, but with shoes, in different colors and styles. He dropped the shoes on the bed, next to the clothes. He nodded his head at me then bowed in respect to Lumos. Before leaving us alone.

'what is all this?' I asked Lumos. I saw the frown ease from her beautiful face, and be replaced with a look of shyness. This surprised me as I would never put shyness and Lumos in the same sentence.

'I saw how you looked at all of these clothes yesterday. I want you to have them all. They were about to be donated to the local aid shelter. But I'd much rather you had them. If you will acceptthem?'

Again, I saw shyness on her face. With a rush of confidence I flew at the other woman and flung my arms around her. Hugging her, laughing and crying all at once, Lumos pulled back slighting. Laughing at my glee and emotion.

I suddenly realized what I was doing and pulled out of the hug. My face flamed as I mumbled my apologies.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to grab you, I'm just overwhelmed by your generosity. You really didn’t have to do this. But I really do appreciate it’ I said, solomly.

lumos gave me a huge smile and pulled me back into the hug. She pulled back with an excited shine on her face.

'We can start hanging them in the closet. And while we do that, we can match up outfits. It will be fun!' Lumos added as she clocked the dubious look on my face. Lumos grabbed my hand and pulled me over the the closet. Flinging open the doors and walking in, dragging me behind her.

I listened as Lumos started describing where the clothes should be hung. Some would be folded and placed within drawers. And then there was the shoe rack, that covered the whole of the back wall.

We left the closet and walked back to the bed, where Lumos grabbed my back-pack, ready to move it out of the way. I saw her smile falter at the weight of the bag. 'You haven't even unpacked your bag, Sam.' I saw her eyes widen as she realized the bag she was holding had some of the new clothes in it. Lumos raised questioning eyes to me.

I felt my face flame with the embaresment I now felt. Standing in front of the older woman, who had gone out of her way to make me feel welcome. And had been so generous. I couldn't look her in the eye.

'You were leaving?' Althought the question was asked softly, I could hear the slight accusation in it. I was suddenly desperate for Lumos to understand my point of veiw.

I grabbed her hand, hoping she would allow the contact. She did. So I continued. 'Lumos, you must know that I can't possibly stay in this pack, knowing that your brother doesn't want any type of relationship. I can't do that to Jet. It's not fair for her to be around Andras, and never allowed to be with him. Please understand?' I was aware of the pleading tone of my voice, but I didn't care. I needed Lumos to understand. She had to understand.

I looked into her eyes, expecting to see anger simmering there. My heart plummeted as i saw only disappointment.

I have never felt so guilty.

And was surprised to hear Lumos say 'I'm sorry Sam. I really am. You have my sympathy. But, I, we cant let you go. Not yet. You have to stay.'

I then saw her eyes glaze over as she mind-linked with someone.

I was stunned at her words. 'Can't', 'you can't let me go?' What do you mean, Lumos. Why can't I leave?'

I pulled my hand out of Lumos's and walked over to the window, winding my arms around myself in a defensive posture. I didn't know what was going on. Lumos looked at me, but didn't elaborate any further.

I jumped in fright when I heard a thundering stomping sound coming from the hallway and recoiled in shock as Tertia burst through the door. And flung herself at me. I could see she was upset, as tears were running down her pale cheeks.

'Sam, you can't leave. You just can't. You are my brother's Mate. You are our future Luna. You can't walk away from Knox. It would kill him.' The last few words came out as sob.

I looked up from the girl in my arms to Lumos. I was slightly breathless as I said, 'Has Knox acknowledged and accepted the Mate bond?' The question coming out more hopeful than I meant to sound.

Lumos shock her head. 'No, at least, I don't think so. He won't talk to me.'

I gently detached myself from Tertia and looked at both women with annoyance now showing on my face.

'How do the two of you suggest I stay, when I would have to live here, with him. And not being with him? I can't do that. Not after last night.....'

I stopped talking abruptly as i realized had said to much.

‘Okay, spill’ said Lumos who was looking a little agitated. ‘What happened last night that has resulted in you running away from us’? Staring at Lumos for a second, a million thoughts started running through my mind. Should I tell his sisters what had happened to them last night? Should I tell his sisters that they made out? Should I tell them that the kiss we had shared was the single most erotic thing i had ever experienced?

Should I tell them that my heart had started to ache with need for him? That I was finding it difficult to be around the man and not want rip into his clothes and see every inch of him?

No, I just couldn’t do that. Not now, not ever. He didn’t want me. He had made that clear from the start and it didn’t matter that our bodies were calling out for each other. Closing my eyes so I could escape the watchful stares of the sisters, I pinched the bridge of my nose as I could feel a headache coming on.

‘Okay, I’m not going into detail, so don’t push it but, last night your brother and I, well, we had a moment where we kissed and I got all confused at the signals he was sending out. It’s not a big deal. But I have come to realise that if I stay I will be risking my own heart. I cant do that. So, I will go and find my friend. I will contact some people over in wales and tell them where I am and they will join me. I will go as far as I need to, to break this supposed bond……’.

I was halted in her tracks as the door opened again and I saw Knox. He seemed to be breathing heavy and you could see Andras was very close to the surface. ‘You can’t break a bond like that. Only rejecting your mate will break a bond,' Knox said, without any emotion on his face as he looked at me.

Looking back at him, I could feel the pull towards him again and had to fight hard to squash it back down. Looking at all three siblings standing in my room, I felt my suspicion raise. I clearly wasn't being told the whole story here.

'Okay, one of you!' I said, pointing to them in turn ‘had better tell me what the fuck is going on. Why cant I leave? Why’?

Lumos looked at Tertia, then at her brother. She was obviously talking through the mind link. I watched as all three siblings nodded. Then watched as Lumos held out her hand for Tertia's. The two women gave me sad smiles as they left. Leaving only Knox and myself in my bedroom.