Page 27 of My Broken Mate (Healing Bonds #1)

Chapter eighteen

Enter A New Mission

*KAT*

T he gala was on Saturday, and for most of Sunday, I didn’t even see any of my brothers. They were out until the early morning hours, making some deals, which makes me really happy for them and the pack, and is also the reason they sleep in.

Ayden was exhausted, too, and I didn’t want to bother him. He hates parties, and he just went to the gala for me. He keeps saying that too many people and big crowds drain his energy.

Seeing how I am on my own, I go for a long run first, before trying to distract myself by doing some crafts.

I picked up scrapbooking, although I suck at it, but in typical Kata-manner, I bought all the possible supplies under the moon to be prepared for this new task.

Now I am equipped like a professional, although I don’t know what to do. But at least I am having fun with it.

Just today, I can’t get my mind off my non-existent love life. My thoughts return to the gala over and over again. I wish I could talk to someone about it, but I don’t know how to.

It's all so confusing.

Did I truly try to approach Remy, or did I run away too soon in my anger and disappointment? Maybe there is something I misunderstood. Or maybe not, and then I will have to deal with it.

We can’t keep going on like this, Marise says. You need to talk to him.

Again?

This time, make sure to be alone with him, so that he can’t rebuff you, and has to talk to you.

I furrow my brows. You are right. I need to make sure that he actually listens and gives me answers. I think we need an answer, a proper one. A yes or no.

No matter how much it might hurt, I need to know.

If he doesn’t want me, he needs to reject me, so that we can move on.

Or if there is an issue he has with having me as a mate, maybe there is something to work around, maybe we can work it out.

But I can’t continue like this. The status quo is just not acceptable.

The rest of the day passes by without anything happening. Eventually, I have dinner with Evander, while Joel heads out for another meeting with Alpha Sean and a certain Alpha Rhodes, but that’s about as eventful as the day got.

I start my Monday refreshed and full of motivation.

I am ready to tackle my issues, only to not see Remy anywhere on campus.

And goddess knows I tried to look everywhere.

Maybe he is skipping a class and will come later?

Like the world’s best stalker, I have memorized his schedule for today and know he has to be around somewhere.

“Kat!” Fiona calls out while happily running towards me. We are on our lunch break and are going to hit the cafeteria together with Clara.

I hug them both. “Good to see you, Clara! You rocked the gala.”

“I hope so,” she beams. “The reception went pretty well. I am so relieved. It was my first important event.”

“Your alpha looks really nice.”

“He is! And I think he and your brother were talking, too. Maybe they will become allies. We are a smaller pack as well, and Alpha Joel approached us yesterday.”

“This means we will see each other a lot in the future,” Fi beams. “Because Alpha Joel and Alpha Sean struck a deal, too. The news was all over the pack today. Alpha Joel and his pack are official allies now, with all the benefits and obligations. It’s the first official deal Alpha Sean made since he took over. ”

“Really?” I ask. “I barely saw Joel yesterday as he was pretty busy. He got up and immediately left for a meeting. Now I see why!”

Pride fills me. My brother is truly amazing! He managed to strike a deal with one of the most important and renowned packs. Alpha Sean is in a completely different league than a lot of the other alphas, and for such a new alpha like Joel, this is amazing.

“You are still going to move, aren’t you, Clara?”

“Yes,” she says. “This is my last week here, and then I will move. I am really looking forward to it now. But we will stay in contact! I am not far away.”

“Are you switching colleges?”

“No, I will switch to home study, though. My alpha pulled some strings. I will only come for a couple of specific exams. Most of my classes I will take online.”

“That’s so great for you,” I say. “And it means we will see each other at least for our exams.”

“Oh, right, Kat!” Fi gives me the thumbs up. “I saw that you handed in your paper today.”

“Last minute,” I say.

“But still in time!”

“It’s all thanks to my tutor,” I admit. Remy set up a schedule for me, for the most important milestones I need to reach, and handing in this paper was one of them.

He said it’s achievable and that I can definitely do it with the right plan.

His schedule worked. I made sure to follow it, and it just showed how well he thought this through.

He is also not overloading me. It’s more like he helps me with organizing myself.

He helps with lifting the fog from my brain.

Goddess…

Thinking about this makes butterflies appear in my stomach.

It’s the first time I have ever felt that way.

Sure, I might have dated in school, just for the fun of it.

I was always so happy if someone paid attention to me.

One kind word and I fell for someone, but I don’t think I ever truly loved one of them.

But now, I really like Remy, although he isn’t showering me with affection.

There is this draw to him, partly because of the mate bond, but it can’t be just the bond that’s responsible, because I don’t feel it strongly.

It’s his eyes, these dark eyes. Sometimes gloomy, sometimes sad, sometimes distanced.

I wish I could get to know him better. If only he would let me…

Ayden picks me up for the next lecture that we have together. I know that Remy has a seminar at the same time, on the same floor. I search around, not spotting him anywhere. I know he has a class at this time. Did he not come?

“He didn’t come today,” Ayden says quietly, as if he just read my mind. “He hasn’t shown up all day.”

“How did you know I was looking for him?”

“Kat,” he sighs. “I’ve known you since forever. Come on.” He pauses, looking at me. “What is this really about?”

“I… I am sorry, I just can’t tell you yet. Are you mad?”

To my surprise, Ayden just grins. “Don’t be silly! You tell me when you are ready. So… our pretty boy truly got to you, huh?”

“I don’t even know why,” I admit. “He isn’t even nice to me, yet I just like him.”

“Sometimes it can’t be explained,” Ayden says.

“No guy was ever truly honest to me. They all kissed up to me until I dated them and then dropped me. He is the first one not to do that.”

“The bar is low,” Ayden mutters.

“And what am I supposed to do now?”

“Be Kat!” he says. “You haven’t been yourself around him at all.

You are way too accommodating and shy. Talk to him, be your usual self.

Don’t worry about what he thinks when you are being you.

A guy who doesn’t like you for the way you are, frankly, isn’t worth it.

But I doubt you have tried everything with Remy. ”

I grab Ayden’s arm and pull him into a secluded corner. I can’t continue this talk and ask for his help if I’m not completely honest. “I will kill you if you tell anyone what I am telling you now,” I say. “Promise me you won’t.”

He eyes me curiously. “You know me. I would never blab any of your secrets.”

That’s true, he has never broken my trust. I lean forward to whisper into his ear. “He is my mate, although something seems to be wrong with the bond. Sometimes I feel it strongly, sometimes not at all.”

Ayden draws back, his mouth dropping open. “You are not fucking serious?”

“I am.”

Realization dawns on his face. Instead of getting upset that I haven’t told him sooner, he just nods thoughtfully. “Now it makes much more sense.” He takes my hand, squeezing it. “Kat, even more reason to be yourself! Now tell me everything. Wanna skip class?”

“No,” I say. “Let’s go to class and then head somewhere else where we can talk.”

Ayden looks at me, surprised, before he nods. “Fine! Loving your new dedication.”

“I want to prove to myself that I can do it,” I admit. “And Remy put together a schedule for me that I can actually follow.”

“Then he cares,” Ayden says. “And he obviously believes you can do it.”

His simple statement makes my heart race. I have never seen it that way. Is Remy just dedicated and a perfectionist, or does he put effort into it because he cares for me? I am not sure, but I hope that it’s at least partly the latter.

I try to stay focused during the lecture, glad I only need to take notes and don’t need to participate.

It’s my last class for today, for Ayden too, so we both head out immediately afterwards, swiftly grabbing something to eat before heading to a rundown park we frequent whenever we need to discuss something in secret.

No one comes here because it’s really not a fancy place.

It was a playground once, but was abandoned years ago, and is now deserted.

There, I finally tell Ayden everything.

“I can’t believe it,” he breathes out once I finish. He clearly needs a couple of minutes to process everything, so I let him, waiting for him to finally say something. “That’s amazing!” he finally exclaims. “You have a mate!”

That’s not the reaction I was anticipating. “Shouldn’t you be shocked or completely stunned or, I don’t know, find it weird?”

“Why would I?”

“He and I are just an odd combination.”

“Oh, Kat,” Ayden sighs. “Nothing is weird about you being mated to him. The only weird part is how he acts around you, which we will obviously tackle! There is no way I will let him get away with ignoring you. But other than that, you found your mate. That’s fucking amazing!”

“He isn’t… well, he isn’t too good for me?” I finally dare to ask. “You know his family background and all that jazz, and he is so attractive too. He is far out of my league.”

“So that’s what worries you.” Aden pauses.

“He is not out of your league,” he says.

“Goddess, Kat, get a grip! You make it sound like you are a random, poor omega – and even if you were, that doesn’t give him the right to look down on you!

However, let’s look at the facts: Your brother is alpha, and actually has a deal going on with Remy’s own brother.

You are an alpha’s sister, and you come from a wealthy background, maybe not old money, but still money.

You are athletic, a good warrior and an overall well-liked person.

People like you for you, and that’s more than a lot of people can say about themselves.

Why do you think you are below a rich and handsome alpha’s brother? ”

I blink in confusion. “I have never seen it from that perspective. But what about his weird behavior during the gala?”

“Well, he wasn’t on campus today either, so maybe something happened.

He didn’t feel well or had something on his mind?

” He pauses. “Is your feeling below him the reason why you are holding back? What would you do if it weren’t Remy but a young warrior with a simpler background?

Would you have accepted this whole situation just like that?

Because the Kat I know would have already tackled the issue with force. ”

“She would have, wouldn’t she?” I clench my hands into fists in a newfound motivation. “She totally would have, and she will!”

“That’s the right spirit. So, what’s the plan?”

“Dessert!” I exclaim.

“That was not what I was thinking about, but I can always eat cake.”

“Not for you,” I chuckle. “For Remy. He hasn’t eaten anything I made, so I will make sure to prepare something he will have. And if he won’t eat anything on Wednesday when he comes over to our pack, then I will ask him directly. He can’t escape me!”

“Finally, a plan,” Ayden says. “Then let’s go. I will help you.”

“How? You don’t know how to bake or cook. Aren’t you living off cup noodles usually, unless I drag you to eat in the packhouse?”

Ayden is a fantastic guy, but he is lazy when it comes to his own health, and he hates spending or wasting time, as he calls it, with cooking.

“I am generously offering myself as a taste-tester,” he says.

I grin. “How can I say no then? Come, let’s go.”

With my newfound resolve, I drag Ayden back to the pack and to the Alpha Suite. Both Joel and Eve are already there, having a late lunch.

“Ayden, Kata,” Eve smiles at us. “Have you eaten?”

“Yes,” I say.

“What are you doing in the kitchen then?” Joel wants to know.

“I am going to try out some new desserts,” I explain.

Eve looks at me thoughtfully, his aloof, dreamy expression making way for a curious one now. He always looks like he is sleepwalking, but when something catches his interest, he is oddly aware. “For Remy?” he asks.

Joel’s head perks up. “Oh? Didn’t he like the cookies you made last time?”

“I have been thinking,” I say, rummaging through the cupboards. “Not everyone likes the texture of cookies, right?”

“Is that a thing?” Joel asks, confused. “I thought everyone liked cookies.”

“So, I will make a crème dessert,” I exclaim. “Eve, you need to teach me. Ayden will taste-test. I need his opinion as a man.”

“Kata, we are men, too,” Joel points out.

“As a young man,” I clarify, making Ayden grin and Joel pout.

“Look at how cheeky she has become,” he complains to Eve.

Eve just shrugs. “She is right, Ayden is younger than we are. He is Remy’s age.”

“That’s not what—” Joel groans. “You know what, forget I even said anything. You bunch are weird. And I hope you all know how weird you are if I am the one saying it!”

“Here, have another piece of my quiche, and shut up,” Eve mutters, handing him a second plate before turning towards me. “Then let’s start, Kata.”

“Yes, Mission: Dessert begins!”