Chris' P.O.V.

"She's my mate." Alx confesses.

What? Am I hearing him right?

"She's your what?" 

Taking a breath he repeats himself. "She's my mate"

"I'm sorry. What?" 

"She's my mate." he repeats yet again.

She's his mate? She's his mate.

He's her mate. Huh?

Wait! She can't have a mate. She's human and too young. How old is he? I never did ask him how old he was. Wolves age so weirdly. It's so hard to tell. He's got to be older than me. Right? Yeah, he's got to be.

'A mate is a mate'

"How old are you, Alx?"

"You're worried about my age?" He replies overly calmly "I'm 21, Chris." 

"21. You can't be 21. There's no way you're 21." I say without thinking.

A deadly low growl leaves Alx's chest. His eyes red and his body twitching. His wolf is fighting for control. He closes his eyes. Stretching his neck. "Let me handle this, Eric." Taking a deep breath, he opens his eyes. "Sorry. Eric is on a war path. Shayla's the only thing keeping him at bay right now." His eyes darting over her as if he needs to make sure she's still ok. "Chris. I Am 21. Wolves age faster when they get their wolf. Then we start to age slower from the ages 20-25. From there it slows to what we consider to be normal. You know this."

Well, no. I didn't know that. 

"But you don't even act 21."

"Well, I do have a lot of responsibilities. I did become the Alpha of this pack at 13. That does make a person seem older."

"Yeah, I understand that. But even still. You act like someone in their 30's. So, I put around 25-26." He's 21. Only 21! "Shit. You're only 21." That makes me three years older than him. "You were only 16 when I joined the pack?" 

"Yes." He confirmed with a nod.

"You were like that at 16? Shit. 16?" 

Ok. Calm down. If I'm six years older than Shayla. And I'm three years older than him. That would mean that he's three years older than Shayla. That's not too bad, right? Not fantastic. A lot better than I thought. But even still Shayla's still a kid. 

'Our Luna is no longer a child.'

'You're right. Shayla Hasn't been a kid for quite some time. But she's still my little sister'

'He is her mate as much as she is his. He will not harm her.'

'You knew? You fucking knew. And didn't tell me.'

'I had a hunch.'

'Asshole. You fucking asshole.'

"Does She know?" 

"Yes." Alx answers swiftly.

Ok. She knows. Good. At least she knows. "I'm sorry, Alx. This is just a lot. On top of everything else. That, and I still see her as a little kid in my head. I know she's not a kid anymore. But she's always going to be my little sister to me." trying to explain myself.

"I understand." 

Come on Chris. This isn't that big of a deal. Well, it is. But mates find each other all the time. And if mates are as great as they say, everything will be fine. Alx is a good guy. You know he's a good guy. And a good Alpha. Everything will be fine. She'll be fine. Right?

"How long has she known?"

"At the same time I releaved you of your duties." Alx states calmly. 

And she didn't tell me. I guess there hasn't been a good time to tell me between then and now. And how could she tell me, 'hay, I'm your Alpha's mate'. That would be an odd conversation. "How long have you known?"

"Just after I visited her at the hospital. Eric tried to tell me sooner. But let's just say that I wasn't giving him the time of day."

''Hmm." nodding. "My wolf did suspect that she might be your mate. But didn't think it necessary to tell me."

He bites back a smile. Yeah, he would find that funny.

Hang on. That was a long time ago. He only told her a little while ago. He's kept it to himself for a long time. I thought being away from your mate made you go mad. "Alx, are you ok?"

He nods tilting his head at me.

Maybe the mate pull isn't as strong as they say.

Something clicks in his head. "No, it wasn't easy." 

Huh?

"It wasn't easy staying away from her. It was painful. Very painful. There were times I thought she was there when she wasn't. And it didn't earn me any points with Eric. But I needed to get to know her. I needed to give her time to gather herself. I needed to give her time to settle in. I was waiting for the right time. There never was a right time. I didn't want to scare her. I understand now that that's a hard thing to do. I couldn't rush her. I wouldn't rush her. I will never rush her. Not with this. Not with anything. I will not make her do anything she doesn't want to do. I'm on her timeline. No one else's." Alx confesses. Letting his walls down. Allowing me to feel his conviction in all it's strength. 

Mates really will do anything for each other, won't they?

'Yes, they would.' Steve replies longingly.

"You'd do anything for her?"

"Yes, I would." Alx promises with a nod. Looking down at her again. "You'll understand when you find your mate."

My mate?

Never thought I'd have a mate. I guess I would have a mate. Wouldn't I? If Shayla has one, I might too. That's a rabbit hole to go down another time. Not now.

"I spent my whole life knowing that I had a mate out there somewhere. And I still wasn't ready for it. I didn't understand what it would be like. I don't think anyone can until it happens." Still looking down at her. His eyes filled with admiration and concern. A part of him is still very pissed. Wanting to kill. And he's still standing here caring for her. 

He loves her. He really loves her. 

It's an odd thing for me to see I must admit. Your friend is happy, Chirs. The happiest you've ever seen him. Get over it

I finally look at Shayla again. At least she did a good job at protecting her face. Only a few minor scratches. As for everywhere else. I don't even want to think about it. The scars she will have. Despite all of it. Despite everything, she seems so at peace with him at her side.

'She needs him, doesn't she?'

'She does.'

"Alx?"

"Mm?"

"By all means take things as slow as you like. But you need to announce her are your mate to the pack."