Betrayed Luna's Fated Mate

-Celeste-

I knew Brendon wouldn't agree with me doing my own little private investigation, but I needed to know more. After the memories had occurred, telling me something horrible had once happened to me, I needed to know more. I needed to know if I was even safe in this form. What if I was not the only traveler out there? What if that was the reason why, in that other world, I was not even with Brendon?

From what I could remember and from what I had learned from being with Brendon, there wasn't anyone better for me. He was truly a good mate, but also a good friend. I thought he hated me, but it turned out he simply craved me so much that he couldn't stop himself from being mean. He hated that he couldn't have me sooner, but now I was all his, and I was happy to be.

Are you sure we should be here? my wolf questioned as we drove up to Zack's house.

"I don't know," I answered honestly.

Brendon is going to be mad. He said you needed to work on remembering.

"I know."

How is this working? she asked.

"Zack triggered my memories the last time," I reminded her. "When we were at the restaurant. So maybe I need to see him again to truly remember what happened."

It seems risky, my wolf sighed. If Zack is a traveler too, then we are screwed.

"We will be fine. I can't even remember if he actually killed me. Can you?"

I...

My wolf hesitated, so I waited for her to continue, but she remained quiet. "Hello?" I called.

I remember a feeling and a scent.

"And you're only telling me now?" I asked.

I like how our life is now. We must have been miserable with Zack.

"I am not sure that was true, but it certainly didn't have a happy ending," I groaned.

Then why are we going in there?

"You know why," I told her before I opened the car door and stepped out.

I walked up to the front of the house and knocked on the door. A pack member opened, and I asked after Zack. They told me to wait, and soon it was Zack who appeared, holding the door open. "Celeste?" he questioned.

"Hey, am I interrupting?"

"No, not at all."

"Then may I come in?" I asked.

"Of course." He swept his hand through the air, and I stepped inside, gazing around the place.

I could feel that sharp headache beginning again, but I did my best not to crumble as flashes appeared in my mind. They were hard to hold onto, but at least this time I didn't faint.

"Celeste?" I turned, seeing Zack watching me with a curious look in his eyes.

"Sorry, just admiring the interior. I haven't been here before," I told him.

"There isn't much to see," he said and shrugged before gazing around, and I noticed a rather dissatisfied look in his eyes.

I followed where he was looking, but he didn't seem to be gazing at anything specific. Was Zack not happy about his home? I wanted to ask more, but then he turned to me, smiling, before he waved me along. "Come, let's talk," he insisted.

I followed him to one of the living rooms, and we sat down before he ordered some coffee and snacks to be served for us. After the food was delivered and we sat in front of each other, enjoying our coffee, a sharp tension began filling the room. I was unsure if he noticed, but I didn't like the way he smiled at me. It was very disturbing.

"So, why have you come?" he asked.

"It just seems we keep running into each other, so why not get to know one another?" I suggested.

"Without your guards?"

"My guards?" I echoed.

Zack began chuckling, and I looked confused at him, not understanding what was so funny.

"Yeah, you probably never noticed, but hey, if I had had a younger sister, I would gladly have threatened any guy trying to get too close to her," he laughed.

"Wait, are you saying my brother threatened people?" I asked.

"Your brother?" he repeated.

"Not just my brother?"

"It was your brother and his entire squad. Especially Brendon and he. I quickly learned how dangerous it was to even try anything, and I didn't want to risk having my teeth beat out of my face." "They hurt people?"

"They made things very clear," he laughed, but I didn't see the fun in that, and I knew I was going to have a serious chat with the rest when I got back.

"But you invited me over at the bar."

"Yes, because it was obvious you were alone, which was a rarity, and of course, Brendon had already claimed you already. You weren't really free anymore. I believed my teeth would stay intact." "And yet you tried to kiss me at dinner."

His smile turned crueler, and he leaned forward, resting his arms on his legs. "I might have had a little to drink."

"You drank at the bar."

"Maybe I had more at the dinner, and you touched me first."

"Yes, because I thought I..."

"What?" he asked as I trailed off, realizing I was about to say too much.

"I just wanted to check something."

Zack still had that smug smirk on his lips, and it irritated me greatly. I sipped my coffee, trying to put up a wall between us, but then he shocked me as he stood from the couch. He came over to me, slipping down beside me, and I turned my head, gazing at him, confused.

"What are you doing?" I asked, and he reached out, brushing my hair back, which made me recoil and slide away.

"Does he truly satisfy you?"

"Excuse me?"

"Brendon. Does he satisfy you?" he questioned.

"He is my mate."

"That's not an answer.

"I don't think I should have to answer that," I retorted. "Besides, aren't you with that woman?"

"Serena?"

"Yes."

"We aren't committed. At least not yet," he told me.

"What does that mean?"

"We like our freedom. We might fuck, but we aren't locked together."

"Yet?" I asked. "Or ever?"

"Well, her father is a hard one to convince. She is his only child, but I'm sure I can convince him with time. Until then, we are free to chase whoever we want, and I know Serena really wants to fuck your mate."

I wanted to throw up from those words, but I slid further away, trying to create even more distance between us.

"Well, he isn't interested," I snapped.

"No, he has never been interested in anyone but you."

Was that true? I had a lot I needed to ask Brendon about, but for now I needed to focus on the predator in front of me, who kept sliding closer, even though I desired distance. His hand suddenly came to rest on my thigh, squeezing it. "Zack, I'm mated!"

"But then why are you here?" he taunted.