Alphas Broken Mate
Chapter 8

Andrew's POV

I wake up to the sun in my face. I don't remember falling asleep. This sweet smell fills the air like coconuts and honey. I look down and see Catalina asleep on my chest. It's her, it's the smell of her. I take in a deep breath. I am surprised she slept through the night. I look at her sleeping, her head rises and falls with every breath I take. After about a minute of staring at her I realize I'm being kind of creepy just watching her while she sleeps. I attempt to get up but she slides her arm across me and squeezes. I think she did it subconsciously because she then nuzzles into my chest and smiles. I pull her in closer and smile too. This is the most contact we've had in the week she has been here and I have to admit I'm enjoying it. I just want to live right here in this moment, but then her eyes open wide. Catalina's POV

Did I just nuzzle him.. omg I want to die right now. He smells so good though. Like the morning forest in spring. Just manly and woodsy. And don't get me started on this body. His strong arms pulling me in, the muscles on his chest and abs. He's just one Greek God. I bet he tastes delicious and I wouldn't mind his hands on my body. Oh no! Lina stop it, he'll smell your arousal. I open my eyes and move my arm off of him.

"I am sorry. You don't have to stay." I whisper. He just laughs and looks down to me,

"I've already stayed all night, but I was just going to get up to make you some breakfast."

"Breakfast? Don't you have to go to work?" I ask

"Nope. I'm taking some time off. I feel like we haven't spent as much time together as we could have since you got here. I think I was trying to convince myself you needed time to adapt." He explains "And now?" I ask

"And now I think you need me." He kisses my forehead.

"But before I go I wanted to check your burns." He lets go of me and I lay back. He leans over me and places a hand under my chin and tilts my head to the side. His face is so close to mine I can feel his breath against my cheek. I swallow hard. His eyes flick up to mine and he smiles. Then his hands travel to my shirt,

"Is it ok if I lift this to take a look?" He asks gently. I nod.

He lifts up my shirt and runs his hand over my stomach and I flinch at the tingles in my skin.

"Does that hurt?" He asks concerned.

I shake my head no. He continues and I close my eyes enjoying his touch. He makes his way down to my leg and he runs his hands over my thigh and a small moan forms in my throat. Of course with his heightened hearing he had to have heard it. I can't believe I just did that. I feel the warmth of blush in my cheeks.

Why is my body reacting like this?

I hear him chuckle and he moves my shirt back down as he makes his way back up to my face.

"You're all healed" he tells me.

"Really? Normally it takes a few days." I say.

"We'll it's probably your wolf. Now that you are more connected you will heal faster." He explains. He's still laying next to me looking down at me. I am just staring into his beautiful eyes.

"Now I'm going to get up and make you breakfast. But I will warn you I only know how to make pancakes and eggs."

I giggle. "Why don't we make breakfast together? I just want to pop in the shower real quick. You can get started on making the coffee."

"Deal."

We get up and he heads to the kitchen as I head to the shower.

I shower quickly and change clothes. I put on a loose T-shirt and cardigan with jean cut off shorts. I head out to the kitchen and see him. He's at the counter pouring coffee into a mug. He's already gotten out all of the ingredients to make pancakes. I pause for a moment just to stare.

He's like unreal attractive. Tall, tan, and just perfect. I've never ogled at a man before, but this guy just stops me in my tracks.

"You going to stand there just staring or are you going to come help." He smirks.

I feel myself blush and move towards him. He raises an eyebrow at me.

"I want to bake something. I love baking and I haven't done any in a week." I exclaim

"Ok what do you want to bake?"

"Let me see what you have in here." After a few minutes of poking around I replace everything I need to make blueberry and chocolate muffins.

"Why is your kitchen so stocked if you never eat here?" I ask rather boldly

"Haha what makes you think I don't eat here?" He asks laughing. He hands me a mug of freshly poured coffee.

"Well we haven't made food here the whole time I've been here. It's always going out to eat or having things delivered."

"Well part of that is time and I guess I wanted to give you whatever you wanted and show you a good time." He explains

That's really sweet. "He's a good man Catalina. He's our mate." Kayla says

"I don't really know what that means Kayla."

"Yes you do. You are drawn to him, he smells delicious, and we both know you were checking him out even when your life was in danger. He is your other half. You make each other stronger. I also want to point out that you slept through the night last night with no nightmares." "Oh my goddess." I say out loud

"What?!" Andrew looks at me concerned

"I just realized I didn't have a nightmare last night." I say

"Yeah, first night without one since you've been here." He replies

Shock. How does he know that?

"How do you know that?" I ask, I had to know.

"I can feel your fear and panic." He explains

"Wait so you can feel it when I have a nightmare?"

"Yeah. I'd wake up and go in and check on you to make sure it was just a dream and I'd always replace you sleeping in the bath tub." He explains.

"Oh no! Im sorry I've been waking you up, I didn't realize.." I say panicked. He chuckles.

"It's alright Lina.." he pauses before continuing. "Can I ask why the bathtub?"

"The bathroom was the only room with a lock." I whisper as I pour out some pancake batter onto the hot griddle.

He doesn't say anything. I move over to the sink to rinse out the bowl. Andrew begins flipping the pancakes.

We stay silent for a bit while he finishes up the pancakes, and I start on the eggs.

"Damn it Lina I'm sorry." He says tossing the spatula into the sink startling me.

"What for?"

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you for all the bad things that happened to you. I'm sorry you were so afraid that you had to sleep in a bath tub. I'm sorry I didn't know about you sooner." He has his hands on the counter and has his head hanging. That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. I can't bare to have him take the blame for this. I go over and touch his arm.

"Hey it's not your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for. And you did save me. Jackson was going to buy me off my parents but you got me first. And I never would have had the strength to knee someone in their crotch without you." We both giggle at the last part. "Well that does bring something up I wanted to ask you. How would you feel about getting in some training? Nothing crazy but maybe you will feel safer knowing how to protect yourself?" Andrew asks as he turns towards me and places his hands on my shoulders. What a sweet and thoughtful and attractive man. Goddess I forgot he wasn't wearing a shirt and my eyes keep traveling down..

"Are you checking me out again?" He's got a stupid smirk on

"What..oh.. hey put on a shirt!" I say like it's his fault I can't keep my eyes off every piece of him.

"Haha fine I'll put one on but you think about the training." He says as he's walking to his room. Damn, I wish he wouldn't.

"Or I could not put a shirt on." He says as he's leaning up against his bedroom door frame. What? Can he hear my thoughts? Is that apart of the mate bond? Oh no I'm screwed.

"Please put a shirt on. What smells so good?" Murphy says as he and Rachel enter the apartment.

"Linas making muffins and I made pancakes." Andrew yells from his bedroom.

"Lina hun how are you feeling?" Rachel asks concerned.

"I'm ok. I actually feel like I have a lot more energy today." I explain. It probably has to do with sleeping next to Andrew, but I don't say that.

"It probably has to do with sleeping next to me." Andrew says coming out of his room. Of course he says it. Seriously can he read my mind or what? Rachel gives me a cute smile and I feel the blood rush to my face.

"You guys I have a great idea!" Murphy says to all of us drawing our attention.

"Why don't we take a few days and go to the lake house?"

"Do you really think it's a good idea? Catalina was just attacked?" Rachel asks.

"Yeah, the lake is deeper into our territory, we can have Warriors on patrol, and we can have your dad step in for a few days. Come on man we never take time away." Murphy says pleading with Andrew.

Andrew looks at me "What do you want to do? I already told you I would take time off to spend with you. Would you like to go to the lake house or would you feel safer here?" He's leaving this up to me. How am I supposed to decide? I've never been to the lake house.

"We can go to the lake house if that's what everyone wants." I say not knowing what I'm agreeing to.

"You're going to love it Lina!" Murphy says excited. Andrew grabs my hand and leads me to the front door and opens it. There, standing by the door is Gamma Lucas.

"Lucas we have decided to go to the lake house for a few days, can you get a few groups of warriors to sweep the area and set up patrols?" Andrew asks him.

"Yes Alpha I'll set up a 3 shift rotation." Lucas replies. He then looks at me and kneels.

"Catalina Black, I Gamma Lucas Waters vow to protect you until my dying breath." Lucas says to me. I just look at him and then back to Andrew.

"You have to accept or deny his vow of protection." Andrew says in my mind.

"I Catalina Black accept your vow of protection." He stands and smiles at me and so does Andrew. I guess I did it right.

"When will you be headed to the lake house?" Lucas asks Andrew.

"After lunch so you have time to prepare." Andrew replies. With that Lucas leaves and we head back inside.

"Looks like we're going to the lake house." Andrew announces. Murphy cheers and Rachel giggles.

"We'll have breakfast, then you guys go get ready and meet us back here. We'll have lunch then head out." Andrew tells them.

We bring the food out and sit around the table, eating and talking together. It all feels so easy and comfortable talking with everyone. I've never experienced this before and I'm enjoying it. Once we're all done eating Murphy and Rachel leave and Andrew and I clean up. When we're done Andrew comes to help me pack for a few days. I pick out a few dresses, some shorts, a bathing suit which was mandatory, some underwear, and sleeping attire. I've never had so many things to choose from.

"I did want to ask you something before the others get here. Did you want to share a room or have separate rooms. Either one is fine to me but I guess I wanted to prepare myself." He asks.

I hadn't even thought about that. What do I want? Do I want to share a room with him? Is that too fast, too much? I mean I did just have the best sleep of my life last night. Oh goddess what do I do?

"Ok I can see I asked too much. How about this, we prepare two rooms and if you get scared or just want to have a good night sleep I can come to your room?" Ugh why is he so thoughtful. I nod my head and smile. He walks over and hugs me and kisses the top of my head. I melt a little.

It's been a few hours of packing and chatting when Murphy and Rachel walk in with their bags bickering with each other about Rachel packing too much. I agree, she has two suitcases and a large bag.

"All I'm saying is you don't have to pack so much for just a few days. All my stuff fits into one backpack." Murphy says

"Fine then I'll take out all the lingerie I packed." Rachel fires back.

"Baby that's not what I'm saying. But how much space could they even take up? They're basically string." Murphy says

Both Andrew and I burst out laughing at that and they both look at us not amused.

"Look I pack what I want and need and you are going to have to deal with it." Rachel says in a huff.

"I will have to deal with it because I'm the one carrying them." Murphy whispers.

"Well all this laughing has made me hungry. Are we ready to go?" Andrew asks as he picks up my bag and his. Everyone nods and we head out.

Andrew leans down and whispers "Thanks for only packing one bag."

"I HEARD THAT" Rachel yells on her way out the door. We laugh.

We head out the building and into a black SUV. We stop to eat at a Mexican restaurant. It's so nice and easygoing. I can't believe yesterday my life was being threatened and I cried my self to sleep and today I'm going out to eat, headed to a lake house, and I think, flirting. It's like night and day. Andrew tells me the lake house is a few hours away. I start to doze off and Andrew unhooks my seat belt and lays me down with my head in his lap. It just all feels so easy and right. I must have fallen asleep fast because the next thing I know Andrew is rubbing my arm.

"Lina, babe we're here."

Did I just get called babe? No one has ever called me babe, it's cute. I smile.

"Oh did you like that nickname? I'll remember that." Andrew teases. I open my eyes and sit up, I can feel myself blush. Andrew giggles and opens the car door and helps me out.

When I step out I hear the sounds of birds and water. The lake house is huge! Like insanely huge. There is a circular clearing around the home and then a wall of trees. The lake house is a log cabin with a dark green roof. It is right up against this beautiful large lake that has a dock with two boats tied to it. I can't believe this is all real. I can see Andrew watching me as I look in awe at everything in front of me. I am really glad I decided to come out to the lake house. "Come on, let's show you around." Andrew says and he grabs my hand and leads me inside.