Katana

Kieran couldn’t be any happier when he found his way back to the barracks. He found out the name of his mate – well, more like she had willingly given it to him in the woods. He remembered the feel of her in his arms and it felt so good. She has something about her that tends to calm or relieve his stress.

When he went in search of her, he had received news that his troops were needed in the front line. As a General, he knew they are prepared after months of training, but as a werewolf, he feared for his mate. His heart was in conflict and he thought over the numerous possibilities to keep her safe.

Everything in him was screaming for him to protect her, but he knew logically if he revealed her secret, she would never forgive him. He wanted more time to coax the truth from her. He needed her to trust him enough to reveal something they both have been wanting to. He could sense her hesitation, but also her resistance falling.

Kieran was walking back into his office, which is now very clean due to his mate, when he encountered Xavier in the hallway.

“Is it true?” He asked immediately.

“Yes, I have received word. The Alpha King has ordered us to the frontline.”

“Things are not getting any better.” Xavier murmured thoughtfully.

“No, otherwise, they would have no need for us.” Kieran admitted. He opened the door and Xavier entered into the office with him before he closed the door and gave them the privacy they needed.

Xavier moved to sit in the chair in front of his desk as Kieran moved to sit in his. “The soldiers need to be informed.”

“Soon.” Kieran replied. Xavier narrowed his eyes on him.

“Why are you not so quick in wanting to tell them? Is it because of your mate?” Xavier asked.

Kieran’s jaw ticked. “I don’t want her involved.”

“It is a little too late for that, Kieran. Her name is on record. She has to follow through with this without her secret coming to light. If the Alpha King hears of this, you know she will be executed.” Xavier said.

Kieran curled his hand into a fist before slamming it onto the table. “I understand, Xavier! I still don’t want her out there! You think I don’t understand how heavy this secret is?”

“I think you understand, but you are allowing your emotions and the mate bond to interfere with your logic. You know that she is a capable soldier. We have seen her become an extraordinary werewolf over these past few months. You think you are protecting her, but your emotions might be the very thing that will kill her.” Xavier uttered his last words before Kieran’s fist went flying out and slammed into Xavier’s jaw. He went down onto the ground before turning to his friend. Kieran stood over his friend as anger seethed from him.

“Don’t you think I know that? Don’t pretend you understand my emotions when you don’t have a mate yet, Xavier. It is in our being to protect our mate.” Kieran snarled angrily.

“Don’t you think I have already considered all options before putting my mate in danger? I am doing everything I can to keep her safe, even if it means having her go to the front lines with me!” He roared. “Do you think I want to see her hurt? Don’t make it sound easy, Xavier. My mate is a woman and in the army. Anything can happen. I am forced to comply by the rules and have her on the front lines, because it is the only thing that will keep her alive.” Kieran was ranting, but Xavier knew his friend was stressed. Xavier knew Kieran was right. He shouldn’t have judged too quickly. His friend would have considered everything before continuing with this.

Kieran groaned and fell back in his chair. “She should be at home safe and sound... reading a book or sunbathing in the sun.”

Xavier smirked as he wiped the blood from the cut on his lips. “I guess you got yourself a rebellious mate.”

Kieran pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know what to do.”

It was the first time Xavier had seen Kieran struggle to come up with a plan.

“We go by the books. She goes to the front line and we will do what we can to protect her if needed.” Xavier offered.

Kieran nodded. “It is the only thing we can do.”

**

Dinner time came around and Kieran made his way downstairs with Xavier after discussing about moving their troops. They have come to a conclusion and knew that it had to happen soon. When the Alpha King requested, it means you have to move — there was no time to waste.

Standing at the end of the table, Kieran raised his hand to silence his soldiers. Everyone turned to look at him. After Lewis’s little remark regarding his mate cleaning the toilet, he has calmed down his antics and stopped bullying Katana. It was what Kieran wanted and expected, or else Kieran would bring it down harder on him.

Katana looked up from her table at him. Inhaling slowly, he spoke. “The Alpha King has ordered us to the front. The battles against the vampires have increased and we have lost many soldiers in the process. We are the last of the groups to push forward to fight. It is in our hands to turn this fight back around in our favor, but that means we have to work extra hard. We will be leaving tomorrow morning, pack lightly and only the stuff you need. We will be making our ways to the front in two days time.”

“But that means no rest. We will have to be-” A soldier at the table started.

Xavier glanced at the soldier. “Yes, that means we will be getting very little rest. It will be a very long run.”

Kieran sat down with Xavier and they began eating. Often, he would turn to look at his mate and see her picking at her food. She had lost her appetite and a seed of worry began to grow inside of him. He needed her to be strong.

Dinner quickly concluded and Katana stood up immediately. Kieran saw Troy grabbed Katana’s arm. She turned and whispered something to Troy before dashing out the door. Troy looked after her in a brotherly fashion. Isaac stood up and they started talking as they looked in the direction that his mate had left.

He followed her scent out the door and deep into the woods. When he found her, his heart tore into a million pieces. She sat on the thick grassy ground, with her knees clutched to her chest and her face hidden between her knees. He wanted to go to her, but knew that he shouldn’t.

She was crying and although he wanted to go and reassure her, he knew that she wouldn’t like him to see her like this. She cried for a very long time as he stood at a distance, quietly watching over her. His heart felt like it was being ripped out of his chest from seeing her like this.

After a while, her sobbing calmed down and she wiped her tears. She stared into the darkness for a very long time before she spoke.

“I know you are here.” She whispered. “I can feel you.”

He cleared his throat and walked to sit next to her. She refused to look at him, but kept her gaze in front of her.

“How long did you know I was here?”

“Since the moment you arrived.” She admitted and sighed. He can still hear the hoarseness in her voice as she spoke. “I just can’t believe it is happening.”

“Are you scared?” He asked as his heart felt a twinge of pain.

“Isn’t everyone scared?” She questioned him and her eyes flickered to his. He can see how red and puffy they are from crying.

He nodded. “Everyone has something to be scared of.”

“But everyone has something to fight for.” She replied.

He nodded again. “You’re right. We all do.”

She chuckled sadly. “Do you think I will make it out there?”

He answered her without missing a beat. “When I first met you, I didn’t think you will survive the first month.”

She laughed and he smirked upon hearing her soft laughter. “But you changed my mind.”

She turned to him slightly. “How so?”

“You have become stronger and your fighting rarely has any errors. You have learned to read, interpret, and create your own fighting techniques.” He answered her and she laughed a little more and his smirk turned into a grin as he looked at his mate.

“This is the first time I have ever heard you compliment me.” She said, her eyes twinkling under the moonlight. She turned back to look straight ahead and her smile slipped. “I’m doing this for a reason.”

That was all she said, but he knew all too well what his mate meant. He turned to see what she was looking at — blank darkness.

“I think you will do well in the front.”

“W-what is it like? Do you know?” She asked.

He nodded. “I was there several times. The last time I earned myself a scar from a vampire by the name of Baldwin.”

“Scar?” She asked, turning back to face him.

He nodded and lifted his shirt over his head. He turned his back to her and she recognized the scar. He often trained shirtless in front of them and so she has seen this many months back, but she never knew the reason. Her hand traced the long scar that ran down his spine.

“How did he do this?” She asked.

“A dagger made especially to kill werewolves. His attempt was to kill me by hitting my spine, but he missed.” He put his shirt back on over his head and sat back again.

“Is he dead?” She asked.

He shook his head. “No. I was saved by Xavier before he could do any more damage. Baldwin ran away, but I am sure I will see him again.”

“How?” She listened intently. The name was forever imprinted in her head and silently, she vowed to find the man who tried to hurt Kieran.

He turned his body to face her and then grabbed her knees as he turned her body to face him. She adjusted her position so that she was sitting with her legs criss-crossed on the ground with him.

“I just know, but enough talking about what is going to happen.” He changed the subject. She watched as he took her hands in his and held them tightly to his chest. Her eyes flickered up to meet his glowing amber colored eyes.

"Katana.” He whispered her name ever so gently and he hoped she could see the rawness of his affection and the emotions he was feeling through his eyes. “I will protect you with my last breath out on the front, or any place for that matter. You are mine and the only thing that keeps me alive, without you I wouldn’t be able to breathe. Trust me when I say that I will always be there.”

One of his hands came up and he cupped her cheek as he slowly lowered his lips onto hers. He knew that she probably knew what he wanted to do. However, she made no move to stop him. If they are really going to the front, Kieran wanted to at least be able to remember, or get a taste of his mate’s lips again.

At first his lips brushed lightly on her lips before he slowly sucked on her parted lips. She moaned and moved to clutch at his shirt. His hands came up to cup her cheeks as he deepened the kiss. His tongue slipping out to intertwine with hers as he greedily tasted her sweetness.

Kieran could kiss her forever. Time could freeze and he would be okay with it. He wanted this moment to never end, but she slowly pulled back and the kiss ended shortly after.

She looked up at him with her eyes hazy with desire. She licked her lips to get all the taste of him before speaking.

“You just kissed a man again.” She pointed out.

He chuckled and brought his lips down to kiss her again.