Chapter 9

Theo's POV:

The gruelling day has arrived... my birthday. The day I finally find my mate (insert eye roll) of course I didn't realise at first. OMG OMG OMG it's the day! Finally! Silver shouted. Silver are you trying to make me deaf! I scolded Silver, why are you so excited? I asked, are you serious... you really don't remember... Silver said, I shook my head, WE'RE GONNA FIND OUR MATE DUMBASS!! He squealed, of course he's gonna be happy about that, I took a deep sigh and collapsed onto my bed. Theo get up please... I wanna know who our soulmate will be Silver pleaded.

Ugh fine! I groaned and got up and got changed into some black skinny jeans, a grey top and a grey jacket. Guess my outfit fits my mood today. I took a long stretch and decided to face the inevitable... I headed downstairs towards the open kitchen and decided to stuff my face, because why not. Suddenly, a pair of arms wrap around my small frame, I tensed up until I heard this high-pitched voice "Happy Birthday Theo!" I looked over my shoulder to see Katie's beautiful face, grinning from ear to ear like a Cheshire cat. "Thanks" I mumbled; her face dropped in an instant. "ok spill, what's bugging you?" You could see the seriousness on her face, seriously this girl has a good resting bitch face... and I love it! "N-nothing Katie, nothing for you to worry about" I sent her a fake smile, "Bullshit Theo, tell me, please" I let out a sigh... nothing can get past this girl that's for sure "It's just... I've spent years on the run... I've on my own except Silver of course... but I've never really celebrated my recent birthdays" there was a long deafening silence between us she finally broke the silence, "but... you won't be alone anymore, you will have me, Noah, Axel... and your mate-"

I cut her off and snapped "That's the thing Katie, I don't wanna meet my mate coz I'll be stuck with them for the rest of my fucking life! I. Don't. Need. Them!" I stormed off before she could say a word, my blood was boiling so I did what I do best... I ran and ran and ran... my lungs felt like they were on fire but I didn't care in the slightest. I stopped by a tree on the packs boundaries and I broke down into tears... one by one the tears came down soon turning into a waterfall of tears. Pull yourself together Theo, your mate could be the person that you need the most right now, you may not like it but they will protect you with their life Silver explained,

Exactly Silver... their life! I don't want them to find me so that can never happen

I get that Theo, I do... you wanna protect people from the psychopath but don't you think it's time people protect you?

What do you mean Silver?

All your life Theo you have been running and every pack you have passed you didn't stop, you were protecting those packs from his wrath but now... you part of a pack now, so let them protect you

You really think that's a good idea?

I know it is Theo, now dry your eyes and head back to the pack house, you have a birthday to celebrate, FUCKING FINALLY! I giggled at how enthusiastic my wolf is, I shifted into my wolf and ran back towards the pack house, lets enjoy this day as best as I can.

Noah's POV:

I was awakened from my slumber from a loud bang from downstairs, my mind was racing with all kind of thoughts, I practically jumped out of bed a shot downstairs almost falling down the stairs but of course I gracefully kept my balance. As soon as I reached the main area of the house, I saw Katie sitting there completely frozen like she just saw a ghost, I walked up to her and placed my hand on her shoulder, she flinched away tensing up, she quickly calmed down "sorry for my reaction alpha"

"It's alright Katie, what's bothering you?"

"Theo..." she let out a massive sigh, Katie is usually cheerful most of the time unless you piss her off but this was different...

"what about him?"

"He's on edge..." A look of worry covers her face, this has to be serious... very serious. "Explain" and so she did, she told me about how Theo has always been alone and has really celebrated his recent birthdays, she also explained that Theo completely snapped when she mentioned about finding his mate and ran out of the pack house not too long before I came bolting down. As soon as Katie finished, she started tearing up... I wrapped my arms around her, I could feel her tears damping my torso and she wrapped her arms around my body, what are you hiding Theo...?

~~~

Theo's POV:

Remember you got to apologise to Katie, she didn't deserve that Silver retorted. I know, I know I'll apologise... as soon as I opened the door to the pack house, I was immediately pulled inside and slammed against the wall with great force knocking the air out of my lungs "How dare you fucking make my mate cry you son of a bitch!" The voice snarled at me, my vision was blurry for a second until I saw the face of who it was... the beta, Axel... well shit I'm doomed. "L-look I was coming back to ap-" before I could finish, I was thrown to the floor hitting the side of my face against the brown wooden flooring making me whimper. "You have no right to speak asshole!" I didn't move a muscle, I deserved this... I laid there closing my eyes waiting for the impact of a punch, a kick or something to do harm to me... but there was nothing. Just silence and the heavy breathing from Axel. I hesitantly opened my eyes, the look of disgust that was plastered on Axel's face could kill me... for the first time being here... I was terrified. "I'm waiting" I mumbled. "waiting for what exactly?" Axel snapped at me. "Aren't u gonna beat me to a pulp or something?" Axel's eyes widen with shock, I don't think he was expecting what just came out of my mouth.

"That's enough!" Noah's alpha tone boomed across the room, I saw Axel backing up and heading outside, probably to cool off from the way he reacted. "Get up now!" I immediately did so, and looked down at the floor, I couldn't bear to see the look in his eyes. "I'm surprised you haven't run off into the woods again kid... now what do you want?"

"T-To a-apologise" for God's sake Theo stop stuttering!

"I see" there was a long pause before Noah spoke up again, "well go on" I quickly went towards Katie and wrapped my arms around her, hugging her close, I don't think she was expecting a stubborn asshole to hug her.

"I'm so sorry Katie, you didn't deserve that and I shouldn't have taken my anger and worry out on you" She turns around and hugs me back, she replied soon after "I-I forgive you but under one condition... you tell me exactly why you reacted the way you did when I mentioned about you finding your mate" I tensed up again but I hesitantly nodded my head.

We all sat down on the sofa and all of the eyes were staring at me, including Axel's, yeah Axel came in not to long after I agreed to talk. "well... uh where should I start?" I took my time to think of a way to explain my outburst... well here goes nothing "well as you know I've been running for a while... I've always been alone and I had no one at my side except my wolf, Silver. It was just us two running with the wind in our fur. Then I didn't realise that I was going to find my mate until Katie told me all about what happens on my 18th birthday... I didn't want to find my mate as I didn't want to put their life in danger" I took a deep breath and carried on with my explanation "I've been protecting people all my life... I didn't bother going into any of the packs around me and decided to keep running... I guess I was so used to protecting myself that I didn't want someone look out for me, putting their own life at risk. My old pack suffered the consequences, they were destroyed, nothing was recognised after the damage that they did, everything went up into flames, I could hear the screams of the pack begging for help being engulfed by its hand... my parents were the ones that saved me, they told me to run and to make sure to find a new home... I didn't fully listen, every pack I passed, I wouldn't enter, I would avoid every territory to not risk me being taken inside... guess I wasn't lucky when you guys found me" I chuckled a bit to try and ease the tension in the room, it worked a little bit but it wasn't effective as I wanted it to be "I didn't want the same face to happen to anyone, hence why I was so persistent in leaving and run" I looked down avoiding their gaze worrying what their reaction will be.

"We understand Theo, we understand perfectly... but can I ask why your running" Noah asks with curiosity beaming from him, I tensed up from this question They need to know Theo, tell them or I will Silver threatens, well its gonna get told sooner or later so might as well choose sooner "From a psychopath that's trying to kill me" the look of horror and worry that was shown on their faces appeared in a matter of seconds... "From now on Theo you are now part of The Crescent Moon Pack and we are going to protect you now, without question..." They all nodded in sync, "and I shall protect the pack as well" we all decided to stand and hug each other. I shed a few tears but they were filled with joy, I'm a part of this pack now and they will protect me as well as I will protect them.

I can't run from this any longer.