The Beta's Young Warrior (Book 2 of Young Mate Series)

Chapter 18- Lizzie's POV

The days slowly drifted past until it was the evening before my mate's trip, and I couldn't help but be in the room with him and watch him pack.

I knew that I should be pretending to be asleep until I had to train with my father, but I couldn't because I knew that I wouldn't be able to because of the worry that filled my body.

What if he never came back..?

My mate bit back a soft sigh and looked at me while he paused in his packing. He slowly blinked, and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when he didn't say a word while he studied me.

"What?" I asked innocently and furrowed my brows while I cocked my head while I looked at him. "What is it? What is wrong?"

"Care to explain the look on your face?" he asked and raised an eyebrow.

Shit...

I decided to play dumb and cocked my head further to the side while I stared at him innocently. "What look?" I asked and furrowed my brows further. "What are you talking about, Axel? There is no look on my face."

My mate slowly blinked and raised his eyebrow further. He didn't say a word while he stared at me, but he didn't need to because I already knew.

He didn't believe me...

I sighed and moved a hand across my face before I shook my head and cleared my throat, my cheeks turning slightly red. "Ummm I'm going to miss you..." I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

My mate smiled a little and dipped his head closer to his chest. "I know," he replied softly, "and I will miss you too, Liz. I'll come back to you as soon as I am done, though. You don't have to worry about that."

I moved a hand across my face and shook my head while I pursed my lips in annoyance. "I know," I said before I cleared my throat and shook my head again. "I am scared, though."

"Why?" he asked. "Do you think that I am going to die?" He cocked his head and raised an eyebrow, amusement filling his eyes while he studied me.

I hesitated and shrugged because I was afraid that he would die without me being able to protect him and by his side.

"Hmph." He walked away from me and went into his closet, and I pursed my lips in disgust and annoyance.

"Hmph?!" I asked, and he chuckled. "Is that all you can say to me, Axel? Just "hmph?"

"Yes," he replied and walked out of his closet with a few button down shirts and nice pants. "Because I have your dad to protect me, and even then, I don't need his protection."

I rolled my eyes and scowled. "You aren't a part of the Original Twelve, or have you forgotten?" I asked and raised an eyebrow.

My mate chuckled and shook his head, amused. "I have not forgotten, Liz," he said and zipped up his suitcase after he placed his clothes into them. "However, have you forgotten that I was fourteen when I became the Beta of this pack?"

"That doesn't mean anything," I said and rolled my eyes.

"It doesn't?" he inquired and raised an eyebrow.

"No." I shook my head.

"What about me fighting an Alpha twice my age and winning?"

"That also doesn't mean anything."

"Hmph." He grabbed his suitcase and walked it over to the door, and I watched him, annoyed.

Thump. He dropped it in a pile and moved it to the side so that it was out of the way with his foot, and I scowled and narrowed my eyes, annoyed.

Bastard...

"What?" he asked and looked at me with a raised eyebrow, amused.

"Really?" I asked, and he raised his eyebrow higher.

"Yes." He nodded and walked to the bed. "It's not in the way."

"But all of your hard work is messed up," I said and gestured to it. "Why didn't you at least make sure to put it down neatly?"

My mate smirked and pulled back the covers. "Because I want to spend time with my lovely and beautiful mate before she leaves to train with her father," he replied and sat down.

I didn't respond and watched him twist around until his back was against the baseboard, and he held his hands out to me.

"Come here," he said and wiggled his fingers. "Come and cuddle with me."

"No," I said and shook my head, "not until you fix your bag."

My mate studied me before he smirked and dipped his head closer to his chest. "And what if I say no?" he asked.

"Then I won't cuddle you." I folded my arms across my chest and scowled. I narrowed my eyes when he grinned at me, more amused than anything else.

Goddess, I love this man....

"Ok," he said and nodded while he tucked his arms closer to his body and moved himself lower until he was lying down. "Night." He twisted around so that his back was facing me, and I stared at him with an opened mouth and wide eyes, shocked.

The audacity of this man...

"Uhh..."

He didn't respond and snuggled deeper into the covers. His breathing was even while he pretended to be asleep, and I just watched him, not sure what to do.

I stared at him with wide eyes and opened my mouth. What the fuck..? I silently asked while I looked at him, shocked and appalled. Why isn't he cuddling me?

He snored, and I wrinkled my nose and pursed my lips. He buried himself deeper into the covers while he pulled them over his head, only a bit of his blonde hair sticking out.

Fucker... I thought with pursed lips, even though all I wanted to do was laugh. What the hell is wrong with you?

My mate snored again happily, and I shook my head and sighed.

"Ok, enough," I said, and he stopped snoring, and I had a feeling that he was smiling and waiting for me to say something. "What are you doing?"

"I am sleeping," he replied. "What else do you think I am doing?"

I rolled my eyes and scowled. "You are making fun of me," I said coldly, and he snorted but didn't say a word. "Don't lie to me because I know that you are, Axel."

My mate turned towards me and pulled the blankets off of his face while he opened his eyes, raised an eyebrow, and stared at me, amused. "What do you mean?" he asked and cocked his head, innocently. "All I am doing is sleeping."

"You are pretending to be asleep, Axel," I said and narrowed my eyes before I scowled. "I know that you aren't really asleep."

He chuckled and moved a hand through his hair while he stared at me, smirking. "The bag is not going anywhere unless you move it when you leave."

I rolled my eyes and scowled again. "Whatever," I said, and he snickered. "Meanie."

"I know."

"I hate you."

"I know that too."

I huffed and leaned over to give him a kiss, and he laughed but kissed me back. "I love you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, and he chuckled again.

"I love you too. Now, go to your dad and have fun. However, be careful."

I rolled my eyes and scowled while I narrowed my eyes. "Meanie," I said, and he grinned. I bit back a sigh before I got out of bed and shook my head. "I'll see you when I get back," I said, and he nodded.

"I will see you when you get back."

I smiled and dipped my head closer to my chest before I walked over to the bag and fixed it, earning a laugh from him and then left, leaving my mate laughing behind me.

Fucker...