Finding your soulmate in a werewolf community is the greatest thing that could happen to you. But not to Chase.
Chase, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Blue Moon pack, finds his mate. His preference? Someone with a high rank. Yet he's stuck with Ava, an...
"Princess, you're here! Your parents have been looking for you," Marquise interrupts.
"Thank you, Marquise. I'll head back now," I say, clutching the glass tightly as I slowly stroll away, stalling to buy myself some time before the storm.
"We're worried," I hear Mum confess through the door.
I open the door to go inside, but my gut tells me otherwise, so I close it and pay attention to what they'll say next.
"We believe something happened at the ball, but she won't tell us what," she continues.
"Like what?" Sean presses further.
This time, my Dad answers. "Sophia found her mate before we reunited. He was the soon-to-be Alpha of the pack and he rejected her. He was at her welcoming ball and left abruptly in the middle of it. I questioned some guards, and they found him unconscious in the garden. Sophia told them there was trash there."
"Did you ever ask her about it?"
"We gave her chances to come clean, but she didn't waver. We don't want to pressure her, though, because we know it's hurting her," Dad finishes, and the room falls silent.
I know everyone means well, but not everyone has to know what's happening in my life, especially my second chance mate. He learned that I had a mate, and he rejected me. It's not the ideal situation to impress him.
"I'm back!" I cheerfully state.
I would have run for the hills, but God knows what else they'll say. I must prevent the worst thing from happening.
The conversation instantly shifts, and no one mentions anything to me, but their behavior has changed. Emma and Sean appear protective and thoughtful toward me, Sylvie stares at me with admiration, and Julian won't look at me. In general, Emma and Sean pity me, Sylvie admires me because I kicked a boy's ass, and Julian thinks I betrayed him.
How did I betray him?
I didn't want to have Chase as a mate! Life would have been easier if he didn't exist, but he does, and the situation is out of my control.
I understand him, but if he wants this to work, he should see things from my point of view.
"It's good talking to you and everything, but we should go. It was a big journey, and we're tired." Sean motions for his family to stand up.
"I'll have Marquise send you to your rooms." Dad offers, but Sean shakes his head.
"Don't worry about it. We booked a hotel in advance."
"We're not having it." Mum speaks up. "You're family to us. We won't have you staying at a hotel when there's plenty of room at the palace."
They all reluctantly nod, and Marquise appears to show them to the room.
Julian glances at me after a while, and I motion for him to wait. He hesitates but nods nonetheless.
My parents accompany Julian's family to the main floor, leaving us alone.
"I wanted to be the one to tell you, but I did have a mate before. He was shitty, but he existed."
He nods, and his jaw clenches.
"He rejected me, and I have no lingering feelings toward him. I never liked him."
Still no answer. I thought we would go somewhere if we talked, but it doesn't seem like Julian wants the same thing I do.
"If you wish to reject me, it's alright. I won't have any hard feelings towards you, and nobody will find out."
"I won't reject you." He coldly snaps.
"Then what do you want to do? I'm trying to understand you, but you're making it difficult? I've been through a shitty situation before. I'm not going back, even if I want this work badly."
"I won't reject you because I want what you do. I want to get to know you and build a family with you, but I didn't think I would be your second choice."
"You're not my second choice, not in the slightest. If Chase hadn't rejected me, I might have been the one to do it. He's an asshole and not someone I want to be with. You? I don't know, but I have a good feeling about this and want to see where this will go."
His face softens, and he sighs.
"I want this to work as well, but I ask for some time to process things."
"If time is what you want, then you will have it." I respond.
I've waited all my life for an asshole like Chase to show up. I think I can wait a bit longer for someone worthwhile.
"Do we tell anyone about this?"
He shakes his head. "Not until we seriously start this relationship. It's something new, and I don't want their pressure to ruin things for us."
Is it possible to be falling in love from the first meeting? Because my heart is skipping a beat. I can't wait for this bond to bloom. I feel it will blossom into the relationship I pictured when I was younger: a supportive mate who will love me unconditionally.
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