George
If this is a nightmare, I wish I'd wake up.
It's been said to every single werewolf that has ever lived: we have two milestones in life.
The first is when we shift into wolf for the first time, at the tender age of 12 or 13, in some cases 11.
The second is when you find your mate.
It's the event you're prepared for your whole life. Since kids, we learn about mates as we learn about werewolf history and why, oh why do we have a deity choosing our partners for us.
There's an identity crisis that every little wolf goes through. 'I'm not the one who's gonna let someone else choose for me. I'll break the mold.'
Sure, Jan.🙄
For thousands of years, werewolves have been paired together against their wishes. It's not gonna be you, who thinks you're special, that's gonna change a millennial old tradition.
This shit doesn't happen!
And the faster you accept it, the happier you'll be. And that's what I've been taught practically since I could walk.
Of course, I have been told about the possibility of rejection. I am a man, so it's tricky when we don't learn to hear the word NO. And my parents were very adamant about it, especially considering they have a 'are you refusing your mate' banter between them.
They made it clear since Charlie and I were kids that this was a private joke and people - mates - have every right to refuse anything.
So, I have learned about it. Obviously.
I've also learned that Alphas don't get that possibility. That is any future Alpha CANNOT reject their mate, for whatever reason.
I don't care if your mate is a serial killer or likes cargo shorts, you simply can't reject them.
There's no Alpha without Luna. It's that simple.
However, though YOU can't reject them, it doesn't mean that they have to accept you. No, sir. It doesn't work both ways. They can't be forced into this.
Remember: you always need consent.
Even - actually, especially - from your mate.
By the way, what they don't tell you until later in life is that there's a third milestone for a young werewolf. The completion of the bond. But for that, you need to be accepted by your mate first.😪
I unraveled in the middle of the classroom in tears I could not control for the life of me. Junior instantly came to hug me before I fall to the floor, wrecked.
My other friends dismissed the students present so that they don't watch me as I break down. I'm utterly destroyed!
My life is over and I'm not even 18 yet!
Seriously, you might as well kill me now.
Though they try their best, none of my friends can console me in this moment, I'm just too destroyed, bawling in never ending tears.
Eventually, even Charlie gets here and comes hold me. It's a welcome sight as I do love my brother. But no one can comfort me now.
I just wanna die.
They take me to the nurse's office. But there's nothing she can do. There's nothing anyone can do. I won't ascend as Alpha. I can't.
No pack has ever had an Alpha without Luna. Not one. Anywhere. Ever.
The nurse gives me some natural herbal tea, supposedly to tranquilize me. She sends me on my way home, seeing I'm in no condition to do anything, much less attend any classes.
But since I shouldn't be driving either, Junior takes me home. Plus, he can return later after dropping me off.
"I'm sorry you won't become Beta." - I told him while he drove, as faint as a whisper.
"Do you think I care about this right now? While my best friend is in pain? Fuck that! I need you to be okay, George!" - He replied, clearly worried about me.
"I can't be okay, Junior. I'm sorry. Just kill me now please..." - I muttered, utterly destroyed.
Junior gets wide-eyed at me, seriously troubled. We arrive at home, my daddy Tyler welcomes me inside as by now he's already heard about it.
The entire Stonehold pack must be buzzing about it throughout town. The would be Alpha got rejected by his mate.
"Daddy..." - I cried out to him and crawl into his warm embrace.
I'm a mess. Tears flow through me like a river. Junior is thanked by my dad and he leaves. Daddy comforts me the best he can as I cry the life out of me.
My dad arrives home shortly and comes to see me, looking worried sick.
"I'm sorry, dad. I'm sorry for disappointing you! I don't know what to do or what I did wrong!" - I told him in a desperate tone, shaking like a leaf in nervousness and shame.
There are many things I considered could derail my path to becoming Alpha, but this wasn't one of them. I never even considered the possibility, to be quite honest.
"You didn't disappoint me, son! You could never disappoint me! I love you with all my heart!" - Dad consoled me, joining in as daddy hugged me tightly.
I feel like a baby again, crying for food. Hungry for an affection that will never come. Desperate to remedy this affliction that refuses to be healed.
"Dad, just kill me now. Please, I can't live without a mate. I won't. I can't stand it! I won't survive the shame. You're better off without me, this embarrassment of a son who couldn't even get a mate to accept him!" - I cried out to a visibly shaken father.
Though both of them are shook by my statement.
Some time later, the pack doctor gave me a sedative to sleep in as I'm too distraught to process anything.
But if the looks on my dads' faces are saying anything, I'm guessing this is very bad. Though I've honestly lost the will to live.
I can never survive this. The rejection nor the shame. Any of this. And I might as well get it over with as soon as possible.😭
Liam
I'm shaken.
After I left the classroom, I went to the bathroom to gather my thoughts.
I mean, what the fuck!
What could have possibly possessed me to reject my own mate? Especially after I've been complaining about not getting one for the past 6 months!
Seriously, what the actual fuck!
Now, I have to deal with this wave of sadness that is taking over me, probably because my mate is in pain right now.
And the mate bond is already at play. It doesn't care that you rejected your mate. No one cares. You're gonna suffer just the same. Once you discover your mate, you're linked to them forever.
Out of all the people I could be mated to, how the fuck did I get mated to a Stonehold?
Really, Goddess! I'm well aware you didn't have that many options for me, but a cis white guy?
Damn! I'm baffled as to... oh my Goddess!
It just hit me now.
Since I didn't accept the bond, he's not gonna be able to ascend as Alpha. My goodness, what a mess!
I'm in no shape to take any class, but fortunately there's only one more after lunch.
As I walk the corridors, I get stares from the entire student body. Judging glares, freaked out stares, the works. It's impossible to deflect. They know how big of a deal this is. Everyone does.
I can barely withstand the shame that's overbearing me right now. But the wave of immense sadness really takes the cake. I don't think my mate will survive this.
My mate.
You fucking bastard, you've been bitching about it for these many months and now you reject him?
Even if he's ugly - which he isn't. Even if he's poor like me - which he also isn't. Even if he was obnoxious - he literally fought to save my life without knowing who I was!
Tears come to my eyes as remorse is sinking in.
I'm too in my head about this. I'm shaking right now. Visibly distraught, quivering with a crippling fear of the unknown. Anxiety is taking over, but most of all this deep seated inferiority complex.
Why did I get mated to the most eligible bachelor of the entire town?
The loser, the orphan, the mateless... well, not so mate less now, freak!
As I unravel, one person notices my state - past the judging eyes - and approaches me.
"Are you okay?" - Principal Burke asked me as I'm so broken, I could pass out in the middle of the hall.
"No, I don't have anybody else to ask this, but could you drive me to the Stonehold residence now? It's an emergency!" - Tears streamed down my face as I said this.
Principal Burke held me close for a minute, then said:
"Let's go!" - She took my hand and we went to the faculty garage, got into her car and she drive off.
"I'm sorry, I know he's your nephew." - I apologized to her, deeply ashamed.
"Sweetie, no one gets to make this decision but you. You have nothing to apologize for." - She smiled weakly at me. But that only made me feel worse. She's right. But why would I say no?
Who wants to live alone forever? I barely got through this past months and I had Emm. Now, I have no one!
We arrive at the Stonehold residence, she parks the car in front of their house, we step out of it and she rings the doorbell, standing next to me.
Luna Tyler opens the door and immediately glares at me.
"What is he doing here?" - He asked her, pissed off. I lowered my head in shame.
"Tyler, don't make me slap you again. Move over!" - Principal Burke said and entered the house, much to her brother's dismay. She pulled me inside, holding my hand firmly.
"Hi, Alpha. Is he in his room?" - She asked as soon as she saw Alpha Stonehold in the kitchen, who looked troubled but said nothing to me. Both of us bowed our heads to him.
"Yes, but we gave him a sedative to sleep for now." - He replied, withholding his judgement of me for now. Unlike his mate, who's practically murdering me with his deathly glare.
"That's fine, thank you Alpha." - She said and pulled my hand to take me to his room. She made her way inside the house as if it was her own, without asking for permission or saying anything else. She's on a mission and it's to get me to wherever my mate is.
She stopped in front of George's room, opened the door quietly and told me:
"He's over there sleeping. You can take as much time as you want. Stay for however long you need. This is your time and no one can judge you for it." - She declared in a firm tone and a stern look on her face.
"Thank you for everything, Principal Burke. I owe you so much for this." - I said, feeling embarrassed.
"You owe it to yourself to be free to do as you wish. Whatever you decide, it'll be fine by me. It has to be. No one can rob you of your right to choose." - She stated with conviction.
"If you need me, you know where to find me. Make yourself at home." - She said and directed me to enter the bedroom, as if she's talking about her own house. I'm baffled at her confidence, especially considering this is the Alpha residence. But I take her word at face value and enter his room quietly.
It gets dark after I close the door, but I can see everything well. There are two beds, but I walk to where my mate is. Sleeping peacefully, you'd never guess he was in a world of pain just about a moment ago.
I sit at the head of the bed, putting his head over my lap and start caressing him gently.
I don't know what possessed me to take such liberties with a person I've literally never seen before today, but I don't know how else to explain it: I feel this is what he needs.
I mean, what I need. Being close to my mate. My wolf howls inside my chest as I touch his face softly. Every time my fingers graze his skin there's a howl. My eyes start to glow as the closer my wolf gets to be in control, the shinier they get.
As promised, I don't get interrupted by anyone. I just stay there, quietly caressing my mate.
AN HOUR LATER.
George opens his eyes and gets startled by my presence, though he seemed to enjoy the touching very much.
"I'm sorry for barging into your room. I hope I didn't scare you." - I said, looking at a weirded out George getting up into a sitting position on his bed.
"You didn't. What are you doing here? Came to reject me more?" - He jabbed in a snarky mood.
"I'm sorry for that, I panicked. I apologize for my actions." - I replied in a humble tone.
"Thank you for the apology. Why are you at my house?" - He asked not in a good head space, I can tell. He's frowning at me looking annoyed.
"I needed to see you. I could feel your sadness all through the day, it's unbearable." - I explained, though nothing I can say is gonna appease him.
"If it was unbearable to you, imagine how it was for me... if there's nothing else, I need to get downstairs to talk to my parents." - He said in a snarky tone. I can see he's not making this easy for me.
"Are you throwing me out of your house?" - I asked him point blank, angrily.
"You rejected ME, remember?" - He accused me in a hurt tone.
"I do remember and I've just apologized for that. Do you want me to get on my knees and beg?" - I shot back at him, defiantly.
"No, I want you to tell me why did you come to my house after you rejected me?" - He insisted, not backing down.
"Because I was worried for you. I needed to see you. I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier. I take back the rejection." - I blurted in the most vulnerable tone I could muster.
He stared at me for a minute, silently.
"Thank you for saying that, I appreciate it." - He said in a calm manner.
"You're welcome. And if you need to talk to your parents, I'll get out of your way. I didn't mean to impose." - I told him in a meek tone.
"You're not imposing. Thank you for coming. But I'm starving as I skipped lunch." - He said with a joking tone.
"Me too. I need to run and see if there's any scraps left at the pack house." - I said, getting up from his bed.
"Please, you're my guest to have lunch here at my house." - He said with a smile my way, the first one I've seen so far.
"Are you sure? I don't want to put you off." - I double checked.
"Positive, after you." - He pointed me to the door and we walked out of his bedroom.
His father the Luna didn't seem so pleased to see me, but his Alpha dad was happy his son is. Or at least not in the state he was when he got here. And I'm just happy I was able to go after him because if anything bad happened to George, I would never forgive myself.
A|N: Fun fact: I was supposed to use this song on another book (The Twins' Dilemma) but it never came together at the time. Since I love this song, I'm glad I could finally use it.
"Without someone to share it with, tell me what does it mean?" I do love when a song works perfectly with a chapter. In more ways than one, actually.
What a roller coaster, am I right?
And I'm only getting started... there's so much more drama to come.
PS. Another one of my favorite pics of George. And my least fave of Liam. LoL
Love,
Léo.
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