George
It's bad.
I had just gotten my mate back and people barely stopped pity staring at me like I'm a loser who got rejected.
I even had him cheering me on at wrestling practice.
Now he doesn't talk to me.
And worst of all, school has been buzzing about me cheating on my mate. This is absolutely terrible. Though they don't know with whom yet, but that's beside the point.
When daddy got pregnant, the students thought that dad had cheated on him and got some girl pregnant instead. It was hell to convince people he didn't.
And he was innocent then. Now, it's just an anecdote their friends tell when they get together.
But though I swear that wasn't my intention, I can't exactly claim to be innocent of this. I really wish I could.
It's not against the law to cheat - as I said before - but I'd never dream this would be the reputation I'd get.
Liam is isolated, not talking to me or my friends. But I suspect he started talking to some other people from our grade.
At least, it's good to have someone to talk to. Plus, I think he texts Charlie on occasion. My brother doesn't say anything to me, but I may have caught a glimpse of it on his phone (accidentally).
Justin feels guilty about it, of course. He apologized to me over and over. But now it's too late. I've lost my mate.
"What up, cheater! How can someone be so stupid enough to cheat at school? At least, meet somewhere else. Have some decency!" - Jeff provoked me inside the locker room at the end of practice.
I looked over at him, but didn't have the energy to argue. I'm too broken up.
"Anyway, I've invited your mate to my birthday party tomorrow. Maybe he can find someone there to cheat on you too." - He announced, causing my eyes to widen.
"Am I invited too?" - I asked, a tad troubled. Though I knew the answer before I opened my mouth.
"Fuck no! I've barely invited your friends because my dad made me invite Underwood and the class president." - He shot back, as if revolted by the suggestion.
"Wow! I'm touched!" - Justin snickered, not far from where we are. He's part of the wrestling team too, as is Junior.
But Justin is the son of the Delta, that is the highest ranking warrior. Which means that his dad is Jeff's dad's boss.
There has been a Stockwell warrior in our pack for the last 100 years. And his dad pressures him to succeed in his footsteps.
It's also why Jeff never messes with Justin.
You'd think he fears the Alpha more than the Delta, right?
But no, he doesn't. It's not the Alpha who selects new warriors for our pack. It's Delta Underwood.
And he has discretion over who he picks.
Alpha has no business meddling in it. Maybe Beta, who's directly above him. But mostly he leaves it to his top warrior.
Last but not least, Alpha answers to the Elder Council in case of any problem. Warriors are immune from their authority.
Basically, if Jeff doesn't get picked he has no one to complain to. And that would crush him.
"It's fine, Jeff. I'm gonna ask my daddy to book a visit to the Underwoods instead. I'll give him some suggestions on who to select for the next try out. And who NOT to." - I jabbed at him.
He's not the only one who knows how to hit where it hurts. But he scoffed.
"Oh yeah? And why would he listen to you, reject? You can't be Alpha without a mate!" - He replied, laughing at my situation.
I winced at his words. But I put on a brave face.
"Are you really taking that bet? Are you so confident that I can't turn this situation around you're willing to bet your entire career on it?" - I threatened him with a confident tone, looking deep into his eyes.
His smug grin gives way to a troubled expression. He scowls.
"Fine, cheater. You can come. But you better not cause any trouble at my party or I'll have you denounced before the Elder Council!" - He looked at me menacingly.
"Thank you! See? Who says we can't get along?" - I snickered, causing the boys including Junior and Justin to laugh.
Warriors are immune. But I'm not. And they can block me from becoming Alpha, leaving my dad with no alternative other than having Charlie succeed him.
Though that's not something they'd take it lightly. And certainly not over teenage gossip. But my current reputation isn't helping my case much. Especially now with the cheating scandal. Gasp!
Since today my mate doesn't have any classes, I focus on the rest of mine and get ready for the weekend.
My parents have been consoling me the best way they can, but it's difficult to argue my case when I'm in the wrong.
I'd try to visit my mate at the pack house, but he doesn't want to see me whatsoever. I texted him a chain of apologies and explanations, but heard nothing back.
On Saturday, my brother would have an early bird date with Annie. He was invited to Jeff's birthday party as well, but that's not until evening.
In actuality, Jeff's birthday isn't today, is Sunday. But he's taking the opportunity to countdown until he's able to scent his mate and find her at the party.
It's gonna be an event, for sure.
"Good morning, Luna. Is Charlie ready?" - Liam is at the front door of my house, ready to take my brother away to his date.
Daddy greets him and calls for Charlie, he makes way for him to enter the house but he doesn't. Daddy gets back to the kitchen and I walk to the door.
"Morning, mate. Are you ever going to forgive me?" - I asked him point blank.
"If I were you, I'd be less concerned about me forgiving you and more worried about the lack of character you demonstrated by trying to make me sound like a paranoid boyfriend." - He shot back, making me wince.
I take a big inhale of his scent.
"I didn't mean to make you sound paranoid. I honestly didn't want to kiss anyone. He kissed ME. I stopped it as soon as he did, I swear!" - I argued in a defeated tone.
"Then you should have explained that and begged me on your knees for forgiveness. Not denying it like you're some sort of politician!" - He exclaimed, seriously pissed.
"I was in denial myself. It was just a reflex." - I told him in a vulnerable tone.
"Right. Maybe your brother will have better reflexes as Alpha of the pack. He doesn't strike me as the cheating kind." - He replied and I felt the pain of those words in my bones.
Tears fall from my eyes.
"You're probably right. My brother is the better man, I don't dispute that. But please, give me a chance to prove it to you. I'll do anything!" - I pleaded in a desperate tone.
Charlie arrives and greets him.
"Hi, boss. Let's go before I lose my patience." - He told my brother and off they went.
I rushed to my bedroom and bawled my eyes out, crying for the longest time.
How is this my narrative? How the hell did I become the cheater? Me of all people!
I thought about skipping Jeff's party tonight. It's not gonna be fun seeing my mate and not being able to talk to him.
It's not that I don't understand why he's mad, I do. It's not like I can claim to be innocent, I don't. But it hurts. So very much.
The first month of being bonded to your mate is supposed to be the best, strengthening the link until we complete it.
But now is just a painful reminder of needing him by my side and not having it. And as much fun it is to cry about it, I do need a distraction, desperately.🙄
I'm only 17 years old. I should be having the time of my life. Even at my nemesis' party.
Plus, it's not like I can text Justin to hook up with me. Even if he would accept it, I can't anymore. It's not because my mate is ignoring me that I can cheat on our bond (again).😵💫
I simply cannot. Honestly, I was only trying to have closure with him on that fateful day.
While my brother doesn't return from his date, I take a long bath, put on my best clothes, some cologne on all the right parts of my body and wait for them to arrive with my car.
Yes, Liam drives my car for the dates. It's not like I'm using it apparently.🙄
Charlie arrives, but since he's going to the party too I wait for him to get ready. It's no use me not driving him or making Liam take one of my dads' cars.
Some time later, he gets downstairs looking dapper as always. Though not nearly as me, if I may say so myself.
"Is it okay if we give Liam a ride to the party? He doesn't have a car and prefers not to take his mom's." - Charlie asked me as we walk to the front door.
"Of course, Charlie! Didn't even need to ask me that!" - I rolled my eyes.
I opened the door and bam!
Liam's wearing a black jacket, white t-shirt with something drawn on it, dark pants, hair gelled back and black eyeliner. It's like an emo fantasy I didn't even know I had.
"Wow! You look fantastic!" - My mouth's agape staring at him.
"Thanks. Can we go now?" - He replied, a bit uncomfortable.
"Yes, we can." - Charlie answered, then we say goodbye to our parents and go to the car parked outside.
The drive was as silent and awkward as expected. We arrive at the place rented for Jeff's party. Though his family is not exactly rich, they pulled out all the stops for his 18th.
The salon is huge, students are flocking here, crowding the space fast. There're even a few off duty warriors doing security.
Jeff welcomes us to the party, next to his parents. He doesn't look pleased to see me - none of them do - but they fake it well.
Charlie and Annie - I picked her up along the way - go mingle with the crowd, Liam goes someplace else - probably away from me - and I look for Junior and Patricia or any of my friends.
The first ones I find is Justin talking to Mia. I greet them and see Miriam picking something to eat offered by the waiters. They welcome me with cheerful voices.
Junior is not far, sucking face with his mate. Lucky bastard!🙄
I grab something to drink and talk to my friends for a while. I see a lot of familiar faces in the crowd as I look for a bathroom some time later, but Jeff probably invited most of the senior class in hopes that he finds his mate tonight and show off.
I'd do the same if I weren't already mated.
After an hour, Junior and Trisha finally joined our little circle. They greeted me and only then it hits me.
"Oh my Goddess! You've completed the bond!" - I yelled, enthusiastically.
It has been such a long time coming that I even forgot they hadn't yet. Not until now.
Junior smiles wide at me. Trisha looks radiantly pretty. I hug my best friend and his mate, wishing them joy.
Our other friends had already noticed it when they arrived, so they already congratulated the happy couple. I'm so thrilled for them, it's such a joyous occasion.
I only wish I was in a better mental state to appreciate it. But I try my best not to show it on my face.
"Your mate will come around, my friend. He has to." - Junior told me after a moment.
"Thanks, Beta. But it's your night. And I couldn't be happier for you." - I said, faking enthusiasm.
"Actually, it's Jeff's night. And I think we're close to midnight." - Mia interjected, looking at her watch.
"For once, I'm so glad I'm already mated. Goddess helps the poor person mated to him." - I snickered.
"Yeah, maybe he'll get Justin. I'd die to watch them completing the bond." - Mia joked, much to Justin's grimace.
"Stop fantasying about Jeff completing the bond with another guy! Maybe he's your mate!" - He shot back, not amused.
"Hey, I wouldn't reject him. Who am I to argue against the Goddess?" - She replied, surprising us all with her attitude.
"I'll go to the bathroom now before the countdown. I wanna look at the poor girl while he does the acceptance speech." - I smirked, even though I'm yet to do it myself.
Acceptance speech is when you state your full name and say that you accept your mate, then say their name.
It's the first step you take once you find your mate, unless one of the pair rejects the bond.
There's a small line to the bathroom. Ahead of me, I see Liam talking to another person, whispering in their ear.
My wolf howls at their close contact, not that I have any right to feel jealous. But wolves are not rational animals.
But the other person notices my eyes shining and alerts Liam, who glares at me. I look down, ashamed.
"Don't worry, we're not going to the bathroom to make out. Just to relieve our bladder." - He smirked, coming closer to me.
"I don't have any right to judge even if you were." - I replied, blushing uncomfortably.
"No, you don't. But I'm not you, George. I can't cheat on a mate." - He jabbed, making me wince in pain at his words as if it's the first time I'm hearing this.
"I didn't mean to cheat on anyone! I swear on my life!" - I pleaded in a desperate tone.
"I believe you. I'm not saying you're a dirt bag. But denying it was worse." - He said, looking at me with an accusatory expression.
"I was mortified, didn't want to lose you." - I argued, wrecked with guilt.
"You didn't want to admit it. Losing me was the consequence." - He rebuked.
"I regretted it so much. I'd do anything for you to forgive me!" - I pleaded, remorsefully.
He stared at me for a minute in silence. His friend tells him it's their turn to go.
"Please, Liam. I'm so broken up about it!" - I make one last attempt before he leaves.
"You broke me first!" - He exclaimed, misty eyed. Then, he leaves for the bathroom with his friend.
Some time later, I'm back at the ballroom, talking to my friends, pretending I'm having a good time.
"Folks, it's close to midnight. Please join me in the countdown for my son's birthday." - Jeff's dad stopped the music for a moment.
"I'm actually curious to see who's gonna be. But what if she's not even here?" - I commented, looking ahead at the man of the hour surrounded by his family.
"Can you imagine if his eyes don't shine? Awkward." - Miriam remarked with a devious smile.
"10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1." - The entire room chants it loudly.
"Happy birthday, Jeff!" - A chorus of teenagers can be heard as his eyes shine like never before. It'd be beautiful to see if he wasn't such a horrible person.
His parents, friends and him all look around for the source of the matching shining eyes.
His mate is here. And he frantically searches for them in the crowd, walking past dozens of eagerly waiting students.
Meanwhile, I turn to Junior to say something when I see it. Next to Trisha, a gobsmacked Miriam is glowing the brightest I've ever seen her.
"Miriam!" - I exclaimed, alerting everybody around us.
Our friends stared at her, gasped in shock. Soon enough, Jeff's staring at his mate as people give way for the pair.
It's always beautiful to see mates finding each other. Though Jeff is surprised by this, not nearly as she is. She looks devastated.
They take a moment to inhale each other's scents. And then...
"I, Jefferson Dean Stockwell--"
Miriam bolts towards the exit, midway speech. A collective gasp can be heard by the people present, shocked by the turn of events.
Jeff just stood there, humiliated. Alone. Baffled. Tears come to his eyes. His dad ordered the music to restart and took him away with his mom by their side.
I wish I felt good about this, like somehow he's getting a taste of what I went through. But I don't wish rejection on anyone. Even him.
A|N: I haven't done this so far in this book, but I wrote this chapter with this specific song in mind.
Love,
Léo.
Comments (6)
See all