There is a part 1 if you haven't seen it. 

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continued...

Flashback...

1.5 years ago

I don't think I should be here. I told Kylo as I stood awkwardly at the barbeque party the pack threw.

Suck it up, hermano, we're here for the steak, plus you're always in your room. You need to socialise. They need to get to know their future Luna. Kylo encouraged me before leaving me to fend for myself since he hated the crowds, the hypocrite.

The pack did that a lot around here. This was the first time I made it to one after 5 months of being here. It seemed easier to avoid everyone, but Raymond convinced me it was for the best. The pack needed to get to know the new Luna. He also may have convinced me with the promise of having the "best steak of my life," which was very tempting, but now I regret accepting the invitation because everyone's eyes are on me. They're not even being subtle about it. Their stares were burning holes in my body, but I tried to ignore them as much as possible, attempting to stay isolated. That is until a couple of people started approaching me, asking me simple questions like "How are you today?", "How do you like the place?" "did you like the food?" and stuff like that. I appreciated the light panter until a bunch of kids around 7 or 8 came running towards me.

"Are you our new Luna?" they shouted in unison, which had everyone turn their attention to us. My body stiffened in response because what would I say to them? 'Sorry, ask your alpha since he can barely look at me?' That might sound a bit too complicated for them. My silence brought out the curiosity in them.

"Are you going to replace Luna Aiden?" a young boy with shiny blond curls asked softly. As if on auto-reply, my mouth asked the question before my brain could.

"W-who's Aiden?"

"He was Alpha Jaylen's mate." one of the girls in the group giggled as she continued. "My mother always told me to find you a mate that looks at you like Alpha Jaylen looks at Luna Aiden." Suddenly, the group of kids were dragged away by their mothers with a terrified look on their faces as I stood frozen.

He had someone else? He was in love with someone else? Is that why he cannot look at me? When? Why? How? The questions wrapped up my brain entirely, and my vision turned black as if I were covered by a veil of darkness. I was pulled out of my suffocating mind as I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Are you okay?" Raymond asked.

"He- was he-" I couldn't get the words to leave my mouth. I was sure I looked like a fish out of the water. I took a deep breath and continued. "Is it true?" I finally managed to speak. Raymond looked at me with pity, which set the nerves in my stomach on fire.

"So it is true," I confirmed. "Why didn't he tell me?" I squeezed the drink in my hand tighter, almost breaking the bottle.

"I tried to get him to tell you multiple times, but he seemed adamant that it wasn't the right time yet." He spoke softly.

I laughed as I recalled all the times he answered all my questions with that one sentence. 'It wasn't the right time'.

My temper got the best of me when I spotted Jaylen walking towards us. I stalked up to him with angry steps.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I yelled.

"What are you talking about? Tell you what?" he asked.

"Aiden." His name slipped out of my mouth like venom. How dare he touch my Mate? Mine!

Jaylen stiffened as he looked around. Everyone's attention was on us now, but I didn't care, not one bit. I wanted answers NOW!

"I didn't think it was relevant. It is not something you need to know." He whispered as if that would work with our superhuman hearing.

"Not relevant? Are you fucking kidding me? How in the hell is you having someone else before me irrelevant?" I was beyond angry at this point. My body shook with rage as I felt the heat radiating from my body.

"Can we not talk about this now? We'll talk later." He attempted to walk away, but I walked to face him again.

"I am sick and tired of you not telling me anything. What don't you want to tell me about your lovely boyfriend?" The look in his eyes shifted. I could feel his anger rising.

"He was not my boyfriend." He stated with authority. "He was my MATE! My chosen Mate," he repeated proudly as if the statement alone was his greatest achievement.

Not sparing me another minute, Jaylen walked away, conversing with other pack members like nothing had happened. I let the darkness swallow me whole as it crept slowly up my body. I don't remember much after that, until I found myself standing on a cliff overlooking the woods as I just existed at that moment, thinking, if I take another step forward, would it all get better?

End of Flashback...

I was now leaning against a tree on top of that same cliff. It became my solace, my safe place, my escape.

"You look deep in thoughts, my child." a voice crept from behind me, making me jump from my skin.

"HOLY GODDESS," I yelled as I turned around to see Elder Fisk standing by the tree, laughing her ass off at me.

"Oh, you should see the look on your face. That was hilarious." She cackled some more before taking a deep breath and wiping her laughing tears away.

"Glad you find my suffering amusing. You scared the living shit out of me." I huffed as I held my chest, holding my heart in hopes of keeping it inside.

"Stupid child, shit isn't alive. I still have much to teach you in life." she moved to sit where I was sitting and patted the spot beside her for me.

"What's got you so deep in your head?" she asked as I slid beside her.

"Nothing much. I just remembered the night we met." I smiled.

"Ah, you mean the night I saved your whiny ass from that cliff?" She asked, amused.

"Ha, funny," I exclaimed sarcastically.

Honestly, I felt a relief wash over me when she showed up that day with her daring smirk. She was one of the youngest elders in the pack. Usually, the elders I knew were dim, dull, and proper, but not her. She's got the spirit and humour of a 20-something-year-old. But, damn, that woman is wise beyond her years. She truly earned that title. She saved me that day, and now she's one of the only people I can trust wholeheartedly in this pack.

"Who wouldn't want to jump off a cliff knowing their mate doesn't want them?" I joked, hiding the pain that jolted in my chest.

"Oh, sweet child, he was deeply hurt, which took a toll on him. It took him a long time to even get back to somewhat normal. Plus, he just doesn't know yet." Elder Fisk added.

"Don't know what?" I asked.

"That you're the love of his life." I scoffed louder than I intended at her reply. "You are, you'll see, and I will be all over you with the I told you so's." she smiled.

"Thank you, eld-" I got interrupted by a smack on the head.

"What have I been telling you for the past two years?" She scolded.

"Sorry... Mel," I corrected.

"Good boy," she patted the place she smacked not long ago. For some reason, she hated it when I called her Elder. She's always asked me to call her Mel, but I could never remember, or maybe I just didn't want to solidify my place here.

"Do you think the pain would stop if I left?" I asked, looking up at the stars scattered across the dark sky.

"Maybe, but if you decide to leave, wouldn't it hurt less to leave with no regrets?" she sighed.

"What do you mean?" I questioned, moving my gaze towards her.

"I mean, why not try to make him see how amazing you are, Dario? You've always had that wall around you that makes it difficult for anyone to get close. I am not saying drop that wall for him, but open up and draw him to you. Dario, you are his other half; you only need to show him the way. Be yourself, the sassy hard-headed boy who won't take shit from anyone. Give yourself and him one last chance to make it work."

"You mean seduce him?" I asked, confused. She laughed loudly, her head leaning backwards, hitting the tree.

"Ouch! This damn tree," she grumbled. "What I mean is, make him fall for you. But if you want to seduce him, go right ahead. Though I do expect lots of details."

"Oh goddess, have mercy," I said while standing up to leave this crazy woman. "Good night, Mel. Thank you for always being there for me."

"You're welcome, sweetheart. Now go back to your Mate. You've got some planning to do." she laughed as she waved me off.

I walked back to the pack house. It was much darker and a lot quieter than when I had left. Climbing up the stairs into the room I shared with my Mate, finding him still in the same position as I had left him. I headed towards the bathroom for another quick shower to wash off the sweat and did my night routine. Changed into my favourite P.J.s, navy blue with little owls all over them. I love owls. They are so cute, with their vast eyes looking into your soul. I giggled at the image as I got into bed, making Jay steer reaching out, pulling me into his embrace and nuzzling right into the crook of my neck, his favourite place apparently.

My train of thought circled back to my conversation with Mel. Make him fall for me, huh? Easier said than done, but she was right. I don't want to have any regrets, so... operation: make Jaylen fall for Dario starts tomorrow.

I can't wait. I felt Kylo smirk before we drifted into sleep.

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Thoughts? hehe

Don't forget to like and comment, and I will see you all in the next one.

Izzy out :)