His unclaimed mate

e. I tried everything I could to keep myself distracted from thoughts of my mate, and at first, it seemed to work. Slowly, thou

ew she wasn't to blame for my current predicament. It was not as if she knew that I even existed. Y

ting for their mates and said "screw it"? Or had they loved each other so much that none of that even mattered? Perhaps, she had a mate out there s

eemed so happy together that a part of me wanted to let him go his own way and pretend that we had never met. However, there was another part of

ted. It was different having something else constantly in my mind with its own wants and needs. Her instincts were telling her to go be with her ma

ying to remain as I had been. I would have happily remained completely oblivious to the fact that I even had a

me, crossing her arms over her chest. "Alright, Red..." she started to say, using the name she had called me the first few weeks I worked at the diner. Apparently, she had troubl

I found myself

at it? Do I need to beat up some boy for breaking your heart? Cause I'll do it." I couldn't stop the s

from any of the colleges I applied to." It wasn't necessarily a lie because it was true I was stressed about college. There

stressed. You're the smartest one out of all of us here at t

the confidence, but it's not like it takes much to b

n't you go ahead and clock out, smartass? I'll finish up here. Just lock the front door on your way out."I didn't need to be told twice. I had been working a lot of shifts at the diner over

then grabbed the door and gave it a good couple

ing there. I gave a small scream of surprise, hand rushing to cover my heart that I thought might explode

ion. I found myself taking a step back away from him, suspicious of his reasons f

that there was a black Mercedes parked next to my cousin's beat-up truck. I hoped that Darlene was busy in

att." I internally facepalmed myself. Of course, he had, and my

rds the diner. "You shouldn't have come here.

palms out towards me to show he meant no harm. There was a sad smirk playi

flame. I had already been burned once, and I was not looking to get burned ag

y response as he lowered his hands to hi

t he hadn't. Still, my cheeks flamed regardless of what I felt as I registered

ernally reprimanding myself for talking to him like I had. He

he took another step towards me. "It's fine, Scarlett. I

arlett. I know that. And I wanted to come to you. I was just confused about everything. I n

ting his foot in his mouth. "Sorry to have sprung myself on you so unexpectedly," I remarke

ate. Of course, meeting you was the happiest moment of my l

ng him more time to explain himself. He must have underst

Scarlett. How could I not want you? You are perfect." His words made my wolf happy, smoothing over any hu

uld not forget, a factor that he had failed to mention in all of his talking. "What about Eva? How do

at the short stubble that covered it. "I don't know, Scarlett. I don't want to ta

y anger had me snapping at him. I noticed the immediate regret of his in his gaze, and he took a step towards me, leaving

that, "Scarlett, i

, your mate." I tacked on at the end, "Until you make up your mind about that, I think

r validity. "I don't know if I can stay away from you. My wolf doesn't want to let you

nce, the harder it would be to remain clear-headed. I shook my head, trying to sort out my thoughts. "I need you to respect my wishes, David. I don't want to be the second

rave, but he nodded his

ing. He said he wanted me, but he still had Eva waiting for him at home. He had said he needed time to think. Maybe with time, he would reali

er. My fingers tightened around the keys in my hand, and my stomach twisted up in painful knots as I

d to reach out and touch him. His gaze roamed over me from the top of my head to the tips of the dirty sneakers that

awkward. Was this how all mates felt when they met each other or was our situati

e away the edge that had been created, but my ability to form words was failing me. By the time I thought o

" I remarked, inte

ne. I remained rooted in place as his lips brushed against the skin of my cheek. I felt the surge of pleasurable tin

mine. I had to force myself to step back even though everything in me was scre

each his eyes before I turned away and unlocked my door, scrambli

eep. So when I was awoken by a harsh pounding on my bedroom door, I was more than a little keyed up. I turn

e to be disturbed on Saturdays, and Wyatt knew that better than anyone. Only when the knocking became more persistent did I peel

noticed that Wyatt was standing with two warriors flanking him on either side. The

and what did he think I was going to do? I shifted back. "Just let me get changed," I said before closing the door

in between two large SUV's. I didn't know what to say to him about what was happening, and he didn't try to as

a serious expression, his gaze fixed on the two of us as we were let into the room. Behind him, Luna Victoria stood dutifully, her e

essed in at my back. I could feel his anxiety as well. He had no idea what was going on,

nd neither did my wolf. I tried to keep my breathing as even as I could, hoping it would

"Do you mind me asking w

ws graced the top of the fine cherry wood desk, fingers laced together. "Of course not, son. This

with raised brows, questioning me silently about what I had been keeping from him. I hadn't told him about Dav

om vibrated with the dominant aura he was throwing out. My wolf gnashed her teeth together in my mind, she di

I looked around the room. "I was pretty certain it didn't matter all that much. He already has someone beside him, and I had no plans

come to see y

ut why he cared if his son had come to see me or not. We were ma

lready know the answer to that question, Alpha. Or else, I d

Wyatt stepped forward, head bowed, and neck stretched in submission. "I apologize, Alpha. She is still a pup in a lot of ways. She

snapped, losing that bi

ment before he forced himself to relax. They seemed completely different than they had a couple of days ago at the pack m

s. They came through in the night and decimated their numbers. By the time we arrived

s sharing this story with me, b

lming. I had given up hope that we would find anyone alive, but about that time, I heard a gentle cry

er them to this day. She stared up at me like I was her savior. When I tried to move her, I noticed the way her stomach was bulging, unnaturally so. She had suffered some k

n to letting her suffer or putting her out of her misery. 'For the good of the pack, w

eing compared to in the tale, was I the little girl who would n

ack. My father put his hand on my shoulder and told me somethin

n my direction with a heavy gaze full

much too calm. I shifted uncomfortably where I stood. My tongue was thick

ete connection with her. Her thoughts were intermingling with my own. Right now, I understood that she didn't like being told what to do, but I also knew even if she had reached maturity

ched tightly together in front of me. "The pack, then us," I rep

for the moment with my obedience. I nodded my head. I wasn't q

." He leaned back in his chair. It creaked loudly under the shifting of his weight. I lifted my face to meet his gaze again as his mate gave his shoulders

k to my stomach, but I nodded my head finding it hard to find words. My head

capable to share the burden with him." I could deduce he did not believe I was up to par with what he believed were good leadership qualities. It

oom with his head hanging low, like a man with a death sentence. Alpha Aaron pushed up from his seat, motioning

s morning. It's not what is wanted, but it is what is needed." We both flinched at

e into the world. Rejection was not something that was done lightly. The act itself was painful for bot

hat I wanted. I wanted to be given a choice in the matter. I wanted

pained expression of his

pha Aaron interrupted b

her,

rumbling growl. "What

pack, then us," he repeated the horrible mantra, somethin

dience. Before this moment, I believed that the Alpha was an infallible force. Whatever he said was trut

aining his father had indoctrinated him and into the heart of my mate underneath. He looked as th

a somber expression. She didn't look like she was enjoying any par

ze. "Forgive me, Scarlett." He offered it like a

d in disbelief

, reject you, Scarlett Ramsey, as my mate and future luna of this pack. I free you

ushed him away. My wolf was whimpering in my head, her pain only amplifying my own. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground

agine how weak I looked prostrated before them. I slowly lifted my face to find David leaning against his fathe

carlett," Wyatt's gentle voice whispered to me. My legs were weak as I tried to st

as he ushered me away f

console me, not that they could have. It was simply me and the four walls of my bedroom... the four walls that had seen me through

t-soaked sheets. I passed through the worst of it into a state of emptiness. I would go through the

ook away the untouched plates of food he had brought me before. The days passed by the same: the sun would rise,

le with every new day as I fe

one morning. I crossed the room to grab the sealed envelope he was holding

open the letter with shaky fingers. A sigh of relief passed through my l

as my ticket