One Mate and a Rejection

Chapter 26

I headed home that day after the incident with Blade, my insides flaring with anger and confusion.

It wasn’t fair really, how he gets to make all the shots.

He decides exactly when to break my heart, and then goes on and burns the chest of some guy who was simply talking to me!

Something inside of me told me he was jealous but I couldn’t believe it. Not when he decided to run over my feelings with a damn four-wheeler.

Jealousy couldn’t be it.

I thought back to what he had told me. The thing that broke my heart the most.

“It’s ironic how you’ve been believing every lie I tell you but this one thing I decide to be truthful to you about you don’t believe.”

So the whole thing has been a lie to him. A game that he possessed where he played with my emotions like a movie script.

But what could he have possibly gained out of it all? What was the purpose?

The new born feeling of what success?

Being the punisher of the punished?

I was clearly the punished but for what?

Suddenly, it all seemed clear to me. He was making me pay, just as I had caused him to.

I left him to shift alone, and he decided on a little revenge.

Tears coursed my eyes and I blinked as an attempt to discard them.

He must have known I had no idea. I admit, I was blinded by the risky thought that my mate would be Jared. I should have taken a look around and stopped being so damn stupid but I’m not perfect and I apologized thousands of times!

Maybe I deserved it. I remembered the pain of shifting, i felt paralyzed despite everything in my body moving.

The pain of my bones collapsing on each other, my limbs breaking and reforming.

It was the most hardest thing and I think I would’ve died if Blade hadn’t showed up.

I honestly couldn’t believe how he survived it alone.

I guess the pain stuck with him and his anger still pulsed with him as he led me on.

He hated me all that time.

My heart thudded and I thought of how much I deserved and didn’t deserve it.

Well, I thought, what does it matter whether I deserved it or not? He won didn’t he?

He had me wrapped around his pinky, falling deeper and deeper for him, unaware of the pit of lava awaiting me below.

I didn’t find it in me to be angry anymore. This cloud is shameful sadness that’s overcame me held me hostage. I felt tired.

Was it always within his plans to lose his ability to shift? Did he not care?

Maybe he was sick of being a werewolf. Perhaps he wanted to be some half living, half dead thing.

As he said, he’ll probably still have his good looks.

I tried to sense my wolf but she was nowhere to be found.

How can she, when her mate turned out to be her biggest traitor.

My fingers trembled as I fought to finish the last bit of my homework.

Just one more question, I thought.

A knock on the door interrupted my attempt.

“Come in,” I answered.

Mom popped her head,” There’s a pack meeting tonight. I think your father said it was about a new member or something...I don’t know.”

“What time?” I asked, assuming the meeting was to welcome Jace and his family.

“Six o’clock.”

I looked up at the time. I only had half an hour to get dressed.

“You could have told me earlier.”

“Sorry, forgot.”

She shut the door leaving me to get dressed.

I put on anything clean which consisted of black jeans, a nude colored tank top and a red cardigan.

We left the house about ten minutes later, arriving at the pack house in less than 15.

My eyes darted around and recognized some faces.

Lisa and John stood by Lisa’s dad who was no doubt, talking about golf because John looked ready to shoot himself.

Jared and Jasmine were there, seated on the sofas, talking.

Jason and Amanda were kissing which brought a look disgust on my face.

Gross, I thought as I whipped my sight away.

Finally, I spotted Jace, smiling brightly, talking to some of our members.

I noticed his chest seemed a bit too puffed out. I remembered the second degree burn Blade had given him. He probably put some sort of cooler patch on there.

When he caught me staring at him, he send me a friendy wink.

I smiled back and turned to my mother who was comforting dad about his broken BBQ, promising she’d get him a better one.

Oh yeah, I thought, I broke it.

The meeting began a couple of minutes later and Jared’s father took the stage to welcome Jace.

“...So please help me welcome the new member of Silver Reflections, Jace Heatherstin!”

We all clapped as he took the stage and bowed.

“Thank you everyone, I’m really proud to be a member of the Silver Reflections pack. You’ve done a great job making me feel welcomed. I promise to be as loyal as I can and to always protect my pack.”

After the new member pledge, Jace was officially a member of the Silver Reflections pack.

Everybody clapped and I realized he was alone. He didn’t join with any parents or family.

He approached me afterwards, smiling in a friendly manner.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“You tell me, how’s it feel being the new member of Silver Reflections?” I smiled back.

“Honestly, it feels great. I haven’t felt this welcomed in a long time and I love it.”

“That’s cool, I just remembered i didnt apologize for the incident durning school today. Is your chest okay?”

“Yeah i put some cloth on it.”

“I thought jt seemed puffier.”

“Who was that guy thy bumped into me?”

“That was Blade Russell, alpha of the enemy pack.”

“Oh yeah, I’ve heard of him.”

“Yeah, he’s a douche.”

“I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean to spill that water on me so it’s all cool.”

“so are you alone?”

“Yeah,” he muttered seeming uncomfortable,” ever since I turned eighteen, I got used to being just me.”

“So you’ve shifted? Where’s your mate?”

“Dead.”

“I’m so sorry,” I immediately said.

Great job Em, i though, way to ruin the conversation.

“I honestly didn’t mean it,” I went on.

“It’s cool, happened about a year ago so I’m fine. My pack got attacked by some pack who thought we were rouges. They killed my parents and my mate. I couldn’t really stay there anymore so I kept traveling to different places. This is my third.”

“Well, you know what they say,” I smiled trying to ease the mood,” third time is the charm so hopefully you’ll stay.”

He flashed me his pearly whites, revealing dimples as deep as his pain,” You’re the first one to respond that way.”

“What can I say? I’m one of a kind,” I joked.

“I’ve realized,” he said.

“Do you know what I just realized?” I said, staring into his eyes.

“What?”

“We has matching green eyes.”

“But yours are prettier.”

I blushed,” Aren’t you a gentlemen.”

“Well, I have to be since my other job consists of making damsels in distress blush.”

My smile dimmed when I remembered blade saying something like that.

“I wasn’t blushing,” I joked.

“Hey, i was meaning to ask you something today during science, you know, before I got my chest burned.”

“Oh yeah,” I laughed.

“Do you think we can meet up after school or something. I really need somebody to show me around and since I’m alone, I really need somebody to show me around town.”

My first impression was to refuse but my heart clenched when he mentioned that he was alone.

Come one Emerald, he’s been through a lot.

“Sure, ” I finally said,” why not? Meet you at the schools main entrance at 3 o’clock tomorrow?”

“Awesome, see ya there.”

Next morning arrived quickly and I found myself even more tired and even more depressed. My reflection in the mirror was hardly recognizable anymore. I had purple bags under my eyes and enough eye puffiness to scare away anybody.

I got dressed in some jeans and a top, heading downstairs slowly.

The smell of breakfast made me want to puke and I decided to skip it.

“Em?” mom’s voice stopped me from leaving the house.

“Yeah?” I croaked.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You didn’t eat dinner also. What’s wrong?”

“I’m just not hungry.”

She finally turned the corner and saw me.

“Did you get any sleep at all last night? The bags under your eyes are huge.”

“Yeah mom, I’m gonna be late.”

“You aren’t leaving until you eat something!”

“Are you serious?”

“Damn right, you look terrible.”

She led me to the kitchen table and placed a plate of waffles in front of me that I’d usually drool over.

Today, I wanted nothing more but to push them away and puke.

“Come on,” she snapped,” Eat.”

I forced the waffle into my mouth and chewed each bite regretfully.

Finally, after eating one whole one, she let me go.

My stomach made strange noises as I left the house but I ignored it, hoping I wont barf at school today.

My intentions were to avoid everybody in the morning and hopefully, the bags and the eye puffiness would fade.

I knew the real separation between me and my wolf was beginning but I refused to acknowledge it anymore.

I ducked my head low when I heard somebody calling my name and hurriedly walked off to my first class, not watching where I was going and bumped into something hard.

The person dropped his books everywhere and I immediately began to apologize.

This is the second time this week, I thought.

Suddenly, I felt a bit of a trigger inside of me. A bit of movement from my wolf.

I looked up and saw Blade, his eyes just as red and puffy as mines.

“Emerald,” he muttered.

I forced my gaze away from his and walked away, heading to the direction of my classroom.

I sat away from John that morning and pretended it was an accident.

Lunch arrived too soon and I found myself walking into the cafeteria feeling truly like the living dead.

I saw that Lisa had invited Jace to sit with us and headed over there, slightly vomiting at the sight of food.

My stomach began to hurt even more, and I thought it was because of the smells of food around me but I knew it was those waffles coming back.

I ignored it and went to sit by them.

“Hey,” I muttered.

“Hey!” said Lisa,” you okay?”

“Yeah just sleepy.”

“What up?” asked Jace.

“Nothing much, you?”

“Same.”

“Why didn’t you sit next to me at math?” asked John,” I had to suffer the wild imagination of Drama Evan.”

I forced a smile,” Sorry, it was an accident.”

“Are we still on after school?” asked Jace.

“Yup, three o’clock.”

“Are you sure you’re okay though? We can make it some other time if you want.”

“No no, it’s fine. I’m fine. We can do it today.”

I felt a heated gaze upon me and looked up to be met with Blades intense glare. Expect it wasn’t pointed on me, it was pointed right at Jace.

His eyes darted to look at mines and their anger told me he heard what we just said.

Don’t, he mouthed.

Don’t what? Don’t anger his wolf? Or don’t anger him?

I looked away and went back to talking to Jace.

Suddenly, I felt my stomach exploding in pain. My hurt must have mirrored my expression because jace grew a concerned look.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Y-yeah.”

“No your not, Em your face is green.”

I couldn’t sit still anymore. I darted up and ran out of the cafeteria, running towards the washroom that seemed to have moved ten miles further.

Blade’s pov

As soon as she darted up, so did I an I ran after her, my thoughts being non other then concerned about her.

I saw Jace also follow her and was determined to beat him but I couldn’t.

Not when all my power and energy was draining out of me like water.

He reached the bathroom first and was about to go in there when I pulled him back.

“Go back!” I barked at him,” I’ll handle this!”

“What are you talking about! She’s sick! I need to see her!” he snapped, standing up at full height, challenging my authority.

“You don’t know her! It’s my responsibly to take care of her! Now go back!”

“No! I need to help her! She won’t want you Inside of there! You’re an enemy! Now stop wasting my time!”

“Why dont you be useful and get her some Advil from the nurse.”

He sigh,” tell her i’ll be right back.”

I opened the washroom door and caught sight of her puking her guts out at one of the toilets. I ran to hold her hair away from her face, angling her body so she wouldn’t hurt herself on the rim.

“What the hell did you eat?” I asked when she was done.

“waffles,” she croaked out. I cleaned her mouth with some napkins and tied her hair up with an elastic that was on her wrist.

“Thanks,” she muttered,” I still hate your freaking guts.”

“I’d say I hate your guts too but I think you puked them all out.”

She smacked my chest and laid her head against it.

I sighed. I shouldn’t be doing this. This wasn’t part of the plan.

But as soon as Jace arrived, I shoved her off and helped her stand up.

“Hey,” said Jace.

She cracked him a smile that sent vibes of anger through me.

“Hey,” she said.

“You okay?”

“Does she look okay?” I snapped, stepping forward.

“Stop,” she snapped at me.

She took the Advil from Jace’s hands and swallowed them.

“Thank you,” she said to him.

“No problem, what did you eat?”

“Some bad waffles.”

“You should to home,” I said to her.

“Yeah,” said Jace, annoying me again,” we can reschedule our plans.”

Reschedule them to never, I thought, furiously. What was she thinking, hanging out with him.

“Yeah, sorry Jace,” she said.

“No problem.”

“I’ll drive you,” I said.

“I can drive myself,” she snapped.

“No you can’t.”

“I can drive her,” said Jace.

“I got it,” I snapped,” you should head to class.”

We entered the parking lot.

“I can drive myself. I’m fine,” snapped Emerald.

“No you’re not!”

“Fine, but I want Jace to drive me,” she said.

I looked at her, my gaze filled with pain no doubt.

She wanted him? Some loser guy she just met?

My hate from him drizzled through my body like hot gasoline.

“What?” I muttered.

“You heard me, I want jace to drive me.”

“Fine,” I muttered.

I watched as she got into his car.

He bid me a friendly goodbye and then drove away, unaware of my urge to bury him alive.

My pain and anger collided and my hands began to shake.

My fist swept past, too fast for my vision to capture and connected to the wall besides me.

Blood pooled around me in about two seconds.

I sigh and looked at my damaged fist then headed to my car.

*********