One Mate and a Rejection

Chapter three

I woke up Saturday morning with dried tears and bags beneath my eyes. Everything felt sore in my body. My muscled ached as I got up and headed to the washroom, desperate to get rid of the junk on my face. When I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror, I gasped, barely able to identify the monster as myself.

She...or I had massive purple bags under each green eye. My face was flushed and pink and my tears had dried and stuck to my face.

My mascara was smudged all around my eyes and all in all, I looked like I’ve just had my heart broken.

I sigh and washed my face, unable to stand this side of me any longer. I hopped into the shower, making sure to wash all of the dirt off my body. I caught sight of my destroyed golden dress that was thrown into the waste basket.

After drying up, I headed back to my room and checked my phone.

Three missed calls from Lisa.

Four missed calls from John.

Five missed texts from Hanna.

Three missed texts from Jack.

Four missed calls from Jason.

Two missed calls from mom and dad.

Nothing from Jared.

I felt the tears as they escaped the edges of my eyes and fell in streams down my face.

“Emerald! Emerald, are you awake honey?” I heard my mom yell.

But I didn’t respond. I couldn’t.

My voice was captured by my pain and held captive.

So I remained silent, bringing my knees up to my chest and hugging them.

A couple of minutes later, Dad began to yell,” Come on Emerald, we know it hard, but you gotta come out.”

“Emmy, you’re stronger than this. Come on! You gotta get out,” i heard the pained voice of my brother.

And hours passed, but I responded to no one. My phone rung about seven times but I refused to pick up.

Finally, Jason had managed to crawl through my window and bring me some food.

“Hey Emmy,” he greeted, his voice soft and gentle, as if afraid to break me some more.

I rolled my eyes and pushed him away, blinking back the tears that were begging to let loose.

“Come on Emmy, you’ve got to eat.”

“Go away Jason,” I managed to choke out.

“But I got you a peanut butter and honey sandwich. With lemonade.”

But i knew nothing would satisfy the endless paining of my stomach.

Not even lemonade.

And besides, it hurt too much to even think about drinking it. It brought back too many memories.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Em, you’re so much better than this, you’re gonna let some guy do all of this to you?”

I sprang up and looked him dead in the eye,” he’s not some guy Jason; he was supposed to be my mate. How would you feel if Amanda was suddenly taken from you by someone else?”

That seemed to shut him up because he placed the tray on the table and left my room.

Monday strolled around faster than I would have liked and before I knew it, I was getting into my car, driving to school.

I attempted to put on some music, so I won’t be consumed into the circle of my thoughts. But even with Eminem’s voice practically shaking my car, the shattered pieces of my heart managed to wrap itself around my thoughts.

I began panicking of course.

What would I do when I get to school?

Will Jared be there with his new mate?

Will he look any different now that he’s an official werewolf?

How will he react when he sees me?

And more importantly, how will I react?

Just thinking about him brought on fresh tears to my eyes that blurred the road from my vision.

I tried to blink them away and only succeeded in increasing them.

I was so consumed with my thoughts that I didn’t even see the car in front of me slow down.

I was coming towards it at full speed and almost hitting it.

I swirled to the side, missing a stop sign by a hair string and knocking my head against the window.

The cars behind me beeped with frustration and I realized I was blocking the road.

I pulled to the side and rested my head on the steering wheel. This time it was safe to cry.

A couple of minutes later, after I was sure my composure were under control, I started the engine again.

I looked in the mirror. There was a long cut on my forehead, with dried blood all around it.

I looked terrible, but I was already well aware of the purple bags under my eyes and the flushed look to my face.

I was also aware of my messy hair and crumpled cloths but I just didn’t seem to care.

Not when there’s really no one left to look pretty for.

I picked up a napkin and cleaned my wound.

Of course something like this would happen to me.

I put my foot against the gas pedal and attempted to drive to school again.

I parked my car away from everybody’s, as another attempt to avoid them, but the unfortunate happened.

Jasmine was parking her car just a couple of parking spaces away.

I sigh, and waited for her to get out and leave, but that didn’t happen.

Instead, she remained inside for another minute or so and when she finally got out, her lip stick was stained and her hair was a mess.

She quickly fixed it, and then something else happened.

Jared stepped out of her car, smiling lovingly at her.

I squeezed my eyes shut and looked away, desperate to hold in the tears.

I felt as if each piece of my broken heart had broke in half, doubling.

I waited for them to go inside the school before exiting my car.

I rushed inside, just in time for the bell to ring and headed to math, ignoring the whispering of everybody around, specially jasmine.

I took my seat next to John, who kept shooting me concerned looks throughout the class.

“What happened to your forehead?” he whispered.

“Nothing, I knocked it against my window accidentally,” I answered.”

He resumed peeking at me though, as if I was about to burst into tears and second.

“Quit it,” I snapped to him.

He sighs and went back to taking notes.

Second period was eventful as well. People whispered and talked. Pointed and dared. Some actually had the nerve to step up and ask.

“Mind your own business,” my reply was to every single one.

I was heading to my locker when the unexpected happened.

Jasmine and Jared were there, standing by the vending machines, ogling each other.

He leaned in to kiss her and I couldn’t seem to look away. Even knowing how much this will break what’s left of me. Their lips brushed, and stayed connected, moving in sync with each others.

I ripped my eyes away just as they were pulling away, and turned around.

But not before he saw me.

“Emmy? Emerald, wait!” Jared screamed out.

But I couldn’t wait. I waited my whole life to find my other half. I’ve known Jared for thirteen years and waited for him to ask me out.

I waited two years for us to mate.

Just for him to be ripped out of my life.

I think I’ve been way too patient.

I spun on my heel and ran away, determination pumping in my veins.

By the time I was sure I’d lost him, I was at the other side of school.

Not looking where I was going, I bumped into something hard, dropping my books.

“Oh uhh sorry,” said a voice.

I looked up to see Blade, alpha of the enemy pack.

Nervous, I muttered,” its fine.”

We bend down to pick up my books at the same time, bumping heads.

“Sorry,” we muttered.

I blushed and picked up my pen.

He handed me my things, his fingers brushing my hand, and without another word, I walked away, ignorant to the way he looked at me.

Blades pov

I was confused. Ever since the...incident a couple of nights ago with the strange girl, I’ve been different...not me.

My thoughts were always consumed with her.

Was she okay?

Why was she so sad?

Who caused her this pain?

And then my feelings would turn into anger.

I wanted nothing more than to rip apart the causer of her pain and feed their bones to dirty rouge werewolves.

But most strangely, I found other girls...distasteful, unsatisfying, unpleasant, and non-luring.

And just...not her.

They weren’t her.

And of course my thoughts were wrapped around her as I walked down the hallways in school, running into the enemy’s pack, alpha’s son’s girlfriend, Emerald Something.

Immediately I was hit with something.

Pain and a long trail of sadness.

Much like the girl, a couple of nights ago.

“Oh, uhh sorry,” I muttered, looking down at her, confused.

What happened to her forehead? I suddenly wanted to know.

“It’s fine,” she answered nervously.

We bent down to pick up the thinks at the same time, our heads bumping.

“Sorry,” we muttered.

I caught sight of her face reddening.

My knees grew weak and I felt my insides softening. My fingers twitched with the urge to caress her cheeks.

What the hell?

I handed her the pen, my fingers brushing her hand and shooting sparks inside of me.

Just one touch triggered so many emotions.

And suddenly, all the feelings I had for the girl on the cliff had returned.

I wanted nothing more than to take her in my arms and kiss those soft looking gentle lips.

Realization hit me like a ton of brick as I watched her walk away, her sadness still wrapped around my body.

She’s the girl on the cliff.

She must be. They had the same outline of body, same looking hair...

and same sadness.

They also made me feel the same.

Desire and pain all wrapped up in one.

I headed into the cafeteria and sat down at our usual table. All the guys were werewolves but all the girls were human.

I took a seat beside Brittany,” whats everybody whispering about?” I asked, thinking of those green eyes that sparkled with prisoned tears.

She laughed, trailing her finger down my chest. I had the sudden urge to flick it away,” haven’t you heard?”

“Heard what?”

“you know The Silver Reflections pack?” asked Tom, referring to the enemy pack.

“yeah?”

“The alphas son’s girlfriend Emerald something just found out that Jared isn’t her mate.”

“Is that why she seems so sad?” i asked, fighting the anger that’s resurfaced.

Had she loved him that much to feel so...dead?

“Yeah, and guess what? His mate is jasmine, the new girl. They found out the night he turned eighteen. He took her out on a date and jasmine was the waitress.”

“How do you know,” I growled.

“Calm down,” he muttered,” why so angry?”

I connected my fist to the table, aware of Brittany flinching away,” How did you find out?” I repeated.

He shrugged”, people talk.”

“Like who?”

“No one specific, I heard it from some freshman’s. I’m glad she’s available now though. She’s pretty hot. I wouldn’t mind tapping that.”

“She’s the enemy pack dude,” laughed Eric.

“Forbidden lust,” Tom grinned, wiggling his eyebrows.

I let out a growl earning a strange look from the guys. My mind was screaming the word mate.

I watched in anger as they laughed about it, agreeing with Tom about ‘tapping that.’

I remained silent, fighting back my wolf who wanted nothing more but to leap out and have their heads on a stick.

I heard a chair being knocked over and watched as emerald marched out of the cafeteria.

A couple of minutes later, Jared stood up and followed.

“I’ll be right back,” I muttered,” I forgot something.”

I stood up and ran after Jared.

He was standing by the girls’ washroom, one leg propped up against the wall, waiting for somebody.

I hid behind the lockers and watched.

Emeralds pov

I was a nervous wreck by the time lunch rolled around. Not only was there a huge possibility of me seeing Jared, but my next two periods included him, and jasmine.

I walked into the cafeteria, uncomfortable with the looks everybody kept giving me.

It was like they expected me to become one crazy mess and start screaming at everybody.

I took a seat next to Lisa and John, well aware of Jasmine and Jared just a couple of tables away from us.

“We sat here cause we didn’t think you’d wanna sit over there,” said Lisa.

I nodded,” thanks.”

“Do you wanna talk about it?” asked John.

“There’s nothing to talk about. We aren’t mates,” my voice broke,” that’s it.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I answered, unwrapping my food.

“if you need us, we’re right here, you know that right?”

I nodded,” thanks.”

Halfway through lunch, a guy approached our table,” uhh Emerald, aren’t you and Jared mates?”

I stood up, knocking my chair backwards and walked out of the cafeteria, well aware of Johns threatening voice yelling at the boy.

I marched into the bathroom, letting the tears I’ve been holding back loose.

About twenty minutes later, I exited the washroom, only to come face to face with the one and only.

“Jared.”

“Emerald, hi.”

“Hey,” I answered, fighting the sudden compulsion to throw myself into his arms and cry.

A couple that was so in love seemed to drift so far away, as if strangers to each other.

“Look, I’m sorry about what Friday, I-I didn’t know that was gonna happen,” he rushed out, placing his hands on my shoulders.

“Of course you didn’t, no one did.”

“I feel terrible. I feel like I’ve just messed up everything, I’m so sorry.”

Yeah, you feel so terrible, laughing and ogling with jasmine, kissing her like you two have known each other for thirteen years.

It shows just how bad you feel, I thought, sarcasm dripping off my thoughts.

“I know,” I said, instead,” and I forgive you.”

“No you don’t. Emerald, come on. Why are we talking like we don’t know each other?”

I remained silent, letting him speak.

“I’ve known you for thirteen years! We know each other like we know ourselves! Probably more! Don’t let this tear us apart!”

I looked at him for a moment,” How do you expect me to act?” I asked, lowly, making sure to keep my voice under control,” how do you expect me to feel? Watching you and jasmine acting so in love, a-and kissing all the time.”

“Emer-” he began, but I cut him off.

“You know, it kills me. Imagining her, helping you shift into a wolf. Being so in love.

But I guess it’s for the best. I think I would have died if your wolf rejected me right after I saved his life.”

A tear somehow disobeyed my strict instructions of staying put and rolled down the left side of my face.

“Imagine it Jared. Imagine being so in love with someone, only to have them ripped away from you because they belong to someone else. And worse, I can’t blame you or jasmine. There’s no one to blame...but me. I was foolish enough to fall for you, I took a chance when I should have followed the signs and look where it’s gotten me,” I spat at his face.

“Do you,” he muttered, swallowing,” do you hate me?”

I felt my eyes watering again and let out a humorless chuckle,” i hate how much I still love you, does that count.”

We heard a sudden bang and turned around.

The locker a few meters away was smashed in badly.

And Blade Russell was there, looking angry enough to kill somebody.

He stared at us for a moment before spinning around and walking out of the school.

Jared and I turned back to each other,” so what does this mean for us, Emmy?”

“Don’t,” I said, my voice cracking,” don’t call me that. And i don’t know. Just give me time.”

After one last look at him, I turned around and headed to drama, which I had with both him and Jasmine.