2. Sophia

                           "What did you do? Why did he reject you?"

"Why are you assuming that it's something I did?"

"LC, Soph's an angel. That moron didn't even wait for her. He mated with someone else and already has kids" Reagan defends me. But when it comes to LC, words go in one ear and exit the other. It's like her brain has a filter. She only accepts the things she wants. The rest vanish into thin air. 

"He's your mate. It doesn't matter who the other woman is. She should step aside now that you found each other"

"Didn't you hear the part where he has two kids?"

"It's the twenty-first century, Sophia. Ever heard of co-parenting?"

She'd do that. It wouldn't matter if she's breaking up a family or not. LC would demand he leaves them for her. Funny thing is, she didn't use to be like this. Once upon a time, she was the most loving and caring mother and mate. I remember a time when she wasn't such a bitch. When she had feelings and cared about other people. I guess my father's death left her dead and hollow inside. She couldn't give a rat's arse about anyone but herself. Even then, there's a part of me that understands her. She lost her other half and will carry that loss forever. Maybe give me a few years and I'll end up like her.

That being said, why should I accept that woman's sloppy seconds when he's my mate? Even if he left her for me, I wouldn't take him. I have to push thoughts of Fred out of my mind so I won't get angry. What's done is done.

"I'm not breaking up a family, mom. And it's not nice to eavesdrop on other people's conversation"

"Who is he? Tell me his name and I will set him straight"

"Forget it. I'm not telling anyone his name" I say looking at Reagan. They might have my best interest at heart but I want to forget Fred. I hope I never see him again.

"Sophia" LC squats and in a rare show of emotion, tucks my hair behind my ear. Her hands frame my face, reminding me of the mother she used to be a long time ago "This bond between mates, it can't be easily severed. It is so much more than what you think and your mate won't be able to resist it. Rejection is only a small part of it especially since you weren't mated. Mark my words, he will come looking for you and sometimes it won't just be him. His wolf will fight him" she straightens, dropping her hands "And when that time comes, I will be here waiting for him. I want to see if he's in his right mind. No sane man will dare reject my daughter"

"Sorry Soph, but I'm with her this time"

I get up, dusting grass and soil off my jeans "Do whatever the fuck you want. Just leave me out of it. I've rejected him and I'm going to move on"

"How? Do you have another man? Is that the reason you're so unbothered?"

"You know what? That isn't a bad idea" I can find someone else and fuck both men out of my system. There's no doubt that Fred will be forgotten since he never touched me but him? He set the bar too high. My expectations have become unrealistic. It's been so long but I remember everything about that day. The taste of his lips, the way his tongue battled mine, his touch, sometimes gentle, sometimes desperate. As if he wanted to memorize every part of me. The way he pushed inside me... Goddess. I want to forget that day. If I can do that, I will be fine "Get up. We're going out tonight"

"We are? Where?"

"Not you, mom. Just me and Reagan" I know she wouldn't mind watching me make out with a stranger but that's the last thing I'll ever do. Luckily, LC never brought her men home. And I promised myself not to do it either. Even if it was my mate. Also, I'd never have sex with someone while my mother was in the vicinity. That's just gross.

"But I want to come along. This was my idea, wasn't it?"

"No offense but go out with people your age"

"That's offensive. I could pass off as your sister"

"Still not bringing you along"

"Are you sure this is a good idea? We could eat ice cream and binge-watch our favorite shows. We don't have to go out"

I want to. Getting drunk and fucking a stranger is exactly what I need right now. I'll probably regret it tomorrow or maybe, it'll turn out to be the best decision I ever made. Reagan takes hours to get ready. She's meticulous when it comes to her makeup and hair. Even her nails. Everything has to blend well with her outfit. It's the reason she needs more than two hours to get ready. I, on the other hand, need that much time to decide what to wear. We complement each other like that. Eventually, I settle on a red latex dress that ends a few inches below my butt. Half my boobs are almost spilling out and I think the message is clear. Take me home and fuck me six ways to Sunday.

"Soph?" Reagan calls from downstairs "What's taking you so long?" Once she's done, she turns into the biggest nag to ever exist. I quickly spray some perfume and then shoot out of my bedroom before she starts her nagging.

"What does this dress say?" I ask stopping at the bottom of the stairs.

"You're LC's daughter and she definitely passed her genes down to you. I mean that as a compliment"

"Thank you. You look hot too" she's in a green, backless halter with a deep V-neck and a side slit. Her brunette hair falls in thick waves down her back. I've always envied her smaller frame. She is just the right size. Not too big, not too small. I, on the other hand, thanks to LC's genes, my hips are wide and my breasts too big. Growing up, I knew I'd end up taking after her and I hated it. I wanted to be tall and slim. Until I met him. The filthy words he whispered in my ears still make my body react. Thanks to him, I started appreciating myself. If I'm lucky, I'll meet someone who can erase him from my mind.

"Course I do" Reagan's voice pulls me back to the present "I didn't spend that much time to look average. Let's go baby. I called a woober" a few years ago, someone decided to start a woober company. Which is much like the Ubers humans use but this one only operates on werewolf land. At first, people were skeptical about it because most wolves don't need cars to travel when your beast can run twice as fast. But it grew on everyone. With time, people started to see the benefits of a woober. Exhibit A; take us for example. We can't shift after spending so much time getting ready and we won't be able to drive back since we'll be hammered. Assuming we'll come back. Having someone to drive us back is ideal. After all, the ability to heal doesn't make us immortal.

As we walk across the pack, to the entrance, people stop to stare. Lenny, one of Nova's friends, whistles "Damn ladies. Y'all looking fine as hell"

"Careful dumbass. These roses have thorns. Sharp, prickly thorns"

He snorts "Don't I know it? Although, I wouldn't mind getting pricked a few times today"

"Fuck off"

"Yes ma'am"

It's my turn to snort "Please don't bring that attitude with you to the club. We're going to pick up guys. Not scare them away"

"Noted, your highness"

"I'm serious Reags" she has this certain attitude towards men that puts them off. Nova once told her that she acts like a goddess and every man is beneath her. I couldn't agree more. Reagan could rave about hot guys all day long but if one approaches her, he gets the cold shoulder. Because she doesn't know how to flirt or make small talk with men. I've tried teaching her how to do it but it's a lost cause.

"Me too. There's our woober guy" we get in the car and the guy drives us to Cipher. It's twenty minutes away from the pack and the best place to hook up. I'm too anxious to talk. Thinking of all the ways this night could end. Of all the things that could happen, seeing him the moment we pull up outside the club was the last thing on my mind.

"Kaden?" I whisper. He looks right at the car we're in, and I hold my breath, afraid that if I move, he'll disappear into thin air. Am I dreaming? Is this real?

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