SECOND CHANCE

Erica's POV

"Mom, you're a warrior here too?" I ask excitedly.

"Yes, my child. Alpha Arthur is like a blessing for me and your dad. He has given us more in these two years than the fifty years of the kingdom." She replies looking happy.

"I am glad that you are still enjoying your dream. Also, Dad is looking happier to be here." I remark handing her a sword.

"Hmmm, that's right. I have never seen James this much happy when we were at the kingdom. Maybe because of his status as the omega which used to get him in trouble with the royals, especially Catherine. But now he can be free to do anything without anyone questioning him about his status." She says looking fondly at Dad who is watering some plants while talking to some teen wolves.

"I wish I can do something for omegas who are still getting neglected by their packs." I let out with a sigh.

"Don't be upset. Whatever happens, is for some reason. So believe in yourself and remember that one day you will be able to do everything you want." She assures me before putting the swords on their cases.

"Mom, why does this pack have so many weapons?" I ask.

"There are some crazy hunters who try to capture werewolves and then sell them to the scientists to get examined. So, Alpha thinks that we need to keep modern weapons with us to fight the hunters. Also, there is a rumor going around that the council has put a bounty on this pack so we need to be more careful, hence the collection of weapons." She says with a deep scowl on her face.

"Umm, I think I should have told you about this before." I let out looking at her with teary eyes feeling guilty for putting this pack in more danger.

"What's wrong, baby? Why are you crying so suddenly?" She asks taking my hands in her own.

"Mom, it's not a rumor that the council has put a bounty on this pack because it's for real. Earlier before the attack, Catherine ordered me to sign some papers and there I got to know about this pack as well as the case of bounty. Now, after my abduction, I am sure the Royals will try to do anything to harm this pack. I always mess up the good thing around me. I should have died instead of Jacob so no one had to suffer because of me." I let out while tears continuously fall from my eyes.

"Look at me, Erica." She says sternly making me look at her eyes which are full of disgust but I know that the disgust is not for me, it's for those who have made me so weak internally.

"You are not the reason behind any turmoil. Hell, you are not even an inch close to be the reason for anything bad. Like I have told you before, I am saying it again. It's the Royals who are at fault and also the council who are the puppet of the Royals. They have been abusing the weaks for so many years that now the time has come when they need to be punished and you will be the one to punish them." She says confidently.

"But how will I be able to do that?" I ask brokenly.

"By training hard, by becoming the old Erica who didn't fear anyone or anything." She answers wiping my tears.

"I don't know if I will be able to fo that." I murmur looking down.

"You will for sure." She says kissing me on the forehead.

"Okay, it's enough sad talking for today. Now you go and help your Dad." She says while shooing me away with her hand making me smile.

I walk towards where Dad is standing and stand beside me. He looks at me with a smile before introducing me to the group of girls and boys whom I get to know hold the same status as Dad, omega. But there are not any single trace of sadness in them and all of them have big smiles on their faces.

They insist that I spend some time with them and who I am to say no to them. So, we bid goodbye to Dad and walk towards the backyard where some of the pups are playing while their moms are busy talking among themselves. I sit on the grass beside the teenagers and listen to their rants about schools, training and many more things.

"You are so pretty, luna queen." One of the girls remarks while the other nod their heads.

"Thank you for your compliment. You all are pretty too." I reply making all of them squeal loudly.

"Did you hear, Tom? Luna queen thinks I am pretty." Tina, an adorable chubby girl says looking at whom I get to know as her twin brother.

"I know sissy. I already told you that you are more pretty than Madeline." Tom answers pinching his sister's cheek who giggle loudly.

"But many don't think of us as pretty or handsome." A boy named Parker remarks looking sad.

"Who are you talking about?" I ask.

"Them." He replies while pointing towards a group of boys who looks like they are warriors of this pack.

"Are you talking about someone specific out of them?" I ask in which his face turns red.

"He is talking about Alexander in short Alex. He has a crush on that dude for a quite long time but doesn't have the guts to talk to him." Nora remarks making Parker blush harder.

"It's okay to have a crush on someone but letting them make you believe less in yourself is not right. Also, you will have a mate after turning 18 so try not to indulge in someone who doesn't make you feel better." I tell Parker who nods his head.

"You are right, my mom says the same thing. But something about him keeps calling out to me." Poor fella looks so unsure of himself.

"It's alright, everything will be solved on duo time," I tell him.

Just then some pups run towards us and start pleading for me to play with them. Someone who is not in their right sense will say no to these cuties so I bid goodbye to the group of omegas and walk away with the pups who are looking super happy to be with me.

I have never felt this happy in the Royal Moon Pack. Although I am born there and live so many years with the people of there. But there seems to be always a negative energy on around the castle which does not let anyone live freely. I thought I would be able to change many things with the help of my mate. Yet, I didn't even get the chance to do a simple thing.

I think I am so engrossed in playing with the pups that I don't even feel the new presence within us. However, a simple word has me stop playing and turn my head towards the voice or should I say the person who calls me his 'mate'.

"Mate, our new mate." Audrey yells happily in my mind while I can't believe her at all although the smell of earth and pine saying different things.

The man who is like a giant compare to me takes long strides and before I know it, he has his head buried in my neck. On the other hand, I stay still clearly in shock not understanding what's going on. So, I do one thing that comes to my mind and that is to push the unknown male away.

"Why did you do that?" Audrey growls in my mind but I don't answer her. Instead, look at the guy who is now sporting a hurtful look.

"Aren't you happy to meet me, mate?" The big guy asks trying to come closer to me but I hold my hand in front of him.

"Don't come any closer and what nonsense are you talking about. I am not your mate, I can't be your mate." I scream while my wolf trying hard to take over.

"I am not talking any nonsense and yes, you are my mate." He replies confidently but I shake my head in denial. I look around and notice that many pack members are looking at us.

"Alpha, you should go to your room and take some rest." Nicole says walking toward us making me take a step back.

Alpha? Does that mean he is Arthur Bianchi who has given shelter to my parents?

"I am not going anywhere till I talk to her and get proper answers as to why she is not accepting the bond." Alpha Arthur remarks in a deep voice indicating that his wolf can take control at any time.

"It's not time for argument, Arthur. Can't you see how scared she is looking? Also, before you go all alpha on her you need to know who she is." Nicole snaps.

"I don't care who she is because for me, she is my mate first and then anything else." I break down in tears not believing that fate is playing such cruel game with me.

"She is our daughter and also the luna queen." I hear Mom's voice so I look up to see that she and dad is walking towards us. I wipe my tears with the back of my hand before rushing to my Dad and wrap my arms around him wanting to feel safe.

A thunderous growl breaks out in the backyard which makes every wolf out there bow their head down except me. So, I know who it is but still, I don't leave my Dad's side. Instead, my hold on his gets much stronger.

"So, you are saying the girl in the photograph that you showed me is the same person as my mate?" Alpha Arthur asks angrily.

"Yes, alpha." Mom replies.

"Fuck." That's all Alpha Arthur says before turning into a majestic black wolf and dash out of there.

"Is mate angry with us?" Audrey whimper.

"He is not our mate. Our mate was Jacob and he died." I reply trying to control the anxiety that is bubbling inside me. I cut off the mind link with my wolf not wanting to hear her whimpering which only makes me feel more terrible.

"All of you get inside and don't let anyone know what you just saw or you have to face consequence." Nicole says making everyone except mom and dad leave from there.

Arthur's POV:-

I can't believe after so many years, I have finally found my mate. But her being the luna queen is not making any sense to me. I run in my wolf form through the vast forest not thinking where I am going. I just know that I need to be alone for some time or my brain will burst with every damn thing.

"What are we going to do now, Duncan?" I ask stopping in front of a pond to drink some water.

"What's there to do? We have finally found our mate after so many years so we will not let her go away from us." He replies casually.

"Did you not see how scared she was to see us? She didn't even accept that we are her mate, then how we are supposed to keep her with us. We can't just force her to do something she doesn't want." I let out.

"So, you're suggesting that we let her go? Are you fucking kidding me, you stupid human?" He growls out.

"I am not saying that we will let her go, I simply said that we can't force her to accept us. We have to keep in mind that what James and Jasmine told us about our mate, their daughter. I have a feeling that our mate has suffered more than we know so we can't be reckless. First, try to earn her trust, and then we will think about anything else." I ponder for some time and then realize that he is correct. I have seen the way our mate's eyes showed fear the first time we went near her. I don't want that, I want her to be comfortable with me but to do that I have to be patient.

"Now, that you have cool down let's go back to our mate." He suggests in which I nod my head.

I run at my full speed and in a few minutes I reach the packhouse. After changing into my human form, I wear a short which is hidden in a tree before walking inside the house. I am tempted to go directly to my mate but I hold myself and walk towards my bedroom. After taking a warm shower, I wear a t-shirt and sweatpants before deciding to go downstairs to face my mate.

Upon arriving in the kitchen because I am hella hungry for some meat and thankfully I find James in there. He smiles at me and hands me a plate of juicy steak making my mouth water while the old man laugh. I glare at him playfully and start eating the food.

"Erica is in her room." He informs making me look at him weirdly.

"Dumbass! He is talking about our mate." Duncan remarks making my eyes widen before I look at James who has an amusing expression on his face as if he is finding the situation funny.

"Sorry, for a second I didn't understand whom you are talking about." I reply gulping down the bite.

"It's alright, Alpha. But I have something to tell you." James says looking a little scared.

"Why are you looking so scared? Did something happen when I wasn't here?" I ask.

"No, it's not about the pack. It's about my daughter, the luna queen but mostly about your mate Erica." He replies making me grip the fork tightly.

"What about her?" I ask.

"I am sure you know by now that you are her second chance mate. It's very rare to find someone who gets another chance to have a new mate, but I think my daughter is an exceptional one. However, she is not in a state to accept the bond because of her past. So, I am requesting you to give her some time to adjust to the new atmosphere first then you can do as you want. I am sorry if I said a lot but as a father, I just want to ensure the betterment of my only daughter." He says looking close to tears to ease his tension I give him a gentle smile.

"Don't worry, James. I am not going to pressure my mate to accept anything she doesn't want. Yes, it hurt when she refused the bond but then both me and my wolf realized that she must be confused or scared with the new information. So, we have decided to gain her trust first and then the rest." I ensure petting him on the shoulder making him release a sigh of relief.

"Thank you so much, Alpha." He lets out with a smile.

Shortly I bid him goodbye and go in search of my mate who is in her bedroom. While standing in front of her door, I take a deep breathe and instantly my nostrils filled with the amazing smell of rose and chocolate which belongs to my mate. I have to control my urges to walk inside and mark her as mine because she is not ready for it. So, I take another breath and then knock on the door.

After some time the door gets opened by Jasmine, my mate's mother who gives me an apologetic smile but I shake my head assuring her that everything is alright. She let me walk inside the room yet I don't see the person whom I have come to meet.

"Erica is hiding in the closet." Jasmine informs making me chuckle.

"Am I that scary to even look at that my mate is hiding from me?" I joke walking towards the closet.

"Alpha, I don't think it's a good idea to meet her right now." I halt in my movement and turn around to face my mate's mother who is looking guilty for stopping me.

"Jasmine, I know you're scared for your daughter whom you have met after so long. But also remember that I am her mate. It doesn't matter if it's a second chance or a first chance. The most important thing is that I want to get to know her and to do that, I have to talk to her." I tell the anxious shewolf.

"I believe you but as a mother, I can't shake the feeling of worry." She replies.

"I understand your fear but don't worry, your daughter is fully safe with me." I let out while she gives me an unsure smile.

Soon enough she leaves the room and I walk towards the closet. Now, it is time to talk to my precious mate who is like a little toddler hiding from her punishment. But she hasn't done anything wrong so there won't be any punishment, instead there will be a lot of love and praise for her.

I don't exactly know what happened to her in the Royal Castle but I will go to the depth of every little thing. Because I have a feeling that there are a lot for me to know and when I know, I will not leave a single person who is the reason behind my mate's pain and suffering.