Chapter 1

Past

I was 19 years old when I met him. I had just taken over the pack not too long ago, and I was still learning the ropes. I was a young, hot-blooded lady ready to work.

I was having a bad day already. I got scolded by my dad about something, and it made my mood plummet. I didn't like disappointing my dad, hence the reason I was angry.

And at the time, my twin and my best friends were not around to cheer me on. They were in school, having opted to go to the university close to us. But I decided I was going to take online classes. I barely had time for myself, and I wasn't going to add physical classes to it…

I needed to punch something, so I decided to hit the gym to cool off. I packed my gym bags and changed into my gym clothes. As I got to the training center, I saw some groups of teenagers training in the wide compound, and I smiled. Some years back, my mother made self-defense classes compulsory, and I must say, it has been helpful.

"Alpha." The people greeted me as soon as they saw me. 

"Carry on." I said as I stood in front of them, and they returned to what they were learning. Their trainers shouted out instructions, and I watched them with hawk eyes, trying to spot any mistakes. "Rowland, your posture is not correct. And your jabs are too sloppy and slow. They are not deadly enough." I called out to one of the pale, brown-eyed boys.

"Yes Alpha." I went to him and corrected his posture and taught him how to hit correctly. I stayed behind and trained with them for a bit to show them some moves. When I was through, they were all slumped down on the floor, sweat coming out in bucketfuls from their faces. But they were all smiling, and it made me happy too.

I looked at my wristwatch and noticed 30 minutes had already passed. "I'll have to go now." I said to the youngsters.

"Thank you, Alpha." They chorused, clapping and hooting as I left. I smiled, feeling pretty satisfied. I went inside and went straight to the boxing area. I was feeling more energized and couldn't wait to get my hands on the bag.

I set my gym bag on the floor and brought out my boxing gloves, while I removed my watch and kept it carefully between my towel. I could die if anything happened to the watch. It was a present from my dad upon my taking over the alpha position.

He had had it customized with my name, and our family picture was in the background. I always cherish the watch, and I wear it everyday and everywhere. I wore my boxing gloves and went to the punching bag.

I held it in my hands to steady it before I released it. I started punching it with great vigor, loving the bittersweet pain that it gave me. This continued on for some minutes before I decided to take a break. I removed my boxing gloves and sat back on the bench that was there, but even that was uncomfortable. 

I brought out the bottle of water I had packed and opened it, drinking its contents greedily. I heard light steps coming towards me, and from the scent, I could tell who it was. "What is your fat arse doing here?"

"To train, obviously, or do I have to spell it out for you?" Liam replied sarcastically. He dropped his gym bag beside mine and moved closer to me.

"I know that; it is pretty obvious. But why are you coming to train? Didn't you just come from school?"

"I know, but I was bored. There was no one at home. Luckily, I met Jake (his brother) at home, and he said you would be here. So I came here; the gym bag is just an excuse." He said, eyeing the bag on the floor. "And is that how you greet your best friend? I literally drove 30 miles to see you." He said feigning anger.

I stood up and came closer to him, hugging him when he was within my reach. I pressed him close to me, making sure to rub all my scent on him.

"Oh no, Jaz!" He shrieked as he tried to escape my hold, but I only tightened my hold on him. "Stop rubbing your sweaty body on me." But I continued hugging him, even going on to plant a sloppy, wet kiss on his forehead.

"My best friend." I said in an exaggerated way. "I have missed you so much. The pack has been boring without you. How can I continue to live without you?" I wailed.

But he managed to escape my chokehold, and he wasn't smiling. "Eww Jaz." He swiped at his forehead, trying to clean away the kiss. "I hate you so much."

I snorted, "you wished you did." He sat down for a while, and we talked a bit. When he began to tell me of his adventures in school, I couldn't help but feel jealous. I will never get to experience it.

Whatever. I tried to shake the thought from my mind and focus on what I was doing. I put on my boxing gloves and got back to the bag. This time, Jason was my trainer.

"One! One, two, jab. One, two! One, two, right hook. Jab!" He bellowed, and I punched the bag in response to his command. We took turns training each other before we decided to call it a day.

Sweat was already dripping from my scalp to my face, and I wanted nothing more than to soak in a bath. We gathered our bags and were leaving when my wolf started getting excited.

Maya, as my wolf was called, is not one to get easily excited. She is reserved and calm, quite the opposite of me; she was content with just sitting in her place and watching, and she would rather spend her day sleeping. But we have really good dynamics. She was like an older sister I had never had. Anyway, back to the present. Maya stirred and got up.

"Maya?" I called, as I found her behavior strange, but she didn't respond. But she kept on standing, quite on edge, and it was affecting me.

"Umph." I groan as someone hits me. Their hands held unto mine to steady me, and I looked up only to gaze at the prettiest set of eyes I have ever seen. It was mesmerizing, and it was luring me—or was it the sparks that were cackling between us? He was close—almost too close for comfort—and my heart couldn't take it anymore.

"Jaz?" I heard Liam call, and I got hold of myself and shook the stranger off. "What is going on?" He asked, noticing the way I was looking at the stranger. I have been known never to glance at men twice, so I can imagine his surprise.

"Let us go." I said to him even without taking my eyes off the handsome stranger. I needed to leave that environment now before I did something stupid like kiss him in front of everyone.

I pinched myself internally and closed my eyes. By the time I opened it, I was more clear headed and I could sense things better. He stretched out his hands to reach out to me, but I evaded his hand.

Taking Liam's hands, I dragged him out of the training center. I was walking as fast as I could so that I wouldn't be considered running. I needed to get away.

I got to the confines of my room and sat on the bed, the events of the day running through my mind. Shit!

"What the hell happened there, Jasmine?" Liam asked in a serious tone. For him to call me by my full name meant that he wasn't joking. But even I don't know how to reply to that.

I stood up mechanically like a robot and entered the shower, turning the heater up. I began to wash the sweat and grime from my body. I was hoping that the water would burn away my thoughts. But my mind kept flashing back to the young man that had completely invaded my thoughts.

He was handsome, but more on the cute side. His hair had clung to his face due to the wind, and I wish I had reached out to tuck it behind his ear. "No Jasmine." I scolded myself. Where were those thoughts coming from, because I refused to believe they were mine?

I came out of the bathroom, my skin a tinge of red after I had roasted myself with the water (as my mother would say).

"So are you going to tell me what happened, or do I have to start prying it out of you?" Liam asked me as I finished dressing up. "What happened there, Jaz?"

"I think I just found my mate."

Quick note: This story will be divided into two parts. The past- when she was with her first mate. And the present- with her second chance mate.

The story will start from the past so we can get the back story and eventually it would lead to the present.

Happy reading.