SECOND CHANCE MATE

CHAPTER TWO.

Elena's POV

I didn't know where Ivana was taking us, but I was happy she took me out of that pack, stopping me from breaking down and facing more embarrassment.

I loved him.  

I was happy to be his mate.  

I forgave him.  

After all he did, I let it go and forgave him. But still, he chose to betray me once more. I was a coward to think it was all a mistake because I was blinded by my love and desire for him when the whole truth was before me, but I chose to be ignorant.

All my life, I had always chosen to be ignorant of things around me, thinking more about other people than myself. At the end of the day, it was still me who got hurt, left all alone to nurse my wounds.

But no, I refused to be that girl. I refused to be that stupid, kindhearted Elena anymore. I stopped being her the moment I stepped out of that pack, and now I was free to start my life afresh, away from my painful past.

Low-hanging branches slapped at Ivana's face and shoulders. I was certain they'd leave a few marks on her body, but none of them would compare to our bruised hearts.

We kept running and finally came to a halt by a cliff. Ivana returned to her human form. I was already tired and exhausted from the almost endless run. Looking around my new surroundings, it seemed I had reached a point of no return.

But I didn't care, as long as I was far away from anything related to the Silver River pack. Regaining more strength, I sprang to my feet and began my unknown journey.

The moon was high, a sliver of light barely breaking through the canopy overhead when I paused and leaned against a thick tree trunk to catch my breath. My chest burned as though my lungs were on fire, and my muscles were shaky and weak. Taking in heavy breaths, I managed to calm myself, and in the next minute, I was back on my trail.

Yes, I was lost. But I didn't want to feel the devastation of losing to everything around me. So I continued walking, although my feet were sore in my shoes, and the pain bore into me with every step I took. Still, I chose to ignore it and carry on. I needed to find a good spot to rest for the night.

The farther I walked, the more my vision tunneled and the woozier I felt. When the ground ahead of me dipped downward sharply, I wasn't prepared for it. My steps faltered, and I stumbled, falling forward. I flailed, arms thrashing out to my sides for anything I could grab to keep me from hitting the ground.

But the trees seemed to have grown further apart, and I had nothing to hold on to.

I tumbled down the side of a ravine, a pained grunt forcing its way out of my lungs as my body rolled over the rough rocks and dirt.

When I came to a stop at the bottom of the ravine, darkness overtook me, and I blacked out.

_____

It still seemed dark when my eyes slowly opened again.

My mind was only half-alert. I had no idea how much time had passed since I blacked out. It could have been minutes or probably hours.

I couldn't seem to move my limbs. I was lying on my stomach. Just as I tried to sit up, I noticed the strange environment I was in.

A bright light in the ceiling a bit farther away from where I was laid. Peering my eyes around, I tried to take in the features around me. I could see a makeshift closet and a few pieces of furniture. Turning my head, I realized I was on a bed... wait, where was I?

Was I in the Silver River pack?  

No, but how did they find me? How come? Why did they bring me back here? To punish me and humiliate me more than they had already done?

No! I wouldn't let them have their way this time. I wouldn't let their worthless Alpha and that slut Lisa ridicule me. I'd rather die than watch them do so.

Escape! Yes, that's what I was going to do. I tried to sit up, but my whole body screamed at me not to move. It felt like every part of my body was bruised, but I didn't care about that now. I had to leave before these people did their worst to me.

A low grunt left my lips as I forced myself up. Carefully, I placed my feet on the floor. It was cold as hell. I scanned the room, and my eyes glistened as I found a pair of ragged flip-flops. They didn't look so good, but they'd do.

With everything in me, I took careful, slow steps to pick up the flip-flops. Just when I had approached the area where they were laid, the door opened, and an old lady walked in.

I flinched and fell to the floor.

The old lady had a tray with a bowl on it in her hand. She dropped the tray on a table and rushed to my side.

"Careful, you're hurt," she told me as she tried to lift my arm carefully. I hissed and swatted her hands away from me.

She was certainly one of them, probably one of Logan's workers. I didn't trust any of them anymore.

"Let me go!" I screamed, but my voice only came out as a mere whisper.

"Oh my, my dear, calm down. I know you're scared, but let me help you."

"No, leave me alone, and tell your Alpha, tell that pig Logan, I'm not his toy. I won't let him humiliate or ridicule me. I don't want to be here, so why did you bring me here? Let me go, please," I begged. The old lady tilted her head to one side and shook it in pity.

Her aura was quite confusing. I was expecting a couple of Logan's guards to come in here or for that betrayer Lisa to show her face, but I hadn't seen or heard of any of them. Maybe this lady was hired to keep me imprisoned against my will!

"Please, let me help you, dear," she pleaded. She seemed quite a good actor, feigning innocence like she wanted to help me.

How much did they pay you, huh?

"Why am I here?" I asked as anger surged through me.

"I found you by a ravine, my dear. You didn't look so good. I thought you had died until I felt your pulse. You looked helpless and sore, so I decided to help you, child," she stated, but still, I wouldn't believe her.

Such a good actor.

It sounded too good to be true!

"Tell your Alpha to let me go, you hear me!"

Her brows furrowed like she didn't understand what I was saying. Yeah, right, I knew better now.

"What do you mean, Alpha? Look, you don't need to be worried, okay? Alpha Liam isn't a bad person. I promise," her words cut through me, and I was left in surprise.

Liam?

"Who's Liam?" I heard myself ask.

"The Alpha of the Red Knight pack," she replied, staring at me with pitying eyes.

Alpha? Red Knight pack?

Am I...

"You're in the Red Knight pack, my dear," she clarified, and I went still.

I was in another pack, so I was kind of safe after all. Away from Logan and Lisa, yes! Thank you, Moon Goddess, for not letting me fall back into the hands of those betrayers.

Without another complaint, I let the lady lift me up, and she took me back to the bed that seemed too comfy.

"Here, I brought you some food. Eat and gain some strength," she told me. I didn't reply, but I nodded instead.

With that, she exited the room, leaving me to eat alone.

Even though I was supposed to feel safe here, I didn't know why a part of me felt secure.

Nevertheless, I'd prepare myself for whatever might come.

_____

"I never want to have a mate again, ever," I said, almost on the verge of tears.

"Well, you can't tell. You see, the Moon Goddess knows what's best for us. Sometimes, when there's a twist of fate with mates, the broken mate is compensated with a new one, sometimes better than the first mate," Beatrice explained.

It's been a week since Beatrice took me into her pack and began taking care of me. I owe a little of my life to her. She's such a lifesaver and a good person too.

I've healed, although the marks are still quite visible, but I'm not in pain thanks to her treatments. Although I haven't gotten out of the room to view my outside surroundings yet, she assured me she'd show me some places once I'm fully recovered.

I told her my ordeal.

How I wanted to be celibate until my mating ceremony with Logan, how he came to me pleading that night he was with Lisa, and I let him have his way with me as he claimed what happened between Lisa and him was a mistake. And also how I was rejected by my fated mate at our mating ceremony, and how my very own cousin was accepted and chosen instead.

We had become close, and I was beginning to like her more than I did before.

Today, we were to go to the market, but first, she said there was someone she wanted me to meet.

Once she left the room to get herself a drink, I tried to reach out to Ivana. She had been calm and quiet since Logan's rejection. It really hurt her, and she was more broken and hurt than I was.

'Ivana? Ivana, are you there?' I called, and she responded after a short second.

'Yeah...' a blunt reply.

'I'm sorry, Ivana. I let us down. 

'I'm sorry, Ivana. I let us down. I let him hurt us again,' I apologized, feeling a lump form in my throat.

'It's not your fault, Elena. You loved him, and you believed in him. That's not something to be ashamed of,' Ivana reassured me, her voice soft but tinged with sadness.

'But it cost us everything,' I argued.

'Maybe it did. But we can't change the past. We can only move forward and become stronger,' she replied, her resolve strengthening my own.

Beatrice returned with a gentle smile on her face, breaking the moment of introspection. "Ready to go?" she asked.

I nodded and stood up, slipping on the flip-flops. They were still uncomfortable, but they were better than nothing. Beatrice led me out of the room, and for the first time in a week, I stepped outside.

 We walked through the pack grounds, and I noticed how different everything was compared to the Silver River pack. People were smiling, chatting, and going about their day without a care in the world. It was almost surreal.

As we approached the market, I felt a mixture of anxiety and curiosity. I hadn't been around so many people in what felt like forever. Beatrice must have sensed my discomfort because she gently squeezed my hand.

"You're safe here, Elena. No one will hurt you," she said, her voice soothing.

I nodded, taking a deep breath to steady myself. We moved through the market, and I was surprised by the variety of goods available. Fresh fruits, handmade crafts, and even clothes were being sold. It was lively and bustling. 

We were soon done with shopping and made our way back to the pack house. Immediately I got there and we were done arranging everything we bought; I jumped on to the bed, I was super exhausted.

"There's someone I want you to meet," Beatrice said, arranging my desk, making way for some skincare products. 

"Who?” I asked. "You will see. I'll be right back in a minute” She said and stepped out of the room. 

I didn't know what she was up to, but now I had the room to myself and I could rest peacefully, but I was wrong. When she said a minute, I didn't think she'd really mean that. 

The door opened up again and then a man stepped in. 

He was tall and had a strong presence, even from behind. When he turned around, I felt my heart skip a beat. He had piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through me and an air of authority that was hard to ignore.

He had a dominating aura, scary and intoxicating. But in all, he was so handsome. 

The man's gaze shifted to mine and he stared at me with a weird look. I didn't understand why he was staring at me like that tillI Ivana revealed why.

'Mate? He's our mate! Mate!' she squealed. I stared at the man who stood right before me astounded.

My mate?!

But how could this be?

There was no way I'd have two mates!. As a matter of fact, I was rejected by my fated mate, so I have to stay unmated for life. So how is this happening?

'Mate! Go to Mate! His wolf has acknowledged us!' Ivana prowls in excitement. Judging by how sad she was before and now suddenly excited amazes me.

No matter what I won't let myself be used by this man, whether he's my mate or not I don't care!.