Chapter 1: Unwanted and Rejected

“I really wanted to see Jace right now,” my best friend Megan said as we were waiting for her older brother, our soon-to-be Beta, to come and fetch us. We will be graduating today. That’s why we’re in our pack house.

“Megan, Jace wanted to wait until his party to see you. This is his twentieth birthday, and he will know who his mate is,” I replied, trying to soothe her. “I called him this morning, and he plans to stay in his room until the party so he doesn’t come in contact with any she-wolves.”

“I know, Carrie. I just feel it in my heart that he is my mate. I love him so much!”

“I know you do. No matter what happens, I will be by your side,” I said, secretly rolling my eyes at her.

Megan knew the possibility of her becoming Jace’s mate would be futile, but she didn’t consider it, no matter how many times I tried to reason with her. She should consider the fact that she might not be Jace’s mate.

“Don’t worry, Carrie. We have been in love since freshman year. I think the Goddess brought us together.”

“Okay, Megan, let’s just concentrate on the graduation. Let’s do our hair and makeup so we’re not late. Okay?”

We had just said goodbye to our parents, and I was dragging Megan, trying to navigate the sea of bodies to get to the parking lot. I couldn’t wait to get to my car and be done for graduation today. I wanted a long rest after.

After graduation, we met Megan’s older brother outside the auditorium.

“Carrie!” I looked around and saw Jackson waving at me as he ran over. He would be Jace’s Beta when he took over as Alpha.

“Hi Jackson! What’s up?”

“Are you coming to the river? It’s going to be a great party.” He smiled.

“I wouldn’t miss it! But I promised Megan I would stay with her until she found out if they are mates.” All of our friends knew that Jace and Megan were counting on being mates.

“Yeah, everyone is waiting until after the mating to go.”

“Come on, Carrie! I want to get ready for the party!” Megan was getting impatient as I laughed, “Sorry, we gotta go. I’ll see you later.”

We jumped in her car to head to the pack house.

After a few minutes, Megan dropped a bomb.

“You know he has a crush on you,” Megan smirked.

“He does not!” I protested. There’s no way! Jackson is an embodiment of what we call Playboy! He’s a certified panty-ripper.

“Yes, he does. The only reason he came to graduation was to see you. Jace told me yesterday.” she giggled.

“Shut up. We’re here,” I said and parked the car.

We got out of the car and headed into the pack house.

“I’m hungry. Why don’t you head up to my room, and I’ll grab something real quick,” I said.

“Alright,” Megan said before running up the stairs.

I laughed at her enthusiasm and headed to the kitchen. As I looked for food, I found some leftover meatloaf and decided to make a sandwich.

“Is there enough for two?”

I was startled, and when I turned around, It was Jace. I was probably too concentrated on making a sandwich that I didn’t sense his presence.

“Alpha, I didn’t hear you come in.”

He chuckled, “That’s not good for someone to sneak up on a wolf.”

“Sorry, I’ve got so much on my mind with Jace and Megan’s situation.”

The Alpha stopped, looked at me, and then nodded.

“What if you are his mate?”

“That’s not likely. I’m the daughter of a pack doctor. It is more likely that it will be an Alpha or Beta female. Since Megan is a Beta, I’m sure it will be her.”

“You are still a ranked female. Pack doctors are Gammas.”

“But I don’t want to be a doctor, Alpha,” I said, smiling at him.

“Nevertheless, Carrie. You have a gamma bloodline, which makes you a ranked female wolf, too,” Alpha replied after winking and leaving with the sandwich with him.

“Hey! That was mine!” I could hear his laugh down the hall. I sighed, made another sandwich, and headed upstairs.

“What took you so long? The party starts in an hour!” Megan was running around the room.

I took her sandwich and sat down on her bed. “Would you chill? We have plenty of time. Besides, I don’t function without food.”

Later that night, the party was in full swing. Females surrounded the future Alpha Jace, touching him, hoping they were his mate, only to walk away disappointed.

Megan and I sat in the back corner of the lawn to watch. She was getting more excited as each girl walked away.

“Why don’t you just go over to him?” I ask her, getting dizzy with her jumping all around.

“No way, Carrie! Jace and I agreed. I would be last if he didn’t find his mate. We will meet in private before we touch,” she replied.

“So you’re saying you rushed me to get dressed only to sit in the corner?” I playfully glared at her.

Megan laughed.

“Since our night will be in a corner, I’m going to get something to drink. Do you want anything?”

“Whatever you’re having will be fine,” Megan replied.

I got it. Megan was a nervous wreck.

“What happened?!” I asked as I handed her a drink, and she downed it in two gulps.

“See that girl. She’s holding his hand and they’ve been talking since you left! Oh My God! What am I going to do?!” Her big blue eyes were glassy with tears.

“Calm down! Look, she just walked away,” I said. There was only one girl left. Soon, she left, too.

Jace looked across the lawn to Megan. He smiled and walked into the pack house after.

“Okay, this is it.” Megan’s voice was shaky.

She got up and walked to the pack house.

“Okay, and good luck. Guess I’ll have another drink just in case,” I said, walking over to the bar and sitting down.

“Large vodka straight.” I took two gulps of the burning liquid before Jace called me.

Come to the office and hurry!

I ran into the pack house and almost fell, damn heels, rounding the corner to the Alpha’s office. I burst into the room and saw Megan on the floor sobbing with her head on her knees. Jace was sitting next to her, looking shell-shocked. I ran to her and pulled her in my arms. I looked at Jace, and he shook his head. “We’re not mates.”

Then he lowered his head.

“What am I gonna do? I love her so much,” Jace said as I reached over to comfort him and jumped when I felt the sparks and tingle.

Jace’s head snapped up, and we both said, “MATE.”

Jason was pacing the room, and I just sat with my mouth hanging open in an O.

This can’t be! Jace is my mate? But Megan loves him, and he is also to her.

“Carrie, I know you are my mate, but I love Megan. I can’t reject you, or the pack will know. You will have to move away. When the bond has broken, I will mark and mate with her. We will go back out and call everyone to announce the Mating. That will give you a chance to leave.”

“T-the bond will not be broken if you’re not going to reject me, Jace,” I said, although my wolf has been fighting to take charge and claim our mate despite not wanting us. “If you’re going to banish me, I will become a rogue!”

“No, Carrie. I don’t love you. I love Megan,” Jace said as he held Megan closer to him.

“B-but we’re mates,” I said, almost whispering as my tears threatened to fall. “Y-you don’t want me!?”

Megan moved closer and took my hand. She wiped the tears from my face that I didn’t even realize were falling.

“I love you, Carrie. Please let Jace go. We love each other so much,” Megan pleaded.

My voice would not work. I was standing there.

“Please,” I looked at Jace. “We are true mates, Jace. A-are you choosing Megan over me?”

Jace seemed to make up his mind because what followed were the most painful words I had ever expected to befall me.

“I, Jace Seraphim, rejected you, Carrie Marie Mikaeli, as my mate,” he said.

My wolf howled in sadness as I felt half my soul was ripped away from me.

I got up and walked away. I couldn’t stand seeing my mate and best friend’s pity stare at me. My heart shattered. And my wolf howled in sadness.

Our mate doesn’t want us!