002..A second Chance.

"What?" 

A sharp pan seared into Isabella, licking at her veins, burning like wildfire in her blood. She hunched over, hearing Luna yell over it all.

She clutched her chest, struggling to breathe through the pain as she stared at Damian's cold eyes. He looked remorseful but resolved. His jaw clenched as he watched her writhe and in that moment, she hated him. Hated that he had caused her to feel pain. 

"Why?" She murmured, weakly. 

"I am sorry," He whispered, looking away guiltily. 

"Sorry?" She chuckled, straightening. He had caused her pain, humiliated her before everyone in the pack and he had the guts to say a flimsy "sorry" to her? What had she done to deserve such a horror from the Moon goddess? She had been good, hell all her life, for as long as she could remember, she had done her best to be good, so why?

Why, Damn it!

She would not cry. Not before the entire pack. Not when Damian had torn her down like this before them.  

"Damian," The Alpha bellowed, walking over to them, "How could you reject your mate? How dare you?!"

"Father, I-"

"What possible reason could you have to reject Isabella? She's perfect for you!" Luna cut in.

"I know," He replied, glancing at her briefly. 

"So why?!" Luna yelled, grabbing her son by his shoulders. Her hair shook everywhere as she trembled. "Isabella deserves better than this!"

Isabella tugged her bottom lip beneath her teeth and held her head high. There was no need to get worked up over things now was there? She had seen the resolve in Damian's eyes. He didn't want her. 

And honestly, she certainly didn't want him. 

"I can't be with her, father," Damian said, having the decency to look anguished. "I love someone else, and she's pregnant with my child."

Isabella's breath caught in her throat, the revelation hitting her like a dagger to the heart. Her Mate. He had someone else. Someone he loved. Someone to bear him his pups. 

A voice in her head roared, cried and clawed. Mine! He's mine! How could he do this to me?!

"What?" The Alpha bellowed.  

"Take it back!" Luna demanded. "Take back that rejection, this instant, Damian! You cannot throw away a mate bond for a reason as trivial as that! It's a rare and sacred connection."

"It's not trivial! I love her! I never asked for this mate bond. It isn't fair to be with Isabella when my heart would never be with her!" He defended. 

"Life is not always fair, Damian," His father retorted. "I will not accept this rejection. I raised you to be better than this!" 

"I accept it," Isabella spoke weakly, groaning as pain exploded in her temple. 

"Oh, my dear child,” Luna whispered, rushing to hold her arm. But the comforting touch felt like a burning furnace on her skin. Isabella winced in pain and pulled away. "You cannot be serious."

"I accept," She mumbled a little louder.  

“I'm sorry,” Damian stated and in an instant, the pain drained out of her, leaving a yearning emptiness behind. 

“There, there,” The Luna comforted. 

"Damian, you have a responsibility to your pack and your mate. We expect you to handle this situation with maturity and respect," The Alpha instructed and Damian nodded, his shoulders slumped. 

Unable to bear the pity in everyone's gazes, Isabella turned away. Her birthday was ruined. Her hopes dashed. There was nothing left to do anymore. As she struggled to move back into the hall, whispers exploded around her. A hand suddenly clamped around her arm, turning her around. 

Her eyes met Sean's blue eyes and for the first time since the whole drama, Isabella felt her shoulders sag in relief. 

“Sean,” she sobbed. 

His jaw clenched at the tears that slid down her cheeks. He brushed the droplets with his knuckles, shook his head and wrapped his arm gently around her shoulders. Without a word - not that he could speak anyway - Sean lifted her in his arms, out of the clearing and the prying eyes of everyone.

The journey down the familiar path to her room felt like an eternity, but she welcomed his presence. Burying her face deeper into his chest, his woody scent spreading through her nerves, comforting and calming her.

Inside her room, Sean closed the door behind them and placed her gently on the bed. 

“Well,” she mumbled, smiling weakly as Sean sat beside her, “On the brighter side, my birthday was a blast, literally."

He ignored her joke, arranging the blanket over her with a grim expression on his face. When he leaned over her to tuck the blanket in, his scent tickled her nose and her mouth watered.

Oh hell, what was going on with her?

"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to," Sean signed when he was satisfied with his work. And she nodded. 

 "Thank you for being here, Sean."

He brushed her hair lightly, a sad smile on his face. 

"I couldn't bear to see you hurting like this," he signed, his hands motioning and moving slowly.

Isabella shrugged. "What can I do? It's over now anyways. I never fancied Damian. No offense, but your brother is a Grade-A douchebag,”

Sean chuckled lightly, wrapped his arm around her shoulder and brought her closer to him. 

“I am sorry about what happened, Isabella.” he signed. 

“It is fine. It really is. The pain is over. I just...It hurts that this has to happen to me, you know? I never expected that it would." 

"I know it does," he signed with his free hand, then cupped her face, stroking her cheek lightly. Isabella sighed, closing her eyes at the feel of his rough coarse hands on her face. For some reason, that felt good. A little too good. 

Sean brushed his hands lightly over the corner of her lips and they parted slightly in a pant. His scent had grown stronger, filling her head, making her delirious. She purred low in her throat, wrapping her hands around his neck, bringing him closer.  

What was wrong with her? She felt… hell she didn't know what she felt. But she knew she yearned for something. Something to fill the emptiness. To warm up the cold that the rejection had left within. She needed comfort, warmth. She craved it. 

She craved Sean. 

"Sean," she panted, opening her eyes. A gasp slipped from her lips when she saw his eyes had shifted from their cerulean blue to a bright burning gold color. The air between them crackled with unspoken emotions. 

His chest rumbled, and Isabella's heart raced as Sean’s eyes drifted to her sudden lips and back up to her eyes. She watched his mouth open, watched him lick his protruding fangs and felt her thighs clench in response.

In anticipation. 

Without thinking, she covered the distance between them, pressing her lips against his. Sean reacted immediately, his hand cradled her face, cupping her neck as the kiss slid from a gentle touch of lips to something much more heated. 

Oh yes please! 

Every fiber of her jubilated as Sean moved his mouth over hers hungrily. Head bloomed within her, warning her cheeks, slowly setting her body on fire. A fire that she was certain only he could quench. 

He broke away briefly, shoved the blanket that held her down aside, and yanked her closer by the waist. His mouth met hers again, wilder, hungrier, demanding and taking all that she happily gave. She moaned, fisting his shirt, drawing him impossibly closer. 

Hell, She could not believe it. It was impossible, but it was happening. Isabella's heart fluttered with a mixture of surprise and longing as their lips moved together in a dance of emotions. Her hand found his chest and she felt the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips. 

Oh she wanted more. Wanted to feel his hands on her. Touching her intimate parts, showing her pleasure. She let out a cry of protest when Sean pulled away with a tortured groan, trying to untangle himself from her..

Isabella felt her cheeks flush with a mixture of embarrassment and wonder as she stared up at him drunkenly. She couldn't believe what had just happened, yet she knew that it had felt right, as if their souls had recognized each other.

At that moment, she knew. 

“You're…" She muttered huskily and cleared her throat, "You're my mate?"