Chapter 2

Lily POV

            Feeling like a puppy who just got kicked, I felt tears start to fill my eyes.  As I tried to say something my throat tightened up so I couldn’t say anything as I tried to contain my sob of distress.  This couldn’t be happening.  I had finally found my mate and he was committed to someone else.  And a bitch at that.

            Turning from him, he tried to grab my arm when I pulled away from him.  I couldn’t ignore the tingles I felt as he touched my arm; as my breath caught in my throat. I heard his intake of breath as well when he touched me.  But I wasn’t going to stand there and be humiliated by this man.  It was enough I had met him with excitement, to find out he was with someone else was heart breaking.  I wouldn’t stand there to be rejected.

            As I moved through the crowd, I heard him call my name.  I looked back in time to see the bitch cling to his arm as he looked at me with a confused look on his face.  I turned away not able to take any more in this moment.  I went to look for Kate.  As I saw her coming across the dancefloor to me, she pulled me into her arms. 

            We moved toward the back where there were some meeting rooms set up.  We went in and closed the door.  As we were moving in, my brother Reid, Kate’s Beta started to come in when another man I didn’t recognize held him back.  As we moved into the room, I started to cry on Kate’s shoulder telling her the story that had unfolded. 

            “Katie, I don’t know what to do.  I don’t want to hear the rejection, but I can’t live in limbo with this guy out there taking a chosen mate and marking someone else.  It will kill me, quite literally,” I say.  “Lily – you are strong, whatever happens you will make it through, I promise,” Kate says.  “He is delicious Katie, he’s got a strong jawbone, he’s built, taller than me, although that’s not a stretch, golden hair and crystal blue eyes,” I share with her. 

            “I didn’t see him very long but what I glanced at was very appealing,” Kate says.  We look at each other and both laugh.  It’s like we are describing a piece of meat rather than a man I want to spend the rest of my life with.  “What about you Kate?  Any luck finding your mate?” I ask.

            “Well, I did find him and so far, he hasn’t rejected me, so I’m taking that as a win,” we both laugh at this.  I love that Katie can laugh about her past.  She had been rejected on her 18^th birthday.  It was devastating but she came back stronger than before.  Truth be told she’s an inspiration for me.  I know what she’s overcome the past couple years to get to where she is today.

            Sitting down, we are holding each other’s hands.  “What do you want to do Lily?” Kate asks.  “I don’t know.  I know I need to talk to him, but I really can’t stand that bitch hanging off of him, smirking at me,” I say.  “I want him to be strong enough to know what he wants.  I don’t want him waffling between us.  If he feels that way, he needs to reject me and get it over with,” I say. 

            As we are sitting there talking about various scenarios, there is a soft knock on the door.  I turn to Kate assuming it’s my brother, who happened to find his mate shortly after turning 18 a few years ago.  I know he saw Kate tuck me away in here and he is likely trying to see what happened.  I love Reid, but he can’t fix this.  I will have to figure it out one way or another.  As Kate opens the door, I am shocked to see Jared standing at the door.  “Is Lily here? I would like to speak with her, please,” he says politely.

            Kate looks at me, I wipe away the tears that were left on my cheeks and stand up, nodding to Kate to let him in.  Kate mind-links me, “I’ll check in on you before I head to bed, okay?” she asks.  Nodding I agree, Kate leaves us alone and now Jared and I are looking at one another.  As we simply stare at each other, he starts to move closer to me.

            “Lily, I apologize for how I acted out there.  I was shocked to find you after so many years waiting.  I had given up hope of finding my mate,” Jared says.   Clearing his throat, “This is why I have a chosen mate and an intended Luna with me,” he finishes.  Nodding, I clear my throat, asking “And?  What do you see happening now?” I ask.  Might as well jump right in, I can’t wait any longer for this to be decided.  My stomach is churning with butterflies being with my mate; I am itching to touch my mate again to enjoy the sparks bouncing between us. 

            “I don’t know Lily.  I want to give us a chance,” he says.  Feeling tears prick my eyes again, I look to the floor.  As I’m standing there trying to figure out what the hell this even means, I can sense Jared move forward, touching my chin to tilt it up to look at him.

            I feel a couple of tears escape my eyes, as Jared lifts his other hand to wipe the tears away.  Leaning forward, he kisses me, and an explosion of sparks are swapped between us.  I can’t believe the feeling – they tell you this moment will be amazing, but you can’t anticipate it.  It’s better than what they tell you.

Jared POV

            As I move forward to kiss Lily, I feel sparks across my lips.  I have never experienced this kissing another woman in my life.  I want to keep kissing her and never stop.  I know I must stop though so I slowly pull back looking deep into her eyes.  She’s a stunning beauty, a beauty that is classic and never gets old. She smells like fresh rain water - refreshing.  I am excited just being around her.

            I don’t know what to do.  I’ve already announced Jemma as my chosen mate and Luna.  Her ceremony is to be held in two weeks.  A lot of preparation has gone into this event.  The union is a good move strategically for our Pack and Jemma’s Pack.  Jemma is also an Alpha, her father being the Alpha of her Pack. 

            I needed time to think but I knew I wouldn’t be able to put Jemma off for long.  She was as demanding as she was proprietorial with me.  I loved that in her but was finding it overwhelming since meeting Lily just a short time ago.  Ironically you don’t know what you need until you find it.

            I want a chance to get to know Lily a little better before making any decisions.  I will need to get Jemma to give me tonight to consider my feelings and how I want to proceed.  I know my parents will be disappointed, my father likely pissed off, if I postpone the Luna ceremony.  However, that can’t be the reason to move forward.  Lily is my true mate and I need to give her a chance.

            “Lily, I wonder if we could take time tomorrow morning to get to know each other a little better,” I say.  Lily looks at me in surprise, I’ve caught her off guard.  I can’t say I won’t reject her, but I want to give us a chance at the very least.  “I’d like that Jared, how about we meet tomorrow morning for breakfast and then I can show you around the Pack grounds?” she suggests.

            “That sounds perfect,” I say.  Starting to move toward the door, I look to Lily, “I know I have already said it Lily, but I truly am sorry for the situation we are in.  I couldn’t imagine I would ever find my mate and now that I have found you, I find myself in a unique situation,” I say. 

            “I appreciate your honesty, Jared.  Now for a bit of honesty from me, I have wanted and waited for my mate for a lifetime.  I’m not going to give up without a fight.  Just thought you should know,” Lily concludes with a mischievous smile.  Laughing at her, I nod, “Fair enough,” I say.  We set a time to meet tomorrow morning and I head back to meet up with Jemma.  I’m surprised she hadn’t come looking for me already.

            As I close the door behind me, I walk around the corner back to where the dance is taking place and Jemma walks up to me.  Looping her hand in my arm, she doesn’t ask me what I was doing.  I think she expects I would have been rejecting Lily.  I don’t correct her thinking as I’d like to enjoy the brief time I experienced with my mate before I have to tell Jemma I would be meeting her tomorrow.

            Jemma tugs me to the dance floor.  As I pull her in my arms, I notice there are no sparks between us.  I miss those sparks and then I see the woman who had been with Lily on the dancefloor.  She sends a scowl my way.  I deserve it, she doesn’t know Lily and I are going to try connecting tomorrow.  And tomorrow may or may not bring more clarity. 

Lily POV

            As I sit with my thoughts for a few minutes, I decide to head back out and go to my rooms. I have had enough of the Summer Ball for one night.  Going back out, I look to see if I can see my parents, so I can say good night. 

            That’s when I notice Jared dancing with his chosen mate.  My heart breaks a little as my step falters.  It shouldn’t surprise me, but for some reason it’s devastating to me.  As they continue dancing, his chosen mate sees me and smirks as she leans up and kisses Jared.  As she does, I feel a slight pain in my chest.  The pain you get when someone is cheating on their mate.  I had never experienced it before this moment, but it was intense. 

            Deciding I’d mind-link my parents a good night, I turn to walk out the back way.  I can’t walk by them, with her spitting in my face that she has my mate.  As I turn, I miss seeing Jared catch that I had seen them.  I also missed the look of momentary sadness on his face before he turns back to his fiancée.

            As I arrive at my room, I kick my shoes off and throw myself on the couch in my sitting area.  Grabbing a pillow I scream into it, until I have exhausted my voice and myself.  Feeling Missy, my wolf, stir in my mind, she assures me not to give up hope.  Our mate will smarten up and choose us.  Missy says she can already feel Jared’s wolf and he loves both of us.  Well, that helps but we need the man – the human – to decide to pick us as well.

            Feeling tears start to roll down my cheeks, I simply lay down on the couch and let the tears fall.  This is not how I expected to be spending tonight.  As I lay there, I feel another twinge of pain in my chest, letting me know that my mate is being intimate with someone who is not me.   Fortunately, it doesn’t last too long, so I at least know they haven’t had sex tonight.

            I hear a brief knock on my door, and Kate walks in.  Seeing Kate just makes the tears fall more freely. As she rocks me, my tears start to dry up.  She helps me out of my dress and into my shorts and a tank top.  Tucking me into bed, I can feel sleep starting to consume me.  I feel Kate kiss my head softly before leaving the room, turning out the lights as she goes.