Broken Connections

CHAPTER 2

Geoffrey, with his bright blonde hair and fun attitude, was kissing another girl. It was a scene that took the air out of Lucy's lungs. Frozen at the top of the hill she blinked while wishing this was just a nasty trick of the light. But the truth was obvious. The girl in Geoffrey's arms was Laura Hauser, her best friend since they were kids.

Lucy felt warm tears welling up in her eyes and the pain of feeling betrayed hurt her heart. “Geoffrey?” she called with her voice shaking a little barely heard over the soft breeze that stirred the leaves around her.

They pulled away while surprised by her voice. Geoffrey turned while looking confused while Laura had a smirk Lucy had never seen. “Lucy,” Laura said with her voice oddly sweet, “you’re just in time.”

“I... I don’t get it” Lucy faltered while feeling a lump in her throat. “What’s happening?”

“Aww, poor Lucy,” Laura teased as she walked closer. “Didn’t you realize? Geoffrey needs someone stronger than you.”

“I thought you were my friend,” Lucy said as the first tear rolled down her face. “Why did you do this?”

Laura laughed loudly with her laugh full of sarcasm. “Friend? Oh, come on! You’ve always been different right? No wolf at twenty? You’re nearly hopeless, and Geoffrey, well, he has his own life to plan.”

Geoffrey stayed quiet and the air felt heavy with tension. Lucy couldn’t figure out what was different or how her best friend became so mean so quickly.

“Why is this going on?” Lucy asked with her voice getting louder. “Laura please!”

The smile vanished from Laura’s face replaced by a serious stare. “You should be happy. Geoffrey needs someone strong someone who can be with him as he becomes Alpha. Not you Lucy.”

“Laura stop!” Lucy replied her voice getting louder. “You never cared about titles or power before. You were my friend!”

“Friends don’t stop each other,” Laura said sharply. “And by the way you can’t even change. It’s sad.”

“That's not right!” Lucy shouted with tears streaming down her face as her anger grew. “I just need a bit more time!”

Laura pushed her hard clearly catching Lucy by surprise. Lucy tripped backward and landed on the grass. She gasped with the shock of hitting the ground bringing her up to the moment. Geoffrey moved closer with worry and concern on his face while finally speaking up.

“Laura that's enough!” he said in a strong voice.

“Why are you standing up for her?” Laura said sharply while looking back at Lucy with annoyance. “She’s a hassle for you Geoffrey!”

Lucy bit her lip as she stood up slowly while brushing off dirt from her clothes. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest. “Geoffrey... why...?” The question lingered while filled with unvoiced fear.

He ran his fingers through his hair while looking from Lucy to Laura and back. “You need to go back to the pack, Laura,” he said quietly while trying to ease the tension. “I’ll join you in a bit.”

Laura smirked but walked away while giving Lucy one last hateful glance before leaving without looking back. The tension hung in the air while making Lucy feel off balance.

“Geoffrey” she began with her voice trembling as she looked at him. “Why did you… why were you with her?”

He let out a deep breath, and for a moment, his bright eyes lost their shine. He turned away with his face showing that he was trying to find the right words. “Lucy…”

“I thought you cared about me” she interrupted while feeling desperate. “You are my destined mate!”

“It's not so easy,” he said quietly while looking at her with a fire that sparked anger in her. “I... I'm ending this.”

Her heart sank. “You want to break up with me?” She stepped back with the words hurting her inside. “What did I do to cause this?”

“It's not about what you did,” he said softly. “It's about who you are.”

“What do you mean?” she murmured with her heart pounding at what it might mean.

“I'll be Alpha someday Lucy,” he said with his words hanging heavily between them. “And I can't have a partner like you weak and without a wolf.”

“Please...” she said while fighting through shock and sadness. “I just need more time! You know I can find her!”

He shook his head with sadness showing on his face. “No. It’s time to accept the truth. You might never find your wolf.”

“But Geoffrey,” she said with her voice shaking. “You and I were meant to be together. We’ve shared our hopes!”

“But it won't happen,” he said with his tone sharper than any hit. “I need to focus on my future. We're supposed to be together, yes, but that link...” He took a deep breath while preparing for his next words. “I'm going to end that connection.”

“Break the bond?” she repeated while feeling a chill wash over her. “You can’t… You won’t…”

She dropped down on the grass while feeling his words hit her like ice. “It’s the only choice,” he said while gathering his strength. “I’m sorry Lucy. I have to do this. The Moon Goddess hears me.”

He inhaled deeply while getting ready to say the sacred words with the knife of finality shining in his eyes. “I, Geoffrey Stormclaw, free you, Lucy Drew, from our bond as mates. I completely reject you.”

The world seemed to tip over and a thick silence surrounded her. “No…” she said softly with fear overwhelming her. “No… Geoffrey please…”

She battled through feelings of sadness while trying to find her voice in the emotional chaos inside her. Still, she felt her heart hurt, the bond they had slipping away, fading with each heartbeat. “I choose to end our bond too,” she said again with tears filling her eyes. “May the Moon Goddess bear witness.”

As she spoke it felt like her whole self was breaking apart. A chill filled her—everything that had connected them everything they were shattered into nothingness.

“I'm sorry Lucy,” Geoffrey said while looking away with his eyes no longer holding the warmth she had once loved.

Without saying anything else he turned to go with his footsteps fading away and leaving a big emptiness behind. Lucy fell to her knees while feeling their broken connection echo in her chest and she began to cry.

“Geoffrey…” she breathed out through her sobs.

The painful feeling of losing their bond combined with the tears that fell from her eyes reminded her of the love that had ended and the future that would never happen.

Far away, breaking the quiet of the woods, Lucy heard it – the loud bell of the Pack ringing two times in urgency. A meeting was called for. The Alpha and the Elders…!