Chapter 4: It’s cold out here

Rebel POV

As I’m walking through the forest and far away from the house, I start thinking about things I could have done differently, but honestly, the odds have been stacked against me since birth. When my father took me in and found his fated mate, there was never a situation where things would have turned out differently for me. I’m resolved about my life. I only hope that Alpha Cullen chooses someone other than Rachel to be his Luna. That way, she can’t banish me from the pack. I don’t have anywhere else to go and I don’t think I would survive as a rogue. 

Roxie is still hurt and angry about the rejection. Not that I blame her. ‘We were supposed to be his mate. Moon goddess doesn’t make mistakes Rebel. Since our ex-mate spat in the goddess’ face by rejecting us, she will make sure he pays the price.’ she says determinedly. ‘I agree Roxie. Where does that leave us though?’

‘I am sure the goddess will not forget us Rebel. We just need to see what she has planned.’

We make it to the clearing in the forest. It’s starting to get dark, so I don’t stay completely in the open. I try to stay in the cover of darkness by sitting a little more in the woods than the clearing. I’ve had to fight rogues before. Since I’m tired and by myself, I don’t want to be spotted, if possible. ‘Roxie, how about after we eat, we go for a run? I know I haven’t taken you in some time because of everything we are going through, but I think it will be good for both of us.’

‘Yes please! We only get one day off a month, and I haven’t been out in the last two months. I need to let some of this tension out.’

‘I’m sorry Roxie. I know this has been hard for you too.’ I tell her with remorse. ‘Don’t you dare apologize Rebel! Alpha Cullen did this to us. That bastard didn’t deserve us. I’m glad he’s not our mate now. It would have ended in disaster.’ She tells me. 

I finish eating part of the food I packed. I left the other part of the food for after, when Roxie is done running. She may be chubby like me, but she is fast and wonderful. She is faster than most wolves I’ve seen running through the pack. She also expends her energy that much quicker and gets hungry that much faster. 

I stand behind a tree and strip down. It’s cold outside tonight. I fold my clothes to put them in my backpack and pull a shift. I see Roxie’s paws hit the ground. She picks up the backpack and takes off further into the forest. Feeling the wind in our fur felt good. For the first time in months, we both felt carefree and happy. We both really needed this moment. It felt…normal. 

Roxie had run for about an hour, and still had energy. I felt myself let go enough to enjoy the moment and not thinking about the future or what would happen to me. It was a moment of bliss. Bliss that was too short lived. Roxie came to a dead stop and I was brought back to reality. ‘Roxie! What happened? What’s wrong? Did we stray too far from the pack land borders?’ Then it hit me. My nostrils flared as the scent of salted citrus and driftwood filled my senses. OH, NO! 

Roxie whimpered, lowered her head and her ears pushed back in fear. She said the least expected thing I ever thought I would hear her say again in our lifetime. 

‘Mate.” She whispered. 

Panicked, I urge Roxie, ‘Let’s get out of here! We are not strong enough to handle a second rejection!’ Roxie pivots to take off in the opposite direction when we hear him. 

“MATE! STOP WHERE YOU ARE!”

Shit, that sexy as fuck voice is an Alpha voice. Why me? Why another Alpha? This is going to be painful. I already know it and there is nothing I can do. 

“Please don’t go. I may be a feared Alpha, but not to you. Never you.” His words were sincere. But then again, he hasn’t actually seen me yet. I’m still in wolf form and Roxie is a beautiful wolf. Her fur is much like my hair, black with auburn undertones and she has my eyes, beautiful emerald green. He may think I’m something special now, but it won’t last. Both Roxie and I both know it. We huff lightly. ‘Let’s just get this over with Roxie. Maybe we can ask him to hold off until after we eat, so we at least have some strength.’

Roxie remains quiet. She’s definitely nervous and so am I. I pull a shift with my back still turned to my mate. I thought I heard him suck in a breath. I guess he thinks my backside is disgusting too. My shoulders slump and I lower my head, even though I’m not facing him. I say barely above a whisper, “If you don’t mind, I would like to put some clothes on before we speak.”

“Of course mate. I’m not going anywhere.” Does he sound excited? It’s almost like I can hear him smile as he speaks. Well, I’m sure it will be short lived. I finish putting my clothes back on and put my backpack on my shoulder. I take a deep breath and before I step out I tell Roxie, ‘It’s okay Roxie, we can handle this. We are going to be fine.’ 

Bracing myself, I square my shoulders and step around the tree and face my new mate. When I see him, my eyes widen. My goddess, he is the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. I didn’t realize a man could look that good. He is all broad shoulders, muscles, and charisma. His hair is a little lighter than chestnut brown and his eyes are the most crystal blue I have ever seen. His skin is a light caramel tan. Much more attractive than Alpha Cullen. You can tell he works outside a lot. He has that rugged, working man look about him that is seriously sexy. I don’t know who this Alpha is, but goddess, my core is clenching at the thought of exploring the body of the man standing before me. ‘That’s not the only thing that’s making us hot and bothered.’ Roxie surprisingly says as she forces my line of sight to his very obvious bulge in his shorts. Apparently, seeing our mate is making her sass come back and it’s making me feel relief. ‘Don’t get too happy Rox, a man this handsome is likely to reject us. Let’s get this over with, okay?’ Roxie whimpers in my mind, because she knows what’s coming. 

My mate, is looking at me intently. It almost feels indecent the way he keeps looking at me. It’s making me really self-conscious. I instinctively wrap my arms around myself and look down. “Would you mind waiting a few minutes for me to get some food in my system? My wolf has been running for well over an hour and she burns off energy faster than most wolves. We would just like to gain some strength before you reject us.”

“Reject you? Why the hell would I do that mate?” He looks at me like I’ve grown two heads. 

“I know I’m not Luna material or beautiful. You don’t have to pretend Alpha.” I look down again. I can’t stand to look at this incredibly handsome man, knowing he will not want me. 

Carefully, he steps closer to me lifting my gaze to meet his with his finger. I feel little jolts of electricity go straight to my core before he speaks, “First, I don’t know why you think you are not beautiful or who made you believe that you are not beautiful, when you are fucking gorgeous. You’re the most the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life darling. Second, you are MY mate. That makes you MY Luna. No one will dare challenge this fact or they forfeit their life.” 

One, oh my goddess his southern draw! That has to be the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard. Two, I look at his eyes and I don’t see any lies coming from them. He seems to be sincere. ‘Roxie, what do you think?’ She’s great at sniffing out lies, it’s a gift the moon goddess gave her, so I want her opinion on what she thinks too. ‘He’s telling the truth Rebel. Not to mention his southern accent is hot and do you see his body? Yummy!’ I inwardly roll my eyes. She has always been a flirtatious wolf. ‘Focus Rox!’ I tell her exasperated. 

‘Oh, believe me, I’m focused!’ She salivates and wiggles her eyebrows. I shake my head and turn my attention back to my mate. “So Alpha, what are you doing all the way over here in Ironclaw?”

He raises an eyebrow at me, god that’s a sexy look, “Darling, you are in Blackstone pack.”

“We are in Blackstone Pack?” I say thinking once again, my wonderful wolf has run too far again. Then the realization hits me. “Wait. You said you are the Alpha. We are in Blackstone. You are the Alpha? As in Alpha Austin?” I say my voice climbing a little higher with each question. My eyes widen and I start to panic. ‘Roxie! This is the meanest and cruelest Alpha of the southwestern region! He’s our mate?!’ Roxie rolls over in my mind practically purring, it didn’t take long for her to shake the fear. ‘Yes Rebel, and HE wants US. How blessed are we?’ she is almost purring the minx. 

Amused, my mate smirks at me, “Where did you think you were little mate?” 

“Clearly, not Blackstone but my pack, Ironclaw.” I said. Instantly, his expression hardened. “You are from Ironclaw? Your Alpha is Alpha Cullen?” 

Why does that matter? “Yes, he is my Alpha, among other things, unfortunately.” Trying not to feel bitter about the rejection. Alpha Austin is way better looking than Alpha Cullen. So far, he hasn’t treated me badly at the sight of me either, so Alpha Cullen can kick rocks.

“What’s your name darling?” He asks me like if he is trying to decide something. “Rebel Lawson, did you change your mind about rejecting me because I’m from Ironclaw?” I ask. He says he wants me, so I don’t think he will reject me. Though when Alpha Cullen asked me for my name, it was to do precisely that, so maybe my mate is planning to do the same now. 

“You seem like you have decided I am going to reject you any moment now. Why is that Rebel? What happened to you?” He asks as if he is catching on to the fact that I’m skeptical about him. 

I sigh. I might as well rip the band aid. The sooner it’s known, the sooner he will feel the relief of not being the only one to have rejected me. “You are not mate first mate. I met my mate two months ago, and as soon as he saw me, he rejected me.” I saw his eyes darken. He was clearly upset. Who knows why? He wanted to know what happened to me. Now he knows and he’s upset with me? 

“First, I’m glad he rejected you Rebel. Because now you are mine, and I’m not only happy, but I’m damn ecstatic you’re mine. Second, whoever your first mate was, he was a dumbass not to see how perfect you are. Either way, it’s his loss and my gain sweetheart. Was he part of Ironclaw?” 

I stare at him, completely shocked. ‘Rebel, I told you, HE wants US. I can’t wait to meet his wolf. I bet he is as sexy as Austin.’ She’s purring in my mind with doe eyes, looking at our mate. Yeah, she’s a total minx and is already decidedly in love with this man. Apparently, she doesn’t waste time. He says he’s ecstatic I’m his. That’s never a word I thought someone would use to describe being with me. Not when everything ever said to me in my life was the complete opposite. “Yes, he is part of Ironclaw. Actually, he was the one who said I wasn’t Luna material.” 

He looked down, shaking his head with his hands positioned sexily on his hips. With a smirk on his face, he asks, “Why would he tell you that you aren’t Luna material? Was your mate Alpha Cullen?” He chuckles.

I look down at the ground and in a very low voice I replied, “Yes.” I looked up slowly and saw rage rolling off of Alpha Austin’s aura.