Chapter 3

QUINN:

My life became easier after the alpha came into my life. Nobody, not even my sister, bullied me in school. And I even got to make some new acquaintances but I made sure to keep them at arms length. I wasn't going to make friends with people who watched my life unfold miserably in that school.

For a few days, I hadn't seen the alpha and he hadn't contacted me since the day he walked me home. I felt he was too busy to even look at his phone.

"Did you know the alpha's birthday ceremony is tomorrow?" One of the gossip girls in my class shouted. I was drawn to whatever she had to say for the first time.

Her announcement caused a roar of mutters from all corners.

"We all know the alpha hasn't made any statement about his mate. We might be seeing her in this ceremony."

Happiness washed over me but then again, he hadn't contacted me. I couldn't let my guard down. But then, I had fallen head over heels in love with him. What if I was not the mate he would choose?

I soon realized everyone was looking at me. I immediately packed my books and walked out of the class to avoid further questioning. My eyes were glued to my phone all the while I sat in the library. I felt reading would take away my worry but it only got worse. No texts, no calls, nothing. I bit the tip of my pen as anxiety washed over me. Maybe he wouldn't be announcing his Luna or anything. It could be just a birthday celebration.

Speaking of birthday, what should I get for him?

The bell rang for closure and I immediately ran out of school. On my way home, rain began to pour down heavily. My leather school bag was able to protect my phone and my books but there was nothing to protect me. By the time I got home, I had already caught a terrible cold. I thought it was going to stop after a long rest but it worsened. I couldn't get up from bed. I had to stay home, that meant missing the birthday celebration of my mate. I just hoped he wouldn't feel bad.

The cold was accompanied by incessant sneezing. I couldn't go to a crowded place to avoid infecting others. After a warm bath in the afternoon, I went back to sleep and the next time I woke up was the day after the birthday celebration.

I decided to go online to see what I had missed. I picked up my phone and with my data on, I began to surf the net. My heart dropped when I saw him with a lady, holding hands and smiling at each other. The caption was enough to bring me to tears.

"Congratulations on your engagement, alpha Jackson." It read.

He didn't choose me after all. I anticipated this but why does it hurt this much? I thought I could chest whatever would be thrown at me but this hurt more than when I got bullied by my sister.

My eyes peered at his chosen mate. Alpha Jackson was a really sweet person. A man every woman dreamt of being with and she was the lucky one. I wanted to be happy for them but I just couldn't. It could have been me.

Just as I was wiping the more tears that spilled out of my eyes, I received a call from him. I stared at it till it stopped. He called again but I did the same thing. Hadn't he done enough? Why was he trying to reach me?

He called again and I picked up but I didn't say anything. I just sobbed.

"Quinn..." He called out. My name sounded sweet in his mouth. I wanted him to call me by my name forever.

"Can we meet at the pack house? There's something important we have to discuss." He said but I didn't reply.

"Can you say something? Your silence is killing me." He pleaded but I didn't flinch. I kept mute until he sighed.

"I'll take that as a yes. I'll see you at noon. Please, Quinn, let's settle this."

I nodded as though he could see me and hung up. It was becoming difficult to breathe. My chest tightened, allowing a slim passage of oxygen. I felt I was going to pass out from intense pain.

But aside from seeing him, I had a job to do at the pack house. It was how I was able to sustain myself without asking my father for much, unlike Kylie who asked for everything.

Speaking of my sister, I made sure to avoid bumping into her. She would make fun of me till I cry. I didn't even know how I was going to show my face in school.

After finishing my job, I decided to wait back and see the alpha as he requested. I wasn't going to act as though his decision affected me. Besides, just two days of spending time together doesn't mean he would pick me as his Luna. Who knows how long he has been with this woman?

I was casually scrolling the net when I saw the shadow of someone towering over me. I looked up to see the alpha Jackson smiling at me. But I didn't return the smile. I stood up and bowed.

"Good day, alpha Jackson. You wanted to see me." I said. Just behind him was his Luna. No doubt she was beautiful but still, it could have been me by his side. I was his fated mate and she was merely chosen.

"Could you excuse us, Anna, please?" He requested. Anna looked at me with malicious stares. As though I was trying to steal her husband.

"What do you want to say to her that you cannot say in front of me?" She questioned.

"She's my mate, for goddess sake. Just leave." He half-yelled. I hadn't seen him that angry before. Did someone annoy him in any way? And did he just tell her I was his mate? What game was he trying to play?

"Whatever. You're going to have to reject her anyway." She hissed loudly and stormed off.

"I'm sorry about that." He turned his full attention to me once again.

"Let's just it over with." I was surprised at how those words rolled out my tongue. He pushed closer but I stepped back.

"The earlier, the better." I reminded him.

He sighed dejectedly before taking my hand.

"I'm sorry, Quinn. I didn't want to do this. I had no choice."

"Yeah, I know. It's all for the betterment of the pack. I understand." He looked at my hand and gave it a light squeeze. Words wanted to come out of his mouth but somehow they felt heavy. I placed my other palm on his own and smiled. I didn't want him to live with the guilt that he hurt me.

"I, Quinn Kress, of the Silver Moon pack, reject you, Alpha Jackson of the Silver Moon pack, as my fated mate," I said. Those words dropped like a bomb. I didn't know where I got the courage to say those words..

"And I, Alpha Jackson of the Silver Moon pack accept your rejection."