Five

"You can't give up on him yet" Chyna told her daughter Tina.

"But mom, he already claimed her" Tina complained.

"He claimed her but he can reject her, you just have to deliver him from whatever that girl has done to him"

"That girl has a name, she is Eve. And she didn't do anything to him, the moon goddess mated them together and I think you should accept it and move on Tina." Tate spoke up.

"Oh shut up Tate, you can clearly see your sister is distraught at losing her soulmate. If you can't say anything helpful, just shut up" his mother fired at him.

Tate rolled his eyes. If only Tina had listened to him when he told her to hold on before having a relationship with Jude, they wouldn't be in this issue.

"Its okay mom, don't snap at Tate" Tina defended him.

"So you didn't get a mate tonight too?" Chyna asked Tate.

Tate's mind flashed back to the ceremony. Amber eyes which had stared at him in surprise. The way his heart had leaped.

"Tate?" Tina called him when he didn't answer.

"I didn't get a mate tonight, must be a twin thing" Tate said with a careless shrug.

The next morning...

Eve closed her eyes and breathed slowly, her palms were sweaty and she wiped them again on her gown.

"You look pretty" Jude whispered.

"I wore one of mom's dresses, even though your mom has seen me countless times with my ratty jeans, I wanted to make a good first impression"

Jude leaned in and whispered, "I am very impressed but you also look pretty with your ratty jeans"

"Stop it Jude" she scolded him, too nervous to entertain him.

"Ready to go inside?"

"Lets just do this" she muttered.

Jude opened the door and led her inside.

"Eve, come here my dear" Luna Alice opened her arms.

Eve awkwardly gave her a hug.

"Come on, we have a lot to talk about" Luna Alice led her away.

Eve looked back at Jude with a pleading look on her face.

Luna Alice laughed, "I won't harm you Eve, you practically grew up here"

"I will be with you soon Eve" Jude called after her.

Luna Alice led Eve to her bedroom. "Feel at ease dear"

"I am sorry Luna Alice, I know I wasn't what you expected"

Luna Alice looked bemused, "Eve, it's okay. This isn't your doing, the goddess mated you two for a reason"

Eve twisted her fingers, "But you have been training Tina to be Luna"

"Yes, but technically, if they hadn't shared a bond, I would have trained Jude's mate to be Luna after they mated."

"But what if I can't learn it quickly?"

Luna Alice studied Eve, she could tell she was feeling insecure.

"Eve, you will be fine, you have what it takes, the goddess never makes a mistake"

"Thank you Luna Alice"

"Now, tomorrow, the mating ceremony between you and Jude will be held. And the swear in ceremony will also be held to make you two Luna and Alpha. I will put you through what you are to do, don't worry you will be fine" Luna Alice assured her.

Jude was in his study going through some papers when Ryan walked in.

"I didn't see you at all yesterday, where did you run off to? Found your mate?" Jude asked him.

"I...uh...didn't get a mate yesterday"

"Yesterday was sure full of surprises" Jude remarked.

"Indeed it was, I mean you and Eve...shocking"

"I know right, but the goddess does everything for a reason"

Jude looked at Ryan when he didn't get a response.

"It seems you have something to say"

Ryan averted his eyes, "I don't know what you are talking about"

"Ryan, you are my beta, and you are supposed to be able to tell me anything. Speak"

Ryan sighed, "fine, I think you are very selfish. You stringed Tina on for five years and then you dumped her for Eve. You didn't even think about her feelings, it just seems unfair"

Jude smiled, "you are right Ryan, I was selfish, but when I opened my eyes and saw Eve, it felt like I was home at last, I couldn't give that up. I know Tina is hurt but she is strong, she will bounce back"

"You have to make sure she is okay"

"I will, and who knows? Next year, she will get her own mate"

"I hope so too" Ryan replied.

Tate burst into the office, "Jude, you have to come to the house, Tina is threatening to kill herself with poison"

"What! lets go there" Jude stood up and rushed out of the office.

Ryan and Tate looked at each other and then rushed after him.

Tina's bedroom door was shut.

'"she has refused to open the door" Tate told Jude.

"You! If anything happens to my daughter, you will regret it" Chyna warned Jude.

"Mom! Calm down" Tate told his mom.

Jude ignored Chyna and went to the door.

"Tina, its Jude, please open the door"

"No! Since you don't want me, I don't want to be alive anymore"

"Tina please, we can figure things out. Just open the door"

"Just you, I don't want anyone else entering the room"

"Okay, I will be the only one entering the room" Jude agreed.

The door opened, and Jude entered the room.

Tate looked at his mom and she had a satisfied look on her face, he groaned, he had fallen for his mom's games. It was obvious his sister wasn't going to kill herself, she just wanted to see Jude.

"I will be going back to the pack house" Ryan turned to leave.

"Mom! You should be encouraging her to move on" Tate told his mother.

"And if you have nothing useful to say, just shut up" she walked away.

Tate sighed and left the house. He walked in the direction of the pack house and caught up to Ryan.

He turned him around to face him.

"We need to talk"

Amber eyes looked at him.

"We have nothing to talk about."