The Undeserving Mate

Being a Silver is both a blessing and a curse. We are blessed with gifts by the Moon Goddess and cursed with mates that don’t see our worth and cause us so much pain before eventually accepting us. Mates that though in the long run complete us, have also caused the loss of so many of my loved ones. I was raised to cherish my mate when I found them but I refuse to lose anymore of the people that I love. I pray that I never find them, being the Goddesses Alpha I won’t feel the bond fully until I accept it. That again leaves me both blessed and cursed.

When Elena bumped into me almost a year ago about a month after my 18th birthday and hesitantly stated she believed I was her second chance mate I couldn’t have been more relieved. I met Elena at Alpha training, we became close friends and I had planned to actually make her my Beta. She is the gamma’s daughter of the pack training was in and I had developed a crush on her. She was a little older by a month and on her 18th birthday she fell to the ground screaming holding her chest and that’s when she knew that even though she didn’t know who it was,her mate had died. I have no reason to doubt her and was excited when those words came from her mouth. She is who I would have chosen if I had too. She no longer could be my Beta as she would be my pack Luna. I already know who would be the replacement as my Beta as since I met him I felt he was right for the position.

I look down at the picture of Elena on my phone as the car that I am riding in crosses Scarlet Moon territory. The anxiety I have felt since I was told about my sister's condition dissipates and a sense of completeness takes over. That is how I know my sister is okay. When the car pulls up outside the pack hospital I rush in pausing briefly as the scent of Jasmine, sandalwood and honeysuckle reach my nose. I shake off the unease the scent causes, unsure why. I am approached in the lobby by Bradley who gives me Livie’s room number. I head that way without saying another word. The scent grows stronger until I am outside my sister's room. There could be others with similar scents, I try to reason with my wolf. It doesn’t work and the atmosphere in the room when I open the door is tense and in some way dangerous. 

It takes me two seconds to notice my sister is not in her bed and the slender figure at the end of the bed's back straightens as if sensing my presence. I can tell by the long waist length black hair it isn’t my sister humming to her pup.

“I don’t know who the fuck you are but back away from the pup.”

There is a soft chuckle as the figure turns around. I have to fight to not take a step back as I see the person, more importantly those eyes so golden they almost glow in the dim light that haunt me almost nightly. “Oh you fucking know me.”

“I won’t fucking warn you again Bitch.” The words feel like they burn my mouth as I watch her flinch. 

“Brother, watch how you speak to my guests.” I turn to see my sister exiting the bathroom with Christians assistance. “Spencer was just keeping an eye on Erik while Christian helped me to shower.”

“I apologize Bug.” I direct my apology to my sister, not taking a glance at the young woman.

“Sorry Olivia I didn’t realize this mutt was your brother. I'll go back to the house to pack my stuff.” I let out a growl at her calling me a mutt.

“Who are you calling a mutt you half witch hybrid.” I snap my head to look at her only to see her looking at the floor.

“Witch?” my sister's mate questions peering toward the woman who shakes her head slightly with a pleading look on her face.

“Who cares Young Alpha Wilder if she is half witch or something else she is a person. A person that saved your sister when I could not and you were not there.”

“Convenient I am sure. When I met her she was trying to slip me a potion and convince me I was her mate after failing to seduce the future Alpha. Luckily it was intercepted and I was warned.”

“Convenient is that fact that is where you chose to end the story.” Hurt seeps into her voice. "Now don't worry I'll go pack my stuff."

"Enough you will do no such thing Spence. Wilder I don't know what you were told about Spencer but I doubt she was trying to seduce her own blood. She is staying at Golden Moon til she turns 18 and graduates in a month." 

Her own blood? The question keeps replaying in my mind. I know that the potion is the truth because it was a young Omega that told Dennis, Elena's brother. "Very well, I trust my sister." I glare at the female from the corner of my eye. "but if you lie again you are out. Got it?" She doesn't respond and begins to head toward the door. "Oh and let the kitchen staff know that in 2 nights their future Luna will arrive." For some reason I had to swallow past the lump in my throat. "So they need to prepare something nice for dinner." I call over my shoulder. There is no response but a gasp coming from my sister.

(Spencer POV)

It is so close to my birthday that I could feel my wolf going crazy being near him. Every time I felt myself wanting to look at him lovingly or explain myself I let myself remember the feel of the whip across my back and the hunger after days of starvation.

I am so infuriated that I know my eyes must be red and my teeth are stabbing into my bottom lip by the time I step out of the room. I quicken my pace down the hallway bumping into someone mumbling an apology. A hand grasps my bicep stopping me. I look up to see Bradley.

"Whoa Spencer...what's wrong?"

"Nothing I just think I need to feed." I lie. Bradley's attempts to hide his look of disgust, causes me to chuckle. "It's OK, I know it's weird to you. I'm just gonna go on my way back to Golden Moon."

Bradley rubs the back of his neck. "It's not weird, just different. If you give me a minute and it's OK with you my brother and I will join you? I need to blow off some steam and my grandpa can meet us halfway to get my brother."

"If you're sure you want to. Then it's OK by me." I respond politely. Bradley's smile grows as he nods his head and turns to leave.

I turn and exit the hospital not saying a word to anyone and make my way to wait for Bradley at the edge of the forest. I think over his words about his Luna arriving in 2 days. The thought has tears burning my eyes and I quickly wipe them away. 

"You know there is no shame in crying." I turn to see an unfamiliar face. The man is around my age, with light brown hair and eyes with light stubble on his chin. He smiles showing his perfect white teeth. His eyes slightly red as if he has been crying. "You are Spencer right?" I nod my head. "I'm Paxton, Bradley's brother."

"I'm sorry, yes I don't think we have ever met."

"No, I spend most of my time with my grandparents. Bradley said we could go ahead and he'll catch up."

I just nod again and start walking through the woods. We are walking in what appears comfortable silence but really I feel uncomfortable not knowing if I should feed or not. He may not know what I am.

"Can I ask you a question Spencer?"

"Sure?"

"How old are you?"

"Almost 18, why?"

"I just turned 18 a month ago. I know you have vampire blood. At least partly because you also have a wolf too. I just didn't want to think someone the same age as my grandmother was attractive. My family are hunters."

I stop at his words momentarily before walking again. "Thank you. Lucky for you not as old as your grandma."

"So being part Vampire you can sense your mate early right?" I nod in reply and fight the urge to rub the ache away in my chest. "So have you found them?"

"Have you found yours?" I question as a form of replying and avoid giving an answer.

"Unlike Bradley I have no wolf so I have no mate. I am just a Hunter."

His words make me stop. It may be the underlying sorrow I hear but I move to stand in front of him placing my hands on his upper arms. "I know we just met Paxton but listen to me. What you have or don't have doesn't matter. Having a wolf, or being a witch, human or even Vampire it simply doesn't matter, it doesn't define you. What defines you is your action. Even those born to do good and to love you can be the ones to do the most evil." Without warning he pulls me in and hugs me tightly. Despite hating being touched I hold back the urge to shove him away realizing this embrace is more for him then me. He needs this.

We pull apart at the sound of someone clearing their throat to turn and see Bradley standing there smirking. "Go feed Spence. I want a minute with my brother." I awkwardly turn and run into the forest to find my prey.