TWISTED FATE

Mara.

‘Mate!’

This couldn’t be happening.

I was stricken and mortified. How could this be possible? My mate was standing right beside me. Why on earth would a rejected bond, one that spanned ten years suddenly reappear?

It was impossible. It had to be some trick.

But it seemed like the universe was playing a joke on me, as I felt the bond slip into place.

My heart raced. I was slipping into panic. I prepared myself to return here, to face him again but I never prepared for this.

“Mara? Baby?” I turned to find Matt staring at me with his icy blue orbs.

“What's wrong?” he asked, and I didn’t know how to answer. What was I supposed to say?

“I'm feeling a bit tired. Can I head into the rooms?” was what I ended up with. He looked confused but nodded. It took everything in me to not run as I slipped my arm off his, moving to the hall’s exit.

I already knew where our room was despite seeing it once. This was once my pack after all. The moment I stepped inside, I tore away my clothes and rested on the bed, reeling from what happened.

Matthew was my mate and still was. How could I have two mate bonds?

And more than that. A mate bond with him.

I swallowed thickly. I hadn't heard or tried to get any news from the pack even on our way here but it seemed like everything was still the same. From the way he looked, he and Bella were still happy.

The way he looked at me however…

No. I couldn't go back. I needed to be alone and avoid them as much as possible.

I should have put on my dress and returned to the hall, but instead I stayed in place.

Guilt filled me at the thought of Matthew who was waiting for me, but it didn’t push me to move. The last thing I wanted was to see him. Closing my eyes, I sent a silent apology and remained in bed.

Hours passed and by the time it was afternoon, the door barged open. I sat up on the bed to find Matthew looking at me annoyed.

“What was that?” He asked. “You said you were going for a break but you missed the entire luncheon, why?”

Guilt erupted, but I kept my cool. I couldn't let Matthew know the truth.

“I'm sorry,” I said, wincing, trying my best to make sure it was believable. “It turned out to be a stomach bug. I must have caught something on the way, I couldn’t stop throwing up.”

He looked at me in disbelief first, analyzing me for any lie but I kept my act. Slowly, his face softened into an apologetic and worried look.

“I'm so sorry, baby. I should have been more considerate.” He reached out, hugging me.

I closed my eyes, trying to stave away the bitter guilt. I didn’t want to lie to him.

“How are you feeling? Do you need to see the pack’s doctor?” He murmured

“No,” I quickly replied, “Actually I'm feeling better now. I just want to get some medicine from Daisy.”

Daisy was my personal maid and my best friend and closest confidante. It wasn’t strange for me to go to her which was why it was the perfect excuse.

He accepted it easily, nodding before releasing me.

“Okay, baby. Get everything you need. I'll be here when you get back. Love you.”

“Love you too,” I kissed his cheek before hobbling out of the room weakly to complete the act. When I shut the door, I straightened and shut my eyes.

It was a necessary lie.

I reached Daisy's room which was only a hallway away from mine. Knocking on her door, she didn’t hesitate to answer.

“Mara, what are you doing here?” She asked confusedly but still let me in.

“Something happened,” I rushed out and before I knew it I spilled everything that happened in the hall introduction.

After being my friend for years, she knew everything about my past and who Dresden was. The shock as I revealed the mate bond made her speechless.

“Goddess,” she gasped after a few minutes, “ so now you have two mate bonds? One with Alpha Matthew and one with your first mate. What are you going to do?”

A strange look came across her face as she looked at me.

“Do you… have you thought about getting back together with… Alpha Dresden?” She asked.

My stomach lurched but I held myself back.

“Hell no. I'm going to pretend that it doesn’t exist,” I said. “I don’t want anything to do with him ever again.”

Why this happened didn’t matter. I had a loving mate already and a pack for the past ten years. It was just a fluke.

“Good,” she relaxed, sighing, “It's best you forget about Alpha Dresden, he's no good for you and you're better off without him. I'll help if you want to avoid him. I won't let you get hurt. You've faced enough already.”

“Thank you, Daisy.” I hugged her, holding back the urge to cry.

When I returned to my room, Matthew was already asleep, likely tired from the travels. I laid beside him, resting on his chest.

Why did this happen? Why would the Moon Goddess do this to me?

Those were my last thoughts as I fell asleep.

The next day I had prepared myself, avoiding the eyes of the Grey pack members I came across as they stared at me. I didn't like attention or crowds, but I was willing to do this for the pack and Matthew.

In the end, that was the least of my problems.

Hot anger boiled in me as I stared at Matthew’s smile, directed to another woman. A woman who was outright flirting with him beside me.

This was the first time I was coming into an official event as his ‘companion’. Despite being his literal mate and being with him for ten years, I wasn’t his official Luna and apparently, that was enough for everybody to disrespect my freaking presence.

Women swarmed around him, fluttering their eyes and outright flirting with him even though I was right beside him. I wouldn't have minded because he always did his best to refuse them.

But it had been over ten minutes and more than a dozen women had come to him ignoring every sign that he wasn't interested, including the glaring one on his arm.

I was sick of it.

I turned away as the woman laughed at whatever she thought was funny.

I was done.

My hand was suddenly grabbed and tugged at and I turned to find Matthew with a confused expression.

“What's wrong? Do you need to go somewhere?” He asked.

“What is wrong with you?” I hissed quietly so nobody noticed our spat.

“What? Did something happen?” He blinked.

“You aren’t blind,” I said, “That woman was flirting with you, as were all those other women and you just let them!”

I watched the comprehension come in, and he suddenly chuckled.

“You know I have no choice, baby. Look, I've constantly pushed them off.” He laughed, but I wasn't amused.

Why would he be so lighthearted about this? It was the same thing every single damn time.

Besides, it wasn't them that was the problem. It was…

“This would all be resolved if you just make me your Luna.” I snapped, and the atmosphere changed.

Just like anytime I mentioned this topic, he frowned and it only made me angrier.

“You know that's not possible,” he sighed somberly, “the Elders-”

“I'm not talking about the Elders. I'm talking about you,” I said.

“But you know how they are.” He complained. “They dictate the rules of the pack, and as Alpha, I have to respect them. I can't just-”

“Stop it.” I snapped, and he stopped.

“I know the elders don't like me. From the moment you brought me in as your mate, they couldn't accept me because I was an outsider, and I've been proving myself for the past ten years. Because I'm not Luna, I have to watch women flirt with you and still think they have a chance but I always keep it in. I'm willing to bear all that for you? Why does it feel like I'm the only one fighting here?” I asked before sighing.

“I'm tired. I don't want to see or talk to you right now,” I added.

“Baby… Mara, wait.” He called out before I could leave. I let him turn me to face him, keeping his hands on my shoulders.

“Listen, Mara, you know I want more than anything for you to be my Luna, baby. I wish I could say fuck all to those Elders and marry you, but we can't. I’m trying. It's taken more time than necessary but I'm convincing them to accept you. They agreed to this trip after all. It's taken nearly a decade, but it will happen so I need you to trust me. I love you more than anything and I will fight for us. Please tell me you know that.” He pleaded. His eyes were slightly glassy.

Usually those eyes would make me soften, but not this time.

“Whatever you say, Matt. I'm heading inside.” Without another word, I turned away furiously.

First the mess of a mate bond, then this.

This was turning out to be a freaking fantastic time, I thought sarcastically. This was just the second day and there were still many more days to go until we left this pack. The Goddess knew how the rest was going to turn out.