T H A L I A
I remember when I was a little girl, my mother felt everything my father felt. She told me it was a blessing, one of the Moon Goddess' unique gifts to werewolves.
Back then, I hoped that one day I would be able to sense my mate's emotions as well and that I would feel emotionally connected to him.
But now... if you take this twenty-one-year-old girl back to that moment—standing on that wishing mountain with her mom—and ask her to make a wish, I would not wish for a mate.
I'd rather not be tied to a mate. I'd prefer not to sense his emotions. Because this is not a blessing. It is a curse.
Being in pain for hours and silently bawling your eyes out is not a blessing. Not when your mate is a jerk. Not when he can't keep it in his pants.
Because, guess what? When my mate fucks another woman, I feel it.
Every time this happens, I feel a piece of myself break. It's so painful that it feels like the end of the world—but it's not. The pain just comes and goes.
And sure, for me, it is worse. Because, like I said, my mate can't keep it in his pants. I mean, who has sex more than five times every day? And never once with me.
He rejected me five years ago, but the Moon Goddess didn't break our bond. I can still feel every bit of it. Every touch, every moan, every groan, every orgasm, it's as if the rejection meant nothing at all.
Now I see why. He was not my first mate. He was my second chance; apparently, the Moon Goddess still hopes he will redeem himself.
Don't get me wrong, I hoped for that as well. Even though he screwed half the Omegas in the pack, I hoped that one day he'd repent everything and seek my forgiveness. But this hope was shattered when he married a chosen she-wolf a month ago.
And now I was in pain again. My wolf, Rhea, was wailing in my head, and I had no idea what to tell her.
She had been rejected twice. How am I supposed to explain this?
She asked whether there was anything wrong with us... and at this point, I believe there is.
'We need to ask him. Yes, we have to ask him,' Rhea stated. But I did not answer. I can't ask him that right now. Not while he is married.
I rose up and looked in the mirror before splashing water on my face.
I'd gone to the bathroom earlier when the pain began. I'd felt it over a thousand times, yet each day it became more painful.
'We had a week to rest. Honeymoon had ended, he'll start fucking everyone in the pack again,' I told Rhea, hoping she'd suck it up. 'Lucky he doesn't last for hours, or we'd be dead by now.' It was intended to be funny; normally, Rhea would laugh, but this time, she did not.
'Thalia, this is serious. We're twenty-one now. We have already lost our first mate. We cannot–'
'Don't talk about our first mate.' I never liked talking about that one.
'All I'm saying is that we need to act now. The Goddess has not broken the bond. Maybe there's still a chance he might–'
'There's no chance. Alpha Darly chose someone else, that is enough proof. Now I want you to be quiet for the rest of the day. I do not want to get into trouble, okay?'
'Anything you say,' she mumbled, rolling her eyes, I imagined.
Irritated, I facepalmed my forehead. When I was ready, I exited the restroom and went to Beta's apartment.
Luna, Alpha Daryl's mother, had requested that I get Alpha Daryl. They were going to the palace with Luna Freya, his chosen mate. They had just returned from their honeymoon, and Darly had earlier gone to see Jax, the Beta's son, and his best friend. However, if I know him well, he went to see Vanessa, Jax's older sister.
Not that I had to guess, I felt it. The pain made it obvious.
I had had peace for the past week while they were on their honeymoon. Alpha Darly didn't seem to be interested in Luna Freya, because when he returned, the first thing he did was wake up and go straight to Vanessa.
I raised my hand to knock but froze halfway as I heard Luna's voice: "I will fetch him. Just go and entertain your future Luna," she said.
Entertain her? The she-wolf that snatched my mate?
Of course, she didn't know. As far as everyone was concerned, I was just a servant, serving at Luna's pleasure.
I bowed modestly and was ready to excuse myself when she told me to get in the car, too. I was going with them to the palace.
I had never been there before. Last night, Luna told me to prepare her favorite dress since she was going somewhere important, but I never expected her to take me.
In fact, she couldn't take me.
The palace had seers. Seers who could see into all creatures' souls. And I was cursed. They'd see it. They'd see my past. Once they know who I was... the king would behead me.
I couldn't go. I can't go!
But… she's the Luna, and I never say no to her; in fact, saying no results in harsh punishment.
Goddess, what am I going to do now?