Valencia!

Seven

The next morning, I wake to the sound of my brother's voice arguing with a female. “You can't go in there Terra! Stop being such a raging b***h!” My brother's voice calls from the other side of the door. I have just enough time to cover my bare chest before the door slams open startling Maximus awake.

I sit up in bed, with the duvet clutched tightly to my bare chest and see a furious Terra walk in. She takes in the view presented before her and immediately begins to cry.

“HOW COULD YOU MAXI!” She screams loudly clutching her chest. He looks over to me with a worried expression as my heart begins to race and not in a good way. “I’M CARRYING YOUR PUP!” she yells and throws a used pregnancy test onto the bed.

Maximus reaches for the test and runs a frustrated hand through his blonde hair when he sees the results. “f**k. How is this even possible?” is all he says, and I sit still, bewildered by the situation that is occurring before me.

My intuition is telling me to run but undressed I have no choice but to remain still beside Maximus.

“Get her out of here.” he says in almost a whisper to my brother “NOW!” He shouts frustrated and it makes me jump.

My brother coaxes Terra out of the room and for a moment I cannot force my body to move from the spot it is in. My heart is breaking into pieces with every passing second, and a tear slips from my eye. What the f**k have I done, is all I can think at this insanely dramatic situation, that I am now slap in the middle of.

“Valen.” Maximus calls my name gently and I can't bring myself to look at him. “Valen please.” Maximus calls desperately and it snaps my attention from my internal monolog, and I move out of bed, to get dressed quickly without looking his way.

“Valen.” He calls one last time and I look up at him this time “I can't do this.” is all I can manage to say as I pull out the shorts I wore yesterday from my bag.

“Valencia, please . . . just let's talk about this . . . fucken A.” he says almost angry, making me more nervous than I already am.

I grab my bag from the floor and walk out of the room and right into my brother. “Are you ok Valen?” he asks visibly disturbed “No, I just want to go home.” I tell him and he nods

“Thats right, leave b***h!” Terra Screams from the kitchen and my brother escorts me out without either of us acknowledging her.

The car ride home was silent, besides my brother's phone ringing incessantly but we both knew who it was, and he refused to answer. When we finally made it home, I grabbed my bag and walked to the door but before I could enter the house my brother grabbed me by the shoulders and turned me to face him.

“She could be lying Valen, he hasn’t been with her for that long. this could all just be one huge misunderstanding.” He says sadly and I can't bring myself to say anything in return. “Valen.” Griffin coaxes softly and my hollow eyes find his “Valen it’s gonna be ok.” He promises and pulls me into a tight hug.

The warmth and sincerity in his embrace makes me cry, and tears fall from my eyes like a river.

I spent the next few days cooped up in my room. After my brother confirmed Terra’s pregnancy, I became unwilling to answer my phone or see anyone.

My family must know what has occurred as they have been incredibly understanding with my current circumstances.

“Valen.” I hear a familiar voice call “Can I come in?” He asks tentatively “Yes.” I reply and Ty enters the room slowly “Hey Valen you, ok?” he asks as he shuts my bedroom door behind him.

“No, I’m not . . . I f****d up Ty.” I admit and he comes to sit next to me on the bed. “Your brother called me.” he says gently, and I nod. “he’s worried about me.” I tell Ty honestly and he nods in agreement. “He is.”

“I have a mate Ty . . .” I tell him sadly then continue “but he already has a pup with someone else.” I look up at Ty, sad and ashamed and he wraps his arm around my shoulders pulling me close. “I know Valen, it's going to be alright.” He tells me sincerely and kisses the top of my hair while rubbing my arm, comforting me.

“What if I went with you to Washington?” Ty says and I look up at him surprised. “But you have always wanted to be a pack guard, like your dad?” I state more so than ask and he leans into me.

“I know, but a change of scenery would be nice.” He tells me and my heart sinks. “I don’t want you to give up on your dreams because of me.” I tell him and he just shakes his head “I know you don’t. This is something that I’ve been thinking about, and I want to go with you Valen.” he tells me, and I start to cry

“Why are you so good to me Ty?” I asked him crying into his chest. Tylon smoothed my hair calming me “honestly Valen, you’re my best friend and I can't imagine spending the next 4 years without you.” he admits, and it makes me cry harder.

After a few days, the pain of the situation with Maximus is still devastating but the strength Ty and my family have lended me, it becomes tolerable.

Most if not all of the pack has already found out about Terra’s pregnancy which is even more humiliating.

The pull of the mate bond we share is still very much there, but I made a conscious choice to deny myself from feeling it as much as possible, as it only brought me sadness and made the hollow ache in my heart more prominent. It was beyond me why I gave myself to Maximus after only hours of him showing me attention anyway.

Maximus has attempted to contact me multiple times, but I have no interest in being romantically involved with someone who is going to father a child with another woman. Especially when that woman is the sister of the girl who has made my life a living hell though all high school.

A week later my dad came to me and asked if we could have a conversation about the bond I shared with Maximus. Even though I was reluctant to bring it up, I knew it needed to be addressed at some point.

Although I had lived in a wolf pack nearly my entire life, I knew little of how the mate bond worked. Because of me being a witch, I didn’t think it would ever happen to me and even though my parents are ‘mated’ My mom and dad don’t share a Goddess given bond; they chose one another so never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d be in this situation.

“Valen,” My dad started, sitting at the kitchen table “I know this is a difficult time for you and I hate to have to bring this up, but I feel this needs to be addressed. Maximus has tried to contact you quite a few times now, I’m not sure what his intentions are but regardless, have you made a decision about what you want to do?” he asks gently, and I nod my head yes

“I still plan on going to Washington for school and Tylon plans on requesting pack leave as well, to follow me there.” I tell him feeling completely hollow.

My dad leans back in his chair and lets out a sigh “Alright then, I still do think you should meet with Maximus at least once more so you can reject the bond you share.” His statement hit my heart sharply and it takes everything in my power to keep in the tears that are fighting to escape my eyes.

“How does that work?” I ask almost breaking down and my dad notices the shift in my mood and gets up to come over and comfort me. “Oh, baby girl don’t cry.” he tells me, and my tears betray me, escaping my eyes.

“I don’t know why it hurts so much.” I cry into his shoulder as he leans over my chair to hug me “I barely know him, none of this makes any sense.” I tell him exasperated.

“I know Valen it's how the bond works.” he tells me softly.

“Why did it have to be him dad?” I ask, “Why couldn’t it have been anyone else? Why did I have to be mated to someone that is having a pup with someone else?” He hugs me tightly and lets me cry until I can regain control of my emotions

“I’m sorry, it just hurts so much.” I tell him wiping my eyes “I know it does Valen, but it will get better the longer you are apart, I promise.” He tells me honestly and I can only nod.

We sit in silence for a few moments before I give him an answer to his original question. “I will meet with him next week.” I tell my dad and he nods.

“Do you want me to go with you?” he asks, and I shake my head.

“I think I can do this on my own if you tell me how, but I’ll let you know if I change my mind.” I tell him and he gives me another little squeeze and returns to his seat. He pauses for a few moments then begins again, “all you have to do to break the bond is say these exact words, I Valencia Isles reject you, Maximus Calloway as my mate. Then he will have to accept your rejection. After he does, you will feel a lot of pain Valen. I think its best if you bring someone with you to help you get home or maybe you should just meet him here.” He tells me, sincerely concerned.

I just nod. “Maybe I’ll ask Griffen to go with me.” I tell him and he looks a little relieved at my words. “Yes, please do that. I’m sure your brother won't say no.”

He stands and put his coffee cup in the sink then comes over, tussles my hair and gives me a little peck on top of my head “I love you kiddo.” he tells me as he walks out leaving me to myself.