The Alpha's Embrace

Try

It felt like snow was melting into Thomas' skin when he realized what Serenity was doing this for. Her reaction to Jared touching her was the biggest proof. His hopes were completely dashed but with that glance at Serena's face. Like him, that girl wasn't fooled, they could see what Serenity was up to. It's funny how she'll turn and use the mate she would reject to show her sister what a mate is. It was all very hypocritical. Thomas silently followed Jared, Jorah and Serenity up to the house and listened to them talk with a cold expression on his face.

"Come, go inside and talk with Serena." Serenity motioned to Jorah.

"Shouldn't we give her some space?"Jorah expressed his doubt.

"No, it'll give her time to come up with silly ideas. What she needs right now is for you to explain things clearly to her." Serenity shook her head in disagreement.

Jorah glanced at his brother, who nodded at him. "Go inside and have a talk with her. Maybe it's as simple as that."

Jorah pursed his lips and nodded heavily before he walked into the house. Leaving Jared, Serenity, and Thomas on the porch. After a few seconds of awkward silence, Serenity spoke up.

"I got some pack duties to take care of. Do you have anything to do?" Serenity asked Jared softly. Jared stared at her, puzzled by her shift in attitude. He wasn't stupid. He could tell what Serenity was after. Thomas' words echoed in his mind. Not to mention Serena's.

'Is she trying to set an example for her sister? Or is this something else?' Jared couldn't help but question her motives, especially after he observed Thomas' eyes brimming with anger.

When Serena and Serenity were arguing, Serena let it slip that Serenity wanted to reject her mate.Then Thomas solidified this claim. Obviously, this was what Thomas previous warning was about. But seeing this man get angry on his behalf made him feel somewhat touch after all he had been so on guard with him hours ago.

Jared could see that Thomas wanted to do right by Serenity. He held Serenity's opinion at priority, but he wasn't wholy biased towards her. He had a line and Serenity crossed it. Jared wasn't sure which aspect made Thomas angry, but maybe he'd find out soon enough

"I need to get back to the entourage and reassure them everything is fine out here." Jared decided to play along with Serenity. 'For now, at least.' he thought.

"Okay, you can follow the road, and you'll be in the town square. Let's meet back here in the next two hours." Serenity suggested, and Jared nodded before bidding Thomas and Serenity goodbye before he walked down the road to settle the pack members they brought.

"You're a hot pile of steaming shit." Thomas finally spoke to Serenity when he was sure Jared couldn't hear them. Serenity only glanced at Thomas calmly as she pulled off her clothes to shift. "You're not saying anything?"

"You want to talk? Then shut up and follow me." Serenity shifted and dashed into the forest. Thomas didn't even take off his clothes as he shifted and darted behind her.

Serena stood at the window and watched as the two left her sight with a cold smile. Serenity must have thought of her as a gullible i***t who couldn't see through her ploy.

'Is that how you want to play?' Serena mused to herself before she turned on her heel and walked downstairs.

Jorah was currently pacing around when Serena came downstairs. The mates stared at each other silently for a bit before Serena motioned Jorah to follow her to the living room to sit.

"We should talk. Let me properly explain to you the danger of rejecting me." Jorah hands trembled as he forced himself to calmly explain some things to Serena.

"If I reject you, I'll kill everyone in the pack, including myself, and put you in immense danger. And if I stay with you, your title as king will be challenged because I'm a runt." Serena repeated what she had understood from the previous conversation outside.

"It's more than just that," Jorah paused and looked at Serena. "What do you know about rejection?"

"Huh?" Serena scrunched up her eyebrows. "I know that one can't completely reject their mate. The bond between them can never be broken, and they will only be pulled together."

"Yes, essentially, that's what rejection is. But it's more complex than that. Rejecting your mate is a rejection of the other half of your soul. That's why the bond gets stronger and pulls them back together. " Jorah explained.

"I am aware of that," Serena informed him.

"A mate isn't just a random person picked for you by the moon goddess. A mate is the person most compatible with you, your personality, and your soul. A mate brings out parts of you that were hidden, and they mutually help each other become better versions of themselves. " Jorah continued. "A mate is fixed. There's no choice in the matter, but it isn't forced. You can reject your mate, but rejection makes things harder for both mates. Rejection weakens them both. Physically, mentally, and emotionally."

Serena silently listened, not understanding where Jorah was going with his explanation of mates. Though impatient, she decided to stay quiet and let him do the talking.

"The moon makes no mistakes." Jorah could see she was getting impatient with his lengthy explanation of mates, but he wanted to make sure she understood what a mate was. "You and I being mated is not a mistake. I would want you even if you couldn't shift. So your thoughts are wrong. The problem isn't that you're a runt. The problem is I am the king."

"What do you mean? Me being a runt is the problem here. A king can't have a runt for a mate." Serena frowned.

"No, that's not the problem here," Jorah shook his head. "Jared is my older brother. Even if we were just a few minutes apart and born on the same day, it doesn't change the fact that he's the firstborn son of the previous alpha king."

"The firstborn son of the king is to be crowned king," Serena mumbled as she realized what Jorah was trying to tell her. "You two ruffled some feathers when you switched roles."

"That's an understatement. My brother stepped aside and let me become king. Never in history has there ever been an instance where the second-born son became an alpha king while the firstborn was still alive without any heirs. Even if I had won the brutal challenge, some people still believe he's the better candidate for the throne." Jorah sighed, "Those people are not the only problem, though. There's a much more troublesome bunch."

"And whose is that?" Serena asked.

"I have cousins and uncles who see what we did as an opening. People would do anything for power. And those people would attack you to get what they want." Jorah ran his hand through his hair before continuing. "The problem isn't you being a runt. Nobody can blame someone for the way they were born. The problem is the power-hungry people in my family will use you, a runt, to defame me. Defame our future children to get what they want. The throne."

"This all seems so complicated," Serena finally said after sitting silently to digest what Jorah was explaining. No wonder Serenity insisted they talk alone. Hearing news out of the horse's mouth was more effective than explaining it to her any other way.

"It gets more complicated." Jorah gave her a tight smile. "If people knew that I was rejected, then war would rage throughout the realm. There are a lot of pack alphas who hate the fact that there is a king who can make them submit. So it won't just be the people in my family we would be up against, but the entire realm, including rogues."

When she heard that, Serena pulled her knees to her chest and placed her chin on her arm. "Nothing seemed like a good choice. Tell me, Jorah, what are my options here?"

"Let me be in the best position to protect you. As your mate" Jorah pleaded.

"I just..... this is so hard." Serena buried her head in her knees completely.

"Because of me, you'll be suffering. I am so sorry." Jorah's head drooped, clenching his fists. He made up his mind. "I'll convince my brother, I'll beg him if I have to. Once he's on the throne as intended, nobody will use you as a weak point. We'll be happy, Serena!"

"There's a reason your brother gave up the throne, right?" Serena mumbled, "He thought of you as a better fit. And from what I heard about you from Thomas, you're a good king. Even praising my sister, who's a female pack alpha. You're inclusive and decisive. A humble king."

"Your sister is a good alpha. She's smart, strategic, and strong. Stronger than any male I've seen. Some of the best strategies I learned are from her." Jorah praised Serenity sincerely.

"You don't have to stop being the king to protect me." Serena lifted her head from her knees and looked Jorah in the eye. "I'm terrified of what's to come, and I don't know if I'll regret this decision, but at least right now I want to see the kind of impact you'll have on me."

Serena beckoned him with her finger, Jorah stood and walked to her. As he stood in front of her nervously, she smiled softly before standing and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Let's try Jorah Lupe." Serena whispered to him. Jorah felt as if his entire body was melting when he heard that. Relief came in swiftly as he wrapped his arms around her slim waist. The couple stood there hugging each other for a while before they sat side by side and began chatting about their interests. For just a little bit, they could ignore the troubles to come.