My Teacher, My Mate

8. Too Late to Apologize

"Tessa! We raised you better than this. Apologize! Now!" My mother scalded me. I made sure my eye roll was excessive. Her statement was laughable.

"Ha! Seriously. We? You raised me mom. You take care of dad and raised me." Seeing my dad's face made me regret what I had said. "Dad. I didn't mean it dad. I'm sorry." My lower lip quivered as my eyes stung with tears. I know what his wolf and him heard: you are a bad father. And I questioned his judgement as a pack warrior.

"Daddy, please." I cried, "I'm so sorry." His head hung low and I couldn't see his face. He put his hand up and I swore he was going to roll back into the darkness of his room and never forgive me.

"You're right honey." My mom tried to interject but he gave her a look and continued, "you're mother has done a beautiful job in raising you. She has been your mom, dad, and friend. She's your everything. Hell, she's my everything." He smiled warily at my mom who was on his right. "She's my mate." He choked up and could barely get out the 'I love you' to her before he started crying.

"Maybe I should leave." Lucian put his glass of champagne down and I felt Lana panic.

"Ya think?" I said as I stepped up to him looking him straight in the eyes, which is an alpha move. I did it partially because Lana was itching to get closer but I wanted him to know I wasn't scared of him. I could reject him. Hell, I could handle rejection. I already had.

"Acting like a brat doesn't suit you, Tessa." I felt the air around us change. He put out an aura of authority that made my parents both bow their heads, showing their necks. It was a sign of submission. I felt it but I toed up to him. "Do not disrespect your father. He's a great man. I'm blessed to find out that my mate is his daughter." The tension in the air thinned a bit and he turned his face to my dad when he said the last part.

He walked out the door making sure to slam it shut. We could hear him shift as soon as he left the pack house. His howl was a cry to let the pack know he was in emotional distress. He howled out of pain, disappointment, sadness, and anger. I did just disrespect my parents and my mate; even my friends last night.

He howled again and a few others joined him. I'm sure Grant was out there with him. Lana was happy knowing his wolf wasn't alone.

Turning around, my mom is on my dads lap while he is whispering probably sweet nothings into her ear. They look so happy, drinking champagne, laughing, playful, and flirting with one another. That's how mates should be. A pang in my stomach reminds me that I won't have that. So I leave them to their fun.

I'm going to spend my 18th birthday celebration weekend in my bed. Curled up with tissues, romance novels, and lots of chocolate.

It's either that or sleeping the weekend away, which is still a strong option.

Monday would be here too soon and I'd have to reject my mate.

***

Saturday morning someone banged on my bedroom door.

Pulling the covers from over my head I yelled "NOT HERE!"

"Tessa?" I knew that voice. "Babe? I wanna be here for you. Ya know, like old times."

I sat up against my headboard, my Starry Night comforter pulled up to my chest. "Come in."

He opened the door and peaked his head in. "Are you decent?"

"Seriously?" I threw a pillow at the door. "Get out." I was in no mood to flirt or play his little game.

"I'm sorry." He walked through the door, closing it behind him and sat on the edge of my bed. "I know this mating thing hasn't worked out in our favor." Luke sighed. "And to be honest, I'm still in love with you. I always have and always will. Maybe if I reject Lily or find some other way to detach the mate bond we could be together, just like we'd planned. We'd be happy. Even if I can't reverse the mate bond, you and I could still be something. Goddess knows I'm crazy about you and your wolf, Lana."

He looked genuine and sincere but Lana was telling me to proceed with caution.

"You can't do that Luke. Lily will most likely die...or try to kill me and then die. And you'll be left alone. You chose the mate bond with her over what we had already. And before you say 'but the mate bond made me do it' just remember, I now know how that feels. You made your bed, go lie in it. With Lily."

I played with a strand of hair, my heart was breaking all over again. I couldn't look up at him or I'd lose my resolve. "And I honestly would have picked you over the bond." Big fat tears threaten to fall. Because it's true. Even if we weren't mates I would have been with Luke, but he didn't notice me once he met Lily. "You made your choice. We aren't mates Luke, we aren't even friends anymore."

"s**t. I messed up big time." He signed and I could feel his eyes on me, begging me to look at him. "You're strong and beautiful and fun and sexy and I f****d it up for a girl that I have nothing in common with. f**k the mate bond and the Moon Goddess. Tessa? Babe? I need you. I feel so alone in my relationship, I can't do it anymore." The pain in his voice reminded me of the howling cry from my mate yesterday.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Luke. Maybe if you talk to her you'll find out she feels alone too." I shrugged thinking about how I would feel if I were Lily. "You can't come back into my life. Like I said, you picked your path and you have to make the best of it."

Lana held little to no sympathy for Luke. I understand that but I do miss him. If I told him that I missed him I might get his hopes up. I wasn't going to be the reason he left his mate.

"Fine. Happy birthday. Hope you like old wolf dick." Woah! Where did his attitude come from.

"Get the f**k out and never, I mean never, come back here again. I loved you and I say this with love; get your s**t together, asshole!"

He slammed the door shut and I heard my mom ask him if everything was alright but didn't hear him answer her. Another loud sound of a door being shut confirmed he was a jerk, most likely ignoring my mom who cares for him. We also might need a new front door. I got up and locked my bedroom door. Climbing back under the sheets and disappeared into myself. Like father, like daughter I guess.