Bet My Life to Alpha Jace

Almost, Never

I was following Jace's footprints as we walked through this dark woodland. Each step we took was accompanied by the sound of crickets and shattered twigs. The demeaning stillness is too much for me to bear; I'm not used to this kind of setting.

"Is this the life you envisioned for yourself, Solene? Getting drunk on alcohol and what else... boys? You're only 19 years old, and you're already a shambles," he sounded like a jealous boyfriend lecturing his stubborn girlfriend. Oh! How I wish.

I slowed my pace as I noticed him taking a pause. His harsh and crispy comments ran straight into my skull. I gasped after realizing he was insulting me in a manner that didn't give me a chance to react. I was fancying him yet he was lowkey insulting me.

"It's my life, Jace, and you have no influence over what I do. Mind your own business," I scowled back. Yeah, sure, he's an alpha, but that doesn't give him the authority to give comments about my life. I live with my motto, 'my life, my rules,' so I hope he'll f**k off.

I faked a smile as I walked past him. The bitterness in my mouth began to seep into my body. I gritted my teeth in annoyance as I relived that fateful decision I made years ago.

"Is this why you reject me, Solene?"

Jace's cold voice echoed in this grim place. I halt my steps as I remember that eventful day.

It was a cold night in December. Our pack gathered as we celebrated Christmas. I was sitting in my favorite lagoon. Away from the people and their annoying laughter and designing my eyes to admire the almost full moon looking so brightly in the sky with its confidant— the stars. January is almost approaching, and it's my favorite month of the year as it's our shifting ceremony, during which we are blessed beneath the full moon.

"Solene,"

I looked at my right side only to see Anita approaching my place.

"Why?" I asked her while throwing some stones in the calm lagoon.

"The Alpha wants you there,"

Alpha Cornick?

I slowly rose from my seat and followed Anita to the hall where the celebration happened.

We were on the pathways already almost near the large double door when I saw a person's silhouette in the mini garden. I told Anita to go first, which she obliged. This familiar smell lingers on my nose. It's like vanilla mixed with a forestry aroma.

"Mate," Tili, my wolf, spoke in a cheerful voice after awakening from her rest.

I was both happy and excited to see who it might be, only to have my heart stabbed with a million knives. The scene appears to be amusing, dramatic, and agonizing all at the same time. My wolf moaned in agony as betrayal suffocated us. I flee, still reeling from what I've just witnessed. I immediately went to my friends' clubhouse and wasted myself because of that heartbreak. Nonetheless, the image of Jace and Aika kissing in the dark remained etched in my mind.

I was young and naive at the time, so I didn't bother asking for an explanation. I decided to address Jace the next day and tell him flatly that I rejected him as my mate like a grown lady. I'd rather be mateless for the rest of my life than have him as my partner. Leaving that particular mating mystery to the two of us. My reasoning may be too superficial and irrational, but what can I do now that everything has already been done? Perhaps there is a reason why it happened.

I looked straight at Jace's expressionless face. I tried to compose myself and meet his blue wolf eyes. Bringing all my courage together and spitting the most sour-worthy word at him,

"Rejecting you was the most fulfilling thing I did in my life, Jace."

'but if only you knew how it broke me...'

After saying those things to him, I ran away. I'm not interested in hearing anything from him. Reminiscing on those years of heartache is like entering the pit of hell.

I was a rebel at the time, but after learning of his betrayal...I became even worse. Jace already knew I was his mate before I had a chance to find out. Nonetheless, he gives in to his worldly desires and takes Aika as his girlfriend. He was supposed to be pure until he met his mate, but he didn't.

I went to my favorite place, the blue lagoon, the only place that has witnessed every agony, happiness, failure, and achievement that I've experienced in my life.

It's already 1 a.m., but I'm awake, albeit in a very terrible way. My buried wounds began to bleed again, and the scars he left emerged. I made every effort to live the life I desired. I revolt simply to get away from the area that provides so many memories.

Jace was supposed to be mine, and I was supposed to be his Luna, but it appears that fate has been playing us all along. Aika must have had a deep connection with the moon goddess, as she became Jace's other half. After remembering his question, I achingly smiled.

'It was not me who rejected you, Jace. It was your doings that forced me to reject you.'

"We're not yet done, Solene."

I flickered upon hearing his voice. My heart skipped a thousand beats when he sat alongside me, allowing our skin to brush against each other, providing that tingling sensation. I was in shock as Jace appeared just when I believed I was already safe.

"What are you doing here? Can you leave me alone, Jace? If Aika saw us, I'd be the one who'd bear her wrath," I spoke, getting away from him. I decided to stand up and just wanted to go home. I want to avoid getting entangled with him in any way possible at this moment.

Even if I enjoy having his attention, I am not a b***h nor a burglar who steals someone else, man. That's plainly a cheap act.

"What are you trying to hide, Solene? Can you at least enlighten me about your decision years ago? I can't rest the case as it keeps on hunting me,"

"I will never give you any explanation, Jace. Perhaps you're not just my type. That's why I reject you," I replied in a burlesque voice. I wanted to test how long he could keep up with me or how patient he would be with me. If he can't accept my decision, how much more can I accept his? The day after I rejected him, he claimed Aika as his Luna. Yet, I never questioned him. If my rejection is worse, his decision is cruel.

"Damn it, Solene. Just f*****g tell me! What did I lack that you dimmed me so undeserving of your love, ha!? Tell me?" Jace tried to squeeze my shoulders tightly, and it freaking hurt. I tried to withdraw his hold, but like what happened in the club, my strength was too little compared to him.

"Why do you keep torturing me, Jace? I have already rejected you. I opened up the gate for you and Aika. I thought you were wise enough to discern. You should've known that by now."

"What do you mean?"

"Party. Silhouette. Kiss," I added while looking at his disoriented expression.

He suddenly loosens his grip after some time. Perhaps he has figured it out by now. After giving me some access, I immediately stormed out of the place, leaving him in his perplexed state. I feel like the longer I stay there with him, the longer my wolf will yield to him. I've mustered the courage for a year only to crumble by his talk and walk. That doesn't sit right with me at all.