The Wolf's Mate

Chapter 2

We stared at each other for what seemed like hours when really it was only for a few minutes maybe seconds. He grinned at me before he came closer and leaned down so he was inches from my face, my breath caught in my throat. He whispered to me, " Mate." I nodded my head not being able to say anything, he chuckled and I turned red and took a step back. I looked down at my shoes afraid of looking back up at him and seeing that he wasn't really there. He spoke again, " What's your name mate?"

I tried to speak but the only sound that came out of my mouth was a squeak, I cleared my throat and tried to again. " My name is Elena. Elena Brooke." I peeked up at him and saw that he was still smiling. This made me relax a little and I lifted my head to look at him. He grabbed my hand and raised it so he could kiss the back of it, I blushed again. "It's a pleasure it meet you, Elena. My name is Chase."  I let go of my hand and I crossed my arms over my torso trying not to bolt. I made myself stay only because I didn't want to leave my mate, but my shyness is making it difficult. He didn't say anything else and we were just staring at each other so I decided to try to say something.

" Would you like a snack or something...?" I trailed off. He nodded his head, he reached out with his left hand waiting for me to put my hand in his. I looked at it unsure, I took a glimpse up at his face once more before making my decision. I unwrapped my right hand and put it in his, once he wrapped his fingers in mine he started leading me back to the backyard. I followed him, nervous to go back to the crowded yard. Once we were outside he headed straight for the snack table,  he let go of my hand and grabbed two plates. He asked me to help him fill up our plates, we quietly talked about favorite foods. Once we were done he leads us to a table that was away from everyone else. I sighed in relief, we weren't going to be surrounded by everyone from all sides. Big crowds can make me feel claustrophobic.

Chase set down the plates and before I could sit down he pulled out my chair for me, I smiled at him and said thank you, and sat down. He rounded the table and sat down in his chair. We started to eat our food and every now and then Chase would ask me a question. It would be about the simplest things, "What is your favorite color?" Which my answer was Purple. I had asked him the same question and his was Green. He look right at my eyes when he said it and I blushed again, I had an idea why that was his favorite color. My brothers eventually found us sitting together and decided to come over to see who was sitting with me.  David spoke first, " Hey sis who's your buddy?" I shifted in my chair nervous about introducing Chase to my brothers. 

Before I could say anything Chase spoke up, " I'm Chase and you are?"  He had tilted his head in getting towards my brothers, the twins grinned at each other mischievously before introducing themselves. Of course, they were going to prank Chase by introducing each other by the wrong name. I rolled my eyes, before they could say anything I spoke up so they wouldn't confuse my mate. " These are my brothers. The one on the right is David and the one on the left is Sean." My brothers groan and playful glare at me. Not liking that I ruined the possibility of catching another person in their trap. " Why do you have to take the fun out of everything Elena?" 

I just shrugged in response, " Because I won't have you confusing my mate, you can do that to anyone else but not him." They both looked at me surprised and Chase grinned at me. Sean started laughing, " Our little sister found her mate huh? Well, look out Chase cause we're gonna have to be the protective big brothers. But oh man your gonna have fun with our dad. " David was grinning and nodded agreeing with his twin. I shook my head. Chase surprised us by saying, " Bring it on." I looked at him and tilted my head, that's definitely not what I thought his response was going to be. The twins laughed, " Well we will leave you two love birds be. Don't do anything we wouldn't do Elena." I glared at the twins annoyed with them being here. 

When they walked away Chase looked at me smiling, " It's good you have brothers who care." I shrugged still a little embarrassed so I didn't say anything. We finished with our food and someone started playing music so Chase asked me if I wanted to dance. I hesitated and saw him frown, I didn't like that so I agreed and so he leads me to the makeshift dance floor. A slow dance came on and so Chase brought me closer to him I looked up into his eyes and he was looking into mine, it felt as if the whole world had disappeared around us and the only thing that existed was us. " Elena do you do any sports or extracurriculars?" 

I shook my head, " I've tried but I've had issues with finding something that I like. It's always either an issue with me not being able to get the notes and fingerings right on an instrument or not understanding the rules and game of a sport. I also have issues with crowds, I don't do well with public speaking and I get shy around strangers. The only people who I can really be myself around are my brothers and parents. For some reason people avoid me and I'm not entirely sure why, I haven't done anything to anyone." 

He was quiet for a while as we continued to slow dance before he asked another question, " Would you say that you quit because you just don't like it and want to try something new or because it's hard ?"  I shrugged unsure of my answer I never really put thought into why I could never find something that I could commit to. " I guess because things become difficult and I become scared of failing at something and decide to move on and try something different before I can. " He doesn't respond and the song comes to an end. He leads me back to our table and we sit down. He asks me more questions, and they were starting to concern me, and I become more nervous. I was worried about making a bad impression on my mate and didn't want him to think of me as some loser who just quits when things become hard....although I was starting to think that's exactly what I've been doing. 

He was frowning at all of my answers and I started to become shyer with my answers and hesitant. He leaned back in his chair when he was done asking his questions and stared at me, I felt my heart start to race. It was like I knew that I wasn't going to like what was going to happen next. Chase took a took breath before opening his mouth, " Elena I have a lot of responsibilities and in the future, I will gain even more. That being said I need my mate to be committed and confident in herself and her ability to help me with any situation or problem that comes up. I can't have a mate that will run or quit because she is scared that she is going to fail at her job. This is something that you won't be able to run away from because once we are fully mated it's forever and can't be undone. "

I didn't like where he was going with this. Was he going to reject me? I felt my breathing become faster and I started tapping my foot. Chase was quiet once more and before I could respond he spoke again, "Elena Brooke, I will no longer accept you as my mate. I Chase James reject you as my mate and future Luna of Red Moon Pack. " I felt my whole world stop and heard my wolf howl mournfully in my head. I didn't say anything and watched as Chase got up from his chair and walked away. I looked down at the table in shock, I felt tears stream down my face as the pain of rejection finally set in. It was in my chest...my heart and soul the pain of the beginning of our bond being destroyed. I leaned over holding my chest when I felt someone put their hand on my shoulder. I looked up and it was David, " Elena what happened? What's wrong?" I shook my head. and shrugged him off. 

I got up and started walked away from him, I went into the house and out the front door trying to get away from the crowd and my brother. When I was outside I heard a howl in the distance and could feel my wolf respond and knew that it was Chase and his wolf. I felt a lump in my throat and tried to take a deep breath to try to calm myself down...it didn't work. I started jogging towards my house and eventually broke into a run, I wiped my hand across my face to get rid of the tears that were falling from my eyes. When I had reached my front door I stopped myself from walking into the house. I wasn't sure that I could face my parents after this... I was a failure as a beta's daughter. I wasn't dominant enough like my brothers were and now my mate has rejected me as well. I couldn't see the disappointment in my mom's eyes it would destroy me. So I did what I never thought I would ever do and if the thought would have ever come up I didn't think I would have the courage to. I walked away from my house and towards the woods behind my home, I looked behind me once more before I stripped and shifted into my wolf. 

That was the day that I ran from my pack and never looked back......