Second Chance Mates Festival

Chapter 9: Emery's Story

Emery’s POV

Clear Water Pack, 2 years ago

The whole pack was buzzing with excitement. Stephen, our soon-to-be Alpha was finally coming back from training after 2 years away. He was the only child of our Alpha and Luna so the celebrations were absolutely planned to perfection.

Since I had signed up to be Luna Mary’s assistant, I had been part of the planning for every step. He would arrive in a few hours and the celebration would officially begin, topped off with handing over ceremony at night.

Apart from the Luna, I was probably the most excited person on all of Clear Water land.

“Emery can you please go and check on the hall. I know I did it before but I need you to double-check in case I forgot anything.” Luna Mary said as she took the clipboard from my hands.

I had been in the pantry taking stock of all the snacks that were to be eaten later. I honestly couldn’t wait for tomorrow because I had the day off and I could finally rest. These past 2 weeks preparing for this ceremony had been absolute hell.

“Okay, I will Luna,” I said to her smiling. 

I doubt there was anything she had overlooked, Luna Mary was just that perfect. I think the nerves for tonight were getting the better of her.

I headed to the multi-purpose hall that we used for pack functions. Luna Mary had wanted to hold the ceremony outside but we were expecting rain tonight so we had had to make last-minute adjustments. As soon as I entered I was taken aback by how well the decorations had turned out.

A few other girls and I had spent the whole night prior decorating this place and by the time we were done I was too tired to even take a second look so this was the first time I was really seeing what a great job we had done.

I mind-linked Luna Mary. “It look’s really pretty. Whoever did this, deserves a raise.”

“Are you sure you are not saying that because you did it?” She mind-linked back to me. 

I could imagine the smile on her face as she sent this to me. Luna Mary and I got along really well. I mean everyone in the pack loved her and she always had a smile on her face when she interacted with everyone.

“Not at all,” I said cheekily.

I was still getting used to being able to mind-link. I had just turned 18 a few weeks ago and since we only get our wolves around the time we turn 18, mind-linking with other pack members was still a new concept to me. Luna Mary was the one I mind-linked the most since I had been working as her assistant and my mom was a close second to her.

My mom had always called me often when I was growing up and now that it was easier to do so because of the mind-link she would check up on me even more often. I found it endearing that she cared so much but as soon I got the chance I would make sure to learn how to block her out because it was a bit overbearing.

I looked around to make sure all off the place settings had been set, I also made sure all of the sockets were working. We rarely used the hall since our pack liked to be outdoors near the water during celebrations so I had to make sure they hadn’t stopped working. We were only using the hall today because we were expecting rain in the evening and as much as we like water, the pictures wouldn't come out prettily if we were all soaked.

I didn’t find anything wrong in the hall, so I made my way to leave the hall.

“He’s here.” Bridget, my best friend, said as she burst into the hall.

“Who?” I asked. Judging by the glee on her face, I already knew the answer. There was only one ‘he’ who could get Bridget as excited as she was right now.

“Stephen.” She practically squealed.

She then dragged me out of the hall and I had to practically beg her to let me at least close the door all the way. It was really windy so I didn’t want anything to destroy what we had worked so hard on also the kids of the pack really loved snooping around and we didn’t need them to crawl in and mess with the decorations. She then ran with me as fast as she could to the front of the packhouse.

There was already a crowd gathering in front of Alpha Mason’s car. He had gone to pick up Stephen from the airport. We were so far back in the crowd that we could barely see what was going on. My wolf, however, was excited, I thought she was just picking up on the vibes of her fellow pack members but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Before Stephen could even make it out fully from the passenger seat, Luna Mary had already wrapped her arms around her son. Luna Mary had told me a lot about how excited she was to see her son so I was really happy they were finally reunited.

Alpha Mason had also gotten out of the car but was still standing on the driver’s side, I guess he was letting Luna Mary have her moment with her son. He was calm, meanwhile, my wolf was getting more and more out of control. I got the urge to move closer to them and I did.

I caught a strange scent. It smelled like the earth just after it had rained. It smelled amazing. It was so windy that I couldn’t really tell who the scent belonged to or what direction it was coming from.

I just had the urge to move forward.

As I got closer to the car, the strength of the scent kept on increasing. I had to find the owner of the scent, so I was practically fighting my way through the excited crowd. Finally, I broke through the crowd but I was pushed from behind which caused me to fall over.

Someone immediately rushed over to help me up and as their hands touched mine I felt sparks.

That scent, that deliciously earthy scent was now stronger than ever.

My wolf had finally found her voice and the first thing she said to me was ‘mate’.

I looked up and my eyes met Stephen’s. I could tell he was thinking the same thing. The crowd surrounding us was utterly quiet, you could have heard a pin drop. I started smiling brightly at him, and he smiled back at me. I was so happy, I had finally found my mate.

Someone cleared their throat, breaking our moment, and I looked up, breaking eye contact with Stephen.

It was the Alpha. Stephen looked up at his father and when he turned back to me, the look in his eyes wasn’t the same.

The look of pure adoration was gone. It was replaced with a distant look. A conflicted one.

He helped me off the ground before taking my hands in his. They were warm. deliciously warm. It felt like home when he held my hands in his. I wished to capture this moment, the moment when I first held hands with my mate, and store it in my memory forever.

"I'm so sorry Emery." He said to me softly.

My wolf was feeling blissful from hearing him say our name but I wasn't on the same page with her; something about his tone was off.

"What do you have to apologize for?" I asked.

He just shook his head at me. Stephen then looked me squarely in the eyes and took a deep breath.

“I, Stephen Elias Rogers of the Clear Water Pack, reject you Emery Spark of the Clear Water Pack as my mate.”

The entire crowd gasped.

I was taken aback. What was he doing? Why was he doing it?

I couldn’t look at him in the eyes anymore so I looked behind him. Looking to see if someone would help me. 

Why was my mate rejecting me?

My eyes were already blurry as they landed on Alpha Mason. I saw him open the backseat door of the car and out came a brunette-haired female.

She was staring at the ground and wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes. She was wearing a loose blue sundress. Why was she here? Why did she come here with my mate?

Luna Mary looked at her mate questioningly but he just folded his arms and looked at his son’s back. She looked back at the female and my eyes followed hers.

The female was now staring right at me and she gave me a sad smile. I saw her cradle her stomach with both of her hands and the very small bump she had became apparent.

No way.

I looked at Stephen and back to the she-wolf again. It all clicked into place. The she-wolf had to be pregnant by him, there was no other reason she would follow him to his pack.

I looked back at Stephen but he wouldn’t meet my eyes, he was too ashamed.

I knew what I had to do. Fighting for my mate would tear whatever family Stephen and that female were trying to build. I couldn't do that to the baby when I knew what it was like to grow up without my dad.

“I, Emery Spark of the Clear Water Pack, reject you Stephen Elias Rogers of the Clear Water Pack as my mate,” I said in as strong a voice as I could muster. 

My wolf was against this so she had tried to close up my vocal cords so that I couldn't make a sound and I had to make her see the reason behind my choice. It would be better for us anyway. 

I heard someone cry out, it was Luna Mary. She was on the ground crying with Alpha Mason holding onto her. I let go of Stephen’s hands and moved to her, but I stopped midway when I noticed that everyone’s eyes were on me.

They must have been waiting for me to break down and cry. Which is what I wanted to do as well but I wasn’t going to do that. Why should they see me cry over a mate who couldn’t wait for me like I had been doing all my life?

I didn't like their eyes on me so I turned around and ran. I could hear someone call out after me probably my mom or Bridget but I didn't turn back to check. I would deal with them after sorting out my feelings.

I ran deep into the forest and climbed the oak tree that held the treehouse where I had spent my younger years playing. When I was younger this place was a haven for introverted me.

The treehouse now looked like how I felt. It was torn apart and was barely still standing but it would serve as my haven once more. Nobody ever came out here anymore especially as the well which was a few metres from the oak tree had dried up so I knew nobody would bother me here. I was free to cry until my tears dried out which is what I did.

Nobody would ever see me cry over a mate who didn’t deserve it.