Chapter 14: Chapter Fourteen

**Alexandria**

I’m not surprised to see Annie waiting for me by her car when I pull into my parking space right next to her car. This is going to be intense; Annie isn’t going to let up until I give her the full story. She is my best friend, after all, I might as well tell her the truth.

“Hey Annie, before you go crazy and start in with the twenty questions, I will tell you everything but just give me a minute to prepare myself, okay?”

“Okay, I just want you to know that no matter what it is, I’m here for you, we are best friends you’re like my sister I never had.”

She is the best, I’ve loved her like my sister I never got also, unlike me, she has two brothers, but no sister and I ended up not having anyone, so she and I have become like sisters and her brothers look after me too like their little sister.

“So, Annie you know how you were dead set that James could have been my mate?”

“Yea, what is going on Alex?”

Usually, she is a lot more quick-witted than this. Why is it taking her so long to put the pieces together?

“Well, it turns out that you were right.”

As I’m sitting here waiting for her shock to kick in, she seems excited for me to have finally found my mate. Too bad I’m about to crush all her hopes and dreams.

“That’s amazing Alex! I'm so happy for you, granted it's James but maybe he will be different since he knows that you’re his ma— “

I manage to cut her off before she can finish her statement.

“Annie, listen before you get too excited here you need to realize, He isn’t my mate anymore.”

“What?!? Why? What happen?”

How am I going to tell her this without breaking into a million pieces and crying right here in front of the whole school, even though I hate the guy, still he was my mate, and the bond hasn’t fully broken yet and so that pain is still there.

“Well, yesterday when I left in the middle of lunch, I was trying to get away from everything because when we were sitting there, I realized where that scent was coming from. I realized that James was my mate, I was so upset that it was him because of the asshole that he is, I had to get away and think about everything, but before I could leave, he followed me out here and rejected me on the spot, I managed to keep myself together so I could reject him back. But once I made it home, I fell apart, but I’m doing okay now. I just want to move on and forget about him and everything else and try to forget about it.”

Annie is looking at me like she wishes she could just take away all the pain I’m feeling. Therefore, I didn’t tell my parents; they would look at me the same way and I don’t want people to feel bad for me. So, I won't get another mate big deal, I'll just finish school and move away from the pack and try to find a new life away from here.

”Oh, Alex, I’m so sorry honey. You want me to go kick his ass?”

“No Annie, I just want to forget about him and move on.”

“What did your parents say? I know your dad can't be happy about this.”

“Well….my parents…. don’t exactly know, I haven’t told them. You know my dad, if he knew he would go to the Alpha and then Alpha Robert would talk to James and make him take back his rejection and I don’t want my mate to be with me out of obligation. I want my mate to be with because he loves me and I want my mate to love me because of who I am to them, not because I would make them stronger by being by their side as Luna, or because they think it would get them the Alpha position of their pack sooner. None of that should matter when it comes to finding your mate. So, if you could not mention this to my parents or yours, that would be great.”

Annie looks at me like she feels bad for me with those eyes full of sorrow and pity and I can see she is trying not to let it show but I have known her long enough to know. But she gives me her best ‘feel better’ and says, “Of course Alex, your secret is safe with me.”

After our long and meaningful talk about how awful my birthday was yesterday, we turn towards the big building full of classrooms and make our way into the school. I can feel eyes on me, and it feels like everyone knows what happen yesterday. Unless James told everyone or even told Jackie and she opened her big mouth nobody should know, I doubt James would say anything, he doesn’t want the whole pack to know what a weak mate he had. So, we make our way to my locker to switch out all our books and make our way to our first class of the day. When we are seated in our chairs the teacher walks in and begins her lecture.

“This is going to be a great day.”

Annie manages a small chuckle at my sarcasm.

When we make it through most of our classes, we out our books away and make our way to the lunchroom to get a quick bite to eat before we have to make our way to the library to grab some books for a project coming up.

WE make it to the lunchroom and when Annie and I grab our food and start to make our way to our table, we are about to sit down when someone comes up to me and throws my tray of food right at me and then I end up with ketchup and mustard and everything else all over me and I have soda soaking into my shirt and pants.

“What the hell Jackie?”

Annie is the first to say something. Maybe because I am still shocked that I am covered in food and soda to say anything yet.

“Maybe this little FREAK needs to watch where she is going? I was walking here first.”

“Seriously Jackie, what are we five? EH I was here first.”

“Did you seriously just make fun of me? I don’t know who you think you are, you stupid bitch, but I will end you!”

“I’m not scared of you Jackie, you may have this whole school scared of you, but you don’t scare me.”

The cafeteria is deathly silent with everyone watching and waiting to see what Annie does next or to see what Jackie will say. Everyone knows that Jackie is not a physical fighter she is more of a ‘get someone to do her dirty work for her or to hurt you more with her words or with as little effort as possible’ type of person. But everyone knows if anyone is going to throw the first punch it will be Annie and I don’t think Jackie will know what to do if she does, so that means I need to step in before Annie does beat the shit out of her.

“Annie just forget it, let’s get out of here, I’m sticky and I need to change.”

Annie looks at me and then turn to Jackie and gives her a ‘burn in hell’ look and Jackie just gives us both a smug look that tells us both she won’t see any punishment for what she just did.

I manage to get to the girls’ locker room and switch into my gym clothes, which isn’t too bad, they are comfortable jogger pants and t-shirt. So, I can’t complain but I just wish Jackie would leave me alone, but I know that will never happen so long as I am here.