Chapter 24

ALEC

I knew the day was coming, I just thought I had more time to prove I want her. I messed up, really bad. It's sad to say that I think a part of me lies with her, but she just doesn't feel for me anymore. The mate bond was severed, and it's not the mate bond that was connecting us anymore. Over these months I've noticed how much she has changed. She loved watching movies and going to eat fast food. She went rollerblading. She was a remarkable woman, and I took her for granted. I tried so much to make her into what I want, that I never accepted who she was. She was growing day by day, and I didn't allow her to do that. I was in love with her, yet she wasn't with me.

I think the only way I could prove myself, was to challenge Asher, if he accepts.

ASHER

I woke up to my father sitting in my room. He was reading a newspaper, waiting till I woke up. I stretched and pulled myself out of bed. I knew what this was going to be about, but as Vanessa says, it isn't an easy choice to make, even when I accepted.

"Good morning son, I hope you slept well" He put down the newspaper and looked at me.

"Dad, I don't want to talk about this. It isn't your choice to make." I sat up, to put some pants and a shirt on.

"Son, our pack is dying. We need her help. As much as you should be with your mate, the pack needs to come first" I couldn't help but roll my eyes, because I've known her all but a week. If I asked her, she would help regardless.

"Dad enough." I got up and decided to head to the showers.

I let the hot water fall off my body. The thought that tonight I might find my mate, and I am thinking of rejecting her. The mate bond is crucial, but when I was with Vanessa. I felt a click, and emotional bond. Each day that I see her, something just stands out to me. Yet the thought of rejecting someone I am destined too. By being with Vanessa, I get to bring my pack here. They won't starve, they will get housing. We live in poverty, as we have been attacked by humans, hunters, and shifters everything. Killing off most of what we have, and our buildings. Agh. Why is everything so hard to decide?

We all decided to go train with the packs here. Vanessa has been more into it as I think I hurt her pride. I hear a knock on the bathroom door. And it opened.

"Hey sorry if I am disturbing you, this was the only chance I have today to see you" That delicate voice. I opened the shower door, and there she was. Her eyes trailed my body, and now it's causing some tension.

"Want to join?" I asked her. Her eyebrows raised. But she started stripping. If I decide for my mate, I want one last time to enjoy this amazing woman. When she finally took her clothes off, I reached for her hand and tugged her in. The water was falling all over her tanned body. Her lips reached for mine, and I connected us. Her hands were roaming my body. Her fingers had dug into my back. I pulled back.

"Wait you came in here to talk to me, what is it?" She connected our lips again.

"It can wait" I lifted her up against the wall, as she wrapped her legs around me. My lips connected with her again. This time it wasn't rough, and rushed. There was passion in this kiss, as this may be the last time. I kissed down her jaw to her neck, making sure to scratch my k9s on her neck. She moaned with passion.

"I don't mean to be impatient, but we have 10 minutes to get on the field." She said.

"All I need is 2" She laughed at my joke. I like this a lot. I reached down and put my erection on her opening. Grasping her mouth with mine. I slowly slide inside her once again. So tight around me. I slowly started moving her hips, up and down on me. Her lips never left mine. Sometimes I feel like her wolf is connecting mine and putting us closer to the mind then it should be. This was more than just sex, and I know she feels it as well. You may think she was just an average woman, but no she was so much more than that.

VANESSA

We quickly got dressed after a morning session and headed to the field. We barely made it on time. But of course, I think most noticed that we showed together. I approached the group of different areas.

"Mom!!!" Drew ran over to me, throwing himself in my arms. God, I love this kid. I don't ever want him to grow.

"Hey kiddo, sorry I am late." I put him down.

"Mom what happened?" He looked up at me, and I don't understand what he is talking about.

"You have a bruise on your neck." Asher reaches over to look, and he just moves my hair more. I don't know what's happening. I looked at him, and he was laughing. Everyone is laughing. He reaches to my ear to whisper.

"Kind of left you’re a hickey on your neck. Sorry" Oh boy did my face turn red. My son really knows how to put my shame on display. Well it's no secret now.

"Alright everyone, today we are going to work on defense tactics" I needed to change the subject as fast as I could. Didn't stop the glares I had gotten from Alec. But Asher's parents had the biggest smiles. His little sister wanted to join us here. So, I paired her with Drew.

"I need everyone to grab a partner, don't matter the gender. So far, I learned that anger clouds judgement. That is what happened to me. Focus on dodging. You will go back and forth."

"Vanessa I you're my partner." I heard Alec call out. Great. This is going to be a long practice. He positions himself in front of me. He was offensive. He was swinging at me, but in anger. Luckily for me I was blocking.

"It took someone saving you to jump into their bed" He attacked, able to get me in the side.

"Honestly, it didn't take much for me to get to bed" I responded, deciding to punch him in the face.

"How could you let a stranger be your mate, but not your own mate. All I ever did was try to be what you want me to be." He dodged my hit.

"No, you tried to make me what you wanted, you also remained un-loyal. We are past this." He grabbed my hand and twisted it to my back. At this point we were fighting, now everyone was gathered around to watch this argument.

"You made it so difficult to be with you, I didn't want to be business. I wanted for you to be with me, then getting to the commitment." I untangled myself aiming my fist to his stomach.

"You kept fucking around Alec now that I am moving on is when you want to throw a fit. Being this great guy, that should have been you a long time ago" He took a swing catching me in the jaw.

"Most people only fuck you because you tell them who you are. Everyone wants to be loyal" At this point, I stopped in my tracks. My eyes were glossing. I don't know what has gotten into me, but My hand went across his face. I know he was mad, but I didn't deserve this.

"You think that no one is capable of loving me without a title. That no one will sleep with me without my title?" I knew he regretted what he said immediately.

"Vanessa, I didn't mean that I'm sorry. I am just mad." I couldn't believe him at this point, and the Alec I knew all along showed his colors.

"No, you meant what you said. Alec you're a child, and A child wasn't what this kingdom needed. This is why you're a beta now. You think people I am unlovable? That I can't have sex with just being me. FYI, I slept with him, and he didn't even know my real name. I am capable of love again. You didn't love me; you loved the idea of me, and I will not be your punching bag when you get mad. Did it ever occur to you, that I wasn't the problem you were.”? He held so much guilt in his face. Some words are always better left unsaid.

"I rejected you because you're not emotionally available to me. You're a child, and you want to live like one. My kingdom will not suffer. So, who I sleep with, who I choose as my next mate, when I fucking wipe my ass has something in common? It's none of your damn business. I thought we could be friends—"

"Vanessa, I am sorry; we can be friends—" He pleaded.

"No, we cannot be, because you were using me to get back with me. I don't want to be with you because time again you keep proving that you are my downfall. I don't ever want to hear about it again because there is no us. Never will be." This time I actually meant it, that we will never be together. Asher came up to touch my shoulder, but I brushed it off.

"Drew let's go." Drew ran up towards me, and we walked off. I hated losing my patience in front of everyone. I looked back, and Alec looked defeated. I am done, I see no future with us. We are toxic for each other.

Drew and I sat along the hill, where the water lays. I needed to get away, but I just didn't want to hide anymore. I cried, and he saw it.

"Mom, Is Alec your mate?" He rested his head on me. I hate that he sees me like this, but I can't be strong forever.

"Actually, he was my second chance mate. I was rejected by the first, as the age difference was bad." I responded.

"I thought once you find your mate, you have to be with them?" How could I ever explain things, that not everything is what it seems.

"You see even when it's destined for you to be with someone, it's really about what you think is right Drew. I think that the mate bond just messes with your mind way too much, that you never really know who they are on the inside. Drew if you find your mate, I want you to make sure she is a good character. You have a whole kingdom that will suffer. I want her to make you happy, but I want her to be a good person." I don't think I want him to ever decide with just the heart, as you may be greatly blinded for the longest time.

"So, if she isn't a good person, I should reject her?"

"No Drew, you reject her if you think she can't treat you right. Or the people who rely on you. But I want you to do whatever makes you happy." Living to 700 years I want him to be the kid I never got to be.

"Mom, would you ever be mad if I don't want to take the throne? That I want to go to college and be a kid first. I am growing up so fast I can't slow it down." No one ever prepared me for these questions. No one ever told me that I'd break my child's heart without trying.

"Son, you're going to take over the throne one day. However, if you want to go to college first, I'll allow it. Drew, if I can slow down your growing up, would you want that?" I don't think I ever saw him smile so wide. That gave me an answer, my son just wanted to be a kid while he can. I thought maybe that's what meant to be, but what's meant to be isn't what's always right.

"When you turn 16, I will slow it down. But you need to promise me, that you will take this throne at will" He hugged me, and just nodded his head. Being a parent is more than telling them right from wrong. It's telling yourself right from wrong. I hope one day, he will understand the things that I do are to protect him. Failing isn't an option, growing is.