Chapter 32

I opened my eyes groggily, and the bright morning sunlight almost blinded me, making my eyes water. Yawning, I sat myself up and rubbed my heavy eyes and looked down at the sleeping figure that was Xavier, who was snoring loudly.

My body felt sore and achy, but something about me felt different. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was, except for the fact that I was no longer a virgin and that I was now a claimed Luna. It felt like my whole body was glowing. Stirring movements beside me alerted me that Xavier was now waking up. Smiling happily, I looked down at him and watched him sleepily open his eyes.

“Good morning, my beautiful,” he yawned. “Did you have a good night?”

Blushing, I thought back to the events of last night. It really wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be and letting Xavier touch me in that way, had healed me from the past. Gingerly, I felt the side of my neck with my fingertips to find four small holes and some slight swelling from where Xavier had claimed me.

“Don’t worry. It’s almost healed. It's normal for that to happen,” Xavier assured, gently picking up my hand and kissing it gently.

“Xavier, what happened last night?” I queried, suddenly remembering that my wolf had briefly taken over me, before I passed out.

“Your wolf took over right at the very end. You passed out along with me just shortly after,” Xavier shrugged, not seeming fazed by the events.

“Yes, but why did she take over? And did she say what I think she said?” I continued desperately.

I needed to know if what I remembered hearing was true or was, I just dreaming it.

“Yes, she said MATE!” Xavier confirmed, beaming widely.

He looked absolutely thrilled about it now that we were talking about it.

“But Tom was her Mate. She can't have you as well?” I stuttered in confusion. “I am your Mate as you choose me, but she never chose you.”

“Until now,” Xavier interrupted. “I guess you didn’t know that wolves can have second chance Mates.”

“Second chance Mates?” I repeated, shaking my head in confusion. “No, I didn’t. You will need to explain.”

Xavier sighed and sat up in bed, leaning against my headboard. Gently he pulled me over to him so that I was now cuddled into his chest.

“Every wolf gets a second chance Mate, just in case the first one didn’t work out well. Not every wolf uses their second chance Mate because most of us are happy with our first choices,” Xavier explained.

“You were my first-choice Mate, and I can't tell you how over the moon I am to be with you and have you as my Luna. However, your wolf chose Tom as her Mate, not me. And obviously, you know how that turned out. You rejected Tom for you and on behalf of your wolf, which essentially cancels out any bonds and any attachments to one another, which left the door open for your wolf to find her second chance Mate.”

“So, you were her second chance Mate all along then?” I asked, trying to piece the puzzle together. “And why do we even have second chance Mates?”

“No, not necessarily. A second chance Mate could be anyone that that wolf chooses. She could have chosen me, or the Beta or Greg or any wolf if she really wanted. She knew how much you loved me as a human.” Xavier went on. “And after all the pain and hurt that you have been through, she wanted you to be happy. She learnt to love me, and now she loves me just as much as you do!” Xavier smiled happily, squeezing me gently against him.

“And we have second chance Mates, just in case the first one turns out to be a terrible Mate, just like a certain someone. The Moon Goddess wants all her wolves to be happy. No one can be happy if they are Mated to someone that they don’t want to be with!” Xavier explained, answering my question.

I beamed up at him and snuggled in closer, resting my hand on his chest.

Thank you, Moon Goddess, for second chance Mates!

Suddenly, a loud knocking on my bedroom door made us both jump, and I glanced up at Xavier.

“Who on earth is that banging on my door?” I whispered, pulling the duvet up around us to protect our modesties as we were both still undressed.

“I don’t know. I could send them away, but it’s your bedroom. Do you want me to?” Xavier shrugged.

“No, let them in. It could be something or someone important,” I replied, tucking the duvet in around me securely.

“Come on in!” boomed Xavier loudly, pulling me closer and wrapping his arm around me protectively.

The door immediately swung open to reveal Rachel and Beta Adam standing there alongside Hannah. All three visitors walked promptly into my bedroom, and Rachel stood at the foot of my bed, looking at Xavier and me cuddled up in the bed. Rachel folded her arms across her chest and stared at us both intently.

“Do you lot mind? Just coming and forcing your way in here!” I snapped angrily, eying up the intruders. “Get out, will you. We are in the middle of something!”

“I see he has finally claimed the girl,” Beta Adam mused, grinning happily, eyeing up the wound on the side of my neck and coming to stand next to Rachel.

“Do you have a problem with that?” I asked dryly, eyeing up Beta Adam cautiously.

“About time!” Rachel sniffed. “Xavier, get up. You know the drill,” Rachel ordered, throwing Xavier’s clothes at him. “It’s time to go.”

“Uh, what? What drill?” I asked, looking at Rachel and then back to Xavier.

“Mother, she doesn’t know!” sighed Xavier, rubbing his eyes in his hand and moaning loudly. “I haven’t told her yet!”

“Doesn’t know what and told me what!?” I snapped, folding my arms crossly and looking at Xavier angrily.

“As you know, now that I have claimed you, Beta Adam and my Mother have twelve hours left to arrange the Bonding Ceremony. It would have been twenty-four hours, but we have already spent the night together,” Xavier replied, glancing across at our visitors.

“A part of the Bonding Ceremony rules states that after being claimed, the Luna and the Alpha must spend at least twelve hours apart. They cannot see each other until after the Bonding Ceremony has been completed,” revealed Beta Adam.

From somewhere deep inside me, a white-hot rage began to boil over. “I don’t think so!! He is going nowhere,” I snapped, glaring at our guests.

Hannah, who was stood by the bedroom door, took a step back and coughed timidly. “I think it’s beginning!” glancing over at Rachel and the Beta. “She is going through the change!”

“Xavier, out NOW!” Rachel ordered, pointing towards my bedroom door, glancing at me nervously.

“I’m sorry, but I have to. It’s a sort of test that you are under now. I will see you soon, I promise. I love you, baby!” Xavier whispered before swinging his legs out of my bed.

Xavier quickly dragged on his trousers and grabbed his shirt and shoes, before planting a quick kiss on my cheek and hurriedly leaving the room with Rachel. A fit of sudden anger erupted out of me like a volcano, and I sprang out of bed, growling loudly, wrapping the duvet around me for privacy. Beta Adam slammed the bedroom door shut and stood in front of it, blocking me from running after Xavier.

“Leah, no!” he growled sadly. “You can't go after him. Please just listen to us!”

“Why not! I WANT MY MATE!” I yelled, slamming my hands on the door behind Beta Adams head. “Get out of my way!”

I grabbed hold of the Beta and tried to pull him out of the way, but he was stronger than me, and he stood his ground. Inside of me, I could hear my wolf howling in anger, and I could feel her trying to burst out. Hannah pushed her way in between the Beta and me and gently cupped my face with her soft, delicate hands.

“Leah sweety, listen. You must stay away for twelve hours. That is all. Then he is all yours after the ceremony!” Hannah said, trying her best to calm me down.

“Why!?” I growled, my body trembling with anger. “Move out of my way before I do something I will regret!”

What was wrong with me. Why did I want Xavier so much?

“This happens to every female that has been claimed. For the first twenty-four hours, all they want is their Mate. They can’t even bare to not be in the same room as their Mate,” Hannah explained, looking over at the Beta.

“The 12-hour separation is a test to see how strong the Luna really is at staying away. It’s a test set by the other packs. If the Luna sees her Mate in the 12 hours, then it means that that Luna is weak. She then becomes a laughing stock to all the other packs, along with the Alpha and the whole pack included,” Beta Adam continued.

“So, can you see how important it is that you stay away!” Hannah urged. “We are currently the strongest pack out there! We don’t need to be ridiculed for having a weak Luna if you fail this test.”

“Where is Xavier now?” I growled slowly, glaring at Hannah and the Beta.

“Either in his room or his office, preparing for the ceremony,” Beta Adam confirmed, glancing at me nervously.

“You expect me, to stay in this packhouse, away from my Mate for 12 hours, when he is only down the pissing corridor?” I snapped, growling, angrily.

I could feel my teeth beginning to lengthen and claws starting to sprout from my fingertips. Holding back my wolf was starting to prove difficult. I could hear her snarling angrily, and I knew she wanted to rip someone apart. I looked over at Hannah and Beta Adam, who were both glancing at me nervously.

How dare they keep us away from Xavier. Let me out. I will show them what’s what!

“Hannah, step back. Leah is at her most strongest right now. She may hurt you if her wolf bursts out!” Beta Adam warned.

I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. “I suggest you give me 5 minutes to get dressed and you get me out of this packhouse before I rip someone to shreds!” I snarled menacingly. “Hannah grab me an outfit for tonight as I won't be returning until then!”

“Of course. But where are you going to go?” she stuttered nervously.

“To my parent’s house!”