Chapter 38 CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
ROMAN’S POV
Roman groaned, clutching his head as his vision spinned a little. He coughed, wincing at how dry his throat was. He stood up, his head pounding as he grumbled, swearing, for the countless times not to drink again.
Roman tumbled from the bed, Stefan’s body blocking him. He kicked him with his leg, before kicking Owen who was splayed out, snoring with his mouth wide open.
They both groaned, before slowly waking up. Quickly Roman went to the toilet, the cold water a welcome relief. After he was done, he used one of Stefan’s spare brushes, taking one of Stefan's joggers and shirts.
He watched as Stefan and Owen dragged for who to shower first, laughing as he texted his sister to help him bring his backpack to school.
He waited for them, as they prepared hurriedly. After they were done, they all entered Stefan's car, before driving to school.
Once they got to school, the whispers were obvious, people pointing towards their direction. At first, Roman thought Stefan had gotten into one of his troubles like always, only to be surprised when numerous people both boys and girls walked up to him, wanting to know if Emily was really his mate.
Roman frowned in confusion, wondering if Bella had gossiped about his private life with her friends, he avoided people as much as he could, hiding in one of the empty classrooms.
His thoughts wandered to Emily. What was she thinking, did she think he did this? And then knowing how people in his pack behaved, he was sure some were bullying her for something that wasn’t her fault.
He glanced up as the door opened, Bella sneaking in. “How could you?”Roman yelled, not even giving her time to explain or open her mouth.
“Do you know what this would do to Emily?”
“Calm down,” Bella said, showing him her phone.
Roman listened to the voice note, his eyes widening as his voice spilled out, confessing his heart.
Stefan!!! He seethed, marching straight to his class.
He knew what he had done, and yet didn’t think it was important to tell him. This wasn’t just about him, but about Emily too.
He slammed the class door open, his heated gaze zeroing in on Stefan.
Look man, Stefan says, trying to explain himself.
Without waiting Roman punches him hard, not giving him time to recover before punching him again. They both growled loudly at each other, their fight escalating. Their friends tried to pull them off each other, but would quickly back off as they growled at them till eventually, everyone left them. They fought aggressively, destroying school properties. Eventually securing had to pull them away from each other, both of them badly bruised.
“Stay away from me,” Roman spat out at Stefan, before walking away.
Well, that was two years ago, he and Stefan had settled their differences not too long after, coming together to stop those bullying Emily.
Today was their eighteenth birthday, and they had both decided to celebrate together.
Roman breathed out nervously as he prepared for the party that would be hosted at the pack’s event center.
Today was a big day, as not only would they be celebrating their birthdays, they would also be finding their mates.
His sister Bella had found her mate last year, to Owen of all people for that matter. Roman wasn’t sure he had ever seen them interact before, but like they say, the moon goddess has her way of doing things.
He put on his suite, arranging his hair. Roman had decided to go for a red fitted suit that hugged his slim but fitted body; he had allowed his hair to grow out a bit, framing his face a little. He packed his hair in a man bun, allowing some curls to fall out. He put on his silver wristwatch, a dark Italian shoe, before spraying a little perfume.
Roman glanced at his image, satisfied with the result, before walking out of his room. He could hear discussions going on in the living room, Roman walked downstairs, anxious at seeing Emily.
Today was the day, the day the moon goddess would confirm what he had always suspected. He knew Emily might not fully feel the mate bond like Chaira had warned, but still he was hopeful.
Roman nearly choked, his heart rate increasing at the stunning sight of Emily, he blushed darkly, clearing his throat as he looked away from her.
He didn’t get the chance to tell her how beautiful she was. But he promised himself that he surely will, later when they could find time alone.
They all packed into their cars, Roman dragged Emily's hands, asking her to ride with him. She blushed, before going towards his car.
They drove silently for a while. You look very beautiful Emily Roman says, breaking the silence.
“Thank you, You look very handsome too,” she told him, blushing furiously.
Roman smiled, taking her hands in his. He had seriously wanted to ask her out last year, but had decided to wait for today. He wanted confirmation first, before deciding anything between them.
They arrived at the event center, the place filled up as some other packs had also been invited. Later he asked Emily, “will you come with me?” Some of us are hanging out at that abandoned building.
“Sure,” she says.
They smiled at themselves, before walking into the overly packed hall. The party was already in motion, people bustling around as they laughed and conversed with each other. Roman took a drink from one of the waiters, passing one to Emily and the other to himself. They cheered, before sipping from their wine.
Emily excused herself, hurrying towards her friends, while Roman went towards his own. They would meet later, he thought.
He gisted, and laughed with his friends, turning around as arms wrapped around his shoulders. To us Stefan says, raising his glass as they cheered, before drinking it at a go.
Roman can’t count how many glasses of champagne he had consumed, but he could feel the slight buzz as his eyes searched around the room, stopping at his target. He watched Emily as she laughed at something one of her friends had said, a small smile coming to his own lips at the sight.
“Very soon huh,” Stefan whispered beside him.
He turned, “are you looking for your mate tonight?” he asked him.
“That is what’s expected of me,” he says.
“I pity the girl that’s going to be mated to you,” Roman told him, as they both burst out laughing.
Alpha Regan, clicked his glass, drawing everyone’s attention to him.
I would like to say a happy birthday to my son’s, and successor’s Stefan Regan, and Roman Fisher. Everyone cheered, as he called us to the stage.
I stood aside as Stefan gave his speech, before giving mine. The whole room fell silent as we all counted, waiting for the clock to strike twelve.
Immediately it did, happy birthday song started playing loudly, while everyone sang along. We both left the stage, before integrating into the crowd. It was time to find our mate.
My feet carried me towards Emily, my heart beating as every step I took felt like a suffocating weight. I smelt her first, chocolate pie, with a touch of cinnamon. Then I saw her and my wolf howled loudly in my head. MATE, my smile could not be contained, I skipped towards her, but before I could get to her, someone else blocked me, rushing towards her as he hugged her tightly, Mate thundering boldly from his mouth.
Roman faltered, the smile wiping from his face as they both turned. His heart dropped at the sight of Stefan, standing there, a huge smile on his face as he announced Emily his mate.
The ground vibrated under Romans feet, confusion clouding his senses as everyone cheered, jubilating with Stefan.
He froze as his gaze met that of Emily, the apologetic look in her eyes breaking whatever piece of his heart was left.
Without saying anything, Roman turned as his wolf howled loudly in his mind, begging for him to go back. He loosened his ties as he ran.
Roman slipped into the bathroom stall, splashing water on his face. No it can’t be, he had felt it, Emily was his mate. “So how come she was also mated to Stefan?”
“Why could she feel Stefan’s mate bond, and not his.”
Chaira had not told him something like this was possible.
Roman went back towards the hall, wanting to see with eyes. He stood back, watching as both Stefan and Emily shared their blood, sealing their mate bond.
Before Roman could walk away, Bella runs after him, blocking his part.
“What happened?” She asked, "I could see you going towards Emily, which means you also felt the mate bond so what happened?”
“I don’t know,” Roman says, the tears he had been trying to hold back spilling out.
I don’t understand myself, I felt it, my wolf felt her as our mate, and then suddenly Stefan’s there, claiming her as his. He knows how badly I had been waiting for this, for her. And he just snatched it away from me, Roman yelled.
Bella hugged him, crying with him. More than anyone, she understood how patiently he had waited for this day.
They raised their heads up as their parents walked towards them, his mom hugging him, immediately while his dad stood back.
Oh!!Roman, she says, I am so sorry. The moon goddess has a reason for everything.
Roman nodded his head. Can I just have a moment to myself, I promise to come back he says, watching as his parents glanced at each other, before nodding their heads.
Roman changed into his wolf, howling painfully, before sprinting into the darkness of the night.