Chapter 77 - Rejected by My Best Friend & Alpha

VIVIAN'S POV

Today is the day. The final day that everyone will be holding their breath around me, walking on eggshells. Afraid that I'll break. Tonight was the Blood Moon and when I'd finally decide on my mate and our future.

I stared at the ceiling, holding my stomach, the butterflies refusing to settle. I just wanted to skip to tomorrow, when this was over and done with, and my future could finally start. Tomorrow would be a better day than today.

I threw back the covers, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. First things first, I needed to eat. Make an appearance, act normal, be normal. The party wasn't until tonight, and I couldn't just hole myself in my room all day beforehand. I'd been doing that for days already while I healed.

I wobbled over to my dresser, finding a pair of leggings and a tank top to slip into, then a pair of boots I could also slip on easily. I wasn't going for fancy right now. I'd dress fancy and nice tonight. I just wanted to eat.

I was heading towards the door when there was knocking. It was probably Zeke. I'm surprised I'd made it to get dressed before he knocked. I made it to the door, opening a crack to see him standing there, his eyes looking around nervously. "Hey, Z, what's going on?"

"Hey, can I come in?"

I pulled the door open wider. "Sure. I was about to head to breakfast, though, but yeah. What do you need?"

He rushed inside, turning his back to me. He kept his back to me as I waited for him to say something. "Zeke?"

"Can you close the door? I want some privacy."

I felt a nervous tick in my stomach, but I pushed it aside. This was Zeke. I turned, closed the door, and spun around to face him again. He started pacing, his hands behind his back. "V, you know I love you."

I sighed. Not this again. "Z, please. Don't start this. I felt rejected. We're not mates."

"But we were. And we're destined to be. And it's fate. We have been best friends since we were pups. I mean, come on. It's written in the stars. It's the perfect love story to tell our pups."

He stopped pacing, turning his pleading eyes on me. I walked forward, grabbing his hands. "Z, I have to tell you something."

"Please tell me it's good news."

"You might want to sit down for this."

"Oh no."

I tried to offer him a small smile, but it fell flat. "Z, we're not truly mates. Chris was always my true mate. Sarah confessed she messed with our mate bonds from the very start."

"No, no, no. That's not true. You're just saying that."

He pulled his hands from mine, but I snatched at them, pulling him back to me. "Z, you know I wouldn't make that up. Come on."

"Why would you tell me that? We're meant to be. We're true mates. We're best friends. We've always been best friends. Please don't do this."

I gripped his hands tighter, refusing to let him go. "You have to listen to me, Zeke. We are not true mates. Chris and I are true mates. Chris and I are meant to be. You and I are not. You have to let me go. I'm sorry."

Zeke stared at me. "Do you mean that? That's going to be your decision tonight?"

I bit my lip, nervous now that I had said it aloud. But I nodded. "Yes. Chris is my choice. He's my true mate. I've been suppressing our bond until it's the right moment. But yes. I love him."

Zeke looked around. "In that case, let's have a drink to celebrate."

I smiled, nervous. "Are you okay?"

"Never better. Little disappointed. My heart hurts. I'm sad. But you're still my best friend. You always will be. But we need to start the healing process now, and what better way to do that than a toast?"

I nodded. "Sure. A toast. But it's early, don't you think?"

He waved his hand. "It's never too early for a celebratory toast. Come on. I'll pour you one."

I walked over to the couch and sat down as he walked to my little minibar that I never used. "I guess just something light. Not much. Like something you'd drink at a brunch, okay?"

He looked back. "I got you."

He walked over, handing me a small glass of brown liquid. "Just a small shot of whiskey. You don't have many options here. So bottom's up?"

I looked at the drink. I'm not much of a drinker, but he was upset so that I could do this one thing. I threw the drink back, swallowing it in one gulp, letting it burn my throat.

I gagged, handing him my glass. "Thank you. That was rough."

He grinned. "Ah, you're a big girl. I'm sure you've had worse."

I shook my head. "Not really. I don't drink."

He set the glasses down at the bar. "How do you feel?"

I looked at him. "Fine, why do you ask?"

He leaned forward, placing his hands on his knees to stare into my eyes. "Just waiting."

"For what?"

Suddenly, the room lurched forward, and Zeke danced in squiggly lines. "Zeke?"

"Waiting for that."

He pressed a finger to my forehead and pushed me backward on the couch. Then it was all blackness.

*****

ZEKE'S POV

If there was one thing to be grateful for, Sarah, it was her damn vitamins. I didn't want to drug Vivian, but at this point, it was my only option. I needed to get her alone and convince her to let me claim her. I could mark her by force, but that seemed entirely too gross.

I looked down at her passed-out form. Now, there was the issue of getting her to my haven. I hadn't overthought what I would do from this point and had no help. No one in this pack liked me. If I were back at Greywood, this would be much easier.

I looked around. Oh, the bedsheets. I could wrap her in the comforter and then...fuck. This was so complicated. Out the window, through the woods? Yeah, that should work. This would be okay.

I lifted her over my shoulder, gently placing her on the bed. Running to the door, I hurried and locked it. I didn't need someone walking in on us right now. I looked back at her. Why did she have to choose Chris over me? I was her best friend. I was her true mate.

Now, I had to take these drastic measures and remind her of our good times and how perfect we'd be together. Hopefully, she wasn't too mad, and after I claimed her, she could forgive me. The mate bond should resurface afterward and soften the edges of her anger.

I looked down at her face. She looked so peaceful right now. So unbothered. I wish she could stay like that forever. Sarah, Samantha, whoever she was, had ruined everything. And now it was my job to fix it.

*****

VIVIAN'S POV

"Wakey, wakey," Zeke's voice cut through the haze.

I struggled to open my eyes, the darkness wanting to keep me within its grasp. But I slowly opened my eyes and saw Zeke leaning on his hands before me. He was grinning; a pale single light bulb illuminated him from behind.

We were in what looked like an abandoned cabin. The wood was old, a couch covered in dust, and an old cover torn and dirty. Had he been so cliche to bring me to an old cottage after apparently drugging and kidnapping me? How many times did I need to be kidnapped?

I pulled at my wrists, noting that they were tied behind my back to the chair I was sitting in, my ankles also tied to the chair I was in. Friendly, he had me secured. I glared at him. "Zeke. What the fuck?"

"I had to stop you from making a mistake, V. So I brought you here. It's okay. We'll spend some time together. You'll see my side of things. And when you're ready for me to claim you, I can set you free."

I laughed. "I am so not letting you claim me. It'll be a cold day in hell before that happens."

Slap. His hand across my cheek stunned me. Zeke had slapped me. "Watch your tone, V."

His slap had turned my head, but I looked up at him, seeing him differently now. "Zeke?"

"Now let's start what I call 'duck duck kiss,' and it ends with a kiss on the cheek!"

My stomach twisted, tugging at the knots at my wrist and pulling at the energy inside myself, but feeling nothing.

Zeke laughed. "Are you trying to use magic right now, V?"

He grabbed the edges of the chair, leaning over me. I shook my head. "What are you talking about?"

"Sarah showed me this place. It's hollowed ground. No magic. But nice try."

Fuck. I smiled at him sweetly. "I wasn't."

He rolled his eyes. "Don't try to lie to me."

I looked out the window, begging and pleading for someone to save me. I don't think I could save myself.