TESSA’S POV
Insane. The whole situation was absolutely insane.
There wasn’t any way that the other shifters would be enjoying this fiasco that had happened between me, Cohen, and Atlas. The supposed holy mating season was interrupted by this misunderstanding and had led even the leaders to interfere.
I could not deny the shame eating me wholly right now. Every pair of eyes was focused on me, as if I had brought such misfortune that ruined the most awaited event for this pack.
“I… I’m really sorry,” I mumbled softly, lowering my head as I couldn’t bear to see the way Alpha Frank and Luna Serene judged me with their stare. It was too much to handle.
“You don’t have to apologize, young lady. The Moon Goddess has some plans for the three of you and we can’t wait to have it unfold,” said the Highest Priestess, who was the only creature who seemed not to be bothered by the fact that two males stepped forward, claiming that I was their mate.
The way I see it, the Highest Priestess was totally entertained.
“We do not want any trouble,” Uncle told everyone. “If you will excuse us, we want to bring home our niece so she can take a rest.”
“That’s right,” Aunt Alice added, while she continuously caressed my back. Her arms were wrapped around me while I buried my face in her chest, afraid to look at the shifters around us. “My niece has suffered enough trauma back in human land. I don’t think she could handle another one.”
“Then you may go,” Alpha Frank responded, still in his deep, cold voice.
“It’s much appreciated, Alpha…”
I heaved a sigh of relief when my guardians carefully walked me away from the highly ranked werewolves. My aunt still covered me from the judging eyes of many shifters in the red oak mountain, when my gaze found Mikhaela. She looked worried about me, and I could only give her one thin smile. I wasn’t sure if I would still have the heart and courage to see her after this event, for the situation was absolutely traumatizing.
***
ATLAS’S POV
I groaned in frustration.
This was not the situation I expected to happen. I looked forward to joining this year’s mating season after two years of being unable to find my mate. Now, that I’ve finally found her, another problem happened that kept me from claiming her.
I could only endure the pain inside my chest when my wolf growled inside of me, totally in wrath of the fact that Cohen claimed he was also mated with Tessa Finley. Fisting my hands, I started to feel furious, too, considering how much I waited to find my mate, only to find out that another man would like to have a share.
“You should have rejected that girl,” Luna Serene, my mother, demanded as we walked into our mansion. “It’s not going to be painful if you reject her now, Atlas. She does not feel the mate bond going through her thin body. We have to take advantage of it!”
“Like what I said earlier, I’m not going to reject her, Luna.” My jaw clenched as I looked at my mother, who then offered me a deadly glare.
“You don’t understand, Atlas! She’s not compatible with you!”
“Then how come the Moon Goddess granted me a mate like her if she’s not compatible with me?” I asked in a rage. “I don’t want to reject this fate.”
“Your mother is right, Atlas.” Alpha Frank butted in. “The girl has no wolf to begin with. She’s not strong enough and has been humanized by her past. I do not think she’s a good fit to become the future Luna.”
I clicked my tongue as I looked at my parents in disbelief. “And who do you think is the right one? Someone who isn’t my mate?”
“You need a Luna more than a mate, Atlas.” My mom walked towards me, holding both of my arms and shaking me like she wanted me to wake up. “We need you to have a Luna who is strong enough to co-lead, to handle the pack even if the Alpha isn’t around. That isn’t just the girl whose mind got humanized. We won’t accept her.”
“Again,” I said as I sighed desperately and looked at my parents. “I will not reject this fate. Instead, I’ll do everything in my might to claim what’s deemed mine.”
I walked out and didn’t look back, even if my mother called my name. They had nothing good to say anyway, because they only focused on our family’s reputation. It was just fucked up.
My parents weren’t mates. They had the audacity to reject the fate given to them and stuck with each other to protect their powers, without a single amount of intimacy in their relationship. That’s how greedy they had become, and now they wanted me to do the same.
It was already dawn, yet I couldn’t sleep. My mind was invaded by that girl, Tessa Finley. Lying down on my bed, I could visualize her innocent face. To say that I wasn’t intrigued by her was a lie. The first time I laid my eyes on her, she already had my attention.
Tessa Finley, a she-wolf who came from human territory, bringing nothing but her bravery into the land of werewolves. She’s incomparable. Her entire physique was stunning; her presence screamed kindness and innocence.
I wouldn’t forget how she stared at me with her fascinating amber eyes, watching me as an Omega girl gave me a blow job that night on my birthday. I wouldn’t forget how the way she gasped caught my attention, and since then I started to desire her.
I wanted her… and now that my secret affection towards her was blessed by the Moon Goddess, I would do anything to claim her, even if it meant having a fair fight against Cohen.
Letting out a sigh, I sat up and gazed at the full moon that could be seen through the window of my room. I could feel the intense rush of my blood going through my veins simply by looking up at it. The mate bond pull was still here inside of me, making me lose my mind every second she was away from me.
The ache of desire inside of me was too strong, and so I had to do something.
Without any second thoughts, I jumped out of the window with only one thing on my mind.
I only needed one glance… and I should be good.