It was morning when I woke up. Still early from the chirping of the morning birds up above. The wind rustled the leaves, awakening me with its symphony. I blinked a few times, my brows furrowed as I took in my surroundings. Where was I?

I lifted my head, hearing the crinkling of what sounded like leaves before looking down at my earthy bed. Last night came hurling back at me. My sleepiness waned almost immediately and I looked down at myself, still in my bra and shorts.

I glanced at the arm draped over my naked waist then peered over my shoulder to see Ridge was still here. He was asleep, his chest rising and falling. This moment made him look much younger than he was. It made me smile a bit.

My brain finally caught up to the situation and I knew my parents would be up by now to wake us all up for breakfast. I swallowed hard, scrunching my nose because I knew I'd be in so much trouble if I didn't get home before my parents found out my room was empty. I'm sure Cece wouldn't be able to give a good excuse to why I'd be missing. I'm not an early riser.

Muttering a curse under my breath, I carefully peeled Ridge's arm off me. I wiggled out from under it, lowering his arm down again once free. I stood up, going over to grab my shirt and tugged it back on. I tucked my hair behind my ear, looking back over to where Ridge was still sleeping.

My brows dipped, contemplating what I should do. It was best to not wake him, I decided. What happened last night was beautiful and I will always cherish it... but it was meant to stay in the dark. To stay with the "what if" part of my hopefulness. I did have one thing left to do though and even if it would hurt, it would only be for a little while. Just until I got a hold of my heartache and mended it.

I slipped my shoes back on, tip toeing back to where the Beta slept. Kneeling beside him, my gaze took in his sleeping face and admired the rest of him. It was needed for me to see him like this. Just once. Tilting my head, I reached over and hesitated before brushing back Ridge's hair off his forehead. He made a soft moan at my touch but otherwise stayed asleep.

I pressed a kiss to his forehead and whispered against it, "You will always... be my everything."

Looking his face over, I traced my finger down his cheek but careful so I didn't wake him. I really had to go now. I was already going to be in enough trouble as it is. Biting my lip, I got up and started walking away. About ten feet from Ridge, I stopped and held my hand over my heart. My eyes shut, preparing for what I needed to do by taking a deep breath... to start over whether it was with Ridge or not.

My chin trembled, looking over my shoulder at the sleeping male.

"I accept your rejection, Ridge Beaumont. And-and relinquish the ties of being your Alpha female."

My heartstrings snapped, making me double over as this painful ache shot through every part of me. I bit back a cry, gritting my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut. Fighting my shaky knees, my body felt heavy and trembled just as much. I whimpered, stumbling forward-forcing myself to distance myself from Ridge. I pushed to stumble through the forest, my vision blurring as it hit me so hard what I've done.

I accepted the rejection. All ties with Ridge had been broken and now he would be free of our Spirit World given bond. With the new information I admitted to him about Molly, it was now in Ridge's hands what he wanted to do next. But whether that was to go through with marrying Molly and mate with her fully, without having to worry about me, or if he chose to give us our rightful chance and to start over... there would be no bond between us. It was severed. Probably forever as I've never heard of a rejected mate wanting to be with that same mate down the line.

I honestly didn't think I had any tears left in me. I thought I'd cried them all out last night. I feared that bitterness was going to take over soon because of having to live a life without someone to love me back. Romantically, anyway. Unless I find someone mate less as I was now.

The twigs snapped as I went further through the forest. They made a small enough distraction from what lied ahead of me from this point on. It wasn't until I reached the clearing that I looked up to watch my fellow pack members interacting with one another and going on about their day.

Shaking my head, I walked up the road to my house. My nerves getting the better of me as I got closer. It was quiet when I opened the back door and slipped inside. Shutting the door and making my way out into the hall, I froze when the biting tone of my dad called my name from the dining area.

I closed my eyes, turning around and forced myself to where he was waiting at the table. My siblings and mom were seated too with their plates of food in front of them. They didn't seem to have eaten though. I couldn't blame them with my dad's Warrior demeanor suffocating the room.

Dad raised a brow as he was using a fork to move around his scrambled eggs. His eyes were on me. I glanced at the others at the table. They were holding their heads down with small glances back at me.

"I thought I made it very... clear..." my dad's tone was low, and calm, which was always a tell his temper was just over the boiling point. "That you were to be inside this house by your curfew."

His brown eyes narrowed on me, his entire face now hard.

Sucking in my cheek, I shrugged a shoulder. I didn't know how to reply. I knew the rule but had broken it for the second time.

My dad's teeth ground together as he growled out, "Where were you all night?"

I swallowed, brows furrowing and quietly answered, "The fore-"

The loud bang of my dad's fists pounding on the table startled not only me but everyone else. He scooted back and out of his chair, blazing eyes still on me. His broad chest heaving.

"What part of you being in danger do you not fucking comprehend, Gianna?!"

I winced, looking down. My face felt hot and I shifted uncomfortably.

"I'M TALKING TO YOU!"

Shaking my head, I whispered out an apology but my dad wasn't having it. He pointed at me and declared me grounded. That I was not going to be allowed anywhere out of this house until further notice.

My heart dropped, panic ensuing as I widened my eyes. "That's not fair! I have a job, Dad!"

"Well, then you're quitting!" Dad shot back. He glowered at me, leaning forward with his hands on the table. "I will not stand for your defiance while you still live here, Gianna Gomez!"

I clamped my mouth shut, jaw tight now.

Unfortunately, this was a rule for every offspring in a pack who were still unmated. Those werewolf offspring still lived at home until they found their mates. Which was why my older brother and sister still lived with us at twenty-five and twenty-three.

And technically, with my being nineteen, I was still a teenager in the laws of Werewolves. I was still under guardianship of my parents until next year.

Tears that I thought had dried out returned, blurring my vision as I begged my dad to understand that I needed the job to help them out. To earn my keep for school, too. My dad was having none of it. He was too far beyond angry for my disobedience with the one rule that kept me safe.

"I'm tired of your excuses, Gianna, and you will learn to obey the rules of this house! One way or another I am going to get through to you!"

I was glaring at the floorboards while he was shouting at me. I felt like this scolding was insulting my capability and character of needing to be more responsible. Dad went on that I was being selfish and not appreciating what our family has had to do to protect who I am all these years.

Then Dad hit me really hard when he shouted, "There is nothing you could have possibly thought was more important than your safety that you had to be out at all hours of the fucking night!"

My blood boiled all of a sudden. Acceptance of the rejection was still raw and so the connection between Ridge and I was fading, but that didn't mean I was completely healed yet. It only fueled something inside me when Dad indirectly attacked Ridge. My wolf was pacing inside me, her own agitated feelings mixing with my own.

Clenching my teeth, I growled out, "Don't you dare say nothing is more important than my mate! I would gladly expose what I am if it meant making sure his happiness was secured!"

Huffing out heavily, I curled my fists at my sides.

My parents' eyes widened after my outburst and my siblings' jaw dropped.

I swallowed, looking down with my trembling lip and chin. I spoke out based in raw emotion. In reality, I didn't have a mate anymore. I had officially given him up this morning when I accepted his rejection.

I swiped at my tears, shaking my head that I was sorry for yelling, and that I shouldn't have.

Dad blinked a few times, his brows furrowed a little as he whispered, "You found your mate?"

His tone was strained, like his world had just collapsed. I looked at Dad and could see the tears in his brown eyes. I understood why he'd look so stunned, so taken back because his little girl finding her one true love was setting in. It would inevitably mean I'd end up leaving him. But I didn't want to see him like that. I couldn't. There was no reason to make my dad feel like his world was ending just because mine did.

"You don't have to worry, Dad." I ran my fingers through my hair, looking down again. "Last night was the last I'd ever be with him again. I accepted his rejection so I will no longer have ties to him after today."

I looked up at my family who all had all kinds of emotions on their faces. It was an understanding to me they were registering the part of me being rejected and then me accepting it. My dad slowly sat down, glaring at his plate of breakfast while Mom came around the table quickly and pulled me into a hug.

I held her tightly, just like I did when I was little, whispering, "I had to, Mom..." My voice squeaked as I cried. "I had to."

It was the best excuse I could come up with for why I accepted it. It was too painful to go into detail at that moment.

Mom stroked my hair, shaking her head. "Oh, my baby girl. How could he do that to you?"

I sobbed, pleading for her to tell me that it only gets better from here. But I knew she wouldn't be able to. She didn't know the feeling. She had my dad to prove she had all the love in the world.

Wade stood up from the table, almost snarling when he asked, "Who is he?"

I could see the agitation in my brother's eyes, the growing hate he had for this unnamed mate of mine. I knew Wade would have to secretly hide his emotions whenever around the alpha family after today. Especially after Ridge became Alpha one day.

Glancing at my dad, he turned his head to me. He was also interested in the name of my mate. Mom pulled back, tilting her head and nodded for me to go on. She brushed my hair from my face and offered a small encouraging smile.

Taking a deep breath, I felt my eyes tear up as I whispered, "Ridge."

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Wade exclaimed. He turned to Dad, shouting, "That bastard was here only yesterday acting like the little prince he is! And even after he had the fucking nerve to reject my sister?!"

Wade snarled at nothing in front of him. "After claiming that snot nosed bitch princess was his mate?! I'll kill him!"

My brother shook his head, heading towards the front door and I pulled away from Mom to run over to block him. I pushed myself in front of the door. Wade told me to move but I shouted for my brother to stop! That he couldn't touch Ridge because I accepted the rejection!

Cece frowned, standing up from where she sat as she was looking me over. Her eyes took in my appearance and her brown eyes widened, brows quirked worriedly. I stared back at Cece.

Her eyes reading me perfectly then she sulked, "Oh, Gigi..."

I swallowed, looking at my dad and brother, the latter stepping back a few steps. The two males followed Cece's look over of me and their nostrils flared as they were taking in the mixture of smells on my skin and hair. My dad and brother frowned, jaws clenching and I knew they could smell Ridge all over me. They most likely smelled the arousal worked up last night and as awkward as that was... I didn't have the heart to let them go after Ridge.

With a heaviness in my chest, I whispered that I spent the night with Ridge in the forest. I assured them there was no sex involved but that I still felt guilty of being close enough intimately with my mate when he was still in a relationship with someone else.

My parents stared at me; their eyes filled with hurt for me. Wade's eyes narrowed, his growl rumbling out of him. My sister closed her eyes, sitting down as she seemed both relieved and hurt for me. Cody shook his head, frowning as he glared at the floor. He even cursed at Ridge-and it made me feel bad as I always knew Cody held Ridge in such high praise.

I leaned my head back against the door taking a deep breath, looking upward.

"I know what I did was unethical and... and it was only going to hurt me more than it would him. But I love him. I love him."

I swallowed, feeling my tears slipping down my face.

"That's never going to stop. I know it won't even with my acceptance. But at least now... I can take this as a day to start moving forward in my life and focus on trying to keep myself safe. That's what's important now."

When I looked at my family, they again looked torn between wanting to be upset and to comfort me. I didn't blame them. I had just admitted to being inappropriate with an engaged man who was the future alpha to our pack. If that didn't hurt our family's reputation then I don't know what would.

I stepped away from the door, looking at the first man in my life and tilted my head when I whimpered, "Daddy..."

Without saying a word, Dad hurried forward and pulled me into his arms. I wept against him, gripping tightly to him as I apologized.

Dad huffed out a breath, stroking my hair as he sighed, "Oh, Button. Here I was trying to keep you safe from your secret getting out. What I should have kept the most safe was that selfless heart of yours."

This only made me cry more so I held onto him tighter.

The sound of the tower bell made us pull apart a bit. Dad frowned as I stared up at him, confused why the bell would be calling a meeting. My dad's confusion deepened before releasing me and opening the front door. He stepped onto the porch, followed by the rest of us.

Over by the wooden tower, we saw Alpha Beaumont announcing through the intercom system for everyone to gather in the Arena. My siblings and I looked at Dad wide-eyed. His brows furrowed, jaw clenching.

The Arena was an open grassy area located behind the houses in the pack grounds. It was where Dad taught his children to fight as well as every one else. It was where Dad fought growing up. But it was the one place where serious matters-mainly challenges and trials-were held. So hearing the alpha demand we all head to that particular location was alarming. Just from the serious tone from the alpha, we knew this was not a gathering anyone could skip out on. I had a feeling it had something to do with the Quail Wolf matter.

I looked at Dad, his first instinct to hold us back as he headed over to the alpha. They were at a distance that we couldn't hear, especially with the other pack members walking past. Dad and Alpha Beaumont exchanged words; my dad shaking his head excessively and with stressed hand gestures. However, the alpha pointed at him and then in the direction of the arena, inaudibly telling my dad there was no exception.

After the alpha walked off and my dad stood there, shaking his head with his fingers raking into his hair, he hurried back over to us. The hard look on his face meant my dad was annoyed and his tone didn't help any.

"It seems our visitor, Alpha Hannibal, and Darren have come to a compromise. Darren explained this visiting pack will be staying on the property for the week until they can settle the matter of the Quail Wolf."

My siblings glanced my way and I stiffened, looking to my dad in my growing panic. Dad sighed, running his hand over his already mussed up hair. His gaze looked us over until landing on me.

"Apparently... this other alpha feels it necessary that every she-wolf is to present herself at the arena. Alpha Hannibal's right hand man will be the one to confront each one. Says he knows her scent."

I froze, shaking my head. My lip trembled as I stumbled back. My dad quickly grasped my face as I panicked with wide eyes.

"I can't! I-I-I can't go! He'll know, Dad! He'll know it was me!"

Dad swallowed, frowning that wasn't a for sure thing. I knew it was to try and keep me calm but come on, with everything that's happened in my life lately, it would be a miracle if I wasn't exposed as the Quail Wolf. Whatever the hell that was anyway. I didn't know what I was had a specific name.

My dad leaned down to meet my gaze and quietly instructed me to breathe in... and out... in... and out. He breathed with me and nodded, grinning a little, "That's it, Button. In and out... In... and out."

After he asked if I was calm enough, I shut my eyes, nodding before looking at him again. Dad kissed my head, straightening then instructed for us to rein in our emotions as best we could. I knew he was directing that at me. Dad waved for us to all start joining the others towards the arena, holding my hand the whole way and gave it a tight squeeze. He muttered under his breath to keep others around from hearing that he was going to figure out what to do.

I was feeling nervous as we approached the arena, standing in the back of the crowd on Dad's suggestion. I was short so I couldn't exactly see anything. I had to depend on Cece and Wade who glanced at Cody and me, whispering that the alphas were approaching.

The alphas had taken their place in front of the large group. According to Wade, Alpha Beaumont's family was at his side. I widened my eyes when Wade frowned, muttering that Ridge looked a little frantic.

Upon instinct, I had to weave through the crowd and Wade hissed, "Gigi! Gigi, wait!" but I ignored him.

My family followed me, to keep us altogether. My dad grabbed onto my elbow, halting me from getting any closer to the front. Dad grit his teeth and lowered his mouth to my ear that I had to remember what I was and that we wanted to make sure no one else found out. I nodded, frowning. He was right. I couldn't act on impulses anymore. Especially not now.

From where I was standing, I was able to see Ridge this time. He was scowling, his green eyes looking over the crowd and fidgeted in his place by his mother who kept giving curious glances his way. She even leaned over with a hand on her son's forearm to say something. He replied back, shaking his head though his mother's gaze softened.

Ridge kept scanning the crowd and I watched him until his gaze passed over the section I stood. He did a double take once he caught gazes with me. His eyes brightened, a grin appearing until I had to look away when hearing Alpha Beaumont step forward, holding out his arms and requesting for all she-wolves to step up and stand in a line.

"Alpha Hannibal and I have come to an agreement that his right-hand, who claims to have seen a Quail Wolf, will be conducting a short assessment. He will be taking in your appearance, your height, weight, and most importantly your scent which matches the wolf he saw in the forest."

Our alpha looked unhappy about this. He didn't like his pack members to feel scrutinized but obviously Alpha Beaumont wanted this matter taken care of. It was a fact the alpha didn't believe a Quail wolf actually existed.

I looked pleadingly up at my dad who closed his eyes and clenched his jaw tight. When he regained composure, Dad turned to my sister and me, advising us to follow Mom in line with the other she-wolves.

Dad turned to Mom who looked up at him. Though he didn't look pleased, he softened his voice to tell her, "Don't leave her side." Mom nodded, taking my hand and led the way through the crowd of she-wolves making their way forward.

I spotted Molly and her new friends casually strut to the line that started forming, whispering to each other. She looked over to the alpha's family, wiggling her fingers and I forced myself to not pay attention. This was what I why I knew accepting the rejection would be better than holding on. Because Molly still mattered to Ridge.

Mom took Cece and me towards the farther end of the line. She thought it was best to stay as far down the line as possible. We settled for the end of the middle, Cece standing standing next to Mom, and Mom standing right next to me. My nerves were working horribly as I looked down the line. It looked like it went on for miles.

Molly stood beside another blonde girl and talking away like she had nothing to worry about. To be fair, she didn't. Every other girl looked to be uncomfortable or bored as they stood in line. I think I was the only one who was actually nervous about being found out that I was the one in the woods.

Looking further down the line, I saw Eden. She was already looking at me. Eden raised a brow, that worried look on her face. She, outside of my family, knew what I was. I forced a small smile to ease her before stepping back in line.

I bit my lip, swallowing hard and squeezed Mom's hand. Mom looked at me, nodding that everything was going to be OK.

"How do you know that?" I whispered back at her.

Mom didn't answer. She didn't get to when her gaze lifted over my head. We all turned, seeing Alpha Hannibal gesture for that blond man, his right hand, to step forward. From here, the man I saw in the forest looked quite intimidating. He was so serious and glanced at his alpha who nodded for the blond to begin his assessment. Luckily, he started at the other end from where we stood.

My sister had been carefully paying attention to where the man was starting his assessment. Cece moved out of her spot by Mom and now stood on my other side. I was wedged between them now but I was grateful for my sister's protective gesture. It bought us a bit more time while I looked over to where my dad had gone to Alpha Beaumont and was speaking to our alpha who frowned, shaking his head as he replied.

My sister glanced at me from my left, the direction that the blonde man was coming. She reached to grab my hand, whispering a remind for me to stay calm. I nodded, letting out a slow breath. The hand in hers was still shaking like crazy because of all the nerves I felt as I watched the blond man narrow his eyes in studying the women and girls. The man was analyzing them carefully, leaning forward and taking small whiffs.

The closer the man got, I realized that my shaking hand wasn't actually the one shaking at all. I frowned at Cece's and my joined hands, looking up at my sister staring straight ahead with discomfort scrunching her features. Cece swallowed, fidgeting where she stood and kept biting her lip to fight her fidgeting. Her face winced a few times and now shifted her gaze to the ground.

After a moment of studying Cece's behavior, I widened my eyes in connection to why my sister was being so antsy. My attention switched to the blond man whose own body was showing signs of discomfort. His gaze hardened, scoping out the females one by one; that hunger taking over. He definitely didn't want to miss any little detail.

"Oh, my God..." I whispered, looking at Cece who turned, a perplexed frown on her face.

The blond man closed in by this time. He stopped in front of my sister who felt his presence and stiffened. Cece's eyes widened, slowly turning her gaze to this blond male whose golden hue had taken over. A pleased growl rumbled from behind his closed lips.

Up close he was taller than Cece and quite on the robust side. I knew that far out look in their eyes as their wolves recognized one another. My heart was slowing to its normal pace once the blond man grinned, stepping closer to my sister. He reached up, touching her cheek and Cece leaned into his touch. His thumb caressed her cheek, that grin of his widening into a genuine smile.

"I found you," he smiled, forgetting that technically he had been searching for the Quail Wolf... but this works too. Much better, actually.

Cece laughed lightly, bashfully looking down before peering up at her mate again.

The blond man's brows lowered with intrigue, his fingers unable to keep from touching my sister's face and hair as he introduced himself as 'Sawyer'.

"Cece..." my sister smiled through an adoring sigh.

I giggled, breaking them out of their trance to turn in surprise. I jumped into my sister's arms to congratulate her. Cece wrapped her arms around me, laughing herself and my mom was teary eyed, smiling behind her hand.

The rest of the pack began to realize what happened as they took in the celebratory interaction between me and my sister. There were cheers breaking out from my fellow pack members, closing in to congratulate my sister and Sawyer.

When Sawyer, my new soon-to-be brother-in-law, turned to where his open-mouth alpha stood beside mine, the blond shrugged with his mouth pursed to the side before apologizing that Sawyer must have been mistaken that day. That it was the scent that made him take chase.

Thinking about it, it made sense since I'd been hanging around Cece more these past weeks.

Alpha Beaumont held up his arms in the air, smiling from ear-to-ear as he settled everyone down. He cheerfully shouted, "It appears our visitors were wrong about the Quail Wolf, and instead, found themselves another blessed pack member!"

Our pack cheered again, clapping and whooping. I laughed excitedly, jumping up and down while Cece was pulled in by Sawyer.

Alpha Beaumont grinned, nodding respectfully to the new mated couple.

"It is with great honor I congratulate, and accept, this union between Sawyer and Cece. May the Spirit World bring you all the happiness you deserve."

Both packs cheered then; whistling and hooting. Sawyer draped an arm around my sister's waist and pulled her into his side again. Cece giggled through tears, resting her head against her mate's shoulder.

I looked back to the alpha who announced that there would be a celebratory formal dance in the hall downtown at the end of the week for the new happy couple.

Alpha Beaumont grinned as he glanced at Alpha Hannibal who looked annoyed at this revelation.

"It also gives me great pleasure to put to rest this Quail Wolf matter. Seems as though your pack member, George, actually had picked up the scent of his mate that day."

Alpha Hannibal narrowed his eyes at my alpha then growled before storming through the cheerful crowd. Once he disappeared, everyone else began to disperse.

Mom waved my dad over with my brothers. It was the perfect opportunity for my family to meet Sawyer. Dad was the first to approach, straightening his shoulders and sizing up the blond. In return, Sawyer straightened up and immediately picked up on the Warrior etiquette my dad had. Anyone would have picked up on it. Even if my dad was being a dad foremost, he couldn't help the Warrior part of him to come out.

Sawyer lifted his chin, saluting my dad before receiving the 'at ease' nod. Sawyer relaxed then held out his hand for a greeting. Dad eyed it carefully-still holding up that facade of his-while Sawyer promised he'd give Cece all his love and respect. Dad lowered a brow, grunting a bit and still gave Sawyer that narrowed-eyed stare down.

Mom and I glanced at one another, grinning as we knew Dad was trying to see how long Sawyer would hold out. We'd later find out that Sawyer was of a Warrior bloodline in his pack which was why the blond stared my dad down. In an instant, Dad smirked, reaching over to take Sawyer's hand and tugged the younger into a tight hug.

Sawyer chuckled, realizing he was being accepted by the head of the household. Once Dad's approval was made, my brothers stepped in with grins, welcoming their new family member. There was no need for either of them to worry about Sawyer after Dad made it clear he approved of his daughter's mate.

Standing to the side, I admired my family's smiling faces. They were so happy in this moment and after glancing at Sawyer, he seemed to be excited with this new development. It was going to be quite interesting around the house now, for sure.

I felt a stare from a distance and lowered a brow, blinking a few times. My attention moved away from my family to scan around those who were lingering behind to chatter excitedly. My gaze suddenly caught Ridge standing by his family. The alpha was talking to some pack members who approached them and his wife nodded along with what was being said. Ridge stood by them but he wasn't paying any attention to the conversation. He wasn't even trying to be discreet at staring at me.

I didn't know what else to do so I held onto... whatever this was. It was hard to swallow as my mind brought back the tantalizing sensations I felt last night. His touch, his kisses... Just him.

Ridge's brows furrowed, looking like his mind settled and took a step in my direction. But then Molly appeared with her parents behind her. The Sinclairs were a bit loud in their greeting, making the alpha family turn. The alpha and his mate smiled, welcoming the Sinclairs to join them.

Molly immediately made a beeline for Ridge, looping her arm around his and batted her eyes up at him. It didn't hurt as badly when Molly him or even how she was smiling at him. To me, that just meant that the acceptance of the rejection was working. I officially was no longer tied to Ridge. To my surprise though, Ridge carefully peeled a pouting Molly off him and lowered his head to meet her at eye level. He said something that made her face pale which was when Ridge's mother frowned, saying something I couldn't hear. As for Alpha Beaumont, his face was stoic but his jaw clenched a few times.

I didn't linger too much since Cody turned from the back of my family heading towards home to shout, "Gigi! Gigi, come on!"

I nodded, picking up my pace even if I felt like my sister's beautiful moment crossed with my accepting Ridge's rejection was bittersweet.