"No... no... nope... Ugh, that's so fucking tacky!"

Eden and I were sitting on the little red sofa in the boutique. We both were sharing the cushion, though my friend had to sit on my lap a bit since she was thinner than I was because my hips don't lie, as Eden liked to say. We could hear Molly grumbling as she was looking through each of the cashmere sweaters.

We'd been in this place for two hours and yet Eden and I were unable to convince Molly that her blue sweater she treasured so much was not on the rack this time around. But she was a persistent Werewolf, I'll give her that. Despite that she was currently looking through the rack in front of her for the fourth time. I honestly don't think checking it again will suddenly make it appear. But that's just me.

I leaned back, staring up at the ceiling while Eden was once again trying to persuade our friend about her nonexistent sweater.

"It's here, okay?! I know it is! It has to be!" Molly shouted at us, turning back to the rack and scrambling through the clothes one by one in a hurried manner.

"Molly..." I started sitting up, but Molly turned to me and pouted, "Gigi! Help me! You have to help me!"

After glancing at Eden who rolled her eyes as she stood up to let me stand too, I sighed, "Where should I look?"

My friend squealed, hugging me tightly and pointed in the far corner of the store, near the entrance, and then pointed at Eden's new designated place to search too. Molly ended up heading toward the back of the store, already elbowing past another girl who was looking at a rack for only a short moment.

Eden frowned, annoyance in her quick pushes of each hanged clothing that she shoved aside.

"This is ridiculous! The sweater isn't here! What the hell are we going to do when they close up and we still haven't found it? She's crazy, Gigi! Crazy!"

I smiled, patting her shoulder then headed to the front of the store where I was to look. One of the sales ladies was hanging up new dresses and I noticed the three boxes of clothes stacked on top of one another. They were stacked awkwardly and looked like they'd fall any second now.

As I began my search for the impossible sweater, I heard a sharp panicked gasp and then a collision of boxes. My head turned in the direction of the noise and saw the older lady almost falling off the ladder she was standing on. I widened my eyes, rushing forward and balanced the ladder as best I could while the woman flung herself forward to hug the clothes already hanging. Her backside was sticking out awkwardly.

"Are you alright?" I asked the woman once she regained her balance and fixed herself up. Her face flushed from that rush of almost falling. Her dark eyes blinked a few times, looking at me after patting her hair back into place. She nodded with a relieved smile.

She carefully stepped down the ladder, me holding onto the ladder just in case, and she thanked me, tilting her head with a shake of it. "I could have seriously hurt myself if it weren't for you!" The lady fanned herself, looking around for any spectators.

I shrugged a shoulder, smiling that it was nothing.

The woman sighed and I caught her scent mixed with the perfume she had on. There was a spiced smell indicating that she was human. All humans smelled like this spiced scent so it was easy for Werewolves to pick out who was who. It was harder for humans to pick out werewolves unless our eye color changed or we shifted or just flat out said we were werewolves.

"Well, now what can I do for you, young lady? After almost breaking my hip, you certainly deserve some form of payment."

I blinked, shaking my head and told her that I hadn't helped her to have her pay me back, but the woman pursed her mouth, frowning with a wave of her hand, "Oh, nonsense! It's not often your generation will run up to help someone without being asked. So come on now, Dear. Is there anything I can do for you, perhaps give you a discount on something you'd like to buy?"

Staring at this woman, I shrugged my shoulders; keeping them up by my ears until letting them fall with a sigh. "Honestly... I really—" then I stopped.

This woman worked here, maybe she'd be able to tell Molly that they didn't have the cashmere sweater Molly wanted so desperately. When I questioned the woman about this specific sweater, her brows rose up and pointed towards the back that they just received a new shipment that hadn't been put out yet. Of course.

I smiled, sighing gratefully, "Oh thank goodness! It wouldn't be too much to ask if I could have one of the sweaters, would it?"

"Certainly not," she smiled.

"Thank you so much! It's just that my friend really wanted it and we've been looking for a long time already."

The woman laughed, saying that we should have asked first to save the trouble of looking then pointed out that she'd be right back with the sweater. I watched her walk off and decided to look at the dress that was on display on the platform by the window.

My fingers reached up and traced along one of the dress's A-line long sleeve. It was off the shoulder on the mannequin and the whole dress was a dark blue; even the tulle skirt that came down to what would be past the knees. I couldn't help the grin I wore widen when I walked around the mannequin and took note of the low back opening.

It was gorgeous and the thought of being able to afford something like this was wishful thinking. The money I did have was for school only. My family couldn't afford extravagant things despite my father's rank in our pack. As I took in the dress, I figured I wouldn't have anywhere to wear it anyway.

For a moment, I was so enthralled with the dress, watching my fingers trace along the pretty fabric, until the hair on the back of my neck rose. My tracing stopped, eyes widening a little as I picked up that someone was staring at me. At first, I thought I was imagining it. I thought perhaps it was some sort of side effects from the discomfort I felt earlier but no.

Because when I peered around the mannequin and out the large window, I caught gazes with none other than Ridge Beaumont. He was standing right outside, that hard emerald gaze locked on me. I blinked once... twice... unable to look away from him.

What was he doing here?

I looked over my shoulder at the sales woman returning from the backroom. She was waving at me and holding up the sweater I had asked for. I smiled, shouting to Molly that the sweater was in stock and the squeal of delight became louder as she was rushing at the woman.

The sales woman's eyes went wide. She tossed the sweater in the air out of surprise and Molly jumped right up to snag it. My friend hugged the sweater to herself tightly, twirling around once or twice before stopping so she could examine every speck of it. She nodded to herself, announcing that she needed to try it on before buying it. Eden groaned, her head tilted back before following Molly and the sales woman to the dressing room.

Once they were gone, I turned back to Ridge still standing outside. He had that piercing gaze still on me but this time raised an eyebrow before nodding to the side as a request for me to go outside. Butterflies of nerves flew around in my belly as I gave a slow nod and made my way out of the store. Turning to the right, there was Ridge with his arms crossed and leaning his shoulder against the wall of the store building.

I glanced around at the semi empty streets. There were people passing by but not as many as when there was a Holiday weekend.

Facing Ridge, I stared at him, swallowing nervously as I wasn't sure how to approach the Recognition our wolves had earlier at the park. Biting my lip, I looked around and couldn't seem to make eye contact with him. He'd always had that piercing gaze and now that he was all grown up, it only made Ridge a little more intimidating.

"Are..." I hesitated, scrunching my nose and then sighed, tucking my hair behind my ear. "Are you here because of what happened at the park?"

Oh, good. I was able to speak after all.

Ridge's eyebrows furrowed, his eyes lowering to the space between us. His crossed arms tightened and jaw clenched. He didn't say anything but did nod.

I tilted my head, eyeing him a bit and questioned if there was something wrong.

He looked at me then. Just staring at me. There was this... this look in his eyes that was a mixture of confusion, worry and regret—never a good sign of anything.

Ridge looked upward, his broad shoulders rising and falling in timing with his chest as he inhaled and exhaled a long sigh.

Licking his lips, Ridge looked at me again. "We can't be together, Gianna."

I was a bit surprised he used my full name. No one really called me that with the exception of my parents when I was being scolded or something. But despite hearing the way he said my name, my heart sped up... and then I registered what he just said.

"What...?" My eyebrows dipped, my eyes shutting as I shook my head. When I opened them, I craned my neck forward. "We...? Wait... Why—why not?" I squinted at Ridge. "But... We're—"

"Please..." Ridge cut me off, squeezing his eyes shut, brows furrowed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He sucked in a breath through clenched teeth, like he was in pain. His hand lowered, eyes still closed and he raised his head, opening his eyes after that pained look dissipated. Shaking his head, Ridge whispered, "Don't say it."

I didn't understand. This didn't sound like a normal conversation mates were supposed to have. Weren't we supposed to be trying to keep our hands off each other or something? This didn't make any sense.

Ridge cursed under his breath, turning to lean his back now against the wall. He looked upward, jaw clenching. I, on the other hand, stood there stunned at what Ridge was trying to say to me. He muttered that he didn't know what else to do but to say what he needed to.

My ears popped and I tilted my head, asking what he was talking about.

He suddenly turned to me, those green eyes soft and grim, I knew then exactly what Ridge was going to do. My heart plummeted, sinking into the ocean of now dead butterflies.

My breathing started picking up and I turned away, shaking my head. "Wait! You—You can't do that!"

I turned back to him, frowning at the tall Werewolf rubbing his hands over his face a few times. He groaned, dropping his hands to his sides. Ridge swallowed, frowning back that he had to because it would never work between us. Not when he already had a mate.

A gasp slipped through my lips. My gaze dropped to the space between us, my hand on my stomach as I was trying to ease my erratic breathing. Holy crap! I hadn't gotten a full-fledged rejection yet and already I was feeling like I was going to vomit!

Staring up at Ridge with my lip quivering, I begged for him to please reconsider. That this wasn't how it was supposed to work! That we only got one True Mate.

He stared at me, lowering his chin and that pitied look was being given to me again.

"Ridge... Ridge, please—"

Ridge interrupted again, shaking his head that he didn't know how this could happen. He said this like he was saying it more to himself instead of me. But that Ridge had already met his mate years before. That their relationship had been kept under wraps between them for years because of who he was, and Ridge didn't want to draw too much attention. However, because I was now involved with my recognizing him as his mate and vice-versa, Ridge didn't think it fair to break off his current True Mate bond.

How was this happening? And how was it possible that he'd met his True Mate already if I'm right here?!

Despite how confused he sounded of recognizing me, Ridge shook his head that this didn't make sense and that he feels that maybe it was not seeing me for so many years that it was affecting what we "thought" was a Recognition. Was he kidding?! How—How could he justify what was happening between us—what our Spirit World wanted—with blame on a childhood crush on one another?

There was still confusion in his eyes as he went on that with him having a True Mate already, I didn't fit into that equation. He raked his fingers through the front of his hair while glancing around at the nearly empty streets.

Ridge shook his head, his voice tight as he admitted, "I don't know what else to say... Or do, Gianna. But—But I'm not your True Mate. I don't know what happened at the park but it isn't what you think. It—It can't be." He tilted his head a little, sighing, "But I have to do this anyway. For the sake of my relationship."

My neck craned forward, eyebrows rising as I stared at him with my mouth dropped.

"Your—Your relationship?! But—but what about me?! Our kind only gets one chance at finding this kind of compatibility, Ridge! This kind of love! And you're taking that away from me!"

I bit my lip, looking down and sucked in a breath to keep from breaking down in the middle of the downtown area. I glanced around, thankful there was no one paying attention to us. Sniffling, I looked at Ridge, my eyes blurring.

The male Were shook his head, lowering his gaze and growled out that he had already found that kind of love I spoke of. That it was the real deal and that was it. That there was nothing to be done about it. He was adamant that he didn't know what happened at the park but it wasn't what I thought. That there was no way if he already had a mate.

I stepped back, whimpering. I think now I was just waiting for him to say it. For him to get it over with.

Why did I just stand there? Why didn't I just run like I should have?

Ridge closed his eyes, eyebrows furrowed again when he bowed his head, clamping his hands against his head for a moment. I didn't move to comfort him, still shell-shocked at what was about to happen. Ridge groaned, teeth clenched before the tension in his face loosened and he was able to straighten again.

Those green eyes stared at me, glossing over for a moment and I wondered—despite my distraught—if Ridge was remembering what we had so long ago. If he would have been just as happy as I was to know he was mine if this other True Mate hadn't come between us.

Ridge closed his eyes, brows furrowed and forced out, "I relinquish my ties to you, Gianna Gomez... as—as my soulmate... and Alpha Female. It's for the good of the pack that I stand as Alpha with the one truly meant for me..." His chin wobbled a bit, eyes opening to mine as he whispered, "And it isn't you."

I gasped a gulp of air before I let out an anguished sob. Falling to my knees after they buckled so weakly underneath me. My head hung low, sobbing with my hand pressed to the middle of my chest where this agonizing current rushed through me. It was like I had burst into flames and my skin was prickling from the heat. I leaned forward, my balled up fists holding me up barely and I sobbed out harder when I could hear Ridge as he knelt down in front of me.

"I'm sorry, Gianna..." Ridge whispered, shaking his head. "I don't know what this was that happened... but I'm already meant for someone else. I'm—I'm sorry."

I turned my head, shoulders shaking as I cried harder. "Go away..." I whispered, shrugging off his hand when he tried to touch my shoulder.

Keeping myself from looking at him, I waited until he slowly backed away. I could sense him still there for a bit longer... and then he took his leave.

Covering my face, I sobbed; my shoulders shaking so much. Another gasp broke out of my tight throat and leaned my head back as I looked up at the sky.

"Are you alright, young lady?" I heard from behind me.

I was startled, jumping a little then turned to look over my shoulder where an elderly couple were standing behind me with perplexed looks on their faces. An ice cream cone was in one of their hands and in the other were dog leashes to the two Terriers sitting obediently with their tails wagging and tongues hanging out in heavy pants.

My knees felt felt shaky and numb. But I knew that the longer I stayed there, the more attention I was going to attract. I was going to have to get up and go back inside the boutique.

Nodding while I struggled to rise up to my feet with my hands outward for balance, I croaked out that I was fine. That I had a small panic attack; something that happened often when I was too overwhelmed. That didn't sound any better, but I wasn't about to tell complete strangers that my heart was just broken.

The elderly woman raised a brow, tilting her head as she rested a hand on my shoulder, "Are you sure? Do you need to sit down somewhere?"

"No—No! No, I'm good, thank you. I just needed some fresh air but I should return to my friends inside the boutique," I pointed to the shop mentioned. They looked at the shop for a moment then back to me with half worried, half suspicious looks.

"Well, alright then... as long as you're alright."

I nodded, thanking them once more with a small teary-eyed smile. They were at a good distance before I was feeling another sob threatening. Sniffling, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, trying to hold myself together as my shaking made it difficult to thumb through the touch screen. I sent a message to Eden that something came up and that I had to leave. I apologized that I normally wouldn't but it was a call from my parents asking for me to run some errands for them.

Instead of waiting for a reply, I headed in the direction of my car, pulling the keys out of my back pocket where it hung on the lanyard. My hands were shaking still and couldn't properly thumb through to get to my car key. My sniffles were constant, my whimpers and blubbering becoming more persistent before I was finally able to unlock the door.

When I finally managed to get into the car, I slammed the door shut then let out every bit of painful hurt rushing through my heart. My fingers gripped the steering wheel and I rested my forehead against it, sobbing heavily.

"It's not fair..." I whispered, slowly sitting back against the headrest and staring at the roof of the car.

The 'ping' from my phone had me slowly reach over to grab my phone and look through at the message I got back from Eden.

K. I'll get my dad to pick us up. Do you need help with those errands?

I quickly typed back that I would be fine, but thanked her for understanding and the offer. I tossed the phone aside before turning on the car and headed home.

All the way there, I couldn't get the rejection out of my head. He rejected me. He rejected me. My mind couldn't comprehend it. It didn't seem real at all.

I just kept replaying everything, and all that kept hitting me smack in the face was that Ridge was already in love with someone else—a True Mate, apparently. But how?! Werewolves only get one soulmate in a lifetime. It just didn't make any sense!

The back of my hand wiped away a stray tear and I bit my bottom lip to keep from crying again. I nodded to the two men standing guard of the gated community where our pack was located. It was the same acknowledgment I did every time I came and went. They motioned for the gate to be opened and I continued driving through the winding roads, passing the beautiful houses to get to mine.

After I pulled into the small driveway of my home, I turned off the car then let my arm drop heavily to my side. I stared straight ahead, blinking slowly, temporarily drained from the crying. I was sure the waterworks would erupt again once I was alone upstairs. But I couldn't cry in front of my family.

So I sat there for who knows how long until the night sky dimmed my vision outside of the car. I ignored the numerous times my phone vibrated or the fact that it was dark out and instead I found myself staring into my faded reflection in the windshield.

While I sat there, alone... and hurting... the numbness of the rejection was starting to seep in again and without holding back, I gripped the steering wheel and screamed. Almost as loud as my heart.