Liam

I wish it was a nightmare.

I don't mean to sound grim, but I had one good thing in life: only one. And now it's taken from me.

Sure, one could argue that I knew it's coming. Of course, I did. Eventually. They're 17, so it's not like it's their birthday and I was clueless about it.

I never expected them to be mateless like myself, but I thought I had more time with them. Much more time.

But that's (werewolf) life for you. Anything can be taken away in the blink of an eye. I should probably be glad I had the opportunity to say goodbye to them.

Actually, scratch that. I didn't.

What I should be happy about is to have had one more time with them. One last time, even if I didn't know that at the time. Most people never get that.

Tears come to my eyes.

I knew what I was in for. Every teen wolf does. It's not a secret, you learn it early on in life. My mom taught me: you get one mate. That's it.

And if by any chance, the person you're with is not glowing their eyes when one of you turns 18, they're not gonna end up with you. It's that simple.

We can talk about (mate) rejection all day long. No one is saying anybody is forced to be with their mate. But let's be real here for a second.

Though Jeb isn't their choice, Emm is NOT gonna reject their mate, especially him being the (oldest) son of the Alpha.

Not that I want them to. I don't wish my situation on anyone. It'd be incredibly selfish of me to want an unmated relationship with them. Now that they're mated, I mean.

Plus, they would only suffer. And that's the last thing on my mind.

Yeah, it's hurting bad. My eyes can't stop the tears from falling down my face.

Anyway, I shouldn't have said I lost my only good thing. Though there's no comparison, I need to focus on work right now.

Even though this is hurting me like hell and it'll for a long time, I don't have a choice in the matter. Not even Jeb has a choice. Alpha's heirs CAN'T reject their mates. There's no Alpha without Luna.

Damn, I can't believe Emm is the future Luna. No wonder they're so heartbroken about this. Though being mated to Jeb Collins is reason enough, if you ask me.

Mom arrived home from work. She puts her stuff down, go to the restroom and then checks up on me. I'm in my room, feeling utterly devastated.

"What happened?" - She asked immediately after seen my state.

"Emm got mated away from me." - I muttered under my breath, still sobbing.

Evidently, my mom knows of my relationship with them. She likes them for me and it was saddened to hear they weren't my mate back in April.

"Oh my Goddess! To whom?" - Mom gasped at the news, jaw dropped.

"Jeb." - I replied, almost as a whisper. It's like my mouth refused to enunciate the words. But she understood it. Wolf hearing, am I right?

"I'm so sorry, son. But now it's best if you stay away from them. He already doesn't like you. If Jeb catches you near his mate..."

Mom dreaded saying those words. I can feel the fear in her tone. Little did she know.

"He already did. This afternoon." - I interrupted her, sulking.

"What?! What were you two doing? What were you doing with Jeb's mate?" - Mom yelled in terror.

"I didn't know they were his mate until he caught us together!" - I explained in an exasperated tone. But mom looked horrified.

There's a reason werewolves mate for life.

The primary reason is the Goddess given mate you're connected to, of course. But even in nature, wolves also mate for life.

We're deeply possessive and territorial. We mark our mates like we mark our territory. And once we do, it belongs to us. Forever.

There's no divorce amongst werewolves. Only death breaks a bond once completed. Now, one could make the argument that they aren't marked yet, much less have completed anything.

And they'd be right, they haven't. To my knowledge, they didn't even accept their mate yet, officially. And maybe under these circumstances, it's not a big deal that they had a farewell entanglement with me.

It shouldn't be a big deal.

Right, to humans maybe.

But werewolves don't see it that way. To us, as soon as our eyes shine, it's ours. There's no middle ground. We don't need to make it legal. You don't even have to be legal - like Emm isn't.

You only need to be at least 17, the age of consent. I'm talking about wolf law here, human law varies according to the State you live.

But my point is unless they openly say the words: I REJECT YOU AS MATE, all bets are off.

And I'm not talking about sexual repression, being a prude or getting mated a virgin. It's not about that! It's not even about sex , I mean, not entirely.

No one cares what you did yesterday. Or who you've been with before mated. That's in the past. Now, they belong with him.

I understand that. We all do. Which is why my mom is looking at me in such a desperate way right now. She understands the implications, especially considering he's the son of the fucking Alpha.

Just my luck!

After a long conversation in which I explained to her how Jeb reacted to finding us together, mom held me for a good while.

Afterwards, we had dinner, brushed our teeth and went to bed. Though it'd take a while for me to sleep, all things considered.

Even though I don't have any classes until the third period, if I don't catch the bus early I have no way of going to school. And I'm not walking there, hell no!

Normally I'd go straight to see Emm before the first period starts, but today I just talk to my friends instead. They already know they're mated to Jeb. The whole school knows it.

And as soon as I tell them what happened yesterday, I get the same freaked out stares my mom gave me. And I didn't even tell them he said he's gonna kill me.

I'm not usually scared of him. Mostly, I tried to endure his abuse in the past. Since he's always been a grade under me, I didn't have to put up with much. But now that I'm a senior again...

I spent my free periods at the library, which is the last place I'd ever see him. But I do miss them. I need to at least see Emm. Even if from a distance.

Some time later, after my morning classes, we break for lunch. That's when I see them, surrounded by their mate and his people. They looked like a hostage next to them, uncomfortable and quiet.

Jeb is talking and laughing with his pals. As he's distracted, Emm finally makes eye contact with me. They flash a smile and I melted under their sweet gaze.

We're at the school cafeteria. The place is packed with students, humans and wolves. I'm several tables away from them, but I've managed to sneak a peak at their table.

And so did them at mine.

"I'm sorry for not telling you anything yesterday." - They said via mind link.

"Forget about that. Are you okay? You look like a hostage. Do you need any assistance?"

"I'm fine. I just don't have it in me to reject a mate. Not even Jeb!" - They said as if apologizing. It broke my heart hearing them say that.

"I know. I never wished you to reject anyone for me. I want you to he happy. I just can't believe you're gonna be our Luna." - I replied in a playful tone.

"Tell me about it! When I told my parents they got totally freaked out." - They said in a scared tone.

"Did he forgive you for yesterday?" - I asked, very frightened of the answer.

"He'll forgive me once you're dead, he said." - They replied and I gasped hard.

"Run away, baby! Today. Just take your mom and go! Never look back!" - They encourage me with fear in their eyes.

"How? With what money? And to where? It takes weeks to settle into a new pack. By the time we file the necessary paperwork, Jeb will have already killed me." - I rebuked, much to their desperation.

"It's my fault. I should've said something yesterday. Before we did..."

"It's fine. I don't regret it. I only wished we weren't interrupted." - I admitted, shamelessly.

Jeb notices their absentee expression and finds me looking at them, which is enough for him to slide an index finger across his neck, signaling my upcoming death.

I'm gobsmacked at his death glare my way. He stares at me with this maniac smile, it's scary. I looked away from their table and continued eating my lunch quietly.

At this point, I know it's coming. I only wish my mom could've had a better son. Maybe if I were a warrior like my dad, he wouldn't think to do this.

Not that I'm scrawny, but I can't stack up against someone who's been training in combat since he could walk. I'm certainly not the gym type. And I never meant to be.

I finished the rest of my classes for today, then go about my way. I need to catch the bus to the mall and report at my new job.

I'm actually looking forward to it, working with my mom. It's not a glamorous job, sure. But I don't see myself going to college any time soon. So, it is what it is.

I walk up to the bus stop in a haste, praying that the bus comes soon. But we live in a small town, so it's not like we have that many options.

I can scent them before they arrive.

I'm a werewolf, so no one can sneak up on me. Your scent arrives earlier than you, much earlier. I could run, but where? I could call for help, but to whom?

I'm alone in this. I don't have money, connections, I don't even have a dad. I have no one but a worried sick mother who I really wish didn't have to be stuck with me for a son.

I wish I could be better for her, I really do. And I'm trying to be, honestly. Better late than ever.

Too bad now it's too late.

Half a dozen boys surround me at the bus stop, looking at me like I'm a dead man walking. Leading them is Jeb, coming to face me like somehow I'm the enemy.

Right.

"I didn't know they were mated, much less to you." - I started, not that it'd make any difference whatsoever.

"Would you still do it if you did?" - He wondered, staring me down.

I stare at him back, silently. I can't bring myself to rebuke this. Though I never would've wanted to involve myself with a mated person, I do love them. I can't deny it.

"That's what I thought. I'm gonna enjoy this." - He smirked with an evil laughter.

"That's because you're a psychopath!" - I shot back, not backing down.

He threw a punch at me that knocked me to the ground. I winced in deep pain at the hard fall.

"You're so brave, facing me with all your boys." - I teased him lying on the ground, as his entourage surrounded me, looking at him for a reaction.

"They're not here to hurt you. Just to make sure you don't run away. Trust me, I don't need any help to deal with you!" - He said with a mischievous grin. Then, he kicked me on the stomach while I was still on the ground, making me cough up blood.

It's bad. And he's just getting started.

He makes a gesture and his boys lift me up. Holding me in place standing up, even though I'm in incredible pain right now. And he takes another swing at me.

I'm not gonna bore you with the details, but by the time he stopped beating me up, I was within an inch of my life.

Broken, battered, bruised and bloodied.

That's how they left me. Alone and unable to move an inch. I could barely move a muscle I'm so broken up. It's bad.

Eventually, someone walking by found me and called an ambulance. I was rushed to the hospital, not knowing if I'd survive my injuries.

I'm so ashamed of all this. Tears escape my eyes as the ambulance transported me. After a few hours at the hospital, my mom came in. She looked devastated. Poor mom. She doesn't deserve this. What rubbish of a son gets beaten up on the day he'd start a new job?

Maybe I am Trash-sythe after all. I don't even deserve my last name. It's almost poetic that I'm gonna die mateless. At least this way no one suffers for me the way mom suffered for my dad.

Mom... she's talking to the doctors now, crying.

Then, she came over to my side. She caressed my forehead - probably the only part of my body that isn't covered in bandages at the moment.

"I'm sorry, baby. You didn't deserve this." - She tried to comfort me on the hospital bed. I can't reply because my jaw is broken. I literally cannot speak.

I'm not so sure if I didn't deserve it. I did love his mate. I still do. That's one thing I don't regret in this mess. But I probably shouldn't have loved them that one last time.

Mom took out her phone and started taking lots of pictures. Mostly of me, but also of my chart and around the hospital bed I was.

I don't know if she's planning to show them to the Alpha of our pack. I have no idea what's her angle here. But I don't think he's gonna side with me in this.

I'm not saying he's unreasonable. But between me and his son, who do you think he's gonna side with?

Damn it. I wish my dad was alive. I'd never be in this mess to begin with. I'd probably be well mated by now. I can't believe I'll never know what a mate connection really is.

Fucking Stonehold pack. Why did you have to kill my dad? He's not the one who started this stupid war. And he lost a father too.

After a while, my mom kisses my forehead again and say goodbye. She looked devastated, but also enraged. I hope she doesn't get into any trouble with the Alpha on my account.

Please Goddess, protect my mom. I don't ask you for my life, just hers. Make it so no one ever hurts her. I beg of you.

https://youtu.be/58hoktsqk_Q

A|N: I'm so not a violent person. I don't even like gratuitous violence on TV or films.

Even though I grew up loving martial arts films with Bruce Lee, but that's another story.

I actually hated having to write the "Brutal" chapter from The Orphan's Mate, in which this is inspired on. But I go where the characters take me. Weirdly enough, I don't outline my books or plan ahead, I just write as if the characters possessed me.

Poor Liam... I hate when innocent people pay for other people's sins.

Love,

Léo.