"Will you still not reconsider?" I decide to ask point blank to Aiden.

The question makes him stiffen as we wander closer to the blue light. It does finally feel like we're making progress in the Foretell. At first it felt like every step we took only pushed us back but slowly, we're creeping towards the medallion

"You don't understand, Mia." Aiden hesitates.

I pull at his arm, stopping the both of us. "Then make me understand, oh your Majesty."

"That's rather condescending, wouldn't you say?" Aiden rolls his eyes.

My wolf surfaces and I can't help but growl. Even she is losing her patience. We can't understand why Aiden wouldn't want to avoid the demise of his friends just to send me away. Knowing full well that not only I would die, but Matthew, Alexander, and Wayan would too.

Aiden's eyes narrow at me—his aura quickly quieting my wolf. His jaw clenches, "I will lose all of you, yes. But that is a cost for defeating the rebellion."

"There must be another way," I implore. "Sparta isn't the only support you could get for the rebellion, Aiden."

"Mia this isn't my first time in the Foretell." Aiden practically snaps. "You don't know what I saw happen to the Kingdom in the future. You cannot comprehend the power the rebellion has. I have to vanquish it under any circumstance. Including..."

He's battling against himself. His fists clenching beside him as he tries not to let his emotions get the best of him. In the process, the fogs start shifting again. The air feeling light. The sound of children and adults laughing flittering through the air. A sudden sense of comfort pierces through me. My wolf and I feeling warm like the sun is touching us.

I turn towards the scene. My heart melting at the sight of Matthew in our living room. The entire room is completely disheveled. There isn't a single sofa or piece of furniture, it's turned into a little garage looking room. With a drum set in the back and cords laid out on the floor. Matthew has his electric guitar strap slung over his shoulder, his smile radiating along his aura. He looks older—at least a decade or so. His hair sandy and eyes a bit worn. But he's wearing his glasses and his infectious energy can't be denied.

"You ready, honey?" He calls out to a girl sitting behind the drums.

The girl smiles and I gasp entirely, my hand shooting up to my face. She has my face. My nose and cheekbones. But his eyes. They're piercing green like Matthew's. Her hair just as dark as his until light shines on it—then it shimmers like mine. She must be a teenager.

My wolf can't help it. She whines and I want to cry. She's beautiful. Mia, that's our daughter.

I feel Aiden's eyes on me as pity starts to course through him. I don't want to look. I don't want to see what would have happened if Matthew and I were allowed to be together. This is too painful to watch. Worse than when Matthew was bleeding on the ground. He looks so happy here. So full of life. There's so much color in our home. The view of the lake warming me as a sudden wave of homesickness hits me.

What if we're never allowed to come back? I ask my wolf.

"Hit it." Matthew calls out and our daughter starts to solo on the drums. He smiles brightly, waiting for his cue to start playing the electric guitar. I watch—completely entranced as Matthew and our daughter play with bright smiles and laughs. She messes up a few times, but he happily encourages her to keep going.

Turning to Aiden, I see a small smile on his face. His attention taken by the drumming girl—probably admiring that she's taken up his favorite instrument. "She's not bad," He says softly.

"Alright," My voice comes in from the front door. Two little boys run into the living room towards Matthew. "We have company in a few minutes, you all need to clean up."

Matthew smiles, setting his guitar to the side. One of the boys looks six and the other three. I can't help but notice the age gap between the boys and girl. The youngest is the only one that doesn't have Matthew's eyes. I can already feel my instincts pull towards them. My wolf hammering in my head as we watch our pups.

Matthew leans down to kiss our three-year-old's head. He turns to our daughter, "Could you take Holden and Darcy to River's house? He said he'd babysit them tonight while the other Alpha's are here."

"Sure thing, Dad." She sets her drumsticks down, giving her hand to the six-year-old after picking up the youngest. "Goddess Darcy, you're getting heavy."

When she walks by me, she smiles. "I'll be right back, Mom. Make sure Dad doesn't eat all the chips."

As soon as she's out the door, Matthew walks over to me. He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling my body against his. Placing a small kiss against my lips before peppering my face. I let out a content laugh, his arms tightening. His purr vibrating through the air.

"Happy birthday, Matthew." I tell him gently.

He sighs contently, "Another beautiful year with you, gorgeous."

Swaying softly in each other's embrace, I can't help feel the longing. The love. I've had the chance to feel it in person, but now I'm getting to watch it in front of me. It feels so pure and untouched. I refuse to believe that anyone would think we're not mates.

"She's getting better at the drums," I finally say with a smile.

"Thank the Goddess," Matthew chuckles. "Remind me why we didn't decide to teach her the keyboards?"

There's a knock on the door but neither of us pulls away. I smile brightly, "Incidentally, I believe it's his fault. Not ours."

Hand-in-hand, Matthew and I go to the door. On the other side is King Aiden, smiling brightly as he holds up a bottle of wine. "A beautiful Merlot from the cellars of the Kingdom for the birthday boy."

I feel like a truck suddenly hits Aiden and I. This King—the one holding up a bottle of wine—is a stark difference to the one standing next to me. Domesticated King Aiden is wearing dress pants and a polo. Unlike his usual royal attire. My jaw drops at the sight.

"I see Juliet received my gift." King Aiden says as the three of us turn into the kitchen. His eyes landing on the drum set in the living room. He pulls out a set of drumsticks from his back pocket and glances around, "Where is my Goddaughter, anyways? I've a few new tricks I want to show her."

"She'll be back for dinner," I laugh softly as I maneuver around my kitchen to grab us a few snacks. "She's dropping the boys off."

"She's quite obsessed with the drums." Matthew's playful smirk emerging.

"Well, Adrian can't stop playing the electric guitar you got him." Aiden chuckles as he stands around our counter. He picks at some of the food that's left at the table, his eyes scanning between Matthew and I as my body sinks into Matthew's side while he lays his arm across my shoulder's.

"Where's the Queen?" I ask with a smile.

Aiden rolls his eyes, "Putting on some comfortable shoes. She couldn't bare wearing heels even through the car ride."

"You try wearing them." A scoff comes from the end of the room. "We have a whole dungeon of torture devices, you should add them to the list."

There's a woman standing in my kitchen—her face and body unable to be made out by the fog. Almost like it can't properly project the image of her. She's gray and her features move along with the fog. It feels like staring into an improper projector at the movie theater.

Even though I can't see her properly, Aiden's grip on my hand tightens. He steps forward towards the woman. His eyes wide, jaw slacked, and entire body buzzing. This is his Mate. I wonder if he can feel a pull towards her even in the Foretell.

King Aiden lights up like a Christmas tree. His golden eyes staring at the woman as she walks over the counter to join him at his side. He wraps his arms around her, kissing the crook of her neck. Even though we can't see her properly, the fog morphs to show a soft smile.

"She's beautiful." Aiden says beside me. He mutters it low under his breath and I realize he's speaking out loud.

I frown slightly, "You can see her?"

"Can't you?" His eyes unwavering.

No, my wolf huffs. Maybe he's delusional right now.

I don't give it much more thought. The fog starts to alter and suddenly the day turns to night. There's a large dining table in our backyard—with a beautiful view of the lake. I see Alexander and Wayan sitting beside two women. At the head of the table is King Aiden and his mate. Matthew and I sitting directly next to them followed by my daughter and a young man.

Juliet is wearing a beautiful summer dress. Her hair curled and a light layer of make-up. She's sitting next to a young man—he only looks two or three years younger than her. His hair dark curls but eyes glistering golden like Aiden's.

There's a serenity to the scene. Comfort and laughing. The table is full of our closest friends. Including Sage, Clara, and Tyler. King Aiden is holding onto his mate's hand. Alexander is peering at a young woman who's sitting beside him. Wayan has his arm around a girl's shoulders as he laughs at something Sage has said. I watch as Sage and Clara share a kiss.

But more importantly, I stare at Matthew and me. Our bodies leaning into one another. We're speaking to only each other, our eyes locked as we smile and giggle together. The love we share remaining as true as it is now.

I glance at King Aiden who's gaze is captivated by the scene. He can't stop looking at his mate. Her figure still foggy and gray to me. But he looks like he's staring at the entire universe. He pulls me forward a few steps until we're standing just behind him and his mate. I'm intrigued as he reaches out towards the image, but his hand only slices through the fog.

There's a longing in his eyes that makes me realize why Matthew and he got along so well. Why the Moon Goddess showed us their conversation in the bar. All King Aiden wants is to feel the intoxication of true love.

My throat feels like it's closing as his aura starts to hit me. It's compellingly strong and I can't do much to redirect it. I can feel his desire for her. His unexplainable adoration and yearning. His hand reaches for her shoulder, but it dissipates into fog. As he pulls away it rearranges back.

"Adrian," Aiden's mate glares. We turn to look at the young man. He has two carrots lodged under his upper lip to make him look like a walrus. Adrian looks like he's a deer caught in headlights, which makes Juliet cover her mouth with her hand as she pushes back a giggle.

"That's not very prince-like." Aiden's mate says. Adrian rolls his eyes, turning his attention back to Juliet.

Aiden is chuckling beside his mate. The sound of his laughter turning her head directly at him. "And what do you think you're laughing on about, oh your Majesty?"

Aiden shrugs, lifting a glass of wine to his lips. "You using the term 'prince-like' on our son. I never thought I'd hear you say such a thing, oh your Highness."

Aiden's eyes snap over to Adrian. He's been so engrossed by his mate that he hadn't even thought to consider looking at the young man with the golden eyes. Tears start to well up in Aiden's eyes as he watches his future son sharing laughs with my daughter. The two of them discussing what new bands they like to listen too or what books Juliet has been reading. Adrian even starts to write down her recommendations on a napkin as they beamingly smile at one another.

"That's my..." Aiden's voice falters. A tear falling down his cheek as he tries to keep his composure.

My alternate self stands up from the table. I hit my wine glass with the back of my knife to call everyone's attention. The entire dining table falls silent as I smile at my guests. Matthew stays seated, beaming up at me as he always does. "Thank you everyone for joining us today to celebrate Matthew's birthday."

I place my hand on Matthew's shoulder and he leans to the side to place a small kiss on the back of my hand. Everyone smiles brightly at us, filling their glasses as they get ready for a toast.

"I know that Matthew and I haven't had the easiest of love stories," I say which causes a bit of a chuckle amongst our friends. "I would argue that none of us have had conventional ways of finding our mates."

"Hear-hear." Wayan raises his glass in agreement, and we laugh as his mate raises it with him. She winks over at Matthew and me.

"But..." I say gently. "After the dust has all settled, I'm so happy to invite you all to the Valley for our annual gathering. I'm incredibly grateful to call you all my closest friends and family. More importantly, to have had the pleasure of building a life and family with the most incredible man I've ever met."

My eyes turn down to Matthew who's practically glowing. "Matthew once said to me that we get to be the two rejects who have fallen in love. And not a day goes by that I don't thank the Moon Goddess for putting us in each other's paths. Happy birthday, my love."

Everyone raises their glasses, wishing Matthew a happy birthday as he stands up beside me. He places a kiss on the side of my head. "Thank you all for coming and thank you Mia for setting up another incredible party."

Matthew reaches for Juliet's hand and pulls her to his other side. I beam at her, holding onto her spare hand as Matthew raises his glass towards King Aiden and the Queen. "I wouldn't have this family if it weren't for you Aiden," Matthew says gently.

"Thank you," I say to King Aiden. Except my eyes aren't looking at him. She's breaking an invisible wall like looking into a camera in a film. I'm staring straight at us. It's like looking in a mirror. My future self is staring past the King and Queen and her gaze glances between my stare to Aiden's. "For letting us build a home, a family, and a place of love and adoration."

Matthew smiles, "To our King and Queen. Aiden the Adored."

Matthew raises his glass, and everyone follows suit. My future self raises her glass, but her eyes never fall from Aiden and me. She knows we're here. Somehow, she knows.

Aiden and I stay stilled in place. We're both petrified at the fact my image is breaking some invisible fourth wall. The fog shifts slightly, and everything disappears. It quickly rearranges to the same night except it's a playful scene. Most of us still sitting around the dining table. Except the men. They're off into the corner. Matthew picking up his guitar, Alexander taking a microphone, Wayan placing the bass around his neck, and King Aiden behind the drums.

"One...two..." Alexander says, "One, two, three, four."

And that's how everything fades away. With their music in the back. With Juliet and Adrian watching and critiquing. Me sitting with the invisible queen and the other girls as we all laugh and smile at our men.

The image shifts like a mirage and instead of seeing grown men playing together—it changes to the teenagers from the bar. Matthew's sandy hair turns dark. Wayan's small wrinkles fade. Alexander's face goes from warm to cold. And Aiden's youth finally shows again. Just four teenage boys rocking out on a band set. Smiling at each other, letting their bodies get lost into music.

With utter intrigue, I watch as King Aiden collapses to his knees beside me. The nostalgia and images hitting him incredibly hard. He's looking at where his mate was sitting until his attention turns to the music playing.

"I don't understand," Aiden's face has hardened. I place my hand on his shoulder as he let's go of me. His fingers push through is curls as he watches an old memory. In frustration he screams out, "I don't fucking understand what She wants!"

"It's not what the Moon Goddess wants, Aiden." I tell him softly, "It's what you want."

He shakes his head, "This isn't what she showed me last time I was in the Foretell. This isn't what's supposed to happen. Why would she show me so many conflicting things? I don't know what to do."

I step around the King and kneel in front of him. His aura is overwhelmed, and my wolf is starting to feel it. She can't help but absorb his panic. I place my hands on Aiden's wrists, making him look at me. There's turmoil behind his golden eyes like he's been flooded with too much.

"We can't tell you what to do." I say to him gently, "You said it yourself. The Foretell is a place of guidance."

He hesitates, brows furrowing as he holds back his words. Deciding not to hold in his secret he tells me, "The rebellion will destroy the Crown, Mia. It's my destiny to save the Crown. Why would she show me my mate, my son. If I can't have that?"

Tears start to well in my eyes as his own sadness starts to encapsulate us. The music stops and the fog diminishes. The laughter of the boys echoing into the emptiness until it's lost.

Aiden hangs his head down. The royalty that comes behind him chipping away into uncertainty. I brush away a curled strand of his hair. Smiling as gently as I can, "Maybe she's trying to show you what legacy you'll leave behind. Your destiny and legacy can be two separate things."

"Aiden the Annihilator. The Alone," He falters. "Or Aiden the Adored."

"Isn't that the question every king asks himself?" I tell him tenderly, "To be powerful and feared, or loved and respected?"

Aiden meets my gaze. We stay in silence as we both seem to need the break. The emotional toll the Foretell has caused me is too much to handle and I know that King Aiden feels the same way. After a few minutes, Aiden slowly reaches for my hand. He gives it a small squeeze.

"No offense, Mia." Aiden cracks the smallest of grins. "But what the hell makes you so special? Why did the Moon Goddess single you out?"

"I don't know." I answer honestly, "I..."

The fog around us starts to move like a small breeze. It doesn't turn into anything, it just dances in the wind. The ground beneath us—whatever we're standing on—starts to beat. There's a pulse and it starts to beat like a heart. Dub-dub. Dub-Dub.

"What's happening?" I ask Aiden. He grabs onto my hands, helping me stand. Gripping me closely as the floor behind us moves. Each heartbeat echoing into the Foretell and rocking us like a small earthquake.

"I don't know. There isn't a scene. I don't..." He frowns looking around. When his eyes land on me, he tilts his head to the side. "Mia, you're glowing."

As soon as he says it, we both hear it. Laced on the strong heartbeat is a small little flutter. An almost inaudible beat that's singing along. Aiden's eyes dilate as they zero in onto my stomach. There's a flash of blue behind his golden gaze that has me curiously wondering what's happening.

Aiden places his hand on my stomach and the small heart-beat throbs louder like he's amplified it somehow. He let's out a choked laugh, "I see her."

Nope. I tell my wolf. My face pales and I suddenly feel sick. Tell me he's kidding. Tell me this is a joke.

Mia...I feel her. My wolf starts howling ecstatically. The heartbeat growing slightly stronger. I couldn't before. But I swear, I feel her now. She's...she's powerful.

I want to think it's a cruel joke. That there's no possible way I'm expecting a child. But I just saw her. I saw my daughter and I saw how old she was in those images. I've felt sick over the last few days. I've thrown up, I've been 'glowing.' I just hadn't considered anything unordinary.

The blue light at the end starts to glow brighter. I realize that it's coming towards us. Aiden's irises slowly turn from golden to absolute blue. His gaze never lifting from my pup. His voice comes out different, in awe. "She's been touched by Her."

"What...What do you mean?" I place my hand over my stomach. A new sensation I've never felt before suddenly courses through me. An instinct to protect my own.

"It's why Bren's Mark disappeared. Why your bond with Matthew only grows stronger every day and why Bren doesn't have an affect on you anymore." Aiden explains as he finally meets my eyes. They shift back to their golden color as he smiles softly, "Because she was forged out of love. Pure love. Something almost human that we could never experience as werewolves."

It feels like pieces start to fall for Aiden and me. Why every image we've been shown suddenly makes sense. Matthew has always wanted to be loved. He loses his mind not only over me, but over our pup. Our daughter—Juliet. The thought of Matthew alone in this world—wandering around because we're not with him sends my wolf and I into a panic. I clutch onto Aiden's arm, the blue light coming closer and closer as I try not to hyperventilate.

Don't let him take us away from Matthew, Mia. My wolf panics.

The image of us sitting around the dinner table, laughing and enjoying Matthew's birthday. It's just an alternate future. Something that could be so easily attainable. Something that could make us so happy. I think back to beautiful Juliet in her summer dress and curls. Her little laughs and smiles.

I step away from King Aiden and he seems shocked for a moment. Hot tears are forming in my eyes as an indescribable amount of anger pierces through me. He won't do it. He can't. Pulling us apart leads to a dark road.

"Mia—"

"I won't let you." I tell him just as the medallion gets closer. The heartbeat below us is getting faster and faster as it matches my own. The blue light is calling to me. I can see the metal of the medallion as I accelerates our way like we're magnets.

"Mia!" King Aiden lunges towards me, grabbing my hand the moment I reach out and grab the medallion. A loud POP! echoes and a burst of blue light impairs our vision. 

A/N: As promised! Thanks for the 30 votes everyone!! Please don't forget to vote and comment on this chapter! Not sure if you guys are enjoying this. 

My goal was to write a werewolf story that was a bit different. I don't know if I've successfully succeeded in doing that. Or at least, make it slightly less cliché. But maybe you feel like this has taken away from the story. I hope not :)) but feel free to send me constructive criticism!

On a separate note! Two Rejects is almost done! Good thing I already have plans for other books ;) stay tuned!!!