Chapter 5 Rejection

LOGAN POV

"You should focus more while training and do less talking," Mom snaps as she tosses me a small towel to wipe my face with.

"Mom...I can train and bond with my Beta at the same time. He is my second. The guy I need to be able to trust completely," I explain, sounding just as annoyed as she did.

She rolls her eyes and plops down in my office chair that she has unofficially claimed as her own, which gets to me sometimes considering how vital this small space is to me.

When I came back from Alpha training, my dad had this office set up for me over the gym. He said it would be a great starting point for me and would help teach me how to organize an office. I had been in shock at how happy he seemed to give it to me. He rarely smiles and talks about me being the future Alpha. It's was also one of the few times he ever hugged me. Now my mom uses it to hold all our private conversations that she says my father doesn't need to be a part of.

Which I, for the most part, agree with. I just don't like the fact she treats the space likes it's hers. This space represents one of the special moments between my father and me.

"Logan, we need to set some rules in place for tomorrow," Mom snaps, and my thoughts drift back to th present.

"What? What rules," I ask, confused as to what she means.

She's always telling me I need not to follow the rules. She tells me I'm an Alpha, and I make rules.

"About your mate, son. You need to have certain standards," she explains, sounding like it should have been so obvious.

"The goddess decides who our mates are, mom," I groan, knowing she is about to bring up Chloe.

Ever since I got a concussion during the attack that killed Chloe's mom, my mom has forbidden us from being friends. She wouldn't even let me go to the funeral. She said I was still healing and couldn't go. Anytime I asked to play with Chloe again, my mom called her an omega...someone that was below me. She always knew when I would talk to her and would get on to me for it.

My mom also caught on quickly to the little crush I had on her at thirteen years old. She told me Omegas have one purpose, and that is to serve. She said they are liabilities to all packs and should honestly be kicked out. She said if Hannah Patterson hadn't saved me that day, she would force my father to kick them out. She pushed me to never even speak to Chloe unless I was issuing an order.

I always brush her rants off and blame them on how traumatized she is. I mean, she lost her best friend and almost lost her son. And while I can't remember the attack, I can still imagine how bad it was. How scared she must have been as my mother to be told I was almost killed.

"But if your mate is an omega, Logan, you have to put the pack first. Just think about it. Omegas take no physical training classes. Their bodies are weak...and even with an Alpha wolf spirit, they wouldn't be able to defend themselves. I don't say this to be mean, Logan; I say this as the present Luna. I want our people to be as safe as

possible. While we have had peace for thirteen years, that could always change within a second. And an Omega turned Luna wouldn't be able to stomach killing. They are brought up as nurtures," mom says as she stands and takes my hands.

The truth of her words fills my mind, and sadness begins to flicker within my heart. I wouldn't want my mate in danger, and an

untrained omega in the place of Luna would be dangerous.

"I get that. I just...why would the Goddess pair an omega to an Alpha male then," I ask, and my mother shrugs.

"Probably to test you. She wants what's best for us, so she does things to make us stronger. Just trust me, Logan. I have always put that's best for you above everything else. Now it's your turn to do that for the pack," mom says, and I nod.

She pats my cheek before lifting up on her toes to kiss my forehead.

"Don't worry, son. I don't even think for a second the Goddess would do that to you. Tomorrow you will get your mate, and she will be perfectly suited for the title of Luna," Mom says before leaving me standing there feeling down.

Something in my heart tells me mother is wrong...and that something is Chloe.

"Attention, in just a moment, my son will be taking the stage. Luna Kandace and I would like to invite all the of-age ladies forward at this time. Please don't be shy; we are excited and hopeful that one of you are our future daughter," my father says as I watch from the dark hallway.

All the girls move forward excitedly, but my eyes are trained on one. She looks perfect tonight. The white dress she chose bounces off her tan skin beautifully, and her long-toned legs look endless.

I sigh as I see her hesitant. She looks at the stage as if it's her enemy, and that hurts. She is probably hoping I'm not her mate.

Well, I better get on with it. I need to find who I am supposed to be with and get her out of my mind permanently. And my mom is right. If someone attacked us and Chloe was the Luna, she would be killed... And I honestly could never live with that. She means something to me, and that won't change, mate or not.

I take a deep calming breath as I step up on the stage and begin to make eye contact with each female. My eyes instantly get dry and start watering, but I press through. I want to blink so bad, but I feel like if I do, I might miss her eyes. The special eyes that are supposed to make my heart stop.

After about thirty seconds, I finally blink, and when I do, I open my eye to see Jasmine's. I almost sneer before looking away as quickly as possible.

I can't stand that particular female. She has spent the past six months stalking me obsessively. I even caught her in my room a few times. She told everyone that would listen she was my girlfriend because I made the mistake of kissing her once. I am beyond glad she isn't the one.

Blue eyes, green eyes, brown eyes. With each pair I connect with, my body gets antsier and antsier. I can feel that I am getting close, but I also know I am getting closer to where Chloe was.

After another ten females, my heart rate increases. I can smell her familiar perfume. I'm almost....my gaze meets her patient light brown eyes, and my world stops. My chest gets this really full feeling, and then my heart seems to double in size.

It's her. It's always been her. She's been mine from the very start. I knew it. This beautiful sweet woman is mine.

My arms reach out toward her as hers reach out for me, and I can't help but smile. I lift her up easily while watching the happy look in her eyes grow.

I forget the conversation with my mom. I forget everything as I take in every little detail of my mate's face. Her small button nose and pouty lips. Her high cheekbones and big eyes. Her long eyelashes and perfectly arched eyebrows.

"Mine," I breathe, and she nods.

"Yours," she whispers, and I go to kiss her just as my mother begins yelling.

"Logan! Come here now," mom screams and both our arms drop away from each other.

Realization dawns on me as my mother takes my arm and yanks me away from my mate like I'm not 6'3" and 210 pounds of solid muscle.

"Don't grab him like that," Chloe immediately snaps.

She is defending me in front of our people like a true mate. My lips tug up before my mother opens her mouth yet again.

"Shut up," she orders Chloe, and my mate's body jerks.

My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth, and unlike Chloe, I don't say anything. I let my mother run the show.

"Logan! Listen to me! She is an omega. Her human body is weak. The wolf she will get will be strong, but she is weak. She was born an omega. I told you what to do if you get an omega mate, now do it," mom snaps, and Dad instantly growls.

"Kandace! How dare you force my son to reject his mate. Chloe comes from an amazing bloodline. Her mother was the strongest female before getting her mate. She even pinned me! Chloe is an amazing wolf, just like Hannah was," Dad says, defending his dead friend and my mate.

"That female was weak, and so is her daughter. She couldn't even fight off three wolves. If only I had been there with her and the pups... Logan listen to me reject her," mom says, and her words from yesterday hit me.

The last thing I want is for there to be an attack and for my mate to die. There is peace with our neighboring packs currently but that could always change. And while my people are strong, my mate has never trained. They might see her as a target. 2

I meet Chloe's eyes one more time and all I see is pain and rage. She knows I am about to do it...I know she does because she starts to frantically shake her head. Her eyes get even bigger and my heart feels like it's being ripped in two. I want to tell her it's for her own good but I can't. This needs to be as quick as possible.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

"I, Logan Thurman, reject you, Chloe Patterson as my mate and life partner," I say sadly, with my eyes closed.

I hear a thud and my eyes shoot open just in time for Chloe to start grabbing her chest. She has her mouth open as if screaming but my mother's order is still in effect. I go to rush to her side but mom grabs my arm.

After a minute of wrathing on the ground, dad moves to her side. He crouches down with a look full of pity on his face.

"You may speak," Dad commands, and Chloe's scream instantly erupts out of her throat.

My body jolts from the force of it and my stomach gets sick as I watch what my words have done to her. Her skin looks sickly and sweaty, her hair is no longer smooth and sleek, and her eyes are filled with so much pain I want to die.

"You have to accept the rejection for the pain to stop...I'm sorry, Chloe. But you have to," Dad whispers to her and I force myself not to break down in front of my guests.

Chloe gets a look of determination on her face and she clenches her jaw so hard it looks like she might break her molars. She stands to her feet while staring directly at my mother and something begins to feel weird. It's like I'm missing something.

"I, Chloe Patterson, accept your rejection," Chloe suddenly whispers and pain shoots through my chest.

I grab where my heart is in an attempt to stop the bond from breaking, but I feel it. I feel something split off inside of me and I freeze.

"Yeah, that was our bond dying Logan. Congratulations," Chloe sarcastically snaps before turning to crowd that I had forgotten all about for a moment.

"I want to set something straight, that should have been set straight years ago. When my mother Hannah Patterson died, she died defending our future alpha, Logan Hayes! Luna Kandace, my mother, Logan, and I had all been at the clearing right next to the old park! We were there because Luna Kandace suggested we play outside as an early birthday celebration. Logan had cried and said no, and I had said yes. Not twenty minutes after arriving we were attacked! Luna Kandace, ran! She left my mother, A WEAK OMEGA, to defend her pup and me. Logan got knocked unconscious when the first wolf attacked, and my mother, IN HUMAN FORM, immediately spank to action. She attacked the warrior wolf trying to kill the Alpha's son, and Kandace ran like a coward. SHE RAN AWAY INSTEAD OF PROTECTING HER OWN PUP. MY MOTHER BRAVELY TOOK DOWN THAT WOLF AND THE NEXT TWO WHO SHOWED UP, ALL IN HUMAN FORM. She kept yelling to me, "Don't worry, Chloe, Kandace went to get help." But my mother was wrong. Luna Kandace ran and hid away. She had no plans to return or get help, because she was too weak and scared to even think straight! My mother died in my arms after defeating the last warrior. Her human body was basically shredded as our border patrol finally caught scent of the blood and came to her aid! OUR LUNA IS LIAR AND A COWARD. SHE IS JEALOUS OF A DEAD OMEGA'S ACTS OF HEROISM AND JUST FORCED HER SON TO REJECT HIS OWN MATE BECAUSE OF THOSE JEALOUS FEELINGS. I AM HAPPY TO SAY I WILL BE LEAVING FOR OUTCAST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ENJOY HAVING HER AS YOUR LUNA," Chloe screams to the shocked crowd before jumping off the stage and walking out like she hates everyone here.

As my shock wears off and her words sink in, I turn towards my mother, who looks like a ghost.

I open my mouth to make her explain, but my father's roar blasts the entire room.

"WHAT?!?! YOU LEFT HANNAH TO FIGHT BY HERSELF? YOU TOLD ME SHE HAD TAKEN THE CHILDREN OUT WITHOUT PERMISSION! YOU TOLD ME YOU WEREN'T THERE! YOU LEFT OUR SON TO DIE," Dad shouts, and the crowd growls as they stare at my mother.

Mom sheepishly shakes her head, but her eyes hold nothing but honest fear. My stomach turns over as I look away. I feel betrayed. Not because my mother left me there to die...but because she has lied all this time and I trusted her.

"YOU WERE ALWAYS JEALOUS OF HANNAH! ALWAYS UPSET THAT SHE WAS BETTER THAN YOU AT FIGHTING, BUT AFTER WE MATED I THOUGHT YOU GOT OVER IT. NOW YOU FORCED LOGAN TO REJECT HER DAUGHTER. HAVE YOU FILLED THE HATE IN YOUR HEART NOW, OR DO YOU NEED MORE," Dad shouts, and my ears prick towards the interesting pieces of information being shared for everyone to hear.

"I wouldn't have had to be jealous if you didn't lust after her like a lost puppy. I ran that day! So what! She was just an omega, Patrick. A weak meaningless member of the pack," Mother snaps, and the crowd erupts.

Anger spikes through me, and I walk away before I do something I will regret later.