Chapter 2 Fear & Anxiety

As I walked near Remus's car, my hands were tingling with anticipation. Not only was today graduation day, but it was also my birthday. My anxiety was so intense that I barely slept last night, but my enthusiasm won out over my anxiety. I would gaze up on stage, stare into his brown, no blue, no green, whatever color eyes he had, and faint if my friend was in this pack because it was sure that we would run into each other today.

"You all are OK. Your partner won't turn you down. Remus gave comfort. He'd been doing that rather frequently lately. Oddly, it helped when he would remark it on the spur of the moment. I had conquered my fear of being rejected.

Who has the audacity to reject their partner? ...

Hopefully not my own.

"We're picking Louve up on the way over, okay?" I grinned broadly and nodded. His girlfriend Louve was also in our year, which facilitated their relationship and I also adored Louve. She never frowns and is constantly very vivacious.

"All right." I replied by hopping into his black vehicle. Despite the fact that I don't know much about cars, I admired his automobile. I only know that a black mini would be quite appealing to me.

He jumped in after me and swiftly got the car going. I swiveled my head to see out the window. Oddly, it was fairly cloudy today, but I didn't let that get me down. No one has the right to take away my happiness.

We arrived in front of Louve's home quickly. From a mile away, you could hear her chirpy squeal as she sprinted for her partner. Remus had already gotten out of the car and was reaching out to his partner. She unfortunately rushed right by him and toward my window, which was bad news for him. She threw him a smirk as her face turned frowning.

I let my window down. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY," She cried out. If I hadn't grown accustomed to the volume's breadth, I might have winced. As she pushed my gift through the window, I laughed at her. It's not only from me; it's from Remus and, if we decide to have a kid, our future child as well.

"Him." Louve glared at Remus as he clarified.

"Look Remus, since she emerges from my vagina, I get to determine the gender. I don't see you having a kid taken away from you. Remus gave her a forehead kiss as he rolled his eyes.

"Whatever you say, sweetheart." Remus said softly. Louve muttered something about choosing a girl over a son and her mother's foresight.

"Anyway..." Louve began. It's your birthday and I'm not pregnant yet. She goes on. "So, please open the gift." As Remus encircles her waist, she offers words of encouragement. I groaned and made a 'tch' sound as I rolled my eyes.

I unwrapped the package in the same way a monkey would after going ten days without food. It contained a laptop. This brought a smile to my face right away, and I stretched out the window to hug them. Remus and Louve may have thought it was rather strange because it appears as though they are hugging the automobile.

"It's so you can Skype us while we're away at the Golden Moon pack." Louve jumped up. Oh my God, I'm so happy.

Remus's application had been approved by the Alpha, and everything appeared to be in order. They invited me to accompany them, but I declined because I detested moving and didn't want to leave my best buddy behind.

"All right, that's great. Nerd, take the backseat. Despite sticking my tongue out at him, I complied and cautiously moved the laptop along with me.

When we were all set to go, we began the little walk to the school's premises. We were humming along to some songs and cracking up at jokes. I wouldn't have this. I would never forget this.

When I got to the school, I observed that there weren't any automobiles in the regular parking lot. Because there will be a lot of cars in an hour or so, they have made the yard available for parking. Remus clarified. To prevent someone from breaking the window to grab my laptop, I nodded and put it in the boot of the car.

Standing there with my brother and a buddy in my graduation attire made me feel a little uncomfortable. It was a little humiliating, but I should probably laugh about how stupid I appeared in my previous life. For now, live in the now and accept my stupid, awkward self.

We have a meeting in 20 minutes. I'm going to go to the field with Louve to see what the scene is like. You want to go? I gave a headshake.

I'll track down Daciana. He nodded as I continued.

Daciana had been my closest buddy ever. She and I were closer than Louve was. She has always supported me. Our parents dropped us off to the pack daycare, where we first met. Since we were both being as sociopathic as hell, we had kind of been forced to meet.

As I moved down the hallway, I caught sight of some last-minute jokes. Although some of them were a little funny, they all seemed noticeably worse than in years past.

I was suddenly engulfed in a smell that was so alluring. My body began to move without my control as my mind flew into a frenzy. Unbearable was the scent. It smelled, to me. Try it out. I was unwilling to let it go. I hoped it would endure.

I ought to purchase a candle with this scent.

I appeared in front of a classroom door suddenly. I slammed it open right away, eager to get to that smell. I turned to face him and saw his back, which was as rigid as could be. He appeared to be squaring off with his wolf.

It worked. "Mate?" I quietly muttered. He was aware. He acknowledged it with perked ears.

His brown eyes gently turned to mine as he slowly turned toward me. His rough locks appeared to flow flawlessly, and his attractive jawline completed the look. Along with expressions of joy and grief, his face conveyed both determination and uncertainty. His facial expressions baffled me.

I just froze there. I wasn't sure what to make of the man in front of me. On his way to me, he appeared to hold onto every table as if he were trying to keep his wolf under control.

"Ashina." His tone was simultaneously gentle and frigid. His eyes were hazy and appeared to be continuously changing between black and brown.

I was thinking more clearly as I fixed my gaze forward. Dolph was in this. Dolph, the youngest member of the Alpha family, had been in a serious relationship for three years with a partner who wasn't their match.

I regret it. The temperature. The conflict that exists within humans and wolves.

He would have rejected me.

"No." I yelled loudly. "No, thanks. Dolph, please. Avoid doing this. Clearly, tears were streaming down. He maintained a fixed expression, but I could see the emotions repressed in his eyes, and I could feel a small amount of water rising.

"I'm sorry, Ashina." I heard him say. "I cannot simply end my relationship with Rieka due to you. She is my love; you are my partner. Broken to the core. The tangible fragments are falling. I was dizzy. I was unable to relax. I clung to my body in an attempt to stop the anguish. You'll find someone better, you're a good girl. I'm sorry if I let you down. As a torrent spilled down my cheek, a year ran down his. We locked gaze. A mental conflict is starting.

"No. This is impossible for you to accomplish. You cannot simply challenge the Moon Goddess. She paired us together for a reason. I objected. At this point, I was lying on the ground. My legs were in so much pain that they were unable to take it.

Saying "I'm sorry." He spoke quietly.

I was your partner, and you knew that. You've known for eight months!" I shrieked. You just made an effort to hang onto your wolf as long as you could.

"My wolf won't leave me," he said. He refuted. You're a gorgeous girl with a lot of potential, Ashina, but I'm sorry to say that I don't want to be your partner.

My body started to hurt. An invisible force was breaking the bones. I had heard of suffering like this, but they never described how bad it was. My legs went numb, my mouth went dry, and I felt a searing feeling in my neck as I lay there shaking.

You must do so right now. Dolph spoke, unaffected by my discomfort. "It's the only method to make the pain go away."

Don't consent. A voice in my head spoke. "My wolf"

But I don't want to put up with being rejected. I will not consent to your rejection.