BRENDA'S SECOND CHANCE MATE

BRENDA

I fall to the ground for the umpteenth time as a result of of the mighty kicks directed to me by Gwen. She doesn't care where the kicks land or whether she hurts me or not. I feel like several ribs are broken but she's not willing to leave me alone despite my ear-splitting screams and pleas. It's like she's determined to send me to an early grave!

"Are you going to reject Edward or not?" She demands as she gives me a resounding slap just below my ribs. "You stupid bastard, I'll make sure I kill you before you take my man from me! Edward is mine and nothing can make him yours, not even the stupid mate bond!" She scoffs yet again.

"Please don't let me lose the only thing that I've put my entire hope into." I beg her as I try to sit up, still sobbing. "You've been robbing me of everything since I was a child and I've been quiet about it, always letting you have your way. Please let me keep my mate because you are beautiful and you have a lot of men who like you!"

"Shut your dirty mouth up your pathetic tramp!" Gwen cusses as she kicks me at the ribs, sending me flying across the room. I hit the wall with my back and upon falling to the ground, I pray that I don't get a serious concussion. "Edward is mine you bitch. He has been pursuing me of late and I like him as well, don't you dare ruin our relationship!" She demands.

"You're lying Gwen! You only want me to reject my mate because you hate me. Please let me accept Edward and I'll leave home as soon as we move in together. That way, my presence will never bother you any more!" I continue begging and making promises, hoping she will just have pity on me and let me have my way.

Well, it seems she's not willing to lend me a listening ear because my pleas only infuriate her further.

"Edward won't even look your way Brenda!" She scoffs. "You're so skinny and ugly, you're not even fit to be a Luna!"

What? That really hurts! But I'm sure she's only saying this because she doesn't want me to be with Edward. If she thinks she'll make me give up that easily, then she's in for a rude shock!

"Please Gwen, Edward is my only hope right now, don't make me lose him!"

"What if he doesn't want you to be his mate and ends up rejecting you? Won't you die out of shame? Won't it hurt you even more than you making the first move? Think sister, think!" She says.

I freeze for a moment and immediately recollect myself. I assure Gwen that I won't bother Edward anymore if he rejects me. I know that really hurts but I have to say those words so as to show how strong I am.

"We have a deal then, dearest big sister!" Those words roll out of Gwen's tongue, filled with a lot of mockery and hatred

"Don't move an inch from this place and I'll bring Edward here and I bet you, he will reject you and the pain will be so much to endure! You'd wish your poor mother never gave birth to a miserable bastard like you!" She says as she exits the room.

"Leave my mother out of this you bitch!" I say but I'm glad she doesn't hear because this would warrant me a few more kicks, punches and slaps!

My name is Brenda Adams and my father is our Pack's Beta. After my mother's demise when I was only two years old, my father was lucky to meet his second chance mate whose name is Mercy my step mother. Immediately after moving in together, she took in and a few months later, she gave birth to Gwen.

At first, Mercy was always kind to me but immediately she delivered, everything took another turn and she started mistreating me.

Gwen and I loved each other when she was young despite her mum trying so hard to separate us but she later heeded into her mum's demands when she was barely five.

Since then, my life has been a living hell and I've been forced to endure mistreatments upon mistreatments. I've been slapped, kicked, battered, denied food, I've been forced to eat left-overs and unhealthy food, I've seen it all in my eighteen years of live!

Since my father has been busy all through, performing his duties as the Pack's Beta, the Alpha's assistant and advisor, he barely has time for me and he has never realised how much his wife and daughter hurt me.

I've been afraid of informing Dad because whenever they beat me up and I threaten to report them, they always threaten to harm me and Mercy has severally threatened to hire people to kill Dad if I ever tell on them.

Well, he's the only relative who I can count on and I don't want to lose him, knowing what Mercy is capable of!

However, now that I am eighteen and having just realized that Edward is my mate, my heart is almost at rest, hoping he won't reject me.

Edward is the current Alpha of our pack, the Silver winds Pack. He has just taken over from his dad and to be sincere, I don't like him that much since he is a womaniser and he uses young girls to satisfy his sexual desires.

However, I have a feeling that he will change immediately we get mated because I'm determined to shower him with a lot of love and affection!

As I sit here, leaning against the wall whilst in a lot of pain, I can't help but pray that he accepts me and takes me out of this misery!

As much as I'd like to visit the Pack clinic to see the doctor due to the immeasurable pain that I'm in, I can't dare to leave and then miss the chance of Edward finding me at home when Gwen finally brings him home. I'm eager to see if he'll accept or reject me!

I decide to endure the pain as I curl myself up on the floor and wait.

'Just go to the hospital first and let's get treated Brenda!' my wolf says from my head. I Know she really cares about me but this is not just the time to show emotions and agree with her.

'No way!' I sturbonly refuse. ' I'll stay here and wait for Edward!' I say and immediately shut her out, putting a wall between us. It's not yet time to be controlled by our emotions! If she feels like it, she can as well heal me!

A few minutes later, I feel relaxed and the pain subsides. I silently thank my wolf, hoping she has taken pity on me and healed me. However, I don't move from the place I'm seated and instead, I just lie down and rest.

Time is moving so fast and before I know it, it's already dark and I can't stop panicking, asking myself why Gwen and Edward are yet to show up. Without knowing it, I finally fall asleep on the cold floor!

"Get up you disgusting fool." I wake up to Gwen kicking my thighs painfully. I sit up straight on the once cold floor which is now warm under my second hand clothes.

"Doesn't Edward want to reject me? Can we be together as fated by the Moon goddess?" I ask joyfully, ignoring Gwen's ill treatment.

"Listen to yourself!" Gwen mocks, laughing out loudly like a maniac. "Do you think Edward can stoop that low and waste his time coming here?" She mocks further. "Come on, he was too disgusted by you to come here and he said he can't waste his time coming to see your ugly face. He said he doesn't like you any bit and you don't deserve an Alpha like him!"

Oh no! Those words prick like a needle being driven inside my skin. I feel like a bee has just stung my heart due to the immense pain that I'm feeling. Is Gwen serious? Did Edward have to reject me while still far from me? Is this what it's supposed to be like? I thought a mate who doesn't like the other and wants to break the mate bond says it to their face so that the other person can accept the rejection? So why on earth did Edward sent my step-sister?

Before I know it, Gwen fishes out a phone and waves it at my face. I'm eager to know what's happening therefore I stare at it closely.

A video of him and Gwen kissing and hugging each other catches my attention. Edward is heard confessing that he doesn't like me, that I'm too skinny and not as fit as Gwen and that no one can compare to Gwen in his heart.

My heart aches and I'm sad and shocked at the same time. I can't believe that Edward is that heartless to reject me in my absence. I grab the phone to look at it, but I clearly see that it's really him who's saying all that.

Gwen provocatively asks me if I believe it now and then grabs her phone back. She then demands that I reject Edward and since I'm very sad, I say that I refuse him.

However, Gwen says that it's not valid the way I've said it therefore she says the right thing herself and demands that I repeat after her.

Without giving it a second thought, I mechanically repeat her words and just immediately, I start feeling particularly dizzy and before fainting, I hear her happily bragging that she has recorded everything!

BRENDA

The pain of rejecting my fated mate makes me to cry my eyes out until sleep takes pity on me.

I don't know for how long I've been sleeping but when I finally wake up, I find myself still lying in the same small room while Gwen is nowhere to be seen.

I recall last night's happenings but since I'm a bit doubtful, thinking it was just but a mere dream, I ask my wolf if Edward had by any chance showed up but I missed it but she sadly informs me that I had truly rejected him.

Suddenly, I recollect all the happenings of last night, making me to cry out sadly and bitterly.

'No need to cry over spilt milk Brenda.' my wolf, Amber soothes me. ' Edward is not worth your tears!' she urges further.

'I thought I had already met my better half Amber, why would Gwen do this to me? I thought I'd be happy again!' I lament.

'Stop hurting yourself by crying so much honey, let's go to the hospital so that the doctor can treat your injuries first.'

'I don't have the strength to go there. I'm emotionally hurt and-'

'No buts dear, we have to get going else, you won't live to see tomorrow!'

'What is the use of being alive and live with the feeling that no one loves me? I better die instead of getting hurt every time I'm about to experience real happiness!'

'Please Brenda, let's go.'

After so much pleading and begging, I finally give in and I get ready to head to the hospital.

"Did you hurt yourself accidentally yet again?" The doctor asks me and I nod in silence, not wanting to engage him into too much talk. I was severely warned never ever to let him know the cause of my injuries and pain.

He treats me in silence and I'm glad when he informs me that I haven't encountered any major concussions in my body after the fall which I lied about, only a fractured rib.

He prescribes some drugs for me and I head home after feeling a little bit better. As I enter our house, I hear Gwen screaming at the top of her voice saying that she doesn't want to marry a cursed man. Her mother Mercy is comforting her but Gwen isn't calming down at all.

I'm a bit confused because I don't know what has transpired but one thing is for sure, I'm not going to attract her attention when she's that mad!

I quietly try to go back to my room but I never anticipate what happens next. Gwen suddenly turns her head and when she sees me, her eyes burst with malice and evil excitement, something which makes my goose bumps to rise up! What is this conniving bitch thinking?

She rushes to me with a smile on her face, a smile I've never seen in her before and she asks me if I want to get married so badly. Since I'm still scared after rejecting Edward, I shake my head to indicate no but she informs me that the person in question is powerful. She explains that the guy is a brother to the Alpha of the most powerful Pack, Blue Moon Pack.

"But I've heard you saying that he's cursed, why do you want me to marry a cursed person?" I ask curiously, knowing very well that I'd do anything to get away from Gwen's and Mercy's wrath!

"You heard wrong Brenda, and I assure you that if you get married to him, you will have gotten away from me." She further urges me.

I am quite terrified since I can sense that whatever she is pushing me to do is not a good thing. I certainly know that if it was a good thing, she would never give up to me!

"I can't do what you're asking of me." I politely turn her down and she suddenly pushes me to the ground, saying that I must marry Bruce whether I like it or not.

I'm so frightened such that I run to my room and lock the door, not opening it for anyone no matter how frantically she knocks and curses.

I finally make up my mind and since I feel that enough is enough, I decide to go to my father for help immediately he returns fro the Pack House.

Since I started being mistreated and threatened by mother and daughter, I never dared to inform Dad but since this has gotten out of hand, I'll have to inform him. No one is supposed to force me on a man who's believed to be cursed!

I therefore resolve to stay awake until Dad shows up but I realise that it's already getting late and he's not showing up. As I contemplate on whether to send him a message or not, I suddenly receive a message from Alpha Edward informing me that Gwen had earlier lied to him and taken a video of him rejecting me and he only did that because he was mad at me.

My heart skips a beat when he further apologises saying that he feels guilty because he knows that he has hurt me immensely and that he hopes I can meet him at a place where he will be able to explain things to me face to face.

This text message really excites me and I immediately start planning on meeting with him, hoping he will rectify his mistakes and finally recognise me as his mate!

Chapter 3

THIRD PERSON

Back in the Silver Winds Pack House, Edward is busy planning on how to invite Brenda out for a date because she's now his mate and he finds her quite attractive. As he contemplates on where to take her, he hears a knock on the door.

Upon opening the door, he finds that it's Gwen and his face is suddenly filled with a mixture of surprise and happiness because he has been having a clandestine affair with her for a very long time. Upon seeing her, he starts salivating immediately and since he wants to take her to his bed, he finally feels his lucky day is here!

"What a wonderful surprise Gwen!" He mutters. "I didn't expect to see you here today!" He adds. "Come on in." He welcomes her as he grabs her waist, wowed by how sexy she's dressed.

Instead of pushing Edward away, Gwen hugs him aggressively. "I heard that my step sister Brenda is your mate," she sobs. "Does it mean that we can't be together in future?" She asks while pretending to sob.

"Stop crying my baby, you know I'd choose you over Brenda any time!" He assures her as he lustfully rubs her back.

"Swear that you won't choose Brenda!" She demands.

"I cross my heart honey, you're the only one I want and need." Edward swears to her as he caresses her body. "I like you but not Brenda. She's not as classy and as beautiful as you are!"

Deep down, Edward knows that he wants Brenda but since Gwen is here, he doesn't have a choice but to sweet-talk and flatter her so as to take her to his bed.

As he pulls Gwen to his bedroom, he hears a thud and upon checking, he notices that her phone has fallen to the tiled floor, something which makes her quite flustered. He is about to say something but Gwen quickly kisses him and informs him that she'll be back later. She then picks her phone and leaves abruptly!

Edward does nothing the whole afternoon and he's quite distracted, always thinking about Gwen and the fact that she will be showing up in his house in the evening.

As he continues idling around, he hears a sharp pain cutting all across his whole body. It's so painful such that he can't stand and his wolf is wailing in his head in immense pain. That's when he realizes that Brenda has rejected him and he feels that she has no right to do that to him.

He wants to go and meet her immediately but his father sends for him, saying that some people from Silver Winds Pack are visiting and he demands that he goes to receive them so he has no choice but to go and host them.

****

At the meeting, Edward hears the guys from the Silver Winds Pack saying that they're at his Pack to find a mate for Alpha Alvan's brother Bruce. He snorts inwardly since he has heard about the man who's rumoured and believed to be cursed and all those girls who were mated to him died mysteriously. Edward really wonders which girl was so unlucky to be his mate!

Since that has nothing to do with him, he can't stop thinking about his date with Gwen in the evening. He can't wait to undress her and finally screw her brains out!

Back in his house, he is lying on his bed as he waits for Gwen when she finally shows up. He drags her to the bed while kissing her but she stops him, demanding that if he really wants to have her body, then he has to help her out with something which is really bothering her!

"I'll be glad to help you with anything you want provided you fulfil your promise." He says to Gwen who looks quite tensed and nervous.

Gwen lowers herself on the bed while fidgeting and Edward realizes that her eyes are teary. He has known her to be a strong girl but right now he's wondering why she appears to be so weak and helpless....no, miserable is the right word to describe her situation right now!

"It's about Brenda." She states.

"What about her? If it's about the mate bond, it's already broken and I no longer need her. You're the only one I want therefore relax!"

"Actually, I'm not worried about that but it's all about myself and how you can save me because I am facing a tough predicament." Gwen's face creases further, making Edward to get closer to her. He takes her hands into his and begins caressing them lustfully.

"What is happening to you dear? Is anyone in this pack bothering you? Just let me know and I'll deal with them myself!" He promises.

"Someone is bothering me but he's not from this Pack." She states. "I- I -" She trails in her own voice.

"Speak up darling, there's nothing which is beyond me. I'll ensure I do it for you baby girl."

"It's about Bruce."

"Bruce?" He asks in surprise and she nods. "The same guy from the Silver Winds Pack who's believed to be cursed? Isn't he Alpha Alvan's brother?"

"Yes." Gwen nods yet again.

"What about him? What has he done to you? I'll kill him if he dares touch my girl!"

"He.is.my.mate!" She blurts out.

"Like hell he- wait, what?" Edward asks, his eyes popping out in utter shock.

"You heard me right Edward, Bruce is my fated mate but I can't dare accept a cursed man as my mate!"

"I heard his brother and other Silver Winds Pack members discussing it at the meeting but I didn't bother to know much. So you're the unlucky girl who's next in line to die?" He teases her.

"What? Hell no, death is not my portion at all!" She breathes out then composes herself. "That's why I need your help."

"Sadly, I don't think there's any way I can help you."

"Actually, there is."

"I'm eager to hear it."

She gives Edward a detailed plan on what she thinks they should do. Although Edward is against it, he finally falls to her tricks simply because of lust. He wants to have her in bed so much such that he can't dare turn her request down!

BRENDA

*Please come to my house for us to talk. I want you as my mate and no one else!*~Edward.

I receive a text from Edward, a day after painfully rejecting him.

*What about Gwen? Aren't you two lovers?* I send a message back to him.

*She forced me to say those words to you on camera. I don't feel anything for her at all! It's only you that I want, mi Amor!*~ Edward.

What? My heart skips a beat upon reading his text. I can't help but get excited because my dreams are almost coming true.

*I am on my way!* I reply as I sit up on my bed.

My father didn't come home last night therefore I was unable to tell him what Gwen demanded of me about forcefully rejecting Edward but now that he has gotten back to his senses, I don't see any reason to involve dad in all these. I'm finally going to meet my mate and I'm more than determined to say yes to being his mate and Luna!

I quickly rush to the bathroom and using my wolf speed, I take a quick shower and then dress up abruptly in my best dress and as I lock my door to head out, I meet Gwen who's already fully dressed but since she doesn't spare me even a glance, I walk out towards the Pack House. Mmmh, I'm finally going to be happy!

Edward is in his house waiting for me and I certainly assume that's a good gesture. He hugs me, even though I find it strange and awkward since I've never been hugged before. I hug him back. He even goes to an extend of giving me a peck on my cheek and I feel butterflies swimming at the bottom of my belly. I am so loved!

As I cling onto Edward for a tighter hug, I hear someone clapping from behind and I immediately disentangle myself from the embrace. Upon turning back to see who's behind me, I'm surprised to find out that it's the conniving bitch Gwen and that's when I start sensing danger and foul play.

"Gwen, what a surprise?" I stammer.

"I can see that you two are busy catching up." She states as she crosses her arms over her chest.

"Yes sis, Edward had a rethink about our mate bond and he decided to give us a chance." I explain happily.

"I can definitely see that." She says with a smirk. "However, do not mistake anything that glitters for gold dear sis. You better watch your back!"

Immediately she says that, I turn back to face Edward but before I can fully do that, someone hits me with a a blunt object at the back of my head, sending me straight to the floor.

I wince in pain as I tightly clutch the spot I've been hit and that's when I realize that I've been played! I writhe on the floor crying bitterly because of being gullible and desperately vulnerable but before I completely lose consciousness, I see the person I had put my trust on just a few minutes ago together with my sworn enemy leaning over and Gwen lets out a sarcastic laughter and utters some words which will forever be engraved on my heart; "You're only good for that cursed man Bruce, not a respected Alpha like Edward!" Before I can say anything, my eyes become heavy and I finally lose consciousness.

THIRD PERSON

"Hurry up!" Edward says through his cellphone. He's communicating to one of the Pack warriors. "This girl should be at the Blue Moon Pack before noon!" He commands.

"My men and I are on the way Alpha." Luka replies.

"Alright then, make everything discreet. I don't want you to leave loopholes, else everything will be traced back to you and you know quite well that I won't suffer as much as you guys!"

"Everything is under control Alpha."

A few minutes later, a white car is being parked outside the Alpha's house which is just a few meters from the main Pack house.

Without hesitating, the men get in and within no time, they come out with a parcel and dump it at the back seat of the convertible.

"You are a genius Edward." Gwen says to the Alpha. "Sacrificing my virginity to you won't be in vain!" She adds as he walks closer to the standing young Alpha. His hands are wide open and he's anticipating a hug or more from her.

"Anything for you my love. You're so sweet!" He says as he takes Gwen into his arms.

"I'm glad that cursed girl is now out of our lives for good. I hope that cursed Bruce will kill her just as he does to all his mates and she can finally rest in peace!"

"Before he does that, he will have had a field day with her skinny body. I hope he satisfies himself fully before she finally joins her mother!"

"Cunning huh?" Gwen observes.

"That makes the two of us. We deserve each other!" He echoes.

"We belong by each other's side!" She concurs with him as she finally parts her lips to meet his. The two cunning young adults kiss passionately and as anticipated, one thing leads to the other and they both find themselves naked in bed, having sex like their lives depend on it!

*****

"Where am I?" Brenda wakes up with a throbbing head. She looks around but she doesn't see anyone except a dimly lit room with only a bed and a table. She's lying on the bed, fully dressed and she's surprised to realize that she's not wearing her usual clothes. She's in a shirt which barely covers her thighs.

She sits up on the bed and calls out loudly for anyone, hoping to get a response but it's all in vain. No one responds. Sitting up, she looks around, wondering how she got there but however much she tries to remember, the more she can't come up with anything.

She decides to climb out of bed and walk to a laundry basket which is at the corner of the house where she finds her blood stained clothes dumped and that alone makes her wince in pain.

Her instincts send her to the back of her head where she caresses using her hand and she's shocked to find it bandaged and under a lot of pain.

"What is this place?" She asks as she sniffs at the clothes inside the laundry basket. The scent is unfamiliar and she has never perceived it anywhere near the Silver Winds Pack. It's so intoxicating yet so.... unwelcome!

"Could this be Edward's hideout?" She asks herself as she walks towards the door. "No way, that isn't anywhere close to being his scent." She doubts.

She reaches for the door and when she pulls it, she realizes that it's locked from outside. She bangs at it loudly as well as calling for help but when she gets no response, she lowers herself on the floor desperately. She's weak and it seems she hasn't had anything to eat for a long time.

All this while, she is yet to remember what transpired between herself, Edward and Gwen since the blow given to her wasn't so gentle.

All she remembers is that she was supposed to meet Edward in his house but whatever transpired after that, she has no idea whatsoever.

As she sits on the roughly cemented floor, she cups her face into her hands and keeps on thinking, trying to come up with a tangible clue as to why she's here.

However, the more she thinks, the more her head bangs. She's heading no where and it's as if everything has been erased from her pretty head.

She doesn't know for how long she remains in that position but all she remembers is hearing someone pushing the door open, almost knocking her to the ground and since she's so weak even to raise her head, she keeps it between her laps, weeping silently.

"Brenda." She hears someone calling her by her name, something which makes her to gather the only remaining strength in her and she raises her head up.

It's already dark but the house is now well lit and she can see the bearer of the soothing voice.

Her eyes meet those of a strong handsome young man who is wearing a set of warrior's clothes. He forces a smile even though he appears angry but she doesn't make any effort to smile back.

"Why did you leave the bed?" He asks but Brenda who's weak and fed up with everything and everybody doesn't even make an effort to reply. She's so done with this life!