HER SECOND CHANCE MATE

Aria's POV

I celebrated my eighteenth birthday in the laundry room, washing all the laundry of the pack house till my hands bled.

The pain and blood didn't bother me. I was happy, even. I'd always imagined my eighteenth birthday. The year I will get to be mated. I had dreamed about it ever since I was a little girl.

Being an orphan in Crescent Moon Pack means I'm all alone in this world. And that automatically made me an omega. The lowest of the lows in the pack.

I rushed out of bed, which was in fact just a torn and very thin blanket thrown on the floor. Even other maids didn't have such poor sleeping conditions. But who was I to complain? It's an honor to be a maid in the pack rather than a rogue.

I made my way over to the servant's bathroom. After a quick cold shower, I got dressed and headed to the laundry room for my duties for the day.

Even though it was barely 4 a.m., the pack house was already lively. I guess that's to be expected, as the blood moon festival is just tomorrow.

I felt a flutter of excitement in my belly. The blood moon festival, I had sneaked out to attend it years in the past. I would watch all these young wolves get their mates and feel the joy and celebration in the air. And I would get depressed because I couldn't partake in that joy.

But this year is different. I'm eighteen. I'm of age now. And I can barely contain my excitement.

I bumped into someone, too lost in my imagination to focus on where I was going. I raised my head to see who I had bumped into. He was so tall, I had to crane my neck up.

His amber eyes regarded me like I was a bug he could squash with his boot. A look of pure disgust was on his handsome face. Oh my goodness!

My heart ceased to beat in my chest. "A--alpha Kane!" I squeaked, shock plastered all over my face. The next thing I felt was my face being knocked to the side and the loud sound of a slap ringing out through the air.

"Don't your eyes work?!" He barked in anger. "You damned mutt. How dare you touch me with that filthy body of yours?!"

My ears rang from the force of his slap. I touched my cheek. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you."

"Get the f*ck out of my sight!"

I bowed and hurried off. Today of all days, I had to bump into him first thing in the morning!

My cheek felt red and swollen. It hurt so bad. But it was Kane. I could manage it. I turned and glanced at his back as he walked away. My heart ached in my chest.

For the longest time, I've had a crush on Kane. Long before, he became the alpha of the pack, taking over after his father died. I know my crush will lead nowhere. I know I'm just an omega, and he's the alpha. But it doesn't hurt to dream.

I walked back to the laundry room. The head of the servants, Emman, took one look at me and shook her head.

"You get slapped first thing in the morning. You must really hate your life," she said with disdain on her face. "You're lucky he just slapped you and didn't order you whipped."

Of course, she had to see that. I tried not to let it get to me. "I'm sorry," I said softly.

"You're working three times as much today." She said, pointing to a huge pile of laundry I had to do. "Congratulations for annoying the alpha."

My heart sank into my boots. It's always like this. Each time I so much as see Kane, my life gets worse. I get punished. I get whipped. I get given more and more work. I know he hates me. With a burning passion, hotter than my check burned right now.

By why? I didn't do anything wrong to him.

Tears gathered in my eyes. "Okay." I replied calmly.

It's fine. It's just until tomorrow. Once I get mated, my life will get better. I'll have someone to love me, and I'll leave this place for good.

I've held on for all these years. What's one more day?

****

I was so close to passing out as I walked over to the venue of the celebration.

It seemed like I was still being punished for yesterday, seeing as I was given even more work today. Today was the Blood Moon Festival, where everyone, including all the servants, was given time off to get ready and look their best for meeting their mates.

I looked like a child's rag doll that had been through hell and back. I had tried to brush the tangles out of my hair, washed my face, and wore the most presentable outfit I had, but still, it wasn't enough compared to the people surrounding me all dressed in their best outfits.

Even though I headed over to the venue, It's a few minutes to midnight, and all around me, all I can see is a sea of bodies waiting in shared anticipation.

I ignored the looks I got from people, pushing myself into a corner to be as invisible as possible. It's finally today. The day I get mated for sure.

Even though I was tired, I felt a spark of excitement in my belly.

A collective hush fell over the crowd all of a sudden. I felt it too, the clock had struck midnight. I raised my eyes to the night sky. The clouds parted, and the full moon shone in her full glory. I joined the crowd as we all gathered in the center of the venue.

Finally. I'll have my mate. Finally!

I felt it-a tug inside of me. My wolf rose up, her senses perking up. It felt like a pull dragging me to someone.

My mate!

I looked around, everyone else was looking around too. Searching for the scent of their mate. I felt it too-the scent of freshly made black coffee and hints of sandalwood. It was the most mouthwatering scent I had ever perceived in my life.

"Mate!" My wolf howled inside me. "That's our mate!"

"I'm looking for him, okay?" I said, my eyes darting around frantically.

A man and a woman met each other and hugged tightly, laughing and crying happy tears. All around me, everyone was meeting their mate. Shouts of joy and celebration filled the air. I felt myself smile.

After so many years of attending blood moon festivals and being depressed, I can finally share in the joy.

I pushed through the crowd, following that delicious scent that flooded my senses. I felt it get closer and closer. My wolf got more excited, howling and calling for her mate.

I hastened my footsteps, pushing apart a happy couple by mistake.

"Hey! Watch it!" The woman said.

"I'm so sorry!" I cried out to them, bowing in apology.

I'm so close. I feel it. The tug is getting stronger. The scent is getting stronger. I bumped into yet another person. I raised my eyes to see who it was. My heart started to race in my chest.

"MATE!" my wolf growled. "MATE! MATE! MATE!"

You can't be serious right now.

Kane's POV

I don't believe in the Blood Moon Festival.

Yes, of course. I believe all my unmated pack members should attend it. And I made sure that this year's own would be splendid, sparing no expense when it came to all the preparations. They deserved to be happy.

I don't believe in the Blood Moon Festival because it's somehow pointless. What if you fall in love with someone else and the moon goddess doesn't mate the two of you together?

"Come on," I heard Lori's voice as she crept up behind me, throwing her arms around my neck. "Aren't you coming?" She asked, her voice sending shivers down my spine.

"Do I really have to do this?" I was referring to attending the Blood Moon festival.

"Don't you want us to be mated?" She cooed, placing soft kisses on my neck. "When the moon goddess sees that we are so perfect for each other, she'll have no choice but to mate us."

I found myself chuckling. "That doesn't sound like a good idea. In fact," I turned sharply, pulling her into my lap. She laughed, her arms wrapping around my neck. "We're mated already. That's a solid fact."

****

Barely five minutes after I had arrived at the venue, I was hit by a very sweet scent. The air carried with it floral notes of roses, vanilla, and citrus. It hit me so hard that I was actually unable to move.

"Our Mate!" My wolf growled inside of me.

Our what?! Is this a f*cking joke or what?!

"Is anything the problem?" Lori asked, holding my hand and pulling me to face her. "Kane, you look tensed. What's wrong?"

I turned and looked at her. This was all one sick joke. The moon goddess must be playing a trick on me now. The scent wasn't coming from Lori. She was right beside me, holding my arm, and the scent wasn't coming from her.

"I'll be right back," I said, excusing myself. She nodded, pulling away from me.

My wolf kept chanting Mate inside of me. I had to find out who this stupid mate was. How can it not be Lori, the woman I am in love with and have chosen as my mate?! Who is this, mate?!

The crowd parted ways as I came closer. Tracking the scent, I turned and bumped right into someone.

Standing in front of me was Aria, the annoying omega and maid. I was about to shove her aside when it hit me.

The scent was coming from her.

"Mate!" My wolf growled. "She's mine!"

She looked at me, her eyes wide with shock. The look in her eyes was weird-shock and surprise. I frowned, furrowing my brows. She stood frozen in her spot.

"Alpha Kane?" She spoke, her eyes darting behind me. "You're..."

Anger courses through me. What the hell is this?! How is this disgusting low-class omega, my mate?! I am Kane Jason! The alpha of the famed Crescent Moon Pack! How can I be mated to this....

I sighed and rubbed my temples. "This is just disgusting."

"What?"

"Kane, what's wrong?" I heard Lori's voice. She ran up to me, her eyes moving between me and Aria. "Who is this?" She asked with a look of disdain on her face.

Aria bowed her head. Pack members were starting to gather around us.

This is a stupid joke, and I have no time for this.

"I, Kane Jason Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, rejects you Aria Logan as my fated mate."

My wolf howled in pain inside of me, and I felt the pangs physically. She felt it too, grabbing her chest with a pained look on her face. Tears gathered in her eyes.

"Alpha Kane....you can't..."

"He can't?!" Lori gasped. "How dare you! You think you can tell your alpha what to do?!"

"No! I didn't mean it like that I...."

"You are henceforth banished from this pack." I cut off her ramblings. "Do not ever return, or you will pay with your head."

I turned and walked away. It hurt, but the pain will fade away. I would rather die than be mated to someone of her status.

*****

Aria's POV:

My legs gave way, making me fall to the ground.

I can't believe what has just happened. Mated to the one I had a crush on since forever and then rejected in a heartbeat? Why is my life always so unfortunate? I came here hoping that I would finally be happily mated.

And yet, here I am.

My wolf howled to no end inside of me. I grabbed my chest, my heart aching so bad that I felt like it had been torn out of my chest and left bleeding on the floor.

The pain was more than any pain I had felt before. Hot tears gathered in my eyes but refused to fall.

Banished too. Oh my goddess, where will I go?! I have no one in this pack. No family, no friends, no mate. I'm all alone here.

Suddenly, my leg is kicked out from under me. I fell face flat to the ground, groaning in pain as I did.

"You dirty mutt." I heard someone hissing in anger, "Did you even think you could be mated to the alpha Kane?! Did you?!"

"She's so pathetic." Someone else said.

"Look at her. She even dared show up here in those rags."

"How disgusting. We should move away from her before we catch her germs."

"Take a picture! Hurry!"

"She thinks she can be Luna. What is this? A drama?! The only one qualified to be Luna is Lori."

"Yes, Lori is the perfect candidate for Luna. Plus, she and Alpha Kane are totally getting married."

On and on, they talked. how unfortunate I was, about how I was a shameful being. They talked about the moon goddess making a mistake by mating me to Alpha Kane. They talked and talked. No one offered to help me out. No one spoke up for me.

Their voices became a drone in the back of my mind. I thought far and wide about where I could go right now. I was born here. I had hoped to die here.

Banished.

Banished. Kept ringing in my ear.

Suddenly, I felt strong arms grab me and pull me up to my feet. I came face-to-face with two hefty and very angry-looking guards. They dragged me up to my feet and started to drag me away.

I didn't even have the voice to protest. The crowd shouted and booed at me. Someone threw their cup of alcohol at me. And another. And another. Soon, they were pelting me with all sorts of things.

The tears dripped from my eyes and fell to the ground. I tried to walk on my own, but apparently I was too slow for the guards. They dragged me, my bare legs bumping on the ground. I winced in pain, knowing that by now I was bleeding.

They dragged me to the pack borders. I felt my heart start to race.

"No, no, please!" I cried out. "Don't throw me out, please! I'll do anything! Please!"

"It's too late now." One of the guards said, "Alpha's orders."

I hadn't been out of the pack before. Not even once. My body is trembling in fright. Outside the borders, it looks so dark and cold.

Without warning, the guards threw me over. I fell on my ankle in a bad spot. The pain shot up my head, and I screamed bloody murder.

"Remember, don't ever come back." The guard said and turned away.

"Please!" I cried. "I'll die out here!"

In mere seconds, they were gone, and I was all alone. I looked around the forest, it was so dark and so quiet. I heard a rustle in the bushes. My heart dropped to my stomach.

Aria's POV

My ankle was killing me.

The forest held so many secrets. Secrets I didn't want to know about. The rustling in the bush got louder and louder. I hugged myself, staring at it. Suddenly, a rabbit jumped out of the bush.

"Thank goodness." I heaved a sigh of relief.

Continuing the walk that seemed like a journey without an end, I couldn't see any sign of human being, only trees stretching further into distances of darkness. How long would I journey before I would be able to see any signs of houses or people living around? I asked myself, sighing in agony.

Still aware of the excruciatingly annoying pain in my ankle and the fact that I had been walking on foot all this time, the thought of perhaps taking a little rest came to me, but I just couldn't. Not in a forest like this, where no one could tell what each tree and shadow held.

Shifting into my wolf, I decided to take a run. Feeling the wind in my hair, I tried my best to ignore the pain in my ankle. For hours, I ran with hopes of getting out of the forest or glimpsing anything that looked like a sign of hope. A few times, I felt like I heard things. Other times, I felt like I saw shadows running with me, taking refuge behind trees. I immediately turned to look at them.

I ran for hours, meeting nothing but more and more trees. Ignoring the pain in my ankle already making my feet numb, I amplified my speed, eager to find an opening or something like it.

After what felt like hours of hopeless seeking, I reluctantly slowed down beside a tree about nine feet long. When I finally slowed down, I sat at the foot of the tree, taking refuge behind its shadows, my mind wandering back to all that had happened.

Clutching my heart, I could feel the pain I had felt when Alpha Kane rejected me all over again. It was nothing like I'd ever felt in my entire life as an omega. The shouts of anger and disgust that came from the people as I was dragged out, how I reeked of both alcohol and dried food, and sweat all from the food and alcohol that was thrown at me.

How my plea had fallen on deaf ears, how I was banished for being Alpha Kane's mate, how my life had taken a drastic turn aside from it's usual turns in just a night, brought clumps of tears to my throat that I had to force myself to push back.

"Your main priority is to find a way out of here as fast as possible, not cry." I told myself as I was trying to rise from the floor to continue my journey.

The pain that hit me from my ankle was so strong that my body went still while my mind went blank for what felt like a minute. The pain was so intense that I had to sit back down to take a look at it.

It was swollen and sore from all the dragging and rough pushing I had received, including the sprint I had taken a few hours back.

"Just a few resting minutes." I told myself to rest on the tree. "A few minutes of rest, then I continue."

*****

I could hear the twittering of birds and the rustling of bushes as something ran by across my leg. Against my cheek, I could feel something nestling close to me.

"Day break?!" I yelled to the forest as I opened my eyes, causing the squirrel beside me to scamper away while sending the birds on the tree I was sitting under into a flight of fear.

I had just decided to take a short break before continuing my journey, but I had slept off till morning. Looking at my ankle, the swelling had gone down, so the red color had faded.

Rising to my feet, I continued walking. As I kept walking, I saw what looked like a stream a few kilometers away from me. Walking cautiously, careful not to stress my injured ankle, I got to the stream. Kneeling down, I drank to my fill.

"Gosh! I haven't eaten since yesterday." I realized this after I heard the grumbling in my stomach. There were no fruit trees in sight, but squirrels, along with other little animals, were running around.

I shifted into my wolf to hunt, so I targeted the first squirrel but failed to catch it. Finding a new target, I was twice as focused as I was on the first one, catching it this time.

After about three minutes, I had three bush animals in my possession. All that was left was a fire to roast them.

Moving around the stream, I found dry sticks, which I set together in preparation for a fire. It remains how to start a fire now. I had heard of methods of using stones to make fire. But I don't know if there were stones of a special kind reserved for tasks like these.

Finding the first two stones three steps from where I stood, I struck them together. Nothing. Finding another stone, I struck it with two of the stones I had already found, but still nothing.

I walked around the stream searching for stones, striking them together until I struck a particular set and saw sparks. Striking them harder again made the sparks bigger. And by the third time, I had made a fire.

Sitting beside the fire, I stuck a stick through the first animal I had caught to roast it. I did this for all three, ate them, and drank from the stream. By the time I was done eating and resting, the sun was already high in the sky.

Getting up, I walked until sunset. Still, I saw no sign of an end to the forest. At this time, I didn't even know where I was or where I was headed. All I could think of was, "If only I could just find an opening."

Night came, then another day. There was no sign of an opening.

Another night, another day. Still nothing except trees and trees that stretched on forever.

"Would I really die out here in this forest? Is this what's meant to be my fate?" I asked, limping from the pain in my ankle from the long walks I had subjected it to.

Walking further, I heard the rustling of bushes and then the breaking of a twig behind me.

"It's just another rabbit." I told myself to continue what seemed like a walk of endlessness.

Suddenly, I saw movements beside me. At this point in time, I could feel the hairs at the back of my neck rise. Without thinking much, I began to run.

I ran, looking back every now and then to check if I was being followed. After about fifteen minutes, I stopped running and turned in the direction I had run from. I was all alone.

Walking backwards, I bumped into a tree. "Thank goodness." I breathed, sliding down the tree, only to land on feet and not roots. Before I could turn to find out who I had bumped into, I had become surrounded by men armed with weapons. Almost immediately, I was knocked out.

*****

I woke up to the sound of voices giving orders, footsteps, and chatter. Sighing, I was finally safe.

"Is she still asleep?" I heard someone say

"What do you think?" A second person responded.

"Let her be." The first person who had spoken said, "Let's leave. Lock back the dungeon."

The dungeon?!? I gasped, my eyes flying open, just as they were both locking the dungeon I was in.

"Wait!!" I yelled, scampering over to the door they were locking. "What am I doing here? I'm not supposed to be here."

"You should have known what you signed up for when you trespassed." The one locking the door, which sounded like the second person before said.

"Trespassed? I don't trespass." I said, grabbing the bars of the dungeon.

"You trespassed upon the grounds of Moonlight Pack." The first man spat. "Satisfied?" He asked, shooting daggers at me through his eyes.

Moonlight Pack. A pack of warriors. A pack where the strongest of the strong wouldn't dare to carelessly enter. A pack where trespassers were not treated lightly. Run by the fearsome Alpha Lucas, a man who trained all the members of his pack, including the women, servants, and maids, to be warriors. This was where I had trespassed into.

"I can't be here!" I screamed, shaking the dungeon bars.

"Keep an eye on her while I get Beta Cole." The second man said to another guard.

No. This cannot be happening. I thought as my mind dug into the possibilities of what this place held in store for me.

"Did I just move from one trouble to an even bigger trouble in just less than four days?" How bad could my life get?

My heart sank immediately. I saw the guard that was sent to call Alpha Lucas' beta come in with someone.

The guard moved to the cell where I was and pointed at me.

"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Cole."