Her Second Chance Mate,

~ Aurora~

'Long ago, the Moon goddess and the Ancestors bestowed upon the Lycans a gift reserved only for the Royals.

But as generations progressed, the gift vanished, leaving only one family of royals with it.

Now, the Rogues wanted to rule the Lycans, and it could only happen if one of the daughters from the royal family gifted with the gift became their mate.

Knowing they wouldn't get that easily, they killed the King and the Queen to take away the last living Pup with the Elder's magic...'

I shake my head, dragging my legs away from the crowd. That isn't the first time I'll be hearing the tale from the old she-wolf in the pack.

She regales the Were-pups with ancient tales, which I suspect are mere fabrications.

It's already noon, but the sun remains hidden, denying us its radiant light.

Maybe it's because of the previous rain, but I think it's because it's my mate's birthday.

A happy smile forms on my face just by remembering him.

Kelvin is one handsome guy that all the girls in the pack want as their mate.

His wolf is equally impressive, with its imposing size, strength, and thick fur. Though not like that of the Alpha, it is one to fall for.

But I'm lucky to have a guy like Kelvin, who marked me on the Full Moon months ago.

He's 6'4 with a chiseled jawline, broad chest, and green-emerald eyes that suit his perfectly radiating face.

As I approached the Meadow, where we'll be celebrating his birthday, the sound of splashing water filled the air, like a joyful greeting.

Looking at the woven picnic basket in my hand, I can't help but envision how happy Kelvin will be.

I've made his favorites: chocolate cookies with some coconut flakes in them, a medium-sized chocolate cake, and some orange juice with fruits alongside.

My heart plummeted as I watched Kelvin laughing and embracing another woman in the pool.

Confused, I tried to get a closer look, but she isn't his sister; she's someone else whom I have never seen in this pack before.

They're entwined in a passionate embrace, their lips locked in a kiss.

As if Kelvin were waiting for me to arrive, he turns the lady facing me, and then, with his long fingers, he lifts the black hair resting on her neck and deepens his canines into her flesh.

The picnic basket I was holding fell from my hand, shattering all the things inside it on the green grass.

The lady looks at me with a smirk and then turns to him; she deepened her canine into his neck too, marking him as her mate.

My legs gave way, and my vision blurred.

"Now you see it, get lost!" She growled, changing into her wolf as she came out of the pool.

Her wolf is white with beautiful blue eyes; she isn't only beautiful in human form, but her wolf is too.

Could it be the reason why Kelvin doesn't want me again? My eyes shifted to the pool where Kelvin was, smiling mischievously at me.

Tears formed in my eyes, looking at my mate, whom we once had a happy moment with together.

"I, Kelvin Marcus, reject you as my mate."

A searing pain shot through my chest, as if my heart were being pierced or torn from its depths. My wolf, Kiara, cried inside, feeling the agony.

" No!" Kiara growled in pain. I clutched my chest as pain washed over me.

"You can't do this to me... to us." I said, my voice cracking.

But Kelvin didn't answer me; His New Mate does.

"Stop being like this, Aurora. Kelvin and his wolf don't want you anymore. Just leave," she smirked.

Anger welled up in my heart. And as Kiara wanted to take over, I took control and my hand cracked against the Lady's cheeks with a sharp smack.

She fell on the grass, placing her hand on her now-red cheek.

Kelvin emerged from the pool swiftly, his expression stern as he scooped up his new mate in his arms.

"Go away, Aurora. You aren't needed!" He growled at me.

Kelvin had never raised his voice at me before. He had never found any fault in me, and why now?

I wipe the tears from my face, standing on my feet.

I looked from Kelvin to his new mate and sniffled.

"I, Aurora, accept your rejection," I said, confidence in my voice.

Even though it hurts so much, I have to accept the fact that Kelvin doesn't want me again.

Pleading with him in front of that mate-snatcher will only make me look desperate.

"She doesn't even have a surname," the lady said, Mockery in her voice.

I could see the surprise look on Kelvin's face. I'm sure he doesn't know I'll be so bold to accept his rejection that easily.

But isn't it the best thing for me? After all, he isn't the only guy in the pack.

Maybe I'll be lucky enough to be given a second chance by the moon goddess.

My gaze fell upon the picnic basket, now scattered on the grass.

"Well, this was the gift I prepared for you..." I look at him.

"But it looks like I wasted my time."

I pick up the basket from the grass with the remaining cookies and two apples still inside.

"Goodbye, Kelvin. But note this: You are going to regret rejecting me."

I glared at the lady, whose name I still didn't know, and turned to leave.

I heard their confused voices as I made my way out of the woods, my legs heavy with sorrow.

I try to keep myself from crying, but I can't. Kiara is in pain, and so am I.

Both Kiara and I have looked forward to spending our lives with our mate, but it turns out that was only a dream that will never come true.

I tossed the basket aside, surrendered to Kiara, and let her take control.

Kiara raced through the woods, her paws pounding the ground as she let out a mournful growl, expressing our pain.

Whoever hears the growl will know a wolf is in pain. Not just a normal pain, but a life-threatening one.

~Aurora~

Dragging my aching feet slowly back to the pack, I feel people's eyes piercing through my flesh.

I know why they are staring at me that way. My hair is a tangled mess, like a bird's nest ravaged by a storm.

A stinging sensation from the wound Kiara left with her claws coursed through my flesh.

We were so in pain earlier, and that could only mean one thing: Our ex-mate was having an intimacy with his new-found mate.

My heart sank like a stone at the thought of Kelvin's rejection. We've been together for a few months now, and we're as happy as we could be.

Why would he bring over a new lady from another pack and mark her as his?

I wouldn't have believed it if someone had told me Kelvin was with another woman.

The memory of the scene throbs in my head like an open wound, piercing my heart with fresh pain.

'Does this mean we will never have a mate again?'

Kiara asked, Her voice was barely above a whisper and frail.

I sigh, thinking about what she said.

"Have you heard it?" A familiar voice came from one of the woven umbrella shades along the path that led to where I stay.

Thinking they were talking about me, I continued going my way, ignoring whatever they were saying about it.

The wolves in Blossom Pack are notorious gossips.

I know they've heard my rejection.

And I guess they are happy about it. They don't like me because they think I don't belong with them.

The only person who shows me care is the woman who brought me up.

Even though she isn't my real mother, I hold her in high esteem.

"Alpha Jordan's Pack House is hiring a new cook maid,"

I overheard the women say as they walked by, their woven baskets filled with fresh vegetables and fruits.

They lowered their voices, as if speaking the Alpha's name out loud might get them in trouble.

It dawned on me that the women back there might have been discussing the same thing.

But what's so special about it? As far as I know, this isn't the first time a maid has been hired in the pack house.

"You know, the other maids have been leaving one after the other,"

One woman said, glancing around nervously before continuing.

"Alpha Jordan always takes advantage of the maids in the pack house. You know he hasn't found his mate yet..."

Another woman chimed in, "The Moon Goddess is punishing him for his past deeds."

A third woman added, "I know, right? I just hope no one sends their daughter there. He'll do the same to her as he's done to the others."

I continued on my way, pretending I hadn't heard their gossip.

The Blossom Pack is known for its rumors, and I don't want to get caught up in their web of lies.

Alpha Jordan may be arrogant, but I've never met him, so I can't judge him based on hearsay.

Maybe he's not as bad as they say. Maybe the rumors are just that-rumors.

The discussion about Alpha Jordan momentarily distracted me from my own problems, but the excruciating pain in my chest quickly brought my attention back to reality.

'For how long would he keep making love to that woman?' Kiara sighed bitterly.

"He's punishing us, Kiara. Can't we just forget about him already?"

I let out a deep sigh, my head shaking from side to side in disbelief.

"Your mom wants you at the garden, Aurora!" One of our neighbors called out to me before I could step into our small house.

I turned around and went to the community garden, which was located at the pack's entrance.

That is where all the people in the pack go to harvest their food. No one owns anything, and no one can stop anyone from touching anything unless the Alpha gives the order. Only he has the authority.

As soon as I stepped onto the green grass, I saw Mom and other women gathered under a mango tree, providing shade for them.

Even the sun, which had been hidden earlier, came out. It seemed to match my mood, as if it too disapproved of my rejection.

"Over here, Aurora," Mom called out, waving her hand to me.

I inhaled deeply, put on a smile, and started walking on the smooth grass.

I can't allow Mom find out what happened. She'll want to go confront Kelvin, and a fight might break out.

"How was the picnic?" she asked, handing me a mango.

Its skin was so soft and yellowish, making it look more appetizing.

My stomach grumbled at the sight of the fruit. It had been more than four hours since I last ate.

I only smiled at her and took a bite of the mango before turning towards the cashew trees.

"I'll soon leave. Don't go too far," Mom called out.

Ignoring her, I sat down on the big stone under the tree and inhaled the fresh breeze of nature.

Suddenly, a scent hit my nostrils. The kind I've never smelled before.

It smells of pineapple mixed with guava. I jumped to my feet, trying to locate the source of the scent.

But it filled the whole garden, causing my heart to race.

Kiara jumped from the back of my mind, where she was resting, to the front.

' Aurora?!' she yelled my name, wagging her tail excitedly.

'MATE!' she exclaimed, laughing joyfully.

My heart stiffened. Mate? How? What's happening to me... to us?

'Aurora, Mate!' Kiara exclaimed again, trying to take control of me.

"Stop it, Kiara!" I yelled, looking so confused.

How can I smell another wolf's scent that isn't Kelvin's?

Maybe someone's eating pineapple and guava somewhere.

'MATE!' She kept shouting, jumping up and down happily.

"Our mate has already rejected us, Kiara. Just stop it,"

I sighed, sitting back on the stone. But Kiara didn't stop calling out

"MATE!" She buzzed my head, and when I didn't answer her again, she finally went quiet.

~Aurora~

Suddenly, the air erupted with the sound of snarling wolves and scraping claws.

It was as if all the wolves in the Pack were howling at the same time.

The sound was so horrific that it went through my veins like wildfire.

As I looked towards the sound, a thick fog lifted from the forest, shrouding the entrance to the meadow in a foggy, gray mist.

My heart skipped a beat, and I leaped on my feet out of fear.

"Aurora!" my mom's voice pierced the air from the garden.

The women, including my mom, hastily gathered their baskets, their faces filled with concern as they prepared to flee from the creeping fog.

Whatever was causing that fog, we all knew it wasn't something to joke about.

"Now! Aurora!" Mom yelled again.

The fog got thicker every minute, surrounding the whole forest and making its way to the garden.

I looked around, and everyone was already running away from there.

"It's an attack!" A woman shouted, picking up her basket from the grass.

I watched as she and the other women ran away, but I couldn't move from where I stood.

Fear gripped me, holding me in place. My legs were heavy as lead, enveloping me in a shroud of terror.

"Kiara, let's get out of here. It's dangerous," I said, trying to control myself.

But instead of running away from there, I found myself going towards the fog.

Only my racing heartbeat and distant wolf howls would have been audible to a nearby listener.

I started feeling a tingling sensation in my right hand, surging from the big black lightning bolt mark I had there.

The mark's sensation intensified as I entered the forest, causing an uncomfortable numbness in my legs.

A mysterious urge propelled me forward, and I couldn't help but follow its lead.

I made my way inside the fog, waving my hand to clear the path I was walking on.

The howling grew louder, encircling the space with a chorus that seemed to come from all directions.

"Kiara?" I called but got no response.

With a deep breath, I lifted the leaf blocking my view of the meadow, and there, standing in the middle of the rough, muddy rogues, was a majestic wolf.

The gray wolf stands tall, his muscular physique radiating power and strength.

A distinctive black line runs along his spine, starting from the base of his neck and extending all the way to the top of his tail, like a sleek, dark stride.

The gray wolf boldly confronted his enemies, his confidence and strength surging forward with every snarl, undaunted by the overwhelming numbers against him.

His eyes flash a challenge, and his tail rises high, inviting the Rogues to take a step closer.

I thought Kelvin's wolf was the largest after the Alpha's, but I was mistaken.

This is the biggest wolf I've ever seen in the Blossom Pack.

I was torn between laughing at the Rogues' audacity and marveling at the massive wolf's dominance, knowing that with a single move, he could effortlessly take them all down.

Just as I was peering from the back of the tree where I hid, other rogues jumped out of the forest.

My heart skipped a beat, and I held my breath, freezing in silence, to avoid detection by the Rogues.

At that moment, I knew I had put myself in trouble.

Just as I wanted to turn around and leave, the scent from earlier filled my nostrils.

It was coming from the big wolf standing in the middle, trying to defend itself.

My jaw dropped, and I gasped.

In a surprising twist of fate, the Moon Goddess gifted me with a new mate, an even larger and stronger one, after I was rejected by the one I believed was the largest and strongest.

' Aurora, our Mate needs help' Kiara said it in a whisper.

Help? How was I going to help him?

Those rogues are going to kill me and tear me to pieces.

"I have no power, Kiara. There's no way I can be of help," I whispered back, my senses on high alert for any sign of attack.

Before Kiara could utter a word, the massive wolf launched a rogue into the air with a swift and powerful motion.

My eyes widened in terror as I witnessed him brutally rip the rogues' heads from their bodies, his ferocity leaving me aghast.

Terror froze me in place as I witnessed a horror beyond my worst nightmares, forcing me to confront a reality that was almost too brutal to comprehend.

Just as I had thought, he was strong and could defend himself without any help.

Driven by fear, I spun around to flee, but the wolf's haunting howl stopped me in my tracks. As I turned back, I witnessed a horrific sight: one of the rogues had sunk his teeth deep into the leg of the gray wolf.

As the horrific scene unfolded before me, the mark on my right hand surged into a fiery blaze, and I was instantly enveloped in a brilliant, shimmering light.

I was shocked, wondering where that came from. That had never happened to me before. I never thought there was anything behind the mark on my right hand.

The light illuminated me, and the big wolf's eyes, like two bright green orbs, locked onto mine with an unblinking stare, his expression a mix of fascination and surprise. He looked puzzled and surprised, like he was seeing something he didn't understand.

I stood in my silver wolf form, eyes fixed on the wolf, surrounded by the soft glow of the magical lights.

"That's her!" One of the rogues, who was their leader, shouted. And as if they were waiting for him to say that, they dashed towards me.

Fear gripped me, and I stepped back. But the gray wolf sprang into action, leaping forward to shield me from the rogues attack.

I stood behind him, my heart racing as if it was going to explode.

"This isn't your fight; she is ours!" The leader of the Rogues commanded, moving forward with his red eyes like a blaze of fire.

"Stay away from her if you want to live!" The gray wolf's voice echoed in the forest.

"I am the Alpha of this Pack! And no one dares touch my pack wolves!"

My eyes widened in shock, realizing that the wolf standing in front of me was the Alpha.

No wonder the wolf was so huge and strong.

He stepped back, and our bodies touched. As soon as our furs came into contact with each other, the light emanated from my mark again, enclosing the Alpha and me.

As the green light shone from his eyes, a matching radiance emerged from mine. It filled the whole forest, slamming the rogues on the trees and killing them all at once.