~Alyce/Faelyn~

  I had showered and changed into my nicest outfit for dinner with Matheau and his parents. A pair of black yoga pants, a pleated lavender skirt, and an oversized black sweater. I even put on a pair of lavender ballet flats that Faith had given me last Christmas. I pulled part of my hair up, securing it with a simple silver colored barrette, leaving it to hang down my back in loose waves. I glanced briefly at myself in my mirror and then headed up into the kitchen and made a stack of sandwiches, which I then wrapped and put in the fridge for grab and go options. I was told to focus on the banquet and let the other Omega’s worry about cooking for the pack, but I still tried to do small things when I had the time. I knew most of the other Omegas were barely passable cooks. No one would die, or get sick, but it wasn’t great either.

  Glancing at the clock on the wall and seeing it was a quarter after six, I headed out the back door to head to Matheau’s place. I knew he would come looking for me soon, *Ready Aramyth? This is likely to be the last birthday we spend with our family for a while. We should enjoy it.*

  *I’m ready, Little One. Do not be sad. They will understand, and we will return for them. Let’s enjoy the time we have left with them before our journey truly begins.*

  I smiled and nodded at her, heading over to the treeline that led to Matheau’s house. I laughed a little when I saw him coming towards me from the opposite direction, “Coming to make sure I hadn’t changed my mind?”

  “Well, yeah… Kinda…” He gave me a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of his head a bit, “Mom wanted me to come get you, said she knows how you are.”

  “I would never! Mom’s scary when she’s mad…” I put my hand on my chest like I was offended.

  “Honestly, I think she just wanted me out of the house while she sets up. You know how she is.”

  “She’s going overboard isn’t she?”

  “You know she is.”

  “Oh boy I’m gonna --” I stopped, Aramyth jumping around in my head trying to get my attention. I gave her a funny look in my head.

  “Alyce… Are you ok?” Matheau asked, but I didn’t respond, too focused on Aramyth’s odd behavior.

  *Our mate is near. I couldn’t help myself. Even I do not want our mate to be in this pack, but it’s different for us wolves. Our reactions are more instinctual, even primal at times.*

  I paled instantly, *Are you sure Aramyth? Are you positive it’s our mate?*

  *Yes, can’t you smell him?*

  “No, no, no, no. This can’t be happening…” I meant to say it to Aramyth, but apparently I spoke out loud as I caught his scent. It was musky, like pine and fir. I felt Matheau grip my hands as I started to turn toward the scent.

  “Alyce... ? Alyce! What’s wrong? You’re white as a ghost. I didn’t think your skin could get any paler.” Matheau said.

  As soon as Matheau grabbed my hands, we heard an earth shaking growl, “MINE!” and Theo came running up the path, his eyes flickering between the amber eyes of his wolf and his normal hazel color.

  Matheau didn’t hesitate to move me behind him as Theo charged us, then it dawned on him that the growl had come from Theo, “What? Oh… Oh!” He stood up straight and held his hands up to show Theo he was no longer touching me, “I’m sorry Theo, but I’m not going to let you get near her unless she says so.”

  Another growl rumbled through Theo, “Move Matheau… Get away from my mate.”

  “No can do buddy. Consider me her personal bubble bodyguard.”

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  “What?” Theo looked at Matheau like he was stupid, “That… That doesn’t even make any sense!” His Alpha aura was starting to seep out, and I could see it was visibly making Mat cringe to fight it, “NOW MOVE!”

  *Faelyn! Get it together. Theo and Fjord will tear Matheau apart if you don’t do something.*

  *Right, sorry. I know what I have to do, and I am so sorry Aramyth…* I heard her whimper in my head and nod, fighting her own mate pull with Fjord. I laid a hand on Mat’s shoulder, enticing another growl from Theo, “It’s ok Mattie, I can handle this. Go tell Faith and Jake I will be there shortly.”

  Mat looked at me sideways, arching an eyebrow at me in question. I shooed him away and once I saw he was actually moving I turned my attention to Theo, “Listen Theo… I’m sorry…” I curled my fingers into a fist, squeezing until I felt my nails dig into my skin to help keep me grounded as I fought the pull of the mate bond.

  He moved towards me, his voice husky as he neared me, “Sorry? Whatever are you sorry for? Do you know how long I have been waiting for you?”

  “I know, which just makes me more sorry. You don’t deserve this, and I’m sure the Goddess will grant you a second chance.”

  “A second chance? A second chance at what?” He lifted his hand to touch my face and I stepped back, not having realized how close he had actually gotten. Then his eyes widened when he realized what I was planning.

  “I’m so sorry, but I can’t be your mate. I can’t stay here.” My voice was firm, showing the resolve I had in my decision, “I, Alyce Lilly, reject you Theo Marshall, as my future alpha and mate.”

  Theo winced, as if anticipating the pain that should come with the rejection of a mate bond, but nothing happened and he grinned a little, “Apparently even the Goddess won’t let you leave me Alyce.”

  *Your true name, little one, you must use your true name and title or it won’t work.* Aramyth whimpered at me.

  *Well shit, I hadn’t wanted to let that slip, but I also need to end this quickly.* I huffed at her. I looked back at Theo and sighed, “I, Faelyn De’Lune, daughter of Alpha Liam De’Lune, reject you, Theo Marshall, as my mate and future Alpha.” I spit out as quickly as I could.

  He gripped at his chest as the pain flowed through him. It seemed to bring some sense to his brain as he looked at me, sadness written all over his face as well as surprise at the realization of my true name and rank, “I, Theo Marshall, accept your rejection, Alyc-- er, Faelyn De’Lune, as my future Luna and my mate.”

  I hit my knees as they buckled beneath me as the bond between us snapped. I whispered through the pain, “I’m sorry Theo. You were never mean to me, but you could have done something to stop it. I can’t accept someone who is too afraid to protect his people, no matter what or who it’s from.”

  I saw his eyes glaze over and knew he was mind-linking someone, “I understand Alyce. It’s more complicated than that, but I do understand. I mind-linked Mat, he’s coming back to get you.” He helped me stand and whispered in my ear, “Your secret is safe with me, this protection I can give you.” He kissed my cheek, pain still evident in his eyes, and then turned, running into the woods, shifting mid air with a pain filled howl, and disappeared without looking back.

  I thought I had been prepared to reject my mate if they were in this pack, but now that I had experienced it, I don’t think anyone could prepare for that. I was a little shaky, but I turned and headed towards Mats. I couldn’t tuck my tail and hide, no matter how much I wanted to right now. Time was running out and there were still many things to do.

~Matheau~

  I had just about reached my house when Theo’s voice came through the mind-link, *Come get Alyce, she needs you right now. I will be gone when you get here, take care of her. And thank you.*

  I was confused, take care of her? What had happened? And why was he thanking me? I didn’t waste time thinking about it too much, *I’m on my way.* I replied and turned around running back to where I had left them. I saw Alyce standing alone on the pathway and even from here I could see how tense she was.

  I forced my legs to run faster, coming to a stop as I reached her. As I stopped and stood in front of her I brought my hands up to her cheeks and forced her to look at me, “Alyce, what happened. Are you ok? Did he hurt you?” I started checking her over for fresh injuries, and her neck for a mark.

  “No, no, I’m ok.” She threw herself into my arms, hugging me like I was her only life line. I held her and stroked her hair, “I-I rejected him. I had to, I can’t be permanently tied to this pack… He accepted it.”

  “Shhh, it’s ok Alyce, it’s ok.” I held her tightly for a few minutes and kissed the top of her head, “Well the Goddess got it half right, your mate is deliciously handsome, but that was all she got right.”

I felt her chest heave as she tried not to laugh, “Seriously Mattie?"

  “Right, we don’t like him. We will not talk about his deliciousness.” I grinned at her and scooped her up, heading for my house. I felt her tuck her head into my shoulder and felt the silent tears she was shedding dampen the fabric of my shirt.

  *Coming in hot, I’ll explain when we get there. No physical injuries, just emotional turmoil.* I sent through the mind-link to my mother. I picked up my pace, jogging to my house before someone could see or bother us.

  My mother was standing in the window when we arrived and she opened the door letting us in. I headed straight for the chair and settled in with Alyce in my lap, stroking her hair again, “Hey, hey… It’s ok. He doesn’t deserve you anyway. No one in this pack does.” I kissed her forehead and looked over her head at my mother with a frown.

  “Someone tell me what’s going on. What happened?” My mother spoke, frowning at us as she came over and knelt in front of us, looking up at Alyce, “Why are you crying my sweet girl?”

  It was about that point my father walked in, “Who’s crying? Alyce? Do we need to kill someone?” He was attempting to lighten the mood, and only half joking. My parents really did think of Alyce as their daughter.

  I opened my mouth to explain, but Alyce sat up and shook her head a bit looking at my parents.