Cedrick's POV

"Who is that?" I asked, still too shocked to believe what had just happened. That girl! She was---

"That?" Anja giggled and looked at my shocked expression, not suspecting a thing. She was a beautiful young woman, in her mid-20s; chestnut brown hair, dark eyes, and long, beautiful legs, seductively sticking out from under her pencil skirt. She was a Healer and originally belonged to this pack, but was training with our pack Healer since her father and he were old friends. And for the past 4 years, she'd been my girlfriend.

"That's Lesley Fuck's-A-Lot," she continued, as the girl disappeared into the woods. "She's kinda our pack's slut, but she's a sweet girl."

My heart cringed and my wolf growled. I clenched my hands around the steering wheel and tried to calm him down. Thanks to the sunglasses, I'd seen her eyes, but she hadn't seen mine, so she didn't know, we were mates. My wolf wanted to go after her, but I found myself conflicted. The pack's slut? Lesley Fuck's-A-Lot?! What the---?! Why would I want a mate like that, when I had a perfect, beautiful, and kind girlfriend sitting right next to me?

I'd barely finished the thought when my wolf went completely nuts and dangerously close to taking control of our body!

"Why the sudden interest?" Anja asked, finally realizing my sudden change of state.

"That's our mate!"

I don't know if it was me or my wolf who said it. It's not like I wanted to keep secrets from her, but. A mate?! Again.? I felt so confused and. strangely happy! I had a mate! I had gotten a Second Chance Mate! Only one in a million got those! And thoughts like that calmed my wolf down. He was getting a second chance.

But I also felt guilty about that! In my time alone, I'd gotten used to the idea of having – not a mate – but a girlfriend. I loved her, as much as I could, and she loved me back. But a mate.

My wolf was whining, wanting to follow his mate. He never wanted Anja's affections, but tolerated her, as she satisfied my needs and his. But every time I talked about making it permanent with Anja, he would scowl and frown and become like a 3-year-old toddler blowing a tantrum! He didn't want another. He wanted a mate.

And what about when she finds her own mate? He'd often asked me, clawing at the back of my mind, trying to take over and knock any such idiotic ideas out of our heads. What then?

I'd never answered that question. I guess I always thought I'd cross that bridge when I came to it. And now it looked like I was going to cross it. But not in the way I'd imagine it.

"What?"

Anja asked, confusion and surprise written all over her face. I knew she heard me, but as if I couldn't believe it myself, I repeated the sentence:

"She's my mate!"

I leaned back and again watched the spot, where she'd disappeared to. Fucking mate-bond! I literally felt more connected to a stranger I'd just sat eyes on – a stranger who through I was an asshole I might add – than I did to the woman sitting next to me. A woman who'd given me four years of her life and to whom I'd whispered many sweet nothings during passionate and heated sex. And because of some stranger, I felt like I'd been wasting my time, lying, and being unfaithful.

Great!

I tried to look at Anja again, but her expression didn't make sense to me. She was trying to figure this out, just like I was I guess, but I didn't have a single clue to, what was going on inside her head right now. Even after 4 years, I still didn't understand her. But then again, I never understood women.

"I'm sorry."

It was the only thing I could say. I felt like I owed her an apology. I did! I felt like shit for everything, but at the same time, my wolf was on cloud nine, still gnawing at the mental barrier between us, trying to take control, so he could follow his mate. Our mate. He was ready to move on, but I wasn't. I knew it was wrong to just drop and forget Anja. I couldn't do that to her. She deserved better.

"But-but.," she stuttered, but I don't think she knows what to say. "Where does that leave us then?"

"I don't know," I answered honestly, although my wolf would disagree. "I-I never expected--- this, but."

I tried to give some sort of explanation, but nothing came to mind or even made sense. My wolf was whining about his mate getting away, so it was hard to think. And his emotions were wreaking havoc on my own, so I didn't even know, what I felt.!

"You could just avoid her," Anja carefully suggested, glancing my way. "If she doesn't know, the bond won't grow."

"Don't suggest that," I growled--- or rather, my wolf growled. He became so furious I didn't have the mental strength to hold him down. And it took the rest of it, only to push him back.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, while Anja seemed to be ready to jump out of the car, in case her life suddenly became endangered. Wise choice! I was an alpha and I didn't have a mate that had that usual calming effect on the male wolf. If I lost control, there was no telling what I might do or who I might hurt. Normally I killed and shredded my enemies, but everybody in my pack knew it was best never to anger me.

"My wolf becomes quite agitated if you suggest that he's not getting his mate," I managed to press between my clenched teeth but avoided looking at her, in case he was gonna fight for control again.

"His second mate," she spat. I snapped at her, but my heart cringed, and my anger quickly subsided, when I saw the tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "Are you really willing to go through that again?"

That!

I tried taking another deep breath, but only partly succeeded in NOT thinking about that. The time when my life was nothing but darkness and chaos. Where I never lived, only existed.

"I'm sorry," I said again, not knowing if I meant it this time or not. I ran my fingers through my hair and tried to figure out something. "I'll drive you to your pack. We'll talk when you get back home, ok?"

"You're gonna chose her," she snapped angrily mostly just confirming the statement rather than asking a question. Tears were running down her face. "Her over me?"

"She's my mate," I answered also feeling frustrated and angry. "I'm not choosing this. It just--- happened!"

"Asshole," she sneered and got out of the car. Wise choice! I sat back and watched her in the review mirror, while she grabbed her bag. She looked hurt. Tears ran down her face while anger and frustration were radiating off her body. She slammed the door as hard as she could and I'm pretty sure she was trying to break the handle.

Then she suddenly opened my door, towering over me and blocking the sun, casting a dark shadow over me. They say that there's nothing more terrifying than a woman scorned. Then imagine how terrifying that woman would be if she was part wolf!

"Oh, and plot twist," she sneered, poison and hatred dripping from every word. "She's an omega too!"

The door slammed back in my face. The window shattered and the splinters rained over me like pearls of rain. But I honestly didn't care! I barely noticed the cut forming on my face.

An omega!

Just like Sandra.

"Fuck!"

I sighed and leaned over the steering wheel. My mate – my first mate – had also been an omega. And she rejected me. She rejected me because I was born an alpha.

Can anyone say déjà vu?!

Want my advice? My wolf growled finally sitting still, but angry as hellfire!

No! I muttered, knowing he wasn't going to listen to me.

We mark and mate her now! GO!

We are not on the same page here, I sighed still not ready to give in to the mate-pull. Not only would I lose an amazing girlfriend, but I'd been gaining another omega. Omegas were weak! They couldn't handle the pressure of being a Luna or carry the responsibility that followed being the Alpha Female. That I learned the hard way. And yet fate decided to pair me together with yet another one?! Seriously, what kind of twisted joke was this?! Just as I was getting my 'happily ever after' with Anja.

You chose to fall in love with the bitch, not me! My wolf howled this time, getting more and more pissed, that I wasn't getting off my ass. Now go get our MATE!

Not until I've settled things with Anja! I yell back and finally got my wolf to back down. It's the right thing to do. Besides she's an omega! What's the worst that could happen to her?!

I never expected to learn later on the sick and twisted irony in that statement.

Lesley's POV

I threw out the note the second I got home. Nobody cared if I was suspended for a week for beating up a couple of freshmen boys. But for now, I decided not to go back to the packhouse. Hey, my life wasn't exactly great, but I still preferred to be alive than dead. And if my uncle caught sight of me again today, that's exactly what I'd become.

Since I was home early, I went around the pack to see, how they were doing. Most of them were frustrated; understandable. Especially the warriors, since they were considered a rank 2, but their mates and children were rank 3 and therefore couldn't get any medical care or any money for education. Their mates had to work double shifts at local stores or shops, and the ones with an actual education had to put in insane hours to provide for their families. And yes, that money was as black as tar, but seriously, what the hell were they supposed to do?

So, a little explanation about our pack's money system: it all went to the alpha! Before it was my dad and he distributed the money equally to each household according to their need. Because---pack mentality, bitches! But with my uncle in charge, the money barely got around. The ones of higher rank got more and those of lower rank got--- yeah, you've already guessed it! And to make it worse those of lower rank had fewer privileges. As in if there was a rogue attack, they didn't get protection! Like what the FUCK?! That defeated the entire point of being a PACK!

I'd been the one who suggested the black money work, so at least they got to pay off student loans and/or education for their kids. Not to mention essential medication. With the help of some of the accountant females, I managed to create an offshore account and laundered the money back to another account back here (#ILoveDigitalWorld). And yes, that was money laundering, but as I said, we were desperate and although werewolves rarely get sick, we still have immune diseases, like diabetes and Alzheimer's. They need money for medication; especially the older, demented werewolves!

I went around to check up on our illegal business and just confirmed that it was all still working like clockwork, although the stress of overwork and frustrations with the alpha were starting to get to them. I sighed, not knowing what to do. Even if Uncle Harry did drop dead, Trevor is just as bad; perhaps even worse, since he didn't get any training in being an alpha. Uncle wasn't giving him any lessons and Beta Sean, Dean's older brother, gave up on him long ago. Basically, it was Beta Sean running the pack. Or at least holding it together. And I'll always be grateful to him for that, but because of one of my Uncle's stupid rules, I'm not allowed to talk to any of the higher ranks. Which included him, his Luna, and their children. Understand now, why no one really respected the rules? Because as soon as they were made, my Uncle was the one breaking them. But while he got away with it, everyone else got punished. And let's just say that it didn't take me long to meet Beta Sean in the guest bedroom. And he has been avoiding me ever since.

I came around the corner and saw a familiar face, that totally made my day. Or at least so I thought.

"Tanja!" I screeched and ran over to her, throwing my arms around her neck. Because of the impact, she had to take a step back, so she didn't fall. Ok, I was a tall girl. Like--- really tall! 5 ft 10, to be precise! I'm of course underweight – because that's sexy! (hint: sarcasm!) – but for some reason, I still have a decent figure. You know... Boobs, waits, butt! And really, really long legs. As in "daddy longlegs"-long legs! And yes, I loved it! I loved how I could easily look like a sex bomb in everything from leggings to a pencil skirt.

Speaking off.

Tanja was wearing the most gorgeous pencil skirt along with a stunning, white shirt. I could smell the perfume on her, as she was trying to hide the scent of a male. I smiled but didn't comment. Hey! Her life, her choice, right?

She was shorter than me, like almost every, single female I knew. She had long, chestnut-red hair that perfectly framed her beautiful, heart-shaped face which was mostly dominated by her beautiful dark brown eyes. I knew that she was 26 years old, but thanks to werewolf aging – that practically stopped at the age of 18 for females – she looked like that. It was about 20 for guys--- but long story short is that you could run into a 50-year-old werewolf guy and he'd still look like a fucking 25-year-old!

I was Tanja's complete opposite! I had white hair, but it was curly. And not pretty waves curly, but like 'crazy witch in the woods'-curly. I tried to use conditioner anytime I got my hands on any, just to look like a normal person and because I didn't know how to cut it or had anyone who would cut it for me, it was really, really long! I literally had hair all the way down to my but-cheeks! And keep in mind that it's curly like crazy, so I had no idea how long it was if I actually straightened it out. My face was sort of standard egg-shaped, with a small boxer's nose, because my uncle had broken it a couple of times during some of the assaults. Not my favorite body part anymore. But I kinda liked my gray eyes; I'd inherited them from my mom and since Uncle Harry wasn't a sentimental man, it was one of the very few things I'd gotten to keep from my parents.

"You're back!" I engulfed her in a bear hug and only let go because she was running out of air. I stepped back and took a look at her. And that's when I noticed.

"Lesley," she sighed, poison and anger dripping from every word. Holy shit! She looked ready to kill me! "How are you?"

"I'm good, thank you," I answered, pretending that I didn't notice the glare she was giving me. Perhaps it wasn't anything personal. My brain when into automatic care mode. Had something happened to her? Was it a bad day? Had something happened to the other pack?

"Is something the matter? You look kinda." I asked and like an idiot, I tried to gesture to her body, but since there was nothing there, I ended up gesturing to her face.

Big mistake!

"Screwed!"

"Screwed?!" Tanja scoffed, her hostile and aggressive nature coming up. Ok, keep in mind, that I'm an omega! Everyone here can kick my ass, and when my friends get like that, I get scared! "Well, wow, Lesley! You really know your way around dumb, ha?" she barked at me, her brown eyes ready to burn holes into my body.

"Manners like street-rat, baby," I quickly fired back, hiding the fact that that actually hurt me. Yeah, I knew that since I couldn't read like normal people, people have a way of concluding that I was dumb or a retard; but never Tanja. She'd always been kind to me, and I could always count on her to help my pack. So, seriously! What was wrong with her? And did I even want to know? What if something had happened, and she didn't want to help anymore? The way she was looking at me, definitely suggested something like that. I needed a distraction.

"But you already know that, so what's cooking your bacon?" I joked on, doing everything in my power to escape the suffocating atmosphere. "Oh my god! It's the knowledge, isn't it? It's getting to you now! Oh, no! May the goddess have mercy?! She knows to much."

I pretended to be mourning her disappearing emphatic, with fake tears and hanging around her neck, pretending my heart was aching. It worked. She smiled before she pushed me off her.

"You're impossible to hate," she sighed, not laughing fully, but at least she'd forgotten for a second whatever was bugging her. I didn't know, why she felt the need to hate me, but I couldn't ask either. If I did, she might end up not wanting to help me and thereby Doris!

"And irresistible to love," I shrugged it off, thankful for my acting skills. "Try and restrain yourself. Any-whore," I quickly continued before she got pissed again. "I was wondering if you would do one of your rounds now while you're here? Doris isn't getting better and Adrian is very worried about her."

To my surprise – a surprise I hid, pretending I didn't notice – she actually stalled. Like she had to think about it. What the shit?! Normally I had to promise her I would make a list for her when she got here. She was always so eager to help, especially since she hated the ranking system my uncle did. But now, she stalled?! Ok, whatever was bugging her, I had to get to the bottom of it! As soon as I got her to agree to help Doris.

I folded my hands, pretending to be begging with my puppy eyes and lips pouting. I had to make her forget whatever she was angry about so she wouldn't take it out on the pack. If she doesn't go see Doris, I knew Adrian would be heartbroken and I wasn't sure she'd hang on much longer.

"Fine," Tanja finally gave in with a slightly irritated sigh, but a small smile rested on her lips. "I'll look in on them."

"Thank you!" I jumped up and just as I was about to hug her, I decided against it at the very last second. If she was pissed, perhaps it was best to leave her alone and just let her calm down a little, before I tried to help her. So, I just clapped my hands, looking like a retarded toddler on a sugar high. "It will mean so much to Adrian."

"Yeah, yeah! Just fuck off already before Alpha Harry becomes suspicious," she scoffed and continued walking toward her father's house.

"See you around," I yelled after her, trying to keep my chirpy, normal voice, while dying on the inside, wondering what the hell was bugging her. I swear, if someone had done something to her, I'd personally kill them.

"Unfortunately," she muttered angrily. I don't think she intended for me to hear it, but---werewolf hearing, bitches!

Ok! There was definitely something bothering her. I wanted to ask her about it, but once I got time to get a sit down with her, she just snapped at me. She called me things I will not and shall not remember, before storming out, leaving me and her father in a rather awkward situation, just looking at each other and NOT getting it!

I tried to ask him if he knew what was bothering her. Apparently, her long-term boyfriend in the other pack, The Silver Moon Pack, had broken up with her, because he found his mate.

"Ouch," I snorted, but when it came to mates. What can you do? Yeah, it must hurt like a bitch when you fall in love with someone that wasn't your mate, but. The wolf wants what the wolf wants! And that's a mate – not a girlfriend.

I got back to the packhouse and started to make dinner, but I still couldn't let go of the thought of Tanja and her boyfriend. I knew her twin sister had found her mate in the Siler Moon Pack, and therefore she was bound to see her ex-lover again, but this time with someone else! Another woman. I couldn't imagine how badly that had to hurt. I only hoped she'd find her own mate soon.

This made me think about what would happen when I found my own mate. I don't know what he'll be like or if he'll even accept me since I'm an omega and shit. Although I know of very few mates, that rejected each other because of status. Usually, it had to involve some sort of psychosis-deranged murderer or other bullshit like that for any wolf to reject a mate.

At least I knew one thing for sure: my mate would be the one person in the entire world, who would never hurt me.

I remembered my dad telling me about when he first met mom; he first smelled this delicious, overwhelming sweet scent. Then he looked into her eyes and that's when they knew. The magical moment, when you're face to face with your mate. The world stops spinning, time doesn't exist and you're the only two people in the entire world. He knew that from that moment forward, he only lived to protect and love her. She was his life and he dedicated his life to making her life as wonderful as possible. And he did that by protecting her, their children, and their pack.

And that's how I knew, that mates' would never hurt each other. He was the only person in this world, that would never, ever hurt me!

Lesley's POV

Crappy, stupid school!

When the Principal said one week, he meant until the end of the week. Which meant that it was Monday and I was back in school. Unfortunately, when my uncle said I was to do everything Trevor said for one week, he meant ONE week. That's 7 days! This meant that although I had successfully avoided Trevor for the last five days, I still had two more days to go. And with me being back in school, that was going to be close to impossible.

And to make matters worse, I'd lost my all helping aids. Yeah, great to be back! I tried to keep up with some stupid quiz, but of course, I wasn't halfway done when everybody else started to get impatient. This made me nervous and the letters literally disappeared off the paper. I tried to concentrate, and the teacher tried to calm everybody down so I could get done, but when the names started I just gave up and handed in the damn paper. And because of that, I'd cost them half of their reset and vengeance had to be theirs!

I tried to hurry out of there to avoid the anger, but something inside me told me to stay on high alert. Something bad was gonna happen. I just knew it!

I managed to stay hidden until the warning bell sounded. I sighed in relief. So far so good, I thought and resurfaced from behind the soccer field's benches. I wasn't exactly afraid of what they might do, but ever since I'd drained my wolf's healing powers, she hadn't been acting like herself. She seemed more tense and jumpy, making me more tense and jumpy. She was jumping at the smallest sound and sticking her nose out as if she was looking for something. It made me nervous. Had I broken her? Even more, I mean? Which also was why I tried to stay clear of trouble, so I didn't drain any more of her energy, than I already did by existing.

I got back into the halls and hurried to my locker. I tried to ignore the glances I got from some of my fellow classmates and concentrated on getting my book.

I screeched, as my legs suddenly were kicked from out under me. My heart dropped and my blood froze. How did I not see that coming?! Luckily, I'd managed to block the fall with my hands, sending a shock of pain through my elbow and wrists. Murdering hell.

But before I even had time to think about getting up, someone grabbed a fistful of my hair and was running along the hall. I screamed! The pain was all too familiar at this point. Like someone was trying to pull my head off my shoulders. The hands tugged at my hair and all could do, was follow. I tried wriggling to get free but found that the only thing I could do, was to try and follow, by kicking my legs and knees on the cold concrete floor.

Suddenly, someone grabbed my legs and I saw four guys from my class pick me up. I tried to kick them off, but it was too late. I landed in the janitor's steel sink with a splash. The burning hot water closes around my skin and I forgot everything. My heart stopped beating, and everything was spinning. For a second, I could only feel pain. My skin felt like it was melting, like the worst sunburn you could ever imagine! The only thing I could do was to get out.

I screamed, blocking out the laughs of my classmates, as they ran off and closed the door. I was left alone in the darkness with nothing but the burning sensation on my skin.

I snap up and turn the cold water on. Pulled off my wet shirt and soaked it in the cold water before trying to put it against my abdomen. Pain once again shot through my body, but I tried to bite my lips so I didn't cry out loud. I was partly successful, only letting out a strangled gasp, as I cooled down my skin.

"Oh my god!" I hitched, doubling over the sink as I quickly tried to get more cold water on the burned flesh. I couldn't stop the sounds or loud cry, that escaped my lips this time! My lips were trembling. My entire body was shaking, being cold and hot, both at the same time. I gasped for air, but it only came out as a staggered sob.

"FUCK!"

I put more cold water on my abdomen, but every move I made felt like pins and needles were being drilled into my body. That's when I realized, I'd burned my arm and thigh too.

"Damn it!" I practically sob out, while I let the cold water run down my arm and held my cold shirt against my side and legs. I rested my head down on the cold steel sink. My heart was skipping every other beat and tears were pressing against my eyelids. Why? Why did I deserve this? Why? Why did the Moon Goddess hate me? What had I ever done to anyone? Why.?

My throat was closing in on itself and I was dangerously close to crying. Forcing myself to calm, I took a deep breath.

"I'll be fine," I murmur to myself, finally feeling the calming effect of the cold water on my burnt skin. "No matter what, I'll be ok!"

I will be ok!

I will be ok.

I will be ok.

Once I'd said it enough times and my heart again felt like a stone in my chest, I managed to mind-link Amanda, to come and get me out.

"Oh, my god, D!" she exclaimed, once her eyes caught me on the floor. She jumped over and gently grabbed my arm. "Here!"

I let her help me up. She got the lights on and managed to find a first-aid kit. She ripped it open and found some cool-aid to apply to my severely burned abdomen. I hissed in pain. I knew I could just use my wolf to heal it and just get it over with, but. I could hear her whimper somewhere in the back of my mind. She was miserable so I let her be. I didn't understand what she wanted half the time anymore and she didn't talk to me either. Not that we had a lot to say to each other. Our life was one long misery and I blamed myself for her miserable state. I just hoped she would find a mate that would treat her like a princess. And hey! If he was fair to me too, who was I to complain?

I almost smile at the thought. A mate! Someone to love us and us alone.

I took one final deep breath, letting the dream of a better future soothe me.

No matter what, I'll be just fine, I started chanting in my head. No matter what. I'll be ok. I'll be ok.

"You want to go home?" Amanda asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. She'd applied the cool-aid on my skin and it felt amazing. She then handed me my oversized hoody. I grabbed it and carefully put it on. It stung every time I moved, but somehow, I managed to put it on. I just couldn't wait to get home and sneak myself a very, very cold shower.

"Make up an excuse for me?" I asked, turning to her bright brown eyes again. Amanda is like stupid pretty and she doesn't give a fuck. Dark brown hair, dark chocolate eyes, and lips like fucking Angelia Jolie! She's a choppy girl, I guess, but with her big boobs, big ass, and an attitude and confidence for days, people tend not to notice.

"I'll walk you there," she smiled and I know it's not up for debate. She then throws her hand dramatically over her forehead, waving the other, like a queen from another era. "I think I might be coming down with something and I can't be trusted to walk home alone."

I couldn't hold a laugh back at her stupid behavior, knowing she did it to cheer me up.

"Thanks," I muttered and left the small, claustrophobic room. Ok, I might have understated my friendship with Amanda. Yeah, she was not the person I confided the most in, but she knew that. That was Dean for me. But she was a good friend, nevertheless. I guess that's also one of the reasons why I was so bitter about her betrayal. I thought we were a team. She and I. But apparently, when a new fuck-boy came along, I was tossed aside like a used condom?! It just felt so unfair.

But by the looks of it, Amanda did want to make it up to me. And if she wanted to, I guess she was allowed to have a second chance. Right? I mean, come on! The girl was practically shunned by the rest of the younger pack members – except when they needed a booty call – for being my friend. Perhaps I at least owed her that.

It was still august, but the breeze outside had already turned a notch colder. Not that I complained. The cold was doing wonders for my burned abdomen. Amanda had picked up my stuff and we were on our way home. I just couldn't wait to get this day over with. Enough bad shit had already happened today and the last thing I needed was to run into Trevor. So, I couldn't get home fast enough.

We rounded the corner and I looked up. My heart sank when I saw the people coming our way. It was Trevor and Fraya!

I quickly made a 1-80 and practically ran in the other direction. But of course, they'd already seen me.

"OOOOOH, LEEEEEEESLEY!"

I froze. And not only because of the alpha command still on me. Shit! Shitshitshitshit.

They walked up to us, but Trevor doesn't stop until he was an inch away from my face. He gripped my arm tightly, and pain shoots through my body. Bloody hell! I'd already been cooked today! Couldn't I get a break?

Just one?!

"You're mine, bitch," Trevor hissed in my face and I could feel the spit on my cheeks. "And you'll do and say, exactly what I tell you to!"