CHLOE POV

I take a deep breath as I make my way into the ballroom housing Logan's celebration. I am so nervous my palms have begun to sweat.

This is the first time all day I have been around other people. And while the chance of finding my mate amongst all the mateless females showing up for Logan is low, it is still possible.

I mean, we have male workers from the pack hanging around trying to catch females' eyes too. And I know a few males are over eighteen in our pack. They are waiting to go to Outcast, so they are definitely around here in hopes of saving themselves a trip. Maybe just maybe, one of them is mine.

I have had crushes throughout the years within our pack. I have even prayed to the Goddess a time or two on who I wanted to be my mate.

As I try to boost my hopes I will find my mate, I pass Melanie, who is dressed up cute to serve snacks.

She gives me a wink, and I give her a thumbs up. Both my friends see me as the happy nothing can get me down girl, so she would be surprised to know how terrified I am right now. Because well...I think I'm pretty, but what if my mate doesn't. Maybe he prefers chocolate-skinned females, a female with dark hair, or females with blue eyes. I am none of those things...I could be rejected. I could be moving to Outcast in hopes someone will love me.

I head to the punch table to calm my nerves, and on the way, I hear the voice of my old friend-enemy fake whispering about me.

"Yeah, that's her. The omega who acts like her shit don't stink," she says, and my eyes roll.

I don't even acknowledge her by turning around. She has been eighteen for about two months already and will be heading to Outcast soon if she doesn't find her mate. Logan and her have hooked up before. They've even dated; I bet she will be his mate. They are a perfect match.

Oh goodness, maybe I don't want to find my mate in our pack. She will be worse than Luna Kandace!

I snort out loud at the thought before grabbing a prefilled punch cup. Half the pack will ask to join another Alpha in a week of them taking over. Because even though Logan is strong and intelligent, he is a jerk to half his people. Add her into the mix.....oh geez.

"Chloe...don't you know you are supposed to look up at times like these? Can't make eye contact with your mate if you are staring at a cup of punch," Melanie whispers from beside me, and I grin before looking at her.

"I know...but this punch looked really dreamy," I joke, and she gives me an eye roll before disappearing yet again.

"Okay, focus, Chloe. Make eye contact with every male you see," I demand in my head as I turn around to face the crowd.

My eyes lock with almost ten people doing the same thing in under a minute before I finally blink. I want to laugh at myself, but this is how these things are...everyone walking around wide-eyed and hopeful.

I make a few rounds around the room and come to the conclusion that my mate is either very late or just not here. Which it's okay. The next Hunt is scheduled in less than three months, and I am bound to find my mate at Outcast.

I hear during the hunt thousands of wolves line up and walk past each other with their eyes open. And when they lock eyes with their mate, they just jump out of line. They spend the night getting to know each other and then shift together for the first time under the moon at midnight. In the morning they head back to the males' pack.

So, going to Outcast to find my mate won't be so bad. Thousands do it! And if he isn't there during that hunt, I will stay at Outcast until the next hunt and so forth. My mate shouldn't be more than two years younger than me, so if he doesn't show...I am mateless and wolfless. It happens. I will be sad, but it happens. Fighting between packs kill thousands every year.

"Attention, in just a moment, my son will be taking the stage. Luna Kandace and I would like to invite all the of-age ladies forward at this time. Please don't be shy; we are excited and hopeful that one of you are our future daughter," Alpha Patrick suddenly announces, and I am surprised to find I am already where I should be.

Maybe a little too close, in fact. I have no hopes that Logan is my mate. And while I believe I would be a great Luna, I wouldn't want him for a mate. Yes, he is gorgeous, but he is the main reason my mother is gone. While the idea to go play outside was mine and Luna Kandace's, it was Logan who she fought tooth and nail to protect. It was Logan that they wanted and come hunting for.

I take a deep calming breath as I hear Logan's feet make their way onto the stage. A trickle of fear runs down my spine, before I lift my head and look in the direction he is approaching from. I keep my face blank as he locks eyes with everyone he can. I am almost completely center, so he has about 75 girls, if not more, to get to before he gets to me. So I take this time to look him over.

He is a fine male. Taller than even his father. His shoulders are wide, which is nice, and his curly hair he inherited from his chocolate-skinned father is adorable. But I personally love his brown and blue eyes. I complimented him often when we were little and he used to always to blush.

Still to this day, I have never seen anyone with the same color. I have seen a lot of brown and green, or blue and green. But never brown and blue perfectly blended like his are.

As I try to remember the exact shade his eyes are, a weird since of longing fills me. I find myself getting impatient. I want to look at his eyes again. I want to see that pretty color again. And right in the middle of that longing, it happens.

Logan's big beautiful blue-brown eyes lock with mine, and something within me snaps together. As if a piece of me was floating within my chest, just waiting to be attached to my heart, and all it took was one look. One look from him, Logan, my mate.

His long arms reach out towards me at the same time, mine lift towards him. He grabs me and pulls me up onto the stage with him without breaking eye contact, and we both smile.

Every negative thought about our past floats away, and I feel nothing but happiness. This is him. This is my male. The boy I grew up with, is mine and I am his. His wolf and my wolf were made as one and will be sent to us tonight. I found him.

"Mine," Logan breathes, and I nod.

"Yours," I whisper back before a screech breaks our trance.

"Logan! Come here now," Luna Kandace screams, and both our arms drop.

I watch the happy light in his eyes dim as he backs away from me. Luna Kandace grabs his arm and yanks him towards her in front of all the visiting wolves, and I feel a strong level of protectiveness wash over me.

"Don't grab him like that," I snap, and her head whips towards me.

"Shut up," she orders with her command power, and I freeze.

Logan watches his mother order me and doesn't say a word. He almost seems like a whipped puppy now that her hand is on his arm. And the image would be comical in any other circumstance.

"Logan! Listen to me! She is an omega. Her human body is weak. The wolf she will get will be strong, but she is weak. She was born an omega. I told you what to do if you get an omega mate, now do it," Luna Kandace snaps, and Alpha Patrick growls.

"Kandace! How dare you force my son to reject his mate. Chloe comes from an amazing bloodline. Her mother was the strongest female before getting her mate. She even pinned me! Chloe is an amazing wolf, just like Hannah was," Alpha declares sounding as if his crush on my mom never truly died.

"That female was weak, and so is her daughter. She couldn't even fight off three wolves. If only I had been there with her and the pups...Logan listen to me reject her," Luna Kandace lies, and my rage fights against her command.

I want to spew the truth so bad but her command is stopping me. I had no idea she had lied and said she wasn't with us. I guess she thought I was too young and would forget what happened that day. She thought she could tell the adults a lie and no one would believe my version!

Logan's eyes meet mine, and I see his defeat. He is going along with his mother's order. He is throwing me away because of her lies. Because she has convinced him omegas are weak, when we aren't. We are strong and compassionate. We nurture the pack when the Luna can't. We are the backbone!

I try to plead with him using my face and body, but he closes his eyes so he can't see me. He opens his mouth, and dread fills my stomach. I want to vomit. Fifteen minutes ago, I didn't want to be his, but now I can't imagine life without him.

"I, Logan Thurman, reject you, Chloe Patterson as my mate and life partner," Logan says sadly, and the piece of myself that attached to my heart moments ago when we locked eyes, breaks right back off.

Pain fills my chest, and I open my mouth to scream, but nothing comes out. I fall to my knees, and the whole crowd gasps as they watch me twitch and battle the pain within me silently. Logan tries to rush towards me, but Kandace's hand stops him.

After a minute of wrathing on the ground, Alpha takes pity on me and comes to my aid.

"You may speak," Alpha commands, and my scream erupts from within me instantly.

Logan flinches hard, and the sound of my pain echoes throughout the room as my body fights against his rejection. My fingernails cut the inside of my palms, and my forehead beads with sweat as I repeatedly scream out.

The entire time I scream, my eyes don't leave Logan and Kandace. I watch as my pain hurts him, and I watch as Kandace smiles at my agony with nothing but triumph.

She thinks she has won. She thinks she has proven me to be weak! She thinks she has finally outdone my beautiful mother. I will show her.

"You have to accept the rejection for the pain to stop...I'm sorry, Chloe. But you have to," Alpha whispers as another blade of pain slices through my heart.

I grind my teeth together as I lock eyes with only Kandace. I force myself to my feet on pure adrenaline as pain rips my insides apart. I swallow back my screams and fight with all my might to keep the pain from showing on my face.

As I stand up, a different look crosses her face, and I wish I could manage a smile.

"I, Chloe Patterson, accept your rejection," I barely manage to whisper before everything goes dead within me.

Logan grabs his chest with open panic, and I know exactly what he just felt.

"Yeah, that was our bond dying Logan. Congratulations," I sarcastically say before I whip around and face the massive crowd that just witnessed my public rejection.

"I want to set something straight, that should have been set straight years ago. When my mother Hannah Patterson died, she died defending our future alpha, Logan Thurman! Luna Kandace, my mother, Logan, and I had all been at the clearing right next to the old park! We were there because Luna Kandace suggested we play outside as an early birthday celebration. Logan had cried and said no, and I had said yes. Not twenty minutes after arriving we were attacked! Luna Kandace, ran! She left my mother, A WEAK OMEGA, to defend her pup and me. Logan got knocked unconscious when the first wolf attacked, and my mother, IN HUMAN FORM, immediately sprang to action. She attacked the warrior wolf trying to kill the Alpha's son, and Kandace ran like a coward. SHE RAN AWAY INSTEAD OF PROTECTING HER OWN PUP. MY MOTHER BRAVELY TOOK DOWN THAT WOLF AND THE NEXT TWO WHO SHOWED UP, ALL IN HUMAN FORM. She kept yelling to me, "Don't worry, Chloe, Kandace went to get help." But my mother was wrong. Luna Kandace ran and hid away. She had no plans to return or get help, because she was too weak and scared to even think straight! My mother died in my arms after defeating the last warrior. Her human body was basically shredded as our border patrol finally caught scent of the blood and came to her aid! OUR LUNA IS LIAR AND A COWARD. SHE IS JEALOUS OF A DEAD OMEGA'S ACTS OF HEROISM AND JUST FORCED HER SON TO REJECT HIS OWN MATE BECAUSE OF THOSE JEALOUS FEELINGS. I AM HAPPY TO SAY I WILL BE LEAVING FOR OUTCAST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ENJOY HAVING HER AS YOUR LUNA," I scream to the shocked crowd before jumping of the stage and heading straight for the exit.

I don't look back, and I never will. My mother should have let those warriors have him!

CHLOE POV

I let the tears fall as I pack what I can fit in my one tiny suitcase. The dull memory of my pain is still pulsing within my mind, but my tears have nothing to do with Logan or even Luna Kandace.

I am honestly sad to leave the pack I was destined to lead. I truly believe I would have done a great job repairing some of the relationships Luna Kandace has destroyed. I could have made our people closer, but Luna Kandace, along with her weak-willed son, ruined that future.

I slam shut the suitcase and sit on it to be able to close the latches as a knock sounds on my door.

"Come in," I grunt out between wiping my face and working with the latch.

I don't look up as my door opens. I don't really want to. I know the goodbyes are coming from my closest friends and loved ones, but I am dreading them. I have had enough pain to last me a lifetime after my rejection, and I know these goodbyes will hurt.

"Honey...stop, let me help you," Mrs. Marsh says as her hands join mine, working the latch.

I look up and find my medium-sized room filled with people. All the omegas and a few friends from school have come to see me off.

"I'm sorry," Shannon whispers as she gently tugs me off my suitcase.

She and Melanie wrap their arms around me as soon as I am standing.

"It's his loss," one of the males says, and I attempt to smile.

I try to pull on my happy face just one more time, so they all know I haven't been broken, but my lips waver.

"Oh, sweetheart, it's okay to show sadness. You are so strong all the time; it's okay to break down every once in a while," Lydia says from just over Melanie's shoulder, and I sniffle before breaking down again, completely for all of them to see.

"I can't believe I am supposed to be your new Luna, and because of them, I don't get to be," I sob, sounding like a five-year-old pup.

"You will always be my Luna. No matter who that dumbass chooses to mate," Chance says, and I see Trevor nod.

I wipe my eyes, but my crying doesn't halt. Shannon and Melanie pull away to look at me, and Chris offers me a handkerchief.

"Thanks," I mumble, and he gives me a sad smile.

"I'm so happy the truth about your mother is finally out there," Melanie says, and the rest of the group nods.

Momma Marsh puts her arm over my shoulders and kisses the side of my head.

"Your momma was the bravest and sweetest woman I have ever met, honey. And I am 100% certain you made her beyond proud tonight," Momma Marsh says, and the group mumbles out their agreements.

"Thanks, Momma Marsh...I just think I want to get out of here. When I shift at midnight, I want to be far away from here. I want to be able to talk to my wolf and get to know her without worry," I whisper, and the group nods.

They take turns giving me silent but meaningful hugs and squeezes before one by one, leaving me to finish packing.

When my door finally closes, I sigh. I grab my mom's picture and tuck it into my back pocket. I look at myself in the mirror and think about how different I look than I did this morning. I look tired and sad, not happy and hopeful. And I no longer give myself a ten out of ten. Thank you, Logan.

I grab a couple of hair ties and put them around my wrist. My hair is already up, but I will need the extras when I get to Outcast. I do a once-over one more time before opening my door and freezing midstep.

"Hi," Logan says quickly, looking desperately between my eyes.

"Bye," I reply, trying to move around him.

"Please wait...The rejection had nothing to do with you, okay. You are gorgeous. My childhood fucking crush, to be perfectly honest...It's just your human body is groomed for being an Omega. Even though Mom betrayed my trust, she had that part right. I value my mom's counsel. She has always been closer to me than my dad...I. Look, I get it. The truth hurts. Knowing my mom ran," Logan says, and I hold up my hand to stop him.

He goes quiet, and I look him in the eyes.

"Your mother's body trained as a warrior before she got her wolf...tell me why she didn't stand with my mom...You see, Logan, sometimes it's about character, not training. I was born to be your Luna and mate. The wolf that I will receive tonight...alone, instead of in your company, is one with the wolf you will receive. You will have to explain to him why you rejected his mate's human body, and I hope you have a better excuse than that because throughout history, Omegas have made great Lunas," I declare, and his eyes widen.

"Maybe if you had read up on your history instead of focusing on your muscles, war, and girls, we wouldn't be having this conversation," I whisper before walking past him as if he doesn't exist.

"Chloe, I'm sorry," Logan calls as I round the corner, heading for the back exit to the packhouse.

I almost stop and go back to him, but we have nothing left to say to each other. I am on my way to Outcast to live permanently, and he will be taking bi-annual hunting trips to Outcast to find my replacement. That is the future he has chosen for us, and it was a decision based solely on his mother's counsel. Great.

LOGAN POV (DAY BEFORE BIRTHDAY)

Her perfume is in the bathroom again, and I love it. I wish I already had my heightened sense of smell. That way, I could follow her scent more closely, and my mother wouldn't ever know.

"Damn, Chloe. Why do you have to be everywhere?" I whisper before drying my hands and heading towards the gym.

I skipped breakfast since I already heard mom and dad going at it like screech owls. I really wish he would just realize she acts out to get his attention. It would make living under the same roof as them so much easier.

I constantly have to play the soundboard for my mother because her mate sucks. He never shows any interest in her or me, for that matter, and it gets to her. She says that after they had me, he barely even kissed her. Which I can be a witness to that because he never shows either of us affection. He is nice to our people, and for all purposes, a great Alpha, but as a mate and father...the man is lacking.

"Hey, man. Why the gloom and doom? You turn eighteen tomorrow," Gavin, my Beta, says as I enter the gym, probably looking annoyed.

"Ah man, you know. The old man and my mom are just going at it. The usual," I answer honestly, and he rolls his eyes.

"Focus on something else...like the fact you might be locked down to just one pussy tomorrow," Gavin says, and I force my eyes not to roll.

I'm the one who made this fake image for myself two years ago, trying to be cool. It's not his fault. I am starting to regret it.

I honestly didn't plan my whole image out when I decided to start acting this way. I didn't think about the repercussions, such as fake friends and superficial girls sticking to me like gorilla duct tape.

I had just thought it would be nice to be the cool guy. To get a shit ton of attention at school since I get zero from my dad. So when I went to Alpha training, I tested my new image...it worked, and I came back still in character.

Girls loved it, and guys envied me. Win-win, or so I thought."Yeah. I'm kinda tired of the communal pools, though, if you know what I mean," I say, and he nods.

"I get that, man. These girls just aren't cutting it. I can't wait to turn eighteen. Hopefully, my girl isn't someone you've been with," Gavin says, and I snort.

Little does he know I haven't slept with any of the girls I've "dated." I say that I do, and the school believes me. The girls like the popularity and go along with the lie, and I stay clean.

"Anyways, are we gonna talk, or am I gonna kick your ass?" I ask, giving him my most cocky grin?

"I'm not the one avoiding the mat," Gavin says, starting to bounce back and forth on the balls of his feet.

I immediately lunge, and he dodges, anticipating my attack just in time.

For the next thirty minutes, Gavin and I exhaust our muscles pinning and wrestling each other over and over again. When he finally submits for the tenth time and declares defeat, my body hits the mat instantly.

"Shit, you've gotten better," I manage to say, and he laughs.

"Still can't win, though," he replies, and I shrug before propping myself up.

"You aren't supposed to. I'm the Alpha, remember," I reply as my eyes land on my mother leaning against the gym's padded wall.

She gestures for me to follow her, and I nod.

"Looks like I'm done for the day, bro. See ya later," I say, standing to my feet and grabbing a room-temperature water bottle we keep on the shelf.

Time to play listening ear.

LOGAN POV

"You should focus more while training and do less talking," Mom snaps as she tosses me a small towel to wipe my face with.

"Mom...I can train and bond with my Beta at the same time. He is my second. The guy I need to be able to trust completely," I explain, sounding just as annoyed as she did.

She rolls her eyes and plops down in my office chair that she has unofficially claimed as her own, which gets to me sometimes considering how vital this small space is to me.

When I came back from Alpha training, my dad had this office set up for me over the gym. He said it would be a great starting point for me and would help teach me how to organize an office. I had been in shock at how happy he seemed to give it to me. He rarely smiles and talks about me being the future Alpha. It's was also one of the few times he ever hugged me. Now my mom uses it to hold all our private conversations that she says my father doesn't need to be a part of.

Which I, for the most part, agree with. I just don't like the fact she treats the space likes it's hers. This space represents one of the special moments between my father and me.

"Logan, we need to set some rules in place for tomorrow," Mom snaps, and my thoughts drift back to th present.

"What? What rules," I ask, confused as to what she means.

She's always telling me I need not to follow the rules. She tells me I'm an Alpha, and I make rules.

"About your mate, son. You need to have certain standards," she explains, sounding like it should have been so obvious.

"The goddess decides who our mates are, mom," I groan, knowing she is about to bring up Chloe.

Ever since I got a concussion during the attack that killed Chloe's mom, my mom has forbidden us from being friends. She wouldn't even let me go to the funeral. She said I was still healing and couldn't go. Anytime I asked to play with Chloe again, my mom called her an omega...someone that was below me. She always knew when I would talk to her and would get on to me for it.

My mom also caught on quickly to the little crush I had on her at thirteen years old. She told me Omegas have one purpose, and that is to serve. She said they are liabilities to all packs and should honestly be kicked out. She said if Hannah Patterson hadn't saved me that day, she would force my father to kick them out. She pushed me to never even speak to Chloe unless I was issuing an order.

I always brush her rants off and blame them on how traumatized she is. I mean, she lost her best friend and almost lost her son. And while I can't remember the attack, I can still imagine how bad it was. How scared she must have been as my mother to be told I was almost killed.

"But if your mate is an omega, Logan, you have to put the pack first. Just think about it. Omegas take no physical training classes. Their bodies are weak...and even with an Alpha wolf spirit, they wouldn't be able to defend themselves. I don't say this to be mean, Logan; I say this as the present Luna. I want our people to be as safe as

possible. While we have had peace for thirteen years, that could always change within a second. And an Omega turned Luna wouldn't be able to stomach killing. They are brought up as nurtures," mom says as she stands and takes my hands.

The truth of her words fills my mind, and sadness begins to flicker within my heart. I wouldn't want my mate in danger, and an

untrained omega in the place of Luna would be dangerous.

"I get that. I just...why would the Goddess pair an omega to an Alpha male then," I ask, and my mother shrugs.

"Probably to test you. She wants what's best for us, so she does things to make us stronger. Just trust me, Logan. I have always put that's best for you above everything else. Now it's your turn to do that for the pack," mom says, and I nod.

She pats my cheek before lifting up on her toes to kiss my forehead.

"Don't worry, son. I don't even think for a second the Goddess would do that to you. Tomorrow you will get your mate, and she will be perfectly suited for the title of Luna," Mom says before leaving me standing there feeling down.

Something in my heart tells me mother is wrong...and that something is Chloe.

"Attention, in just a moment, my son will be taking the stage. Luna Kandace and I would like to invite all the of-age ladies forward at this time. Please don't be shy; we are excited and hopeful that one of you are our future daughter," my father says as I watch from the dark hallway.

All the girls move forward excitedly, but my eyes are trained on one. She looks perfect tonight. The white dress she chose bounces off her tan skin beautifully, and her long-toned legs look endless.

I sigh as I see her hesitant. She looks at the stage as if it's her enemy, and that hurts. She is probably hoping I'm not her mate.

Well, I better get on with it. I need to find who I am supposed to be with and get her out of my mind permanently. And my mom is right. If someone attacked us and Chloe was the Luna, she would be killed... And I honestly could never live with that. She means something to me, and that won't change, mate or not.

I take a deep calming breath as I step up on the stage and begin to make eye contact with each female. My eyes instantly get dry and start watering, but I press through. I want to blink so bad, but I feel like if I do, I might miss her eyes. The special eyes that are supposed to make my heart stop.

After about thirty seconds, I finally blink, and when I do, I open my eye to see Jasmine's. I almost sneer before looking away as quickly as possible.

I can't stand that particular female. She has spent the past six months stalking me obsessively. I even caught her in my room a few times. She told everyone that would listen she was my girlfriend because I made the mistake of kissing her once. I am beyond glad she isn't the one.

Blue eyes, green eyes, brown eyes. With each pair I connect with, my body gets antsier and antsier. I can feel that I am getting close, but I also know I am getting closer to where Chloe was.

After another ten females, my heart rate increases. I can smell her familiar perfume. I'm almost....my gaze meets her patient light brown eyes, and my world stops. My chest gets this really full feeling, and then my heart seems to double in size.

It's her. It's always been her. She's been mine from the very start. I knew it. This beautiful sweet woman is mine.

My arms reach out toward her as hers reach out for me, and I can't help but smile. I lift her up easily while watching the happy look in her eyes grow.

I forget the conversation with my mom. I forget everything as I take in every little detail of my mate's face. Her small button nose and pouty lips. Her high cheekbones and big eyes. Her long eyelashes and perfectly arched eyebrows.

"Mine," I breathe, and she nods.

"Yours," she whispers, and I go to kiss her just as my mother begins yelling.

"Logan! Come here now," mom screams and both our arms drop away from each other.

Realization dawns on me as my mother takes my arm and yanks me away from my mate like I'm not 6'3" and 210 pounds of solid muscle.

"Don't grab him like that," Chloe immediately snaps.

She is defending me in front of our people like a true mate. My lips tug up before my mother opens her mouth yet again.

"Shut up," she orders Chloe, and my mate's body jerks.

My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth, and unlike Chloe, I don't say anything. I let my mother run the show.

"Logan! Listen to me! She is an omega. Her human body is weak. The wolf she will get will be strong, but she is weak. She was born an omega. I told you what to do if you get an omega mate, now do it," mom snaps, and Dad instantly growls.

"Kandace! How dare you force my son to reject his mate. Chloe comes from an amazing bloodline. Her mother was the strongest female before getting her mate. She even pinned me! Chloe is an amazing wolf, just like Hannah was," Dad says, defending his dead friend and my mate.

"That female was weak, and so is her daughter. She couldn't even fight off three wolves. If only I had been there with her and the pups... Logan listen to me reject her," mom says, and her words from yesterday hit me.

The last thing I want is for there to be an attack and for my mate to die. There is peace with our neighboring packs currently but that could always change. And while my people are strong, my mate has never trained. They might see her as a target. 2

I meet Chloe's eyes one more time and all I see is pain and rage. She knows I am about to do it...I know she does because she starts to frantically shake her head. Her eyes get even bigger and my heart feels like it's being ripped in two. I want to tell her it's for her own good but I can't. This needs to be as quick as possible.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

"I, Logan Thurman, reject you, Chloe Patterson as my mate and life partner," I say sadly, with my eyes closed.

I hear a thud and my eyes shoot open just in time for Chloe to start grabbing her chest. She has her mouth open as if screaming but my mother's order is still in effect. I go to rush to her side but mom grabs my arm.

After a minute of wrathing on the ground, dad moves to her side. He crouches down with a look full of pity on his face.

"You may speak," Dad commands, and Chloe's scream instantly erupts out of her throat.

My body jolts from the force of it and my stomach gets sick as I watch what my words have done to her. Her skin looks sickly and sweaty, her hair is no longer smooth and sleek, and her eyes are filled with so much pain I want to die.

"You have to accept the rejection for the pain to stop...I'm sorry, Chloe. But you have to," Dad whispers to her and I force myself not to break down in front of my guests.

Chloe gets a look of determination on her face and she clenches her jaw so hard it looks like she might break her molars. She stands to her feet while staring directly at my mother and something begins to feel weird. It's like I'm missing something.

"I, Chloe Patterson, accept your rejection," Chloe suddenly whispers and pain shoots through my chest.

I grab where my heart is in an attempt to stop the bond from breaking, but I feel it. I feel something split off inside of me and I freeze.

"Yeah, that was our bond dying Logan. Congratulations," Chloe sarcastically snaps before turning to crowd that I had forgotten all about for a moment.

"I want to set something straight, that should have been set straight years ago. When my mother Hannah Patterson died, she died defending our future alpha, Logan Hayes! Luna Kandace, my mother, Logan, and I had all been at the clearing right next to the old park! We were there because Luna Kandace suggested we play outside as an early birthday celebration. Logan had cried and said no, and I had said yes. Not twenty minutes after arriving we were attacked! Luna Kandace, ran! She left my mother, A WEAK OMEGA, to defend her pup and me. Logan got knocked unconscious when the first wolf attacked, and my mother, IN HUMAN FORM, immediately spank to action. She attacked the warrior wolf trying to kill the Alpha's son, and Kandace ran like a coward. SHE RAN AWAY INSTEAD OF PROTECTING HER OWN PUP. MY MOTHER BRAVELY TOOK DOWN THAT WOLF AND THE NEXT TWO WHO SHOWED UP, ALL IN HUMAN FORM. She kept yelling to me, "Don't worry, Chloe, Kandace went to get help." But my mother was wrong. Luna Kandace ran and hid away. She had no plans to return or get help, because she was too weak and scared to even think straight! My mother died in my arms after defeating the last warrior. Her human body was basically shredded as our border patrol finally caught scent of the blood and came to her aid! OUR LUNA IS LIAR AND A COWARD. SHE IS JEALOUS OF A DEAD OMEGA'S ACTS OF HEROISM AND JUST FORCED HER SON TO REJECT HIS OWN MATE BECAUSE OF THOSE JEALOUS FEELINGS. I AM HAPPY TO SAY I WILL BE LEAVING FOR OUTCAST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ENJOY HAVING HER AS YOUR LUNA," Chloe screams to the shocked crowd before jumping off the stage and walking out like she hates everyone here.

As my shock wears off and her words sink in, I turn towards my mother, who looks like a ghost.

I open my mouth to make her explain, but my father's roar blasts the entire room.

"WHAT?!?! YOU LEFT HANNAH TO FIGHT BY HERSELF? YOU TOLD ME SHE HAD TAKEN THE CHILDREN OUT WITHOUT PERMISSION! YOU TOLD ME YOU WEREN'T THERE! YOU LEFT OUR SON TO DIE," Dad shouts, and the crowd growls as they stare at my mother.

Mom sheepishly shakes her head, but her eyes hold nothing but honest fear. My stomach turns over as I look away. I feel betrayed. Not because my mother left me there to die...but because she has lied all this time and I trusted her.

"YOU WERE ALWAYS JEALOUS OF HANNAH! ALWAYS UPSET THAT SHE WAS BETTER THAN YOU AT FIGHTING, BUT AFTER WE MATED I THOUGHT YOU GOT OVER IT. NOW YOU FORCED LOGAN TO REJECT HER DAUGHTER. HAVE YOU FILLED THE HATE IN YOUR HEART NOW, OR DO YOU NEED MORE," Dad shouts, and my ears prick towards the interesting pieces of information being shared for everyone to hear.

"I wouldn't have had to be jealous if you didn't lust after her like a lost puppy. I ran that day! So what! She was just an omega, Patrick. A weak meaningless member of the pack," Mother snaps, and the crowd erupts.

Anger spikes through me, and I walk away before I do something I will regret later.