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.

LOGAN POV

"Hi," I say quickly looking over Chloe's depressed state.

She put her hair up and changed into her comfy day off clothes that hide away her beautiful curves. But the thing that sticks out the most is the blatant hate in her eyes. As if I am her enemy and not her mate.

"Bye," she snaps while trying to move around me.

"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," I explain before she raises her hand.

She stares at me like I am the biggest dumbass in the whole world and the rest of my well thought out apology disappears.

I wanted to explain how scared I am for her safety and how killing someone might be impossible for her due to how sweet she is. Being the Alpha pair isn't rainbows and roses, it's tough. But it doesn't look like Chloe wants to hear it.

"Your mother's body trained as a warrior before she got her wolf... tell me why she didnt 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 all throughout history, Omegas have made great Lunas," she states, and my eyes widen.

I try to think back to history class, but all that comes to mind are my favorite battles and the Alpha's behind them. I never focused on the Lunas or their backgrounds.

"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," she whispers, practically reading my mind before shoving past me like I'm nothing to her but an obstacle.

My mind goes into a panic as I watch her walk away from me. I had so much left to say to her. So much to say....

"Chloe, I'm sorry," I call out trying to at least get a backwards glance from her, but she keeps right on marching.

As if she is eager to get away from me.

My head falls into my hands for only a moment, before anger mixed with betrayal explodes from me. I immediately begin punching and kicking the wall.

"FUCK. FUCK. SHIT. WHY. WHY DID I FUCKING TRUST HER," I scream as angry tears fall from my eyes.

I know the other Omegas who live on this hall can hear me, just like they can hear all my family drama, but I kept spilling my guts over and over again. Only when my knuckles are completely destroyed do I stop and sink to the ground.

A tall shadow falls over me, but I'm too tired to look up to see who it is. I'm spent both physically and emotionally. My mother betrayed me, lied to me, and convinced me to betray my mate in front of our pack in the most brutal of ways.

"Son. Get up," Dad's voice orders, and my body moves without my permission.

My eyes meet his brown ones with open hostility, and he sighs.

"Come on," he orders, and once again, my body snaps forward to do his bidding.

"I can walk on my own," I growl, but he says nothing.

He keeps walking, and I realize we are heading to my office. He hasn't been in the space since he gave it to me, to my knowledge, and now he wants to return to it.

I scoff, "great, another secret meeting with one of my awesome parents."

Dad's body pauses for a moment before he turns around to face me.

"What," he asks, and my feet keep moving.

I walk straight into his chest, before he realizes I can't stop.

"Stop," he orders, and my body freezes.

"What did you say," he asks, and I shake my head.

"Nothing," I mumble, and he gives me his "don't bullshit me" look.

"We will be circling back to that," he growls before turning and walking up the stairs looking even more tense.

I grunt and follow.

"Sit down," he orders after slamming the door to my office, and my body complies.

I sit in the chair I normally do, and his forehead creases.

"Sit in your chair! This is your office is it not," Dad growls, and my eyes slightly widen.

I move to where mom normally sits as dad begins to pace next to the large window overlooking the gym.

"I don't know how your mother got you to believe an omega is too weak to be a good Luna, but I do know you need to fix this shit, Logan. You need to go to Outcast during the next hunt and win your mate back. A mate is a wonderful gift, Logan," Dad barks angrily, and I scoff again.

"Oh really, then why do you treat your mate like shit? She wouldn't be such a bitch if you just showed her a little bit of love," I yell, and dad's eyes flick to black. He roars, and my head snaps down in submission.

"MY MATE IS A HATEFUL JEALOUS LYING BITCH," he thunders out, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

"You wanna know why I can't touch her? Why I can't make love to her. You wanna know what she leaves out when she fills your heart with hate towards me" Dad growls, getting right up in my face.

I shake my head, and he chuckles darkly.

"Too late.. Your mother cheated! She cheated on me, Logan. It was right after we first mated. She didn't know I would be able to feel her being pleasured by someone else, and when I confronted her about it, she immediately confessed. She told me it wouldn't happen again before turning it all around on me. She blamed her cheating on me. She said she needed the extra attention because I was always sniffing after Hannah's skirts. Which, to be honest, that was partially true! Hannah was my first love. I wanted her to be my mate so bad I couldn't sleep the night before I turned eighteen, but instead of my friend who never looked at me in that way...I got your mother. Hannah got Arthur. We were both happy though. I was grateful for my beautiful mate. Until I started realizing how hateful she is.. How ambitious she is. Your mom hates anything that isn't the best, and I wasn't the best Alpha. I wasn't the strongest; shit Hannah pinned me. I'm strong mentally, but physically I'm nothing special. I mean, I'm an Alpha, but I'm not the top. Your mother wanted the best. She hated that Hannah was stronger than her growing up, but Kandace loved that Hannah got an omega mate. She felt like she had beat her, "Dad sighs and moves away from the desk.

He gives me a sad look and I gulp down the rising bile in my throat.

"I was...after she cheated and I forgave her...I was good. We were good. I was happy. A couple of years later, we had you, and I was overjoyed. Your mother was too. She kept saying how you would be the Alpha I should have been. She was peeved that Hannah had a baby too...said Hannah tried to steal her day by delivering on the same day as her. But the two seemed to bond over being mothers together. They formed a strong friendship and I fell into a happy routine, but around the time you were about four...the terrible pain hit again. I immediately knew what it was, but I didn't say anything to her. I just decided to live with it. I haven't been able to touch her since. She brought it up...told me it was a stupid mistake, but what we had is gone. I would never reject her or try to turn you against her. You love her. I just backed off. I gave the both of you space. I guess she has been using that space to mold you into the Alpha she wants you to be," Dad whispers, looking out the window again. 2

Mom's rants about dad begin to swirl in my head. My mind puts Dad's point of view on all her yelling fits, and rage begins to overwhelm my shock.

"She hates that Hannah got to play the hero. She forced me to reject Chloe because of jealousy...She told me it would be dangerous for an omega to be Luna," I whisper, and dad snorts.

He grabs a book off of one of the bookshelves I've never touched and throws it at me. The title says History's Greatest Lunas, and my stomach turns.

"I gave you an office filled with knowledge, son! You spend hours in here. What the hell have you been doing-listening to your mother rant? She didn't pay attention in school. She was busy flipping her hair at every boy in a fifty-meter radius. I knew you wouldn't listen to me, so I stocked your office with as much information as I could," Dad snarls, and I lift my head shamefully to meet his eyes.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, and Dad freezes.

"I'm sorry I believed her. I'm sorry I behaved like a well-controlled puppet...I just. I have been lonely, dad. And mom, she's always been there for me," I whisper, and dad's head hangs.

"She was just the loudest wheel on the wagon, son...meaning just because she squeaks when she turns doesn't mean the other wheels aren't turning. Just because your mom is loud and in your face all the time doesn't mean I haven't been there. I have always been here. I have tried to let you grow up independent, but I reprimand you when you step out of line. Like when you bad mouth the omegas... I guess I could have done some more one-on-one with you, but I never didn't want to. I'm just busy being the best Alpha I can be," Dad says, and I nod.

Silence falls as I begin to look at the bookshelves stacked with books hand-picked by my dad to make me a good Alpha.

"I'll get her back," I mumble, and dad nods.

"I know you will," he says.