One Mate and a Rejection
Chapter 15

Jared’s pov

I stormed out of my car feeling the anger as it pulsed through out my whole body. I had no explanation for the madness that cruised my soul. All I wanted to do was grab on to Blade Russell’s throat and threaten him. I heard noises in his backyard.I walked around the back and caught sight ofhim working out.

“What the hel-” he began but I didn’t give him time to talk.

I felt my fist connect with the side of his jaw, sending him flying back.

He clutched his bleeding face,” Are you insane? What the hell was that for?”

I stormed over to where he was lying on the ground,” So you’re Emeralds mate, huh?”

“What business is it to you? You left her like dirt on the end of your shoes!”

“Don’t!” I growled, lifting him by the top of his shirt,” Don’t act like you even give a sh*t about her, because you don’t!”

“How you’re feeling right now is how she felt when you dumped her! Expect ten times worse because she was alone! You have your own f*cking mate!”

“You have no right to tell me how she felt because I know! You’re nothing but some player! You’re a damn enemy! But like father like son, huh? Willing to be a traitor to your own pack?”

“I would never,” he stood up and pushed me away.

“Than stay away from Emerald-”

“Or what?” he challenged.

I brought my fist up to punch him but he grabbed it with his hands and twisted my arm,” Or what?” he repeated.

I shrugged him off,” Or I’ll kill you?”

“Is that a threat?”

“Consider it a promise,” i brought my other fist up and connected it with his nose.

Blade’s pov

I would have fought back for my pride, dignity and respect but I didn’t have the power. My bones felt limp, like jelly. I could barely lift up a hand to block a punch. My power was drained out of me. It was happening, the separation between me and my wolf. All because of not being able to be with my damn mate.

So I let Jared beat the crap out of me deciding that I want him to because I deserved it.

I heard him yelling, screaming swear words at me but when Emeralds name escaped between the flesh of his lips I felt a strange anger that electrified inside of me.

My arm went up to block out another punch and threw him off of me.

“How can you stand there, asking me not to hurt her when you’ve caused her the most pain?”

Jared stopped. His brown eyes pierced into my golden ones.

“She doesn’t deserve more pain, you being with her will only complicate things.”

“are you sure? Because I think your not ready to let her go.”

“I have a mate-”

“Than why aren’t you with her? Why are you here, fighting me for a girl that’s not yours?”

“Because...” sweat began to pour down his face as he repeated angrily,” because!”

“Because what!” I snapped, holding on to his arm.

He pushed me away,” stay the f*ck away from her.”

He turned around and headed back to his car.

I stood there for a moment or two, sweat pouring down my face, feeling the impacts of all those punchs from Jared.

My weakness draped over me like bed sheets and without control, my legs collapsed beneath me.

Emerald’s pov

I sat on my favorite leather couch in the living room, watching some stupid show called Toddlers and Tiaras.

This had to be the most born Saturday ever.

I shouted at the screen and flung a raw, half bitten broccoli at it when I saw a four year old getting a spray tan.

I heard the door being knocked and shouted,” come in!” than muttered lowly to myself,” join my eventful saturday.”

Jason walked in and when I saw Amanda trailing behind him, I groaned and dug my face into the pillow,” Great, my weekend just got worse.”

Jason shot me a look when I looked up and hissed,” be nice.”

Amanda flopped down on the couch besides me,” I love Toddlers and Tiaras!”

I fake laughed over enthusiastically,” Me too!”

“Great! You two have something in common! I gotta go pick up some things, Amanda, I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

“Okay, see ya honey,” she planted a kiss on his lips.

“Whoa, whoa,” I stood up,” an hour? Alone? With her?”

“Stop Emerald, did you forget what we talked about?”

“No, I remember, but being alone with her for an hour is not worth your love.”

“Wow Em, seriously, that hurts.”

I sigh,” fine, one hour Jason, I mean it!”

“One hour,” he promised and headed for the door,” maybe more,” he shouted before running away.

“Butt-wipe!” I yelled and headed back to the couch.

“So,” Amanda began,” Do you have popcorn.”

“Yes,” I answered and stared at the screen.

I saw her watching me patiently with the corner of my eye.

“What?”

She sigh andstood up,” where is it?”

“Third cupboard.”

I giggled to myself when she disappeared into the kitchen.

Jared’s pov

The next day, Saturday, I got into my car, not knowing where to go. I drove around town mindlessly, hardly concerned with the fact that I was supposed to meet Jasmine at her house twenty minutes ago.

Blade’s words circled around my head.It can’t be right though, I had a mate.

My mind flashbacked to when Emerald told me she shifted with no mate.

Was my shock covering the relief I felt?Was I relived?Is it selfish?

Of course it is, I had to right to wish for her to be alone, just because I couldn’t let her go.

I looked up to where I was driving now. I was pulling into Emeralds street. Without a brain, I stopped at her drive through and exited my car, remembering to grab the velvet box under the seat.

I knocked on her door and waited for an answer. Amanda answered a few minutes later. Surprised, i muttered,” Hi, uhh Amanda, is Em around?”

“Hey Jared,” she answered,” Long time no see! Yeah, Emmy is inside.”

I stepped in and saw Emerald seated on her favorite leather couch. It was the exact same as the other two around it but she always claimed it was built differently, somehow more comfortable. I used to sit on each couch and notice no difference.

“What are you doing here?” she muttered when she saw me.

“I just wanted to see how your doing, I haven’t seen you since the hospital.”

“Oh,” she stood up and headed to the stairs,” I’m good.”

“Are you sure? You have bags under your eyes. You look dead.”

“Nope, I’m fine. Just not enough street.”

But I knew her too well to believe her. Whenever she would pop the end of her words, it meant she was lying. I remembered what Lisa had said to her, without her mate she won’t be able to shift again. She’ll be almost dead.

It was clearly beginning.

“Emmy, I know your lying.”

“What’s that?” she asked when she saw the box in my hand,” is that-”

“Yeah, it is.”

It was the birthday present she got me the day I took her out to that restaurant.The night I found out Jasmine was my mate.

I couldn’t follow her because I was on the verge of shifting. I needed to be with my mate. But I managed to snatch the present she got me before Jasmine dragged me to the garden out the back.

“Where did you get it,” she asked, her voice breaking. I could tell she was on the verge of tears.

“you forgot it.”

“Did you open it?”

“Yeah, the day after I shifted.”

She sat on the staircase.

I opened the box slowly. Music began to play right when the lid was off. Our favorite instrumental. She always said it reminded her or Jamaica. I had promised myself that someday I’d take her there.

The first flower I’d ever given to her was there, a plastic white tulip because she told me it was her favorite. I gave it to her when I was seven. I searched in every store for hours looking for white tulips. Finally the lady told me they don’t have them in town so I bought her a plastic one.I remembered also, she hated roses because she was allergic.

I took the flower out and laughed to myself. Now I know the only place within two hours that sold white tulips and I used to drive there before every date to buy her a bouquet of them.

She giggled also, and blushed. I remembered how much I loved those scarlet cheeks of hers.

I took out the first bracelet I made her, a friendship bracelet that said best friends forever with forever spelled wrong.

A picture frame of me and her chasing a couple of ducks when we were eight. She was on the ground, her yellow dress stained withmud, holding out a black feather which she had ripped from a poor duck. I was in the middle of falling forward, my arms stretched, trying to catch a duck.

I laughed harder and gave it to her. She put it down and muttered,” That’s so embarrassing!”

I pushed past all the confetti inside and found the coupon book I had made her for her tenth birthday. I flipped through it.

“One free foot massage , one free toy, one free hug, one free cheese stick.”

She laughed,” we used to love those!”

“I know, we used to shred it so it looks like a person or something!”

I took out the book we made when we decided we should we authors.

It was called, ‘The Scary House.’

I flipped through the first couple of pages and gave it to her. She laughed and put it down.

Finally, I pulled out the plastic, twenty-five cent ring I had gotten her when we were little. It was from those little machines at Walmart and i asked her to marry me in front of everyone. She had cried and claimed she had no more clean white dresses. I told her I’d lend her my moms night gown because it was white.

Emerald buried her face in her hands,” Did you come here to embarrass me?”

I laughed,” No, I came to say it was the best present you’ve ever given me.”

“Even better than the musical frog I gave you when I was ten?”

I laughed,” Yup, even better. I think my mom still has that frog in the basement somewhere.”

My phone suddenly began to ring and I picked it up. It was Jasmine.

“Yes babe?” I answered.

“Where are you! You were supposed to meet me here an hour ago!”

“I’m sorry! I lost track of time, I’ll be right there.”

“You better,” she screeched and hung up.

“I gotta...”

“Yeah, I know,” she smiled uncomfortably.

I picked up all the things quickly and put them in the box.

“get some sleep Emerald.”

She rolled her eyes,” I know, I know.”

I exited the house and headed to Jasmine’s house.

Emeralds pov

I remained seated on the stairs for the longest time, wondering what the real reason was for Jared’s sudden visit. Surely he didn’t drive all the way here to show me what I had gotten him for his birthday.

I heard a popping sound and sat up with a start. Amanda exited the kitchen, holding a bag of popcorn.

She gave me a knowing look,” what?” I snapped.

“That must suck,” she said,” I feel so had for you.”

“Yeah right, your probably laughing in joy.”

“Aw,” she gave me a fake sad look,” don’t worry Emmy. You’ll replace someone to love you.”

I decided to go up to my room before I punched her face in.

Monday rolled around too slowly and I found myself dragging my body to school. The bags under my eyes were now purple, and the bones on my arms were becoming visible. I had about three bruises aroundmy body from accidentally falling down or knocking into something.

I was heading to math class when I bumped into somebody.

“Sor-” I began but I looked up to see a bruised, tired looking blade.

“What happened to you?” we both asked at the same time.

“I asked first,” I said quickly.

“It was at the same time Emerald, what happened to you?”

“Nothing, just tired.”

“You need to see a doctor.”

“Nope, I’m fine.”

“You’re lying.”

“Why do you care,” I snapped.

“I don’t.”

“What happened to your face?”

I remembered the doctor saying we will both become on the verge of dyingbut he looked like he was in a fight.

“Ask your friend Jared.”

“What?” I snapped.

He pushed past me and headed to class.

I was angry, that was for sure. But I wasn’t crushed.

No. Crunched was when lunch rolled around and I looked for blade for further explanation. And I heard an ambulance and wondered what happened.

Probably a teacher, I had thought. But than I saw Blade’s pack members standing around the stretcher as Blades faint body laid in it.

It’s his turn now.