The Rejected Mate
chapter 9 : the best man

Matthew and I have come out for a run, we are sitting on a broken wooden log which overlooks thestream and the waterfall. It's so peaceful here, the chirping of the birds and flapping of their wingsaccompanied by the sound made by the crickets. The water from the waterfall falls on to the streamin a steady pace never once breaking the rythum which causes ripples to form on the water in acircular motion

We have been sitting in silence for the past half hour just looking into the scenery before us, bothlost in our own thoughts.

"Do you ever miss her?" I break the silence by asking the question. he knows who I'm talking about,his mate.

Its silent for a few moments apart from the chirping of birds and swaying of trees as the windpasses by, Matthew hasn't answered my question and I thought he never will, but a small smileplays on his face and replies "Everyday", still looking forward the stream.

I'm not at all jealous that he still misses and loves her, my mate rejected me and that's painfulenough but I couldn't fathom the pain he might have gone through when his mate and unbornchild were brutally killed by those filthy rogues.

"Does it hurts now? Like how it did before" I ask him .

He looks towards me and replies "No it doesn't, you learn to live with the pain over time eventually.You become weak and vulnerable due to loosing someone you love, you think that you can't neverever get out of that pit of darkness that sorrounds you, but the first thing you should understand isthat being vulnerable doesn't make you weak it makes you the strongest, because for you arestrong enough to show this whole world your vulnerability and that you're not afraid of it, infact youembrace it and you are willing to fight even though there's no reason left to" It feels as if he's notonly talking about but something else like it's an indication from him to me.

When Matthew and I reached the pack house we replace that Courtney and Alex have arrived.Currently Courtney and I are preparing something for all four of us to eat as the boys are watching asoccer game in the living room.

"Courtney" I call her as she looks away from her chopping board of onions towards me, her eyes arewatering and I laugh.

"Bitch, you better shut up or I'll shove this fucking onion down your throat" She practically growlsand I gulp at her warning. I raise my hands in a surrender motion and say "Sorry", still trying tostiffle my laughter by hiding behind my hair.

"You better be" her eyes stays narrowed at me for a few moments and then she smiles, and I look ather wierdly.

Wow I guess someone is on their period or her inner bridezilla is making an appearance, I think.

I almost forgot that I haven't asked Courtney about the wedding since I've arrived.

"Who all are the bridesmaid’s?" I ask her and she replies while continuing to chop the onions "Someof the pack she-wolves I've befriended over the years“and I nod my head.

"And what about the best man?" I ask her curiously and Courtney stills and turns towards me with aguilty look and I brush it off and ask "is it Matthew?" I ask her excitedly.

"I'm sorry okay, I know you might not be happy with what I'm going to say, you know how Alex andhim are friends and I just didn't want to throw your under the bus, and I knew you haven't told Alexor your parents about you replaceing your Mate and that he's the-" Courtney speaks in a hurry with aworried look on her face

"No, I am the bestman" a new voice joins in on our conversation and my body stills hearing hisvoice, I close my eyes and turn towards the direction of the voice, all the while praying that it's notwho I'm guessing it is be to, I open my eyes and my hazel brown eyes meet grey ones.

Great, I'm doomed.

I turn towards Courtney and flash her an 'I'm going to kill you' look.