Sianna’s POV

It had been two weeks since I met my ex-mate. I could feel he was around me somewhere but I ignored him every time. Curtis was the man I should pay attention to.

The mating ball would soon take place at the Crimson Hyde Pack which is our neighboring pack. The thought that he would meet his mate there bothered me a lot, which developed a queasy feeling.

But we had promised each other not to attend it as it was enough for us to have each other.

I was complacent with the current status of our relationship. The only issue was that we didn't have enough time to spend together, even though I had moved back home to complete my studies online.

Curtis' elite training was taking him to all parts of the world to prove that he was sufficiently versatile to fulfill his role to our Alpha.

People were busy with preparing their tour to the mating ball, the café wasn’t busy today. Most wolves greatly anticipated their mates, but not including Curtis and me.

“So what’s on your mind?” My best friend Hailey was sitting across from me at the table in the café looking eager and perplexed.

I sighed as I stared out the glass window into the busy street as the vehicles passed by.

“I met my mate.”

Hailey squealed in excitement and inquired, “Well, who is he?” Her bubbling personality emerged with imploring eyes.

I was not going to tell her that juicy detail, except the dilemma that he refused to accept the rejection.

“I would rather not say, but I rejected him just as Curtis and I had planned.”

She frowned.

“Curtis and I pledged our undying love for each other. It’s just a matter of time for him to mark me and we get married. That will happen in the one-week break that he gets as soon as his training is completed.” I continued.

“I didn’t think that the both of you were that serious about rejecting your mates.” She sullied and supped on her free milk shake. “I think it’s bad to fall in love with anyone who isn’t your mate, but I respect your decision. Just tell me how that went down.”

“Don’t forget that you had countless short-lived affairs in high school too!”

“That’s because I refuse to be tied down by anyone who’s not my mate.” She casually explained.

“You must not tell anyone at all about this, alright?” Hailey nodded, so I continued.

“I mean absolutely no one at all!” I balled my hands into a fist nervously on the table surface before curtly looking into her eyes and made her swear to secrecy. 

“You have my word, Sianna. Now spill!”

“I rejected him but he wants some time before he decides whether to accept the rejection or not.”

“And it gets interesting…..” Hailey’s mouth formed into an “O” shape, “Ooooooh!” She liked to exclaim her favorite phrase with a smirk on her face until I glared at her.

“You might have to tell Curtis about this.”

“I don’t want him to get insecure and think that he could lose me.” My head went from side to side in order to indicate my refusal.

Who would want a love-triangle with irrelevant drama anyway?

“I want Curtis to be focused on his elite training so that he can fulfill his dreams. He loves being militant.”

“You know, the longer the rejection takes to be completed, the more the mate bond will grow.” She slurped loudly as she emptied the last contents of the milkshake in the glass.

I sighed again, knowing how true that statement was. “I haven’t seen him for two weeks now. Maybe when he sees how good Curtis and I are to each other he will accept defeat.”

“Or kill him.” She became dramatic. “He might challenge him for you.” Her eyes twinkled with intrigue.

“Mates are jealous and territorial. Don’t play around with this.” She warned profusely. “Aren’t you one of the lucky ones when I have yet to find my mate?” She retorted.

“You will be at the mating ceremony so I am optimistic for you!” Chances are they will mate the same night.

Hailey was a virgin and dumped her previous boyfriends once they wanted to take things further. Coming from the Beta family, she was popular, confident, wild but pompous at times.

Hailey rolled her eyes at me. “Is your mate from this pack? At least tell me that!”

I hesitated, “Yes.”

She smirked even more. “Alright, my advice is to avoid him as much as possible, or make him hate you.”

I hope that I really could do that but mates have an impulse of wanting to be close to you.

Maybe I should have another talk with him and warn him to stay away, or maybe I should lie to him and tell him that I am already pregnant for my boyfriend.

I could even say that I had a miscarriage as soon as he accepted the rejection.

A thousand thoughts were streaming through my mind, but which one would be the most ideal? I was not the scheming type, but I felt that I needed a strategy to make this man not want to have anything to do with me, but where we could also be civil about it.

I looked at my best friend who was goading at me. “I will most definitely try, but I need to plan ahead of time for when we next have our encounter.”

Hailey glanced at her watch. “I have to go now but we will text each other.” She hurriedly kissed me with a frown and headed out. She had to go shopping with her mom for her dress for the ceremony.

As time went by slowly, I scrolled online to do some school work. I visited my social media page and checked my messages.

I sent my mom and dad a funny video that Curtis had sent me this morning. My dad loved watching people be silly while mom was polar opposite and didn’t get the humor most times. She thought that people should always be productive.

A customer came in and read her book while having the sandwich which she ordered. Was it coincidental that the title of her book was “Lash backs: Denying the Fates.”

Was that to badger my conscience? I wondered what the book was about.

“Is there any truth to that?” I asked.

“Huh?”

“I’m sorry but I noticed the title of your book and I wondered if there are consequences to those who reject their mate?”

“Oh,” She remarked in realization. “My grandma always said that anything that is naturally ordained would already have its place and function in the world. To go against your destiny changes the outcome of your life.”

“An outcome could be good too, right?”

“Most times the one who does the blunder or the rejection will have some consequence to face.” She explained, “But you are not marked yet.”

“No.” I stood with the hand cloth in my hand that I use to wipe the table tops. I noticed her mate's mark on her neck.

“He will find you. Don’t give up. The mate bond is a blessing and no one could love you more.”

“Thank you. Sorry to disturb your reading. I enjoyed talking to you.”

“You are so pleasant and friendly. This is my favorite café so it’s alright.”

“Enjoy the rest of your day.” I walked back around the counter while wondering what outcome I might get.

Curtis came to pick me up from work today. I rushed to open the doors and ran into his open arms. Curtis hugged me tightly and I was so excited to see him.

Heaven knows that I needed some tender loving care tonight. He kissed me long and passionately. He bit my lower lip and I opened my mouth and gasped as he inserted his tongue and played with mine.

“That was an exceptional kiss.” He joked lovingly.

“Only because you are just coming back from your best friend’s pack.” I pecked his lips. “It’s been three weeks since I last saw you. Please tell me that you are home for good now.”

He sighed and released me from the embrace. “I should be spending more time with you here.”

In the alliances between packs, there are times when warriors are sent to aid with rogue issues, or are training with other warriors that need a special skill set. Curtis was trying to become an elite warrior which would have him under the third branch in the warrior structure.

We got home soon and my parents had gone into town for dinner so we were all alone. After dinner, as soon as we got in my room, Curtis slammed the door shut and gave me a long kissing session.

He tasted so good, and he was a great kisser. He had me on the bed in the dominating position of being on top. I immediately cupped his face and kissed him.

He smiled while kissing me. He kissed my ears and made way down to my neck. I ran my finger through his tousled silk blond hair and searched for his lips to return to mine.

His hands roamed until he found the opening of my blouse and ripped it apart. His left hand squeezed my right breast and he lowered his head to pull out my left breast to suck it. God, I had missed him so much and so did he. I hoped we could spend a long steamy night today.

However, at that moment, his phone started to ring.