CHAPTER 2 "Break Our Wolf Bond"

Autumn P.O.V.

After tonight it will be all over; the full moon is raised high, and the next mating bond is tonight. I would be too late once they bond. I don't want to cry. But I will break down if I don't leave here in front of my parents. If I can't do that, then they will know Atticus rejected me, and now I am mateless.

I can't let them know if I must keep it to myself. I don't want them to do anything that will get them in trouble and kicked out of the pack house. I sighed.

"No, he was telling me happy birthday," I told them, lying again. I gave them a fake smile while trying to keep a calm face. So they know I wasn't lying to them. But I was. I know. I shouldn't, but it is this or them both banned out of the pack.

"Oh, okay. Well, we have another party-" I heard my mom say, staring at me. Please believe me. I am wishing and praying they did.

I wanted to stop her but knew she was trying to find me a mate. So, I kept quiet and let her and Dad set up another get-together again.

"We need balloons, and we need the guest list from last time," and we need- I blocked out my mom and dad. I walked over and sat down in the chair close to the fireplace. I was looking out the window when I saw snow falling around us. I smiled because I wanted to play and run in it.

"Yes, I want to run and play." I heard my wolf, Winter. She wanted to run. So, I smiled, and I told her soon. But she was getting restless—poor thing. The last time I let her out was two days ago. I knew she needed to stretch and run and hunt. But I knew she could wait a little longer.

"No! Winter, you have to wait." I told her with a tone that I met business, but she knew she could hear a chuckle inside my voice too.

She didn't say anything. But I heard whinnied.

I felt terrible.

Letting her out and running free will be alright. But, you can't hold in a free spirit that is a wolf.

I heard her howling with happiness and knew I could see her tail moving back and forth excitedly in my mind.

"Free, spirit, shift, run," Winter replied in my mind.

I chuckled and shook my head. My wolf is beautiful; she is all white with bright blue eyes. She is not an average size wolf. She is mid-height and more prominent than the other wolves.

She is like my mother wolf. Breeze is tanned with a black stripe on her tail. And with bright blue eyes. My father is the Beta in the Moonlight Pack.

His wolf is black with midnight blue eyes, and he is more gaint when it becomes taller than my mom's wolf Breeze and my wolf Winter.

So, I closed off my mind. I got up and walked towards the front door. I opened it.

" Mom and Dad! I am going for a run," Winter is restless, and I will let her out." I told them, walking out the front door.

But before I shut the door. I heard.

"Okay! Be on time for supper tonight. We have company tonight."

Okay, I wouldn't." I told her, and I started running, and it was okay to shift once it was okay. I let out a cry, and now I am inside my mind, and I am on all fours. I knew I shifted in the Winter.

I could feel the breeze of the cold wind and the snow under my feet falling around me. I knew this was going to be a great run. I needed this, and Winter did too. I am so stiff and depressed about what happened with Atticus rejecting me and falling in love with another woman.

No! mate loves you." I heard Winter. How can I not tell her he doesn't?

Not true! he does love us, and he doesn't know it yet." She told me with a knowing something I didn't know.

No, Winter. He had already made up his mind. He wants Anya, not us." I try to tell her without breaking her heart, just like Atticus broke mine that night; he told me I am nothing to him and he will love someone as plain and weak as me. But he needs someone beautiful and a stronger Luna. That woman is Anya, he said.

So, I had to stand there and listen to the man who was supposed to protect and love me. And he wasn't smiling and holding me like a mate was supposed to do. But no, he was angry he would get someone like me as a mate. I closed my eyes, trying not to remember what he had told me.

" No! You have to be kidding me!" When he saw me, I heard his loud, angry voice echo around me, and he didn't like that I was his mate.

I knew he could feel the sparks because I could tell when his eyes turned dark.

But then, when he got closer to me. I could see a frown. It was a wave of anger written over his face, and disappointed.

I heard a growl.

I gasped with pain when he grabbed me, and I could feel his firm grip. I know he will be leaving a bruised and dark purple mark. But it won't stay long. That's the good thing about being a wolf. You heal faster than any human being.

"This must be a fucking joke," I heard him speaking, but it wasn't at me.

What? No, we, mate, I thought excitedly. Why is he so upset? I thought. I don't understand. They are always happy when you find your mate because I am ecstatic. I have waited for this all my life to find my mate, and the best thing it's Atticus, my secret crush.

"You are not mine, mate; Anya is my mate; this has to be a misunderstanding; there is no way I have two mates." He mumbled and walked back and forth before me, nervously running his fingers through his hair.

No! I am his mate. Not her. There is no way she is his mate too. I thought with confusion on my face.

I stepped closer, but he turned his dark eyes on me.

That is what I heard him say.

I, Atticus Fawn, reject you as my mate and future Luna, Autumn River." he shattered my heart. But then I realized he didn't say my last name, right? He said River, not Rivera. I felt pain, but we still connected with our bond because rejecting someone only works if you say their name right.

So, I nodded and stood there in the dark; my mate didn't want me and told me I was not his mate and there must be a mistake that the moon goddess made putting us together as mates. But I wasn't replying. So I am motionless and trying to wake up from this awful dream.

This is different from what is supposed to happen. It should be him kissing me and marking me being his forever. But that's not what happened. When I lifted my head, he was already gone. He left me and returned to her: Anya, my best friend.

I never told her I had always believed he was my true love, my mate. But now I have to watch when my best friend gets to kiss and touch my mate.

I shook my head when I heard Winter speak.

"No! Kill her!" No one touches, mate! " I heard Winter growl needed to stop before she got out of control.

I sighed sadly.

All I can say is sorry to her.

But before I could speak to her again. I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and showed my wolfy grin. My sharp teeth were showing. That's when I sniffed the air, which was the scent I knew too well. My heart was beating so loud that he could hear it.

Why? Is he here? And why is he following me? Winter wasn't paying in mind. Winter knows he is here. It was too late. I can't hide from him.

You can't hide your scent from a tracker and hunter. Alpha's are well hunters and trackers; you can't stop their attacks with their noses.

"Mate!

"Mate!

"Mate!

"He is here,

"We must go to him."

"We need to bow down."

"To mate"

I could feel my tail wagging. I wanted to stop it, but my wolf Winter was in control, not me.

"No! Stop it, Winter, no bow down." I told her, trying to stop her by pulling away from him. But right now, the bond is stronger than mine. So I have to try to resist him.

No! You Must resist! That's when I was trying to pull away.

But I find myself lowing my body towards the ground and turning on my side, showing my stomach. I knew if I was blushing, he would see it if I was in my human form. I knew I looked ridiculous right now on my back. That's how we show our obedience to the alpha. We make ourselves smaller, so they are the only ones bigger in command.

I whined when I heard him let out a deep growl.