Mate's Pleasure
Author
Shanti Aventurin
Reads
1,9M
Chapters
36
They say that being rejected by your true mate is the most painful thing a wolf can experience. Well, Scarlett Henry has been rejected twice, and both times sucked about as much as youād expect. But when youāve gone through that kind of pain, what else is there to do but embrace it and make it your own?
Age Rating: 18+
Part 1 No. one
Scarlett
Hi there, Iām Scarlett Henry. Yeah, you heard right. Two first names. But if that doesnāt grab your attention, how about thisāIām a werewolf. Interesting now, huh?
Iām part of the Red River Pack. We got our name from the naturally red lake on our territory.
Legend has it that our ancestors were at war with other species. The fallen soldiers were buried where the river now flows, staining the water with their blood.
Iām more inclined to believe that thereās some harmless natural chemical under the river that turns the water red. I think itās pretty coolāa gift from Mother Nature and the Moon Goddess.
Apart from me and my best friend, no one really goes near the river because of the legend. They think theyāll turn red if they swim in it. Trust me, you wonāt. Iāve tested it plenty of times.
Because everyone else is too chicken to go near the lake, itās become my sanctuary. Iām here almost every day, rain or shine.
Sometimes, I wish I could be a mermaid.
My life is pretty great. I have an amazing best friend, Anita, wonderful parents, and four tough, strong... sisters.
Now, letās talk about my crush. Heās a super sexy guy whoās next in line to be Alpha. Youād think I was still in high school with the way I moon over him.
But, of course, this dreamy guy Iām crushing on has a girlfriend. What hot guy doesnāt?
Anyway, enough about me. My alarm just went off, signaling the start of another day in the world of college.
I stretch, do a little training, then get ready for school. Iām tempted to skip, but I canāt. It would be stupid, especially since itās my last year and exams are just around the corner.
Today, Iām feeling comfy in my long-sleeve white shirt, cozy red pants, and black boots. Normally, Iād walk the halls with Anita, but sheās not here today. She had to retake the warrior exams.
Iām the first one in class, which is weird. My first class is business law, which I canāt stand and donāt really care about.
I take my seat and pull out my class materials. I keep myself busy by going over what we learned last time. Soon, the classroom starts to fill up.
My heart starts to race as I smell him getting closer. My crush and future alpha, Jeffrey Tucus. And, of course, his girlfriend Alley.
Three months ago, she found her mate and didnāt hesitate to reject him. Everyone knew why. Alley is now waiting for Jeffrey to find his mate and reject her so they can officially be together.
But Jeffrey deserves so much better than her. Just off the top of my head, Alley Perkins is a total fake and not a nice person.
Jeffrey and Alley do their usual routineāthey kiss, then sit with their own groups of friends. And I do what I always doāwatch them like a creep, wishing it was me instead of her.
But today is different. A low warning growl slips out of me. Everyone looks at me, and I try to make myself smaller.
As if thatās not enough, Jeffrey also growls in distaste.
Whatās wrong? I ask my wolf.
Thatās our mate!
I shake my head, telling her sheās mistaken. But then a sweet, intoxicating scent fills my nose. No. No. No. This canāt be happening.
I try to hide behind my notepad, but itās no use. His scent is right next to me.
I want my mate. I donāt want to be rejected by him. Whatās worse is that heās my crush. My wolf keeps whimpering.
What am I supposed to do? He loves Alley, and rumor has it heās getting impatient to find his mate so he can reject her for the woman he loves.
Why? Why today of all days? Then it hits me.
Today is my birthday. And in our world, we find our mates when we turn twenty.
Despite the pain, I look up to find Jeffrey looking at me. Thereās a softness in his eyes that I know is because of the mate bond. He finally regains control of himself, and his eyes are filled with sadness.
My future alpha cares about me, or heās worried about the pain weāll both feel when he rejects me. An alpha rejecting his mate is rare. Itās said to be the second most painful thing, after losing a mate.
āScarlett, Iāā
I hold up my hand to stop him. Isnāt it bad enough that he doesnāt know I have a crush on him? I donāt want his pity or his excuses or his āIām sorryās.ā
I wonāt break. I wonāt cry. Not here, not now.
āItās okay.ā I force a smile. āI can handle it, and I wouldnāt want to steal you for myself.ā I laugh awkwardly, and he gives me a warm smile before turning to hug Alley. Just kill me now.
He lets go and turns back to me. His lips part, and my body tenses. This is going to hurt like a mother giving birth to triplets. Yeah, I know, weird analogy. Just go with it!
āI, future Alpha of Red River Pack, Jeffrey Tucus, reject you, Scarlett Henry, as my mate.ā
There it is. The words Iāve been dreading. The first wave of pain is sharp, like being stabbed over and over. I think we both clutch our heads as it feels like weāre being shaken violently.
The pain intensifies as I prepare to say my part. I feel sick to my stomach. I grit my teeth and take a deep breath.
āI, Scarlett Henry, accept your rejection. And I reject you, future Alpha Jeffrey Tucus.ā
I canāt hold it in anymore, and neither can he. We both howl in pain. The stabbing sensation is replaced with the feeling of being hit by a traināthen several trains. Suddenly, I feel something warm running from my nose.
āScarlett! Alpha Jeffrey!ā The chorus of our classmates fills the air. The first one to reach me is a fellow student. He takes hold of the bridge of my nose, tilting me forward. He barks out orders to those tending to Jeffrey.
Ten minutes pass and the nosebleed finally subsides, but my body is left feeling raw and vulnerable. Jeffrey and I are sent home from school, instructed to rest.
And itās only then . . . only then do I allow my tears to fall.
