Remember Me

Chapter Seven

Two Can Play That Game

Dia’s POV

Summer and I have been at the mall for hours. I have tried on more clothes than I care to admit. We nearly bought all of Charlotte Russe. Don’t judge me, they are going out of business, so the sales are crazy good!! Plus, I needed retail therapy! Spending the day with Summer after the weekend I had was much needed.

By the time we got back to Summer’s car both of our hands are full of bags from almost every store in the mall. I kept my promise and got my parents an anniversary gift. I actually got them two gifts, one gag gift, and one real gift. I know my mom is going to love the gag gift!

Thinking about my parents make me sad though. That’s what I wanted from my mate, love commitment and friendship.

No! Stop it, Dia. No more mate talk!

As if reading my mind, Summer plugs up her phone and puts on a song. Before I can ask what, she put on, the rhythmic styles of Queen Nicki begin to flow into the car. As she pulls out of the mall parking lot, I look at Summer and she is smirking. She knew what she was doing.

We are both huge barbs and soon we are both rapping along to Lookin Ass.

“Talkin' 'bout "It's paid off" but it's financed, lyin' ass hittas

Bunch of non-mogul ass hittas

Frontin' like they got a plan, Boost Mobile ass hitta

Hitta, hitta, look at y'all

Can't get a job so you plottin' how to rob ass hitta”

When the song is over it takes everything in me not to hit repeat. Something about the way Nicki raps always gets to me. Summer knows this so I know she put it on to help me get out of my mind.

The ride back to the pack house was filled with us singing and rapping along to the songs that came on shuffle. By the time Summer parks, we are both laughing, and I genuinely feel happy.

That’s the mood I want to hold on to. I need to infuse myself as much happiness as I can for the next two weeks because if Chase doesn’t accept then I am going to have to learn to live like this, mateless.

I grab the door the handle to get out, but Summer grabs my arm. I look at her but she’s not looking at my face. She is looking at my neck and I remember that I am clearly marked by Chase.

“Here,” she says handing me a scarf.

I don’t say anything; I just take it out of her arms and wrap it around my neck. I go into my bag and grab some spray and douse myself in it.

“Good?” I ask her.

“Perfect! Now, let’s go I am starved, and I know our moms cooked!” Says as she hops out the car. I follow suit and together we grab our hundreds of bags and go straight to our rooms.

“Meet you back out here in 5.” She tells me, more as a command than a request.

I just nod, knowing there is no point in arguing with her. She doesn’t want me alone for too long and I understand her concern. Not many rejected mates make it, but I will be different. I had to be; I could never disappoint my parents like that. I don’t even try to put away my stuff, there isn’t any time.

In what feels like seconds Summer is walking into my room!

“Ready, player one?”

“Well, of course. I got the best partner there is.” I tell her giggling.

We start our walk to the pack kitchen and soon, I can hear voices and smell so many scents. I steel myself, and Summer grabs my hand.

“I got this” I whisper to her “I promise.” She just nods and we walk into the kitchen.

The first thing my eyes do is scan for Chase and when they land on him, I audible gasp. And almost everyone’s eyes land on me. Summer squeezes my forearm and looks at me her eyes brimming with sympathy.

Sitting at the kitchen is Mason, Joy, Izzy and Chase. Izzy is sitting on Chase’s lap and they look happy. Chase looks happy. How can he look fücking happy!

“Dia, mamita, are you okay?” My mom asks me concern lacing her voice. I look over to her and hold back my tears. Just looking at her and I want to break down and get her advice, but I know I can’t I’m a big girl. “Dia?” My mom calls my name questioningly, worried cause I haven’t answered yet.

“Si, mami. Just after being at the cabin all alone all weekend, all the smells hit me and took by surprise.” I tell her lying, only the third time I have lied to her in my life.

She smiles at me and pulls me into a hug.

“Speaking of smells, yours is different.” She observes as she hugs me. I look at Chase and I can see he is waiting for me to rat him out, but I won’t give him the satisfaction.

“It’s my new body spray, mami. They had a sale! Bought you some too! I know how weak you are for them. Love for bath and body works is genetic apparently.” I tell her laughingly and thankfully she buys it. I knew bringing up Bath and Body Works would do the trick.

“Ooo, yay! Have I ever told you, you’re my favorite child.” She proclaims as she goes back to cooking.

“Hey, what about me?” Mason asks feigning hurt feelings.

“What about you, she said what she said,” I told him doing my best Nene Leakes impression.

“Why are you wearing a scarf in May, Dia?” Joy asks me interrupting our sibling moment.

I can hear Summer breathe out angry air while she is looking for juice in the fridge. She hates Joy as much as I do! I don’t know why Mason is with her.

“Um, because it’s cute and goes with my outfit. Not all of us want to show all of our skin all the time.” I tell her, clearly annoyed. Behind me, I hear Summer snicker.

“Excuse me, you can’t talk to me that way, I am the Beta’s girlfriend. MASON!” She semi yells and before Mason can speak up. I am on her ass. Jaz is ready to rip her throat out. She is feeling particularly violent.

“Yes, you are right excuse you. You are the future beta’s girlfriend, but I am the daughter of the current Beta. Watch yourself puta or I can guarantee you will regret it.” I yell at her and I know my eyes are flickering because it is difficult to control Jaz when I am this enraged. Before I can slap the shït out her I feel arms around me.

“Calm yourself, my daughter.” I hear my dad say. I guess I was focused I hadn’t heard him come in.

“I am calm, Papa. Why is little ole me scary?” I inquire with amusement in my voice. My dad has this effect on me. He lets me go and I turn around for a hug. When we separate, I look over to the table to see Joy stomp off, alone and Chase trying to hide a prideful smile.

When he sees me looking, he quickly looks away… coward.

“Dia, are you sure you aren’t supposed to be my future beta.” Uncle Anthony asks.

“Well, if Chase will have me, of course, I would,” I emphasized have me while looking at Chase. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Good!

“Hey, what the hell is with everyone loving Dia over me today?” Mason yells clearly very annoyed.

“What can I say, when you a bad b***h, you’re a bad b***h!” I yell as I hug him.

“So, you excited for your trip?” Uncle Anthony asks Summer and me. We quickly share a look, she looks worried, but I smirk at her.

“Yes, I can’t wait! Traveling the world with my best friend, looking for our mates. Hoping my mate is a tall, sexy, dark skin Puerto Rican. Don’t need Dominican energy in my life.” I laughingly tell everyone, and the room erupts with growls. This only makes me laugh harder.

“What’s wrong with Dominican men?” My brother and father ask at the same time.

“Nothing, they’re just trash.” Summer chimes in.

“I agree, utter trash!” My mom agrees clearly catching the joke. My dad is Afro-Dominican, so that makes Mason and I half Dominican. I said the Dominican line because I knew it would rile them up but also because of Chase. His mom is Dominican. I hate to admit it, but I enjoyed throwing little shots at him that no one but him, Summer and I understood.

Two could play the game, Mr. Alfa.

“You weren’t saying that la- “My dad starts but I cut him off.

“Gross… gross please stop!” Mason and I shout at the same time.

Soon the whole kitchen is laughing, and the finished meal was being moved to the dining room.

As we all sat down to eat, I steeled myself and look towards Chase and Izzy who were holding hands. I pushed Jaz into the back of my mind and spoke

“Izzy, how’s life?” I ask her conversationally.

“Good! How was your weekend at the cabin, do anything fun?! Mason, said you swam in the lake, I hope got what you needed out of the weekend.” She tells me so sincerely, so much so it’s hard to be anything but nice to her.

Beside me, Summer doesn’t seem to have the same resolve as I do because she chokes on her juice. I pat her back as I say, “Yes, it was magical actually. Just what I needed!” I responded as I shove a piece of steak into my mouth, my eyes flickering to Chase for a second. He is looking everywhere but I and I chuckle to myself.

“Summer, you ready for graduation?” Her dad Don questions.

“Yes, sir. More ready for the graduation bonfire! I’ve been saying all my work this year to burn. It’s going to be glorious. Then it’s Dia’s around the world trip, then college.” She tells him, excitement clear in her voice and on her face.

“Ugh, our baby is growing up, Donny.” Tia Carmen, Summer’s mom, whines.

“I thought we were your babies, mom.” Summer’s brother Tyrone questions as he gesturing to himself and his twin, Tasha.

“You’re all my bebés!” She responds trying to save herself. The whole table giggles and this feels good. I look around and realize if I have to leave my family it’s going to really suck!

Chase’s POV

Right before Dia comes into Kitchen

Today has been actual hell. I’ve had to block out Blaze because he basically just banging against my head. He is not making a hard decision any easier. I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything, ugh!

Right now, Izzy is sitting in my lap as we sit in the kitchen while Tia Shannon and my mom make dinner. I am in my own world when I hear gasp! It’s loud and the tugging of my heart tells me who it is without me having to look up at her, but I do.

When I do my heart breaks, she looks so hurt. Every instinct in my body is telling me to go to her, go comfort my beautiful mate but I don’t move. My eyes discreetly travel down her body and I stop at her neck.

She is really covering our mark! That’s our f*****g mark you i***t. It should be loud and proud for everyone to see! Blaze yells at me.

I know, B! I know! I whisper to me and then close the link.

I can’t lose control in a room full of people, I refuse.

I hear Tia Shannon ask about her scent and unknowingly hold my breath. She is staring right at me, is she going to tell everyone. All the nerves in my body want her too, need her too.

Then, I can ripe that stupid scarf off her neck, let everyone see my mark. let all these wolves know she is mine.

Damn it, Alfa! Keep it together! I zone back in just to hear her lie. Something about a new body spray. Everyone seems to okay with that story.

She lied for me! I don’t know why I’m not happier.

Because you want her. Blaze's voice echoes through our link.

A shrill, annoying voice interrupts my thoughts as Joy ask Dia why she is wearing a scarf. I don’t know what I thought she would say but what she said was unexpected.

“Um, because it’s cute and goes with my outfit. Not all of us want to show all of our skin all the time.” Dia tells Joy, her annoyance clear in her voice. Summer who is in the fridge audio able snickers. Which seems to only piss off Joy more. Her face is red and her eyes red!

“Excuse me, you can’t talk to me that way, I am the Beta’s girlfriend. MASON!” Joy semi yells at Dia and I fight the urge to destroy her for yelling at my mate.

How dare she disrespect her Luna. Blaze yells, breaking through my link black once again!

Hush! We’ll miss it!

That seems to shut him up because he sits on his hind legs in my head and puts his paws over his mouth for added dramatics.

“Yes, you are right excuse you. You are the future beta’s girlfriend, but I am the daughter of the current Beta. Watch yourself puta or I can guarantee you will regret it.” Dia yells causing the table to rattle a little. Her eyes are flickering between their normal deep brown to black. I know Jaz is itching for control. Thankfully, Beta/ Tio Brian grabs her.

“Calm yourself, my daughter.” He whispers to her. He is very clearly unfazed and slightly amused. I know it he doesn’t care much for Joy.

“I am calm, Papa. Why is little ole me scary?” Dia jokes, knowing full well what she was doing. She knows she is a dangerous punch in a tiny and innocent looking package. I can’t help but smirk with pride at my little mate.

She is the perfect Luna. I tell Blaze but I but up the block before he can answer.

I look up to see her looking at me and I look away. I can’t help it. Looking at her is enough to set my whole world on fire.

“Dia, are you sure you aren’t supposed to be my future beta.” My dad inquires as he walks over to my mom.

“Well, if Chase will have me, of course, I would,” Dia responds and the way she says have me, I know that has a double meaning. She is killing me!

“Hey, what the hell is with everyone loving Dia over me today?” Mason yells clearly very annoyed.

“What can I say, when you a bad b***h, you’re a bad b***h!” Dia yells as she hugs him, and I can’t help but feel jealously leak from everyone one of my pores. She should be hugging me.

“So, you excited for your trip?” My dad asks her and Summer. The two girls share a look and I know that Summer knows! My god… of course she would know! Is she going to rat me out? It was stressful enough wondering if Dia would slip up but now I gotta watch for Summer too. STRESSFUL!

“Yes, I can’t wait! Traveling the world with my best friend, looking for our mates. Hoping my mate is a tall, sexy, dark skin Puerto Rican. Don’t need Dominican energy in my life.” Dia explains to my dad, laughter in her voice. And I can’t help it I growl. Thankfully, Izzy went to find Joy or she would've felt it. Chase, man you need to be better.

But how can I, when she just listed her perfect man and it wasn’t my description?

I thought you wanted her to be happy with someone else. Blaze recalls feigning confusion.

SHUT UP B! I scream at him, rubbing my temples.

What? That’s what you said. You said you hoped she could fall in love with someone else. You wanted her to be happy and safe with someone else. Blaze recalls.

Blaze!

What? I’m saying. Now, that she says that she wants to be happy with someone else you are upset. I am confused! He tells me smugly.

I don’t even respond. When I look up, I notice that the kitchen has cleared out. I follow everyone to the dining room. I take my seat next to Izzy, who has come back without Joy thankfully. I take her hand hoping It would relax me, but it does nothing.

Suddenly, I hear Dia’s voice and she is talking to Izzy. Even though she isn’t talking to me, my voice calms. Just hearing her voice gives me a sense of calm I have never known. I used to have to touch Izzy to feel half of what I am feeling now. The mate bond is truly magical.

“Izzy, how’s life?” Dia asks Izzy.

“Good! How was your weekend at the cabin, do anything fun?! Mason, said you swam in the lake, I hope got what you needed out of the weekend.” When Izzy asks about the cabin my ears and Blaze perk up. Waiting to hear her response. Before she says anything, Summer starts choking on whatever’s in her cup.

Clearly, she is amused that Izzy asks about the cabin. I knew her knowing was going to be dangerous and she already proving me right.

Not missing a beat, Dia begins patting Summer on the pack as she tells Izzy, “Yes, it was magical actually. Just what I needed!” When she’s done, she puts a piece of food in her mouth and I feel her look at me and I look everywhere but her. I know if I look at her while images of last night play in my head, I won’t be able to control Blaze.

The rest of the dinner pasts without incident. I zone in and out and soon it’s over. I thought this was going to be hard for Dia, but it looks like it’s me with the issue.

My body yearns for her in ways I didn’t know were possible. Moon Goddess, what am I going to do? Why would you give me such a perfect mate and a life prophesied with such danger? Why mother moon. Please answer me.

As I feel myself doze off, my dad mind links me

Chase, rouges at the border.