Fated to try again

CHAPTER 3

The Windstrong pack was filled with peoples from the neighbouring packs. The Alpha beings were sitting together at one and the beta at another corner. While the neutral beings were the centre of the pack having a good time from their end. Odessa, Lyra and Ryder were strolling through the pack farms.

“ It's been thirteen years already” he said

“ Yes”

“ I wish I never left the pack. It was really fun here. I really missed those memories”

"Really?" Odessa asked, and she walked side by side with him. Lyra wasn't comfortable, but she just had to walk with them. Odessa's questions and answers made her more uncomfortable. She wished to disappear. They reached the seaside, and they both sat beside the sea. Lyra stood at a distance and watched them get along so quickly. " She is really lucky,” she said to herself, still standing far away.

" Do you have a mate?" Ryder asked. Odessa's heart skipped again.

"No…not actually. But I’m ready to have one now," she said, smiling.

"Yeah, but I'm surprised. I mean, you're beautiful, young, strong…. So what's delaying or you're waiting for someone?” He asked raising one of his brows.

" Yes……and….”

" You are really beautiful, I must say. And you are kind, look a bit fragile and strong". Odessa looked at him and smiled. “ Anyone that will be your mate, will have to sign a deal with me” They both laughed. Odessa wanted to say something but her mind disappointed her. “ Really “ she said instead.

"I haven't seen your mom around, the pretty Ama?" He said. “ You know those times, my dad will always say, the pretty Ama served us a delicious soup. The pretty Ama this, the pretty Ama that”. Odessa laughed so hard. She wasn't used to people calling her mom, pretty Ama. Instead they call her,” the Alpha's sweet beta”.

“She is organising the women dance” Odessa answered.

Ryder looked around the path and saw Lyra sitting on a shrub. He signaled her to come over. Lyra reluctantly walked towards them. She wants to go home.

“I like Lyra” Ryder said smiling at Odessa.

“You what?!” Odessa yelled and cover her mouth with her palms. She mind-linked Lyra. “He said he likes you” she said widening her eyes.

“He what…?”

“Lyra, I need your help. What should I do?”

“Tell him your mind, Dessa”

“ How's your Dad?” Odessa asked Ryder looking at him straight in the eyes.

“He is old, always on his sick bed, grinning all the time”

“ Oh!!, poor old man”

“ Heard Alpha Liam is dead, so sorry about that”

" Yeah, He died after the last war with the Moonlight pack”.

“ Yeah, that's why my father said. Lyra!, come sit beside me” he said signaling her.

“ I need to ease myself” She said as she mind-link Odessa. “ Girl, save yourself and save me too”

“Ok. Ryder. There is something I want to tell you”.

“ Go on..” he said still looking at Lyra as she walked towards the forest.

“ My dad said we….”

“....meant for each. I know the story but am not doing that” Odessa heart skipped again. She felt unease. “ I like you, you are the most important person in my life but you can't be my mate”

“What's your reasons"

“ Dessa, we were little when they said those things. Now we are grown adults. We have choices or don't you?”

“ But you are my choice”

“ Can we not spoil this reconnection of ours with this?, please”

“ But Ryder, I've been waiting for you for thirteen years now” She said admits sobbing.

He didn't respond to her but walked away angrily.

"Ryder!"

"Odessa, I know how you feel but am not having this conversation with you"

“ Ryder, just listen to me. I've waited for thirteen years already”

“Of course, you were waiting to see me, your best friend “

“We should take our friendship to another level. That's all am asking for. And that what my Dad wanted”.

“ Odessa, I'm not having this conversation with you. And if you continue this way, I won't have any other choice than to give you some space. I can't be your mate ”

“ Why?, just tell me why because I rejected so many people because of you and now you are rejecting me?”

“ I never asked you out. I never said I was going to be your mate someday. Your dad did and it's not my fault that am not carrying on with it. He doesn't want our packs to seize being friends and that's what am keeping too. But I can't be your mate!!” He yelled. His eyes turning gold. Lyra was watching closely from a distance. She is familiar with the gold eyes. She couldn't explain the drama. She walked faster towards Odessa and met her crying.

" Dessa! What happened?" She didn't respond but kept looking at the directions through which Ryder left. She fell on her knees still crying.

" What happened?" Lyra asked the third time.

" He left. He......he said we can never be mate"

" He said that? But you guys are still best friends, right?”

" Lyra!" She called out, wiping her tears with the back of her hands.

" Talk to me. What happened?"

" Lyra! He left, and he said he never agreed to be my mate. That my father just did a mere matchmaking"

“ Stand up, we need to go home. Here is lonely and the festival is over already. Mom, would be look for us”

Lyra felt guilty. She thought Ryder rejected Odessa because of her. “ Maybe it's because of me” she blamed herself. She wished she never showed up for the festival. She regretted meeting him at the school refectory. She hated him for the second time.

She dragged her by the arms to lift her. She was sobering. She was pained. She sobbed through out their way home. Ama, wasn't at the sitting when they came in. They went straight to Odessa's room. Sighting her dairy, she burst out into tears. Ama, heard her and rant to the room. She rushed to Ama immediately she said her. Ama whispered Lyra asking what happened. “ She got rejected, mom” Lyra answered feeling pity for Odessa. Ama held her daughter closer to her chest. She slept off in her arms.