Hello Again

Hello

Two years later,

Stephan's POV.

Today is the annual Full Moon Party. That my pack, the Infinity pack, likes to throw every year to celebrate the Moon Goddess. It's been a good but eventful week. My father retired, and my older brother Nick took over as alpha. I announced to my family that I would start a new pack with Anna, whom I plan on mating on the next full moon.

Anna has been my best friend since we could walk. She's thin, tall with dark hair and chocolate eyes. She is the kindest, most selfless person I've ever met. We didn't start dating until college. When we're both housed in the same co-ed dorm. We would stay up late studying, and one thing led to another.

Where not true mates, but I can't imagine having children and ruling a pack with anyone but her. I was over the moon when she said yes to my proposal and told me she felt the same way.

"Aden's mad he can't go to the party," Anna said as she walks into the room with a smile on her face. Aden is her little brother who was captured by the E two years ago. Even though he's been through a lot, he's a good kid and will be coming with us when we move.

"Aden will be fine. He's twelve. He'll be attending parties in no time." I said.

She put her delicate hand in mine and headed downstairs to the party. The ballroom is full of our pack and our alliances. The dance floor is crowded, and the band hasn't stopped. Waiters are going around filling champagne glasses. The whole thing reminds me of the Great Gatsby book I read in high school. Leaving Anna with my brother, Nick, and his mate. I go in search of something to eat; it's going to be a long night.

As I'm walking to the food table, I smell something intoxicating and it's not the food. My feet have a mind of their own. My sole purpose at this moment is to find this scent.

I follow it into the library. And that's when I saw her. She's a short white-haired beauty. Wearing an emerald green dress that matches her eyes. Her curves are perfect, not too small, not too big. She has very pouty, pink kissable lips. I'm having trouble putting a coherent thought together. She takes a step toward me and I'm frozen in place.

"Hello, I'm Snow," she says in the sexiest voice I've ever heard.

"Hello, I'm Stephan," I say back, not knowing what else to say. As she approaches me and looks in my eyes with a smile on her face, I realize she's my mate.

My mate, my true mate; I never thought I'd find her. It's a rare thing to actually find your true mate. I'm unprepared for this.

The next thing I know, we're kissing passionately. She presses her soft curves into me, she feels so good. I pull her up by her perfect ass. She wraps her legs around me tight. It's as if the world stopped spinning just for this moment. I'm lost in pure bliss.

Snow starts purring; it throws me off just enough to realize two things: one, she's not a purebred wolf, and two, I was just kissing a woman that was not Anna.

Pushing her gently off, I take a few steps back. This isn't right. I love Anna; the Moon goddess isn't in charge of my destiny. I am, I will choose who I love and don't, I say to myself.

I look into her eyes. I can see she's confused, I am too. But I've chosen my path in life already. I'm getting angrier the more I think about it; how is it the Moon Goddess has a right to pick a mate for us but we don't. Without a second thought I say the worst thing you could ever say to a mate, "I reject you as my mate," Without waiting to hear her response, I leave. I need some air and someplace peaceful to think.

Her glass shatters against the door, and I'm thankful she's not crying. I don't know what I would do if she were.

I run into Steve in the hall, my youngest brother, best friend, and soon-to-be beta.

"Hey, man. You don't look so good. Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm good. I just need a break from all the dancing," I say. He clearly doesn't believe me, but luckily he doesn't push it. Steve has always been good about giving people their space.

"All right, man, if you need anything, I'll be downstairs dancing with your soon-to-be mate," I just smile at him as he winks at me before leaving.

Steve is a good wolf, and I would trust him with anything, even my future mate. Heading out to the terrace I look up into the starry night sky and think to myself.

I don't have time to second guess my choices or be uncertain about anything; I have a pack to lead; I have Anna. I'm alpha and will choose my own destiny.

Drown out of my thoughts by the music, I realize it's time to return to the party. Wouldn't want anyone to come looking for me.

Snow POV

My darling grandmother has been nagging me to go to some party a few packs over "maybe you'll find your mate," she says hopefully. Of course, I give in; I always do.

"How do I look?" I ask my grandmother as I walk through the door. I'm wearing a long emerald sequin dress with my mother's necklace. My grandmother has been keeping it for me. I love it; every time I look at it, I think of my loving mother.

"Your gorgeous love, parents would be so proud of you; I know I am. Any male would be honored to just have a dance with you," she said.

Walking into the party that is thrown each year in honor of the full moon., I get several looks. I don't know if it's the white hair or the fact I'm a part lion. I'm sure they can all smell it on me. Although half-breeds are more accepted and not hunted and killed anymore. Hell, it could even be my missing finger from my left hand.

Ignoring the looks, I start walking around the ballroom to see or smell anyone of interest, so if my grandmother asked, I can say I looked.

Nope, nothing, just a lot of mixed looks. After making a full circle and getting some nasty looks from the females and some inappropriate offers from the males, I'm over it. Grabbing a glass of wine; I head down to the library.

If I go home now, I'll get that sad, disappointed look from my grandmother. I hate that look.

I walk into one of the most extensive libraries I've ever seen. It has two floors with setting areas and two massive old fireplaces.

As I'm looking at a Jane Auston book. I smell something intoxicating. When I turn around I see the most handsome man.

He's tall with broad shoulders, kissable lips, short dark hair with forest green eyes, and a determined look on his handsome face, He is all alpha wolf. I want nothing more than to touch him.

I can't help myself. I walk closer. As I'm looking into his eyes, I realize instantly he's my mate.

My mate, I found my mate just like grandmother said, she's gonna be so happy when I tell her. I'm so excited, "Hello, I'm Snow." Is all I can think of to say. It works though.

"Hello, I'm Stephan," he says in a deep smooth voice. I'm just looking at him absorbing everything that has happened in the last three minutes.

The next thing I know, I'm in his strong arms and we're kissing passionately like we are the only two people in the universe. Stephan's kiss is firm and soft at the same time. He has one hand on the back of my neck and the other on the small of my back. As I push my body into him he picks me up. I want to feel all of this man. I'm purring. I can't help it; It's a cat thing.

I don't try to hold back this is my mate, my other half, the person made just for me and I for him. Everything feels so amazing.

He stops suddenly and pushes me off. Stephan takes a few steps back and looks away. I'm so confused and a little hurt; maybe he doesn't feel the same, but he's my mate; of course, he feels the same. Perhaps he doesn't feel well.

"Stephan, are you feeling..?" He cuts me off before I can finish. Stephan looks into my eyes angrily and maybe a little sad. Before I can process what's going on.

Stephan says the one thing I never thought I would hear. "I reject you as my mate, Snow."

He walks out without even looking back like I was nothing. I feel the worst pain ever, and that's saying a lot., It's like my heart was made of glass, and that glass just shattered. Bending over in pain, I throw my glass angrily at the door that Stephan just exited.

The pain is over just as fast as it came. Standing there confused and a little numb. I let myself cry for the first time in a long time. After some time, I can think more clearly.

I straighten my shoulders and hold my head high. Beastly starts talking to me,

"We have been through so much more than this, this is nothing; he is nothing. We are strong and will not let this ruin our life. We are one of the strongest female alpha's there are. We will live our life how we want on our terms." It's just the pep-talk I need.

Beastly is right; we are young. I will not let one male ruin it. If it's one thing I've learned in my 19 years is that life is short. I'm not going to waste it feeling sorry for myself.

There's just one more thing I need to do to sever the bond between Stephan and me for good. Before I go to live my life the way most people only dream of.

Stephan POV

After I got some air and collected myself, I returned to Annas' side.

"Where's the food?" she asked. The food, I forgot it, s**t.

"O, they didn't have anything that looked good; we'll just order out later," She doesn't question it, just smiles and gives me a small kiss.

I can feel someone is staring at me. Looking around, I find Snow at the top of the stairs.

We make eye contact, and although she's far away. When I focus on her, I can hear her just fine with my heightened- shifter hearing.

"I reject you as my mate, Stephan."

I didn't expect her to say it. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't that. Feeling the worst pain ever, down in my soul. My heart feels shattered like glass.

Wondering for a second if I just made the greatest mistake of my life. I look back up at Snow, she's leaving and I know that this will be the last time I see her. I feel both relieved and sad at the same time.

Anna is by my side, asking me, "are you ok? You're not looking so well."

I straighten up as the pain eases. Putting Snow out of my mind, I focus on the woman I've been in love with for years. I give Anna a kiss on the head. She is my love and the future that I choose for myself.

"Let's dance," I said.

We dance the night away, laughing and talking about what we're going to name our children. On our way up to our room, Anna says, "let's stop by the library."

The library is the last place I want to go, but I want to make her happy. As we walk in, Anna notices the broken glass. " O, my. I wonder what happened?".

"I don't know; why don't you go find a book while I clean this up." My thoughts are all over the place as I'm picking up the glass.

"Look! I found a beautiful necklace." Anna yells.

"Let me see," She hands it to me; I can smell Snow's scent on it still. She must have dropped it.

The necklace has a large moonstone with a gold design around it and a long gold chain; it's truly one of a kind. I put it in my pocket, not knowing what I'm gonna do with it. I can see Anna is disappointed that I didn't suggest that she keep it.

"I'll give it to my brother. I'm sure someone will be looking for it. It looks old. Probably a family heirloom." I say. Anna doesn't say anything just continues to look for her book.

"O, look. I found it. It was on the table the whole time." she said.

It was a Jane Auston book.