My Rejected Mate

chapter 14

I picked it up and tried fried chicken for the first time. It was crunchy and a little salty but in a good way.

"Well?"

I smiled and nodded. He then loaded a bunch of other things onto my plate for me to try . Most of what I saw were things I already knew, but some I had never tried before.

I made sure to get a bite of everything, and I had to say that the mashed potatoes, red beans with rice, and the chicken strips were my favorite. I especially liked the honey mustard sauce .

After eating almost everything that was ordered, I felt like my stomach was going to burst.I had never eaten so much in one sitting before . I probably ate more in this one place than I had in the last eight years.

My stomach was actually starting to hurt a little.

"Do you want dessert?"

Raven asked.

"Can I?" my stomach hurting was a thing of the past.

"Of course", he said with a big smile.

"Can we get ice cream?"I asked.

Raven smiled and Isaac drove us to a place called Cold Stone. I was excited because it had been so long since I had ice cream. I remember eating it a lot when I was younger. My mom always let us have one scoop after dinner if we ate our veggies. I remember my favorite being chocolate.

"Layra, what flavor do you want?" Raven asked.

"Um, I don't know. I've only ever had chocolate," I said looking at the endless amount of options before me in the window.

"Miss, you can try a few samples if you like",the person behind the glass said.

"Do you want to try a few different ones?" Raven asked and I nodded my head.

"Which ones?"

"You pick," I tell him .

"Let's try the cheesecake, sweet cream , cotton candy ,and mint ",one by one the salesperson gives me small little spoons so I can try the ones Ryan picked out . I tried the mint first and shook my head .

Then he gave me sweet cream , and I just kind of C****d my head back and forth. Then I got cotton candy and shook my head again. The last one was cheesecake.

"Wow! This one is so good!"I exclaimed.

"Okay, so cheesecake in the medium cup, please ".!

"Did you want any mix-ins?"

The person asked, and I just looked at Raven.

"Let's make into the strawberry cheesecake please".

"Sure thing," I watched as the person scooped up the ice cream and put it onto the table. I saw that the table was ice cold .

He added fresh strawberries and cookies to it and started to mix it together. He then scooped it up again and then put in a cup for me with a spoon .

"Thank you," I said and reached over for it.

"Go sit, and enjoy darling, Jacob and I will be right there",I nodded and went to sit at a table . I took a bite of my ice cream and was in heaven .

This had to be the most amazing thing that had ever touched my tongue . The strawberries added a slight sourness to it, which just made it that much better . After a few minutes , Ryaln and Isaac sat down too.

"What did you get?" I asked them.

"Rocky road," Isaac Said.

"Want a taste?", I nodded and took a spoon full of his.

I knew the ice cream was chocolate but couldn't tell what the other stuff was .

"What's this white puffy thing?"

"It's called a marshmallow,"I put it in my mouth and just smiled. It was sweet and soft and just melted in my mouth .

"The crunchy bits are almonds",I just nodded my head and enjoyed the flavor.

"I always thought marshmallows were big",I tell the guys.

"They come in different sizes and colors too", Jacob replied .

"What do you have Raven?"

"Birthday cake ice cream with pound cake, and sprinkles",He said and pushed it over.

I took a bite and it tasted just like a birthday cake.I was surprised I even remembered what a birthday cake tasted like.The taste alone brought tears to my eyes.

"Whoa,what's wrong?", Jacob asked .

"Layra, what's the matter?",Raven asked taking my hand in his.

"That's the closest thing I've had to a birthday cake in eight years".

"Do you want to switch?",Raven asked.

"Huh? No, I love mine, yours just brought back memories, I'm okay", I assured him.

Even though half of this day was spent in the pack clinic, I had to admit that today was not a bad day at all. Raven and Jacob did everything for me and made sure I enjoyed myself.

I felt silly for having cried while eating ice cream, but I felt better once I got that insecurity off of my chest.

Who knew?

Perhaps now that I was mated to Raven, he would buy me a birthday cake next year.

I couldn't help fantasising about the future with him as his Luna.

(Raven's P.O.V.}

As we drive back to the pack,Layra fell asleep on my shoulders and I watched her sleep while stroking her hair.

Layra had been hurt severely so I understood why she could not easily trust,I was just glad that she was opening up to me gradually.

Tomorrow was our last day at Crimson wolf packhouse and the day I would end the contract with Kade,Our pack could officially be rivals.

Although that meant we could go to war at any time, it also gave me an opening to kill him if he or his pack ever laid a hand on Layra ever again.

The moon goddess was definitely working in my favor and I knew it.

She had given Layra a second chance, and it was with me, I refused to blow it.

I would do anything and everything for Layra . All she had to do was ask, I had loved her the moment I saw her and it seems she didn't know it or remember it , but last night was not the first time I had met her.

---Flashback---

"Dad,why are we going to the Silver howl Pack?",I asked from the backseat of the car. I had just turned 18, and my dad wanted me to work out a business relationship with Alpha Matthew Crest.

"You will be taking over in a few months, and I need you to build a solid relationship with Matthew.Besides, he's always been like an Uncle to you".

"Well, yeah, I get that, but..."

"No buts, Ryan. This will be good for both of our packs".

"Ugh, fine",I waved an imaginary white flag in defeat.

A few minutes later, we arrived at Silver Howl.

When the Alpha came out to greet us,I had expected the usual handshakes but instead they had grabbed each other and were hugging.

"Matthew!".

"Raul!" they smiled at each other.

"Matthew! You remember my son, and the Alpha of Gray wolf, Raven?"

"How could I forget?"

"Welcome back to Silver howl, Raven."

"Thanks, Uncle , it's good to see you again too. How are Aunt Charlie and Layra doing?"

"They're good, they're both excited to see you", he said with a big smile .

"Come on inside , lunch is just about ready,"

We all walked in and as soon as we did, I heard a little girl giggling and screaming her head off, normally such a sound would bother the crap out of me , but this was one cute, and almost lovely.

"Ah, there's my sweet little Larya",my dad said as she came running over to us .

" I don't like the name ,Larya!", she pouted as my dad picked her up . She was small and cute.

"Oh, then what do you want to be called ? Princess? Dove ?m"

"Mommy calls me Amy".

"But it's almost the same",I tell her and pinch her cheek .

"Wow, who are you? You look like prince charming," I couldn't help but smilel.

Kids, so innocent.

"Layra, this is my son, you probably don't remember him, but his name is Raven,"

"Can I keep him?",she asked.

My dad laughed and I just smiled at her . I hated kids ,but this girl was cute and I felt drawn to her.

"Layra honey , leave Uncle Raul and Raven alone and come help" mommy and Nana with the table , "

"Yes, mommy," she squealed and jumped out of my dad's arms "Why isn't she annoying like Margot?",I asked my dad.

"Because Margot is your baby sister and is already a teenager", my dad said.

"How old is Amy?"

"She just turned 10".

"Dad,something doesn't feel right when I look at her".

"What do you mean son?"

"Dad,I'm attracted to her.I know that sounds really bad given that I'm already 18, and she's just a baby, but I can't help it , what's wrong with me ?'

"Son, it's different because we are werewolves , and especially since you are an Alpha.

"Care to elaborate?"

"Raven, I was hoping this would happen , and I'm glad that it did . That's another reason why I brought you here".

I just looked at my dad, his words were surreal.He wanted me to become a pedophile?

"Son, Matthew and I both believe that you and Larya are destined mates,"

"What?!"I whispered in a shout.

"When Amy was born, and you were only around eight years old, we came to visit them while they were in the hospital. You were immediately drawn to her as an infant. You played with her non-stop, and you were upset when we had to leave after a few days. You mother believed that you felt the mate bond".

"Is that possible?"

"For an Alpha it is.