Second Chances:HOPE & FAITH

Aftermath

" I Aidan James Eastwood reject you, Hope Elizabeth Sanderson, as my mate," he said coldly. He let go of my back so I ended up falling between his legs. I looked up at him with a blank stare. I looked hopeless kneeling there in between his legs. He was going to get up but I pushed him back and made him sit back down. We stayed there for five more minutes and then as the air hit my body I felt cold. I was still naked. I quickly shot up and ran to the elevator. I went to the room I had been staying in and went to get dressed. I put on my underwear, a pair of black leggings and a cropped olive hoodie. I ran out of the room and back to the elevator. I remembered where Lucas said the garage was. I headed there hoping I could hotwire a car or something. I stepped inside the two-story metal box and noticed all the fancy cars. There were keys hanging on the wall. I grabbed a random pair and used the alarm to locate it. I found it and quickly got in. I left the garage and tried to use the built-in navigation system to figure out where to go. As I sped away from the property I felt my heart crush. It was like someone was squeezing it tight inside me. I brought one hand up to my chest to try and ease the jolting pain. I started to cry. I wasn't sure if I was crying because of the pain or because I was sad. I started to hit the dashboard and stirring wheel. 

"STUPID"

"STUPID"

"STUPID," I yelled to myself. Images of what we just did went through my mind. The first time I saw him popped up next. His lips enveloping mine. His intense gray eyes. My pain became more unbearable.

"That son of a b***h," I said. I cried for the next 2 hours.

"LET HER GO," I mind linked Lucas and the rest of the guys on patrol.

"What the f**k was that," Lucas said as he stormed into my room.

"None of your business," I said. I was still sitting in my chair where I had broken my mate's heart along with my wolf's.

"Are you okay?" Lucas asked. " Besides insane, you doing okay?" I didn't know how to respond. I had just willingly given up my mate. I should be dying.

" I will be okay," I replied to Lucas.

"Good, so now what the hell man. You let her leave. In a car.... tell me you see the resemblance," he said. I hadn't thought about what could happen to her if she left in such a state. I wasn't telling her to leave. Did I really think I could say what I said and have her stay here? When I sensed her going to the garage I just felt the need to let her go not so she could be away from me but it was what she wanted. I was still in some stupid way trying to please my mate. I just let her go and now I have to worry she will be in harm's way and possibly be in danger because of me.

"Go after her! Stay by her side until I tell you to return. Until I know she is safe and okay," I told Lucas.

"Your an i***t," Lucas said before dashing out of my room and to chase after my love.

  Three weeks later, 

Aidan was distracting himself with work. He looked forward to Lucas's reports on Hope. Especially when he would text pictures. He was regretting his decision but happy Hope didn't fully understand what happened. Hope was readjusting to her old life. Working a new job at a massage and spa.

Being back home was great but I felt just like when I first got to the mansion. It was hard to fit in and just act like nothing ever changed. When I first got back I went to visit my parents and then Olivia and Jackson. I decided to rent an apartment with the three of them like we wanted to do before I left. I mean kidn*pped. Life was going okay for me lately but I had this strange feeling I was being watched. Even after I caught Lucas spying on me, I still felt someone watching me. I didn't worry about it so much since Lucas was around me almost 24/7. He even followed me to work. It was kind of annoying but he was made me laugh and forget about my growing sadness.

Monday: 11 am

"Another facial?" I asked Lucas.

"Yup, and use that minty clay stuff," he said. This was my life now. Facials and massages, unless I had a male client which then Lucas would cancel and take their spot and either hang out for an hour or get a facial. At least I was getting paid regardless. I went over to get the clay mask and some hot-peel wraps.

"Still don't want to talk about it?" Lucas asked.

"Nope," I replied. There were a few moments in my day where I thought of him. I wanted to be with him. I wanted to scream and yell at him. I wanted to punch and hug him. I felt tears form in my eyes. I wiped them away and began to work on Lucas.

"You shouldn't get some many facial so often," I told him. "You should consider alternating between massage and facial."

"Well for starters, a certain brooding childish man would kill me, and I need to keep this face on point," he retorted. I rolled my eyes and started to place the hot peel wraps on his face. He would always pretend they were burning his face off. I finished his facial did a handful of massages and a dozen or so facials and then left for the day. Lucas and I then met up with Olivia and Jackson at a Chinese restaurant.

"What's he still doing here?" Jackson asked.

"Eating, bothering you and making sure you stay away from what's not yours," he said back.

"Leave him alone he takes care of Hope and he is cool," Olivia chimed in. We ate and had a few laughs. It was always nice hanging out with my friends and Lucas had become just that. We all went home and Lucas would go off where he came from every morning at 8 but today I asked him to stay. We had all decided to watch a movie before bed. It was a romantic comedy just like Olivia liked. It was getting annoying watching the sappy love story so I just went to my room. I jumped on my bed and closed my eyes. I suddenly imagined the first dance Aidan and I shared at my birthday party. I was still surprised at how good of a dancer he was. I could feel his hands on my hips and the way he spun me around. I started to cry and I turned over and cried into my pillow. Lucas suddenly walked into the room and gently closed the door behind him. I cried uncontrollably and hysterically all night.

"Why does my chest hurt so bad, I just want to rip my heart out and throw it across the room," I sobbed.

"I know, breaking a mate bond is the hardest thing and most painful thing you can ever endure," Lucas said. I got up and wiped my tears away with my sleeve.

"I need you to go," I told him.  " I'll give you till the end of this month and then go please, I can't stand this and I need it to all go away."

"He wasn't planning on keeping me here forever, I shouldn't say anything but this is what he wants for you to hate him so much you accept his rejection," He said.

"What," I simply said back.

"Well he rejected you but if you don't accept it then it's just words, painful and hurtful words but just words nonetheless, see he can't break the bond himself. No mate can. Both mates have to agree to it since it leaves a permanent mark on your heart to do such an act. It's one thing for a mate to die and having that pain leave you scarred its another to willing break a bond that should be otherwise unbreakable," he explained. 

"Why," I said softly.

"I think he can't let himself be happy again Hope, He loved Faith and her death was so sudden. He can't just forget but mostly it's regret. He blames himself and he feels like he's betraying her somehow," Lucas said.

"I don't need an explanation or some apology, I need him to know that I just want what he wants," I said. It was strange. I wasn't upset yet understanding. I wanted to help him in any way I could and if that meant I had to lose him then what could I do. I grabbed a notebook and a pen.

Dear Aidan,

I will accept your rejection.