Letting him go

Chapter 2

"MATTHEW"

She was the Alpha’s daughter. My mate was an Alpha, I thought to myself. I tried so hard not to go over there and rip her out of the boy’s arms. Mandy looked up at me, and I felt myself get sick. How did I get myself in this situation? There was Mandy, who I loved. Always have. And then there was my mate, who it seems I love more. What I felt for Alli was so much more than I knew I could ever feel for Mandy, and it was a hard pill to swallow.

Anna sat Alli and Nick across from Mandy and me, and I struggled to keep my eyes off her.

“So, Alli, I’ve missed you the last few days in class,” I commented.

“Oh, that’s my fault,” Anna said before Alli could respond.

“I needed her and Nick to help me with pack stuff,” she said quickly.

 I hated knowing that she was always with that boy, even outside of school.

“So Matthew, how are you taking to teaching again?” Alpha Mark inquired.

“I forgot how much I loved to teach. I’m glad that I got the chance to go it again.” I answered honestly.

“Maybe you will think about staying on,” Mark said, smiling.

“That would be great!” Mandy said, smiling. “He’s always loved to teach, but with the pack, he’s always so busy.”

“Alli, is Nick, your mate?” Mandy asked, smiling.

“You two are clearly in love and meant to be.”

I about spit the water I had in my mouth out.

“No,” Alli responded, not meeting my eyes.

“Have you already met your mate?” Mandy inquired.

“Erm,” was Alli’s only reply.

“No, she hasn’t,” Anna said, frowning at my wife.

“She loves Nick, and we love him. I couldn’t think of a better person to be my daughter’s mate,” Anna said, glaring at me.

She knew about Alli being my mate. I thought, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“What if you meet your true mate?” Mandy continued.

 “I’m sure I never will, but if I do, it would not matter. Nick is my mate,” she said, looking over at me.

*Alli*

I sat through dinner and tried to ignore the hurt that I felt. “I have some Alpha things to discuss with you Matthew, can you stay for a little longer?” requested my dad.

“I’m drained,” Mandy told Matthew.

“Nick, would you mind giving Mandy a ride home?” Matthew smirked.

“Yes, please, I would appreciate it.” Mandy smiled.

“Um mm, love, do you mind?” Nick posed to me thoughtfully.

I knew that he wouldn’t leave me if I still needed him.

“No, I don’t mind,” I said, looking up at him.

“Do you want me to come back?” he asked, kissing my forehead.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll see you at school tomorrow. I’ve already consumed your last few days.” I said, glad to see Mandy go.

 I know it wasn't very nice of me to think that way, but I couldn’t help it. Mandy was perfect. She was beautiful and sweet; it was no wonder my mate married her.

“Well, if you will excuse me, I have homework to do.” Mr. Eastman looked up at me and smiled a sad smile before he and dad headed for the office.

I felt burned out. I had been up in my room for an hour working on a paper, and I needed a break. I walked outside to sit on the swing taking in the night air.

“Can we talk?” I jerked my head up to see Mr. Eastman smiling at me.

Was he kidding right now?

“We have nothing to talk about, Mr. Eastman,” I replied sternly.

“I think we do,” he said, pulling me to him gently.

“No, we don’t. So let me go.” I said, hitting his chest with my fists.

He released me and let out a sigh.

“Please call me Matthew,” he said, meeting my eyes.

“No, thank you. You are nothing more than my teacher, and I doubt you let your other students call you Matthew.” I said defiantly.

“We both know that you’re more to me than just another student,” he said, amusement on his face.

“Why are you doing this?” I whispered tears were forming in my eyes.

“We don’t have anything to say to each other.”

“You’re my mate.” He answered, taking in my scent.

“You’re married. We can never be anything to each other.” I said, moving farther away from him.

 I saw the sadness in his eyes at my response.

“Your mine Alli!” he forcefully declared.

“No, I’m Nick’s,” I said with a smirk wanting to hurt him.

His eyes started glowing, and I could tell that his wolf was close to taking over.

“Does he make you feel what I make you feel?” he asked smugly, knowing he was affecting me.

“Do you want your wife as bad as you want me?” I snapped back.

“We have nothing left to say to each other,” I said, walking to the door.

 He grabbed my arm gently and pulled me into his arms, making my whole body tingle at his touch.

“Alli, please don’t walk away from me like this,” he begged.

“What do you want from me? What do you expect me to do? Be your girl on the side; is that what you want? You would reduce me, your mate, into being your mistress!” I yelled, both hurt and angry.

“It wouldn’t be like that,” he defended.

“Then tell me, how this could ever work? Do you know what they call side chicks, which would be exactly what I would be? Let me fill you in case you don’t. Homewrecker, slut, w***e to name a few.”

I was unraveling, the pain of his rejection almost too much to bear. I touched the bracelet that Nick had given me, and my thoughts went to him, calming me.

“Did he give you that?” Matthew growled out, agitated.

“Yes,” I smiled, knowing it would make him mad.

I laughed at how ironic this all was. We were both in love with other people, but here we both stood, hearts beating fast electricity in the air, neither of us able to walk away.

It was clear that he had no intention of leaving his wife. He was never going to give me my place. I sat back down on the swing. He sat down next to me.

 “Do you love her?” I asked, needing him to say the words.

“Yes,” he said regretfully.

 I felt my heartbreak, but I loved someone else too. We were just doomed mates from the start. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for what I was about to do. 

“Matthew Eastman, I reject you as my mate!” I vehemently announced.

 He fell to the floor, clutching his heart. I wanted to reach out to him, but I had made my choice, and so had he.

“What are you waiting for? Say the words that will make this over.” I indifferently declared.

“No!” he said, anger in his voice.

*Matthew*

She rejected me as her mate, and I lost it. She was mine; I would never let her go. I couldn’t.

 “I will never say the words that will set you free!” I said, slamming my lips to hers. I was on fire, and I knew at that moment that I was lost. She broke the kiss and slapped me hard.

“You are beyond low! You would make me suffer watching you with her when you could let me go and let me be happy with someone else.” she proclaimed.

I knew that what she was saying was true, but my wolf wouldn’t let her go. I just couldn’t.

“I’m sorry,” I said, not meeting her eyes. I was sorry, but she was my mate, the other part of my soul. And right here and now, all that mattered to me was her.

“I want nothing to do with you. Please, just let me go,” Alli whispered, tears in her eyes.

“Why do you have to make things harder than they have to be for me.” She said, looking distraught.

 My heart broke because I knew that I had hurt her by making someone else, my mate. I had lost her before I even had her.

“I’m so sorry,” I said again, “I never meant to hurt you, but I won’t let you go, ever,” I said, wishing that things were different that I had met her first.

*Nick*

My heart hurt seeing Alli so sad. Her mate was married to someone else. She told me what had happened the night of the dinner. I was angry that he had treated her in that way. I decided that it was time for me to talk with Mr. Eastman. I pulled up to his house and tried to calm myself before I got myself killed because who was I kidding? He was an Alpha.

 I knew he could kill me without much effort, but at the moment, I didn’t care. I knocked on his door and was surprised when he answered.

“What are you doing here?” he growled.

“I came because I want you to reject Alli as your mate,” I stated.

“Who are you to make demands of me?” He growled.

“Her future husband, that’s who!” I yelled.

“What makes you think that I would ever let you marry her?” He bellowed.

“What makes you think that you can stop us?” I said, my body shaking with rage.

I knew that I should back down, but I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.

“What is going on here?” Mandy asked, walking up behind us.

“Yes, tell your wife what’s going on,” I said, glaring at him, daring him to tell her the truth.