My Second Chance Mate is a Vampire

Chapter 13: Rejected

It was shaping up to be another busy day at the castle, and Ellie wanted to be fully prepared. As she brushed her hair, a sudden knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Ellie paused. Had Megan been caught already?

The idea sent a chill through her. Had someone in the village realized her sister was a wolf? Was she being removed from the castle for causing a disturbance?

Ellie set her brush down carefully, her hands trembling slightly. Megan wasn’t exactly the most subtle person—she thrived on attention, and Ellie could imagine her sister’s ridiculous behaviour landing them both in trouble. She hastily opened the door, and her eyes widened in surprise. There, standing in the hallway, was Nick. He gave her a soft smile, his eyes meeting hers with that same warmth that always seemed to catch her off guard.

"Mate," purred Kida, her voice rich with longing and urgency. "He is ours—claim him."

"Morning, Ellie," Nick said, his voice gentle. "I was just wondering... if tonight, I might steal you away for some ice skating?"

Ellie blinked, taken aback for a moment before a smile spread across her face. Her heart skipped a beat, and she nodded, feeling a warmth rush through her. "I'd love that," she said, her excitement bubbling up. But then she hesitated, biting her lip. "Just so you know, I've never actually skated before."

Nick's smile widened, a playful glint in his eyes. "Don't worry, I'm no pro either. But I'll be there to help you. We'll figure it out together." His reassurance made her smile and she found herself nodding again, unable to hide her grin.

"Alright, then. It's a date," she said, her voice coming out softer than she intended. Nick gave her a nod, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he turned to leave.

"See you tonight," he said as he walked away down the hallway.

Ellie closed the door, leaning against it for a moment as she let out a deep breath.

She had expected Kida to be excited, maybe even giddy, but instead, her wolf was furious, her voice a roar inside Ellie’s mind. Ellie could feel the anger bubbling, an intensity she hadn’t experienced since leaving Scott.

"You must claim him tonight!" Kida demanded, her tone sharp and unrelenting. "If you don’t, you risk losing him forever."

Ellie gritted her teeth as she tried to reason with her wolf. "Kida, I can’t just rush into this. I barely know him," she thought back, her inner voice laced with apprehension.

But Kida wasn’t listening. "If you won’t take this chance," she growled, "then you leave me no choice. I will silence myself. You will lose me, Ellie. No shifts, no connection—nothing."

Ellie’s heart sank at the ultimatum. The thought of losing Kida, of severing the bond that had always been a part of her, was almost too much to bear. Yet the idea of exposing herself, of rushing into something so uncertain, terrified her. She felt torn, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on her chest as she struggled to find the right path.

All day, Ellie was on edge. She gave her tours with a falter in her step, her voice shaking as she spoke about the castle’s history. She noticed the curious looks from some of the tourists as she seemed more animated than usual, but she couldn’t help it. The anticipation of seeing Nick later and revealing herself made everything else fade into the background.

As the day began to wind down, Ellie was tidying up one of the rooms after a tour when she heard a familiar voice. She turned to see Megan standing in the doorway, a smile on her face.

"Hey, sis," Megan said, stepping into the room. "Got any plans tonight?"

Ellie felt her stomach drop slightly, her mind racing for an excuse. She couldn’t tell Megan about her plans with Nick—not after the way Megan had shown interest in him. She forced a casual smile, shrugging. "Oh, not much. I think I might just relax and read for a bit. Maybe catch up on some sleep."

Megan raised an eyebrow, her expression curious. "Really? No grand adventures in the village?"

Ellie shook her head, trying to keep her tone light. "Nope, just a quiet night. Nothing exciting."

Megan seemed to study her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, well, if you change your mind, let me know. I was thinking of checking out that new pub in town."

Ellie smiled, nodding. "Will do. Have fun."

Megan gave her a wave before turning and leaving the room, and Ellie let out a sigh of relief. Tonight was just for her and Nick, and she wanted to keep it that way.

Megan couldn't know.

—

Ellie dressed in the cutest and warmest outfit she could put together—a cozy sweater, her thickest coat, and a pair of knitted mittens she had bought at the market. She checked her reflection in the mirror, smoothing her hair and giving herself one last pep talk before heading out of her room. The anticipation made her heart flutter, and she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness about what the evening would bring.

She made her way to the castle foyer, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallways. When she reached the entrance, her eyes immediately found Nick. He was standing there, waiting for her, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat. His face lit up the moment he saw her, his smile beaming.

"You look beautiful," Nick said, his eyes meeting hers with a warmth that made her heart skip a beat.

Ellie felt her cheeks flush as she smiled. "Thanks. You clean up pretty well yourself."

Nick chuckled, extending his arm to her. "Shall we?"

Ellie nodded, slipping her arm through his as they stepped out of the castle together. The village was aglow with twinkling lights, the festive decorations casting a magical atmosphere over everything. They walked through the village square, passing by the bustling shops and market stalls, until they reached the edge of the frozen lake. Strings of lights had been set up around the lake, casting a soft glow over the ice, making the whole scene look like something out of a fairytale.

Near the edge of the lake stood an old boat shed, now doubling as a skate rental. Ellie looked at the frozen surface of the lake, feeling a sudden pang of apprehension. The idea of stepping onto the ice, of possibly falling—or worse, the thought of the ice giving way beneath her—made her stomach twist.

Nick seemed to sense her hesitation. He gave her arm a gentle squeeze, his voice soft. "Hey, it's going to be alright. I promise. I'll be right there with you."

Ellie looked at him, his reassuring smile easing some of her worries. She took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay. Let's do this."

They rented skates from the shed, lacing them up before making their way to the edge of the lake. Nick stepped onto the ice first, his movements confident and smooth. He turned back to Ellie, holding out his hand. "Come on, I've got you."

Ellie hesitated for a moment before taking his hand, letting him guide her onto the ice. Her legs wobbled beneath her, the skates feeling unsteady, but Nick's grip was firm, his presence steadying her. He held both her hands as she took her first few tentative steps, his smile encouraging.

"See? You're doing great," Nick said, his eyes never leaving hers.

Ellie laughed, though it was shaky. "I feel like a baby deer trying to walk for the first time."

Nick chuckled. "That’s part of the fun. Just keep your eyes on me."

They moved slowly at first, Ellie gripping Nick's hands as she tried to find her balance. Each time she wobbled, Nick was there to steady her, his gentle laughter making her smile despite her nerves. As the minutes passed, Ellie began to relax, her body finding a rhythm, and she realized she was actually enjoying it. The cold wind nipped at her cheeks, the lights twinkling above them, and all she could feel was the warmth of Nick's hands and the steady beat of her own heart.

Nick skated with ease, his movements fluid and graceful. He wasn't showing off, but there was something about the way he moved that seemed effortless, as if skating came as naturally to him as breathing. Ellie couldn’t help but admire him, the way his eyes shone with joy, the way his laughter echoed across the ice.

Eventually, Nick let go of one of her hands, allowing her to skate beside him, their fingers still intertwined. Ellie felt a sense of freedom, the thrill of gliding across the ice with Nick by her side making her heart swell. She wasn’t good at it—not by any means—but with Nick there, she felt safe, like nothing could go wrong.

Nick, she thought to herself, was a far cry from Scott. Nick was kind, and gentle, and treated her with respect. Scott had claimed Ellie and began controlling her right away, his presence like a vice around her. And she had simply let him, ready to play her part as Luna. She shook her head, shaking off the memories of Scott, and focused on her future.

They skated until the sky grew darker, the stars twinkling above them. Finally, they came to a stop near the edge of the lake, both of them slightly breathless. Ellie looked at Nick, her cheeks flushed from the cold and the excitement.

"Thank you," she said softly, her eyes meeting his. "This was... magic."

Nick smiled, his gaze warm as he looked at her. "I’m glad you came. I wouldn’t have wanted to do this with anyone else." He paused for a moment, then gently lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles.

Ellie's heart fluttered, and she felt time stand still. There was something about the way Nick looked at her, the way he held her hand, that made her feel like she was the only person in this world.

"Nick," Ellie began, her voice trembling slightly. "There’s something I need to tell you. I… I’m not what you think I am. And you… you’re my fated mate."

She hesitated, her breath visible in the frosty air. "I’m a wolf. A werewolf."

Nick's smile dropped, his expression darkening with worry. For a moment, he looked as though he had been struck, his jaw tightening and his eyes darting away from hers. "Ellie, I... I can’t be," he stammered, his voice thick with fear and anger. His hands trembled slightly, and though he didn’t step back, the shift in his demeanor was palpable.

"No."