Beta VS Gamma

XX

~Kyson~

She’s here, she’s here! Our fated mate is here!

I internally wince at the sound of Brec’s voice in my head. It’s booming and filled with excitement. I get it, I do, but now isn’t the time to lose my cool.

I only wanted to come down here and get something to drink. I could have had an Omega bring me something, but that really isn’t my style. I don’t like relying on Omegas when I can do things myself. I guess it’s because my mom is an Omega and I just don’t like the optics of them being treated like servants.

It wasn’t just that, though. I’ve been anxious for a while now. It felt like someone was pulling at me, and I couldn’t figure out what it was. I thought if I came and got something to snack on, maybe I could focus on that instead of this pull I feel.

I didn’t expect to go to the kitchen and have her scent hit me like a ton of bricks. Rose and jasmine wrapped around me the moment I got close to the doorway. The air left my lungs, and it took everything for me to stay on my feet.

I look at the ladies sitting around the table, trying to figure out which one it is. There’s only one woman sitting in a rigid position, so I have to assume it’s her. I can only see her side profile, but it’s enough to enamor me immediately.

She has high cheekbones and a small, elegant nose. Her lashes are long and curved. Her golden hair is long and straight. I’d imagine it touches her behind, but I can’t be sure. I can’t see much else because she is seated, but I know that I want to see more.

I feel a nudge in my mind, and I quickly open the link. Your fated mate is in here, isn’t she?

Yes, Luna. I don’t know her name, but one of your friends is my mate.

Cecilia. I’m sure that it’s Cecilia. I say the name to myself, letting its fullness roll around in my mind. It makes my heart stutter and a shiver climb up my spine.

I need to talk to her.

I… I should warn you. I don’t like the sound of her voice. I don’t like that Rain seems to want to tell me something that I’m not going to like. I don’t want this moment to be ruined.

Please, Luna… please don’t. I don’t know if this is a mistake, but I know I need to find out about my mate on my own, not because someone told me something.

“Ladies, the gardens here are beautiful. Let me take you to see them.” I watch them stand, all except her. They start to walk away from the table until one stops and looks back.

“Cecilia, are you coming?” Rain steps forward to respond, but my mate stands and speaks first.

“I just need to use the restroom, and then I will be out there.” The sound of her voice shakes me to my core. My knees almost buckle, and it takes everything in me to stay upright. I clear my throat, hoping that I don’t end up sounding like a prepubescent pup.

“I can show her to the restroom, Luna.” She nods at me and looks at my mate. She nods as well, and that’s enough for the ladies to continue on their way to the garden.

The moment the door closes, silence wraps around us. Her scent fills the room, almost making it hard to breathe in the best possible way. This is my chance with my fated mate, and I don’t plan to waste it.

With her standing, I can finally see everything that the Goddess has gifted me. She doesn’t have many curves, but I don’t care. She has a nice, fit shape, and I instantly wonder what’s underneath her clothes. I wonder how soft her skin is and how warm her touch will be.

Cecilia is wearing a tight, pleated halter dress. The material has a red-and-white striped design. The dress stops mid-calf, showing smooth, light skin. Her feet are in designer slides with a logo I don’t know in the center. Her toenails are painted a bright red that matches her nails. My mate likes to look good, and I know that I will enjoy helping her keep it up.

I step forward; the urge to grab her and hold her against me is almost overwhelming. I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out. It doesn’t matter because she steps forward, smoothing down the skirt of her dress.

Cecilia doesn’t look at me, but she looks in my direction. “You are?” I swallow the lump in my throat, not wanting to embarrass myself.

“I’m Kyson Nichols, the Gamma of this pack.”

“Gamma. I thought so.” The tone of her voice causes me to pause. I push my reservation away because there’s probably a simple explanation for it. “I, Cecilia Johnson of the Celestial Pack, reject you, Kyson Nichols, Gamma of the Blackpelt pack, as my mate for now and forever.”

The moment those words leave her mouth, a pain explodes in my chest. My hand immediately moves to hold it as if I can stop the pain that easily. My heart feels like it’s snapping in two, and I don’t know how to stop it. Brec growls in my mind. He’s low on the ground, his face cradled by his palms.

I don’t know what to do; I don’t understand what’s going on. She’s my fated mate, the person that the Moon Goddess made just for me. I don’t know why she would do this, why she wouldn’t want me.

I’ve waited for my fated mate my whole life. I always thought that when we found each other, it would be more than love at first sight. I just knew that my fated mate would want me as much as I want her, and we would immediately start our lives together. I never would have guessed how wrong I was. I never could have imagined that the moment I met my mate, she would brutally reject me.

As surprised as I am that I’m still on my feet, now isn’t the time to worry about that. I really need to figure out what’s going on in her head. My throat feels raw, but I ignore it. I try to square my shoulders and look directly at the woman who doesn’t want me. “Why?”