CHAPTER THREE
1315 Words
“What do you want, Daniel?” Leah's voice cut through the air sharp and angry.
I hesitated, caught off guard. She wasn't like earlier, not when we were talking before she stormed off. But now, she was back, furious with a crumpled letter clenched in her fist.
Her eyes blazed as she shoved the paper in my face.
“I’ve had enough! You've been sending me these letters for years, even after I left the pack. Stop sending them and don’t talk about us being mates again.
“Letter?” I asked as my confusion grow
“What letters?” Let me see”
Snatching the letter from her, I glanced at the envelope….. plain, no name, no address, it was sealed with a golden eagle crest and marked by the same vivid red stamp, I didn't recognize.
Leah folded her arms, her disgust evident.
“Don't play dumb, we’re not mates. We're never and we never will be”.
Her words hit harder than I expected, guilt twisted inside me but I didn't know why.
“Leah, I swear I know nothing about this”.
She didn't believe me….. her eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening.
“Goodbye Daniel”
She turned on her heel to leave but I grabbed her arm.
“Wait, I said, forcing her to look at me”.
“What?” Her voice was venomous.
I swallowed hard, knowing I sounded pathetic.
“You don’t want me as a mate, and I get it. But I…”
She cut me off with a bitter laugh.
“Why would I want to be tied to someone who doesn’t want me? Someone who threw me away when I needed him most?”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I started, my voice breaking.
Her expression hardened, her voice colder than ice.
“Keep your excuses, Daniel. I don’t want to hear them. I don’t want you.”
With that, she ripped her arm from my grasp and stormed out, leaving me standing there like an i***t.
I was still reeling when Joel approached, his expression dark.
“You and Leah? You’re mates?”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
“Yeah.”
“When did you find out?”
I hesitated.
“Two years ago. On her birthday.”
“The day she left?” Joel’s brow furrowed.
“Why did she leave if she found you?”
I stammered, searching for words.
“I… I rejected her.”
Joel’s jaw clenched.
“You rejected my sister?”
“It’s not what you think!” I protested, raising my hands.
Joel didn’t care. His voice rose, cutting through my excuses.
“I think you’re a coward. You broke her heart, and now you want her back because you realize what you lost?” He shook his head in disgust.
“She deserves better.”
I had no defense. He wasn’t wrong.
Joel stormed off, shaking his head, leaving me standing there, guilt heavy in my chest.
I wanted to follow him, but my feet stayed rooted, tangled in the mess I’d created. Leah’s anger, Joel’s accusations… they all echoed in my mind.
Inside the party, Joel was already moving through the crowd, his gaze sharp as he spotted Leah. She was standing with Diana and her gaggle of followers. I knew where this was headed before it even began.
Diana’s voice rang out, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
“The nerd might look hot now, but on the inside? Still the same. Once a nerd, always a nerd.” Her friends giggled like it was the funniest thing they’d ever heard.
Leah, to her credit, didn’t flinch. Instead, she smiled sweetly, disarming.
“At least one of us is hot and not dumb, forcing herself on a man. See you later, Diana.”
The smile stayed plastered on Diana’s face, but her eyes burned with embarrassment as Leah turned and walked away. Joel caught up to her quickly, grabbing her arm, but she jerked it free.
“I saw you and Daniel talking,” he said, keeping pace with her as she tried to ignore him.
“Why didn’t you tell me when you found out?”
Leah froze and whipped around, her eyes blazing.
“Tell you? Why? So you could announce it to the pack? So everyone could laugh that even the nerd’s mate rejected her? No thanks, Joel.”
He flinched like she’d struck him, his voice dropping.
“I’d never do that to you, Leah.”
“Really?” she hissed, her voice a sharp whisper.
“You already made my life hell. You don’t get to act like you’re on my side now.”
Her words hung between them for a beat, and then she turned on her heel and stalked off. Joel stayed behind, staring after her, regret etched into his face.
By the time he came back to find me, his expression was conflicted, his steps slower.
“Hey,” he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“I’m sorry about earlier. I was out of line.”
I nodded, though his apology didn’t exactly erase the sting of his words.
“We all make mistakes,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.
Joel frowned, his curiosity winning out over his guilt.
“So… what happened between you and Leah? Why’d you reject her?”
I hesitated, the weight of the past clawing at me.
“It’s complicated,” I murmured.
“Do you still want her?” he pressed, and his eyes searched mine like he needed the truth.
“Yes,” I said without hesitation.
“I want her back.”
Before either of us could say anything else, a sharp, high-pitched scream pierced the air. My entire body tensed, my heart hammering in my chest. Leah.
Joel and I bolted toward the kitchen, shoving past people as the sound echoed again. When I saw her, the sight made my blood run cold.
Gideon, drunk and grabbing at her. She was trying to shove him off, but he was too strong.
A growl erupted from my throat, and the room went silent.
“Calm down, dude,” Gideon slurred, but his grip on Leah loosened.
That’s all she needed.Leah didn’t wait for him to react further. She kneed him hard in the stomach, and as he doubled over in pain, she slapped him across the face with enough force to leave him stunned.
“Disgusting,” she spat as Gideon crumpled to the floor.
I forced myself to calm down, my wolf clawing to get out. Leah didn’t even look at me… she just started to walk away.
“Wait,” I said, stepping in her path.
“Can we talk? Please.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” she said loudly, not caring who heard.
“Leah…” I lowered my voice, my chest tightening.
“I can’t keep pretending I don’t want you. Seeing him… what he tried to do… it killed me. I can’t do this anymore. I want you. I’ve always wanted you.”
Her eyes burned with pain and anger.
“I’m not letting you hurt me again.”
“I won’t,” I promised, desperation creeping into my voice.
“I can’t.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but I couldn’t stop myself. I leaned in and kissed her, pouring every ounce of regret, love, and longing into that moment.
At first, she froze. Then, slowly, she melted into the kiss.
When we finally broke apart, gasping for air, Joel cleared his throat.
“So,” he said awkwardly.
“Are you two… back together?”
I looked at Leah, silently asking the same question.
“I… I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice soft.
“I’d like us to be… mate”
- Writer
