Goddess of the Moon: The Challenging

Chapter Three

FALLON POV

I’ve called her twenty times, but she won’t answer. I’m sitting in the coat closet of the Pack Banquet Hall, wishing I’d worn waterproof mascara. This is not how I thought tonight would go. She was so excited, but as soon as I locked eyes with Jordan, I knew he was my mate. Mira was so happy that it almost made me happy. And I really, really wanted to be happy when I found my other half.

“You’ve reached Vi, I can’t answer right now, please—”

“Damnit!” I curse. “Answer your damn phone, Violet!” I mumble, typing in her number again. “Do you think I wanted this?!” I continue, talking to myself. “Please answer, Vi.”

“You’ve reached Vi.”

Fuck.

She’s never going to forgive us. She’s never going to get over this…

Seriously, anyone would’ve been better to be my mate than my best friend’s boyfriend.

Forget about Violet for now, Mira urges. I want to see my mate.

I don’t think he wants to see us right now, I tell her honestly. I don’t think Violet is the only one who will never get over this. Jordan was head over heels in love with her. My heart aches at the thought. My mate loves someone else.

This has to be a mistake.

******4 YEARS LATER******

Four years later and it was no mistake. No other man came to claim that he was my mate, and the Moon Goddess got it wrong. Jordan never warmed up to the idea of me being his mate. He pretends we’re okay, but I know that we’re not.

We used to hang out all the time, and talk and laugh… but he was always with Vi then. I remember thinking how lucky she was that she was getting such a good mate. He took such good care of her, and always made her feel loved. But Vi never needed anyone to make her feel any certain way. She was always so strong and confident. The few times I’ve seen her though since Jordan’s party she hasn’t seemed the same. I tried to convince myself that Jordan was given to me because I’m the one who needed reassurance, and I’m the one who needed someone to make her feel safe… I am the weakest link of the pack, after all… but maybe Vi only came off that way because for years, she did have Jordan.

Guilt and jealousy eat away at me.

I look back down at the color samples for the napkins and tablecloths to try and get my mind off of Vi. We’re finally planning our mating ceremony. Jordan has put it off for four agonizing years, and I know that it was because of Vi. Any time anyone mentions her name, I can see his feelings for her clear on his face.

I act like I don’t notice, and I try and talk to him like I would if I had a normal mate. I tell him how excited I am to finally be having the mating ceremony. I’ve talked to him about having pups, and finally starting our lives together… but I know that he doesn’t want any of those things with me. Sometimes I wonder how he can resist the pull of our bond. To me it seems so strong. I know that his wolf is fighting him—he wants Mira—but Jordan has never given in.

I wish I had someone to talk to about these things and my heart once again longs for Violet. She was my best friend, and now I feel completely alone. If we’re in the same room she won’t even look at me.

There’s a knock on the door of Jordan’s office and Zane walks in, not waiting for an answer. He looks unusually happy this morning, and Jordan looks everything but. Sometimes I wonder if they’re keeping something from me. One day they seem fine, and the next Jordan seems to be annoyed with him for some reason.

“I’ve made Cathrine Devereaux aware of the guest arriving tonight. She will have everything ready for the King’s stay,” he informs us, plopping down into the chair across from us. “She’s thrilled to be hosting for royalty,” he jokes.

I tense up. Seeing Catherine always makes me sad. She was like a mother to me growing up, and she rarely speaks to me. She just looks at me with sympathetic eyes, as if to say, I wish I could speak to you, but Vi comes first. Violet always comes first in everyone’s lives…

And she deserves that, because up until the man she loved was ripped away from her in one fell swoop, she put everyone before herself. What did I do to possibly deserve this, though?

Moon Goddess… please tell me this is some sort of mistake.