Trapped Between Two Mates

Episode 2

Three Years Ago

"I can't believe it's finally happening," I said, bouncing on my toes like an excited puppy. Jude and I sat under a big oak tree, its leaves rustling above us. "The solar eclipse is today!"

"I can't wait to find out who my mate is," Jude replied, his eyes twinkling like stars.

"Me neither," I grinned mischievously. "Seeing as your face scares away children, I wouldn't be surprised if she runs away screaming."

Jude gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "How dare you! This face could charm the scales off a snake." We both burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the forest.

But my laughter faded as I thought about tonight. My heart felt heavy, like someone had filled it with rocks. Tonight, Jude would find his mate, and I'd find mine. Our lives would change forever.

"Are you excited to be crowned Alpha?" I asked, noticing Jude pulling at his hair - his nervous habit.

"Excited? More like terrified," he sighed. "Being Alpha is like trying to herd cats while juggling flaming torches. You've seen my father; he barely has time to breathe. I have to start thinking for the pack, not just about which flavor of ice cream I want."

"I get it," I said softly. "But promise me nothing will change between us? We'll be best friends forever, right?" My voice shook a little, betraying my fear.

Jude's face softened. He opened his arms, and I snuggled into his embrace like a child seeking comfort. "How could you think I'd ever forget you, Lois? You're my best friend. I love you. That will never change."

"You promise?" I looked up at him, searching his eyes for the truth.

"Cross my heart, Peaches," he said solemnly, then ruined it by poking my nose.

I groaned at the nickname. Seven years, and he still wouldn't let it go. All because I'd tripped and fallen face-first into mud while staring at him like a lovesick fool when we first met. He'd laughed, helped me up, and called me his little bruised peach. The name stuck, much to my annoyance.

But secretly? I loved it.

The night of the eclipse arrived faster than a cheetah on roller skates. The air buzzed with excitement. Our pack had the biggest open field, so members from other packs had come to join us. Tents dotted the landscape like colorful mushrooms.

Everyone's eyes were on Jude. Every girl hoped to be his mate, eyeing him like he was the last piece of chocolate cake at a birthday party.

When the sun and moon meet, the connection strikes. You instantly know who your forever mate is. Everyone was excited, but I felt like I had butterflies doing the cha-cha in my stomach. Finding a mate meant moving away from Jude, and that thought made me want to curl up and cry.

Jude sat in a fancy tent with his parents, the Alpha and Luna of our pack. The rest of us milled around, chatting and sipping beer from plastic cups like we were at some celestial frat party.

Then, it happened. The clock struck, and darkness fell like a heavy blanket. The sun and moon met in a cosmic dance.

Suddenly, my whole body tingled, like I'd stuck my finger in an electric socket. Goosebumps raced across my skin. I felt a presence behind me, strong and comforting. My mate. Who was he? I was scared to look, but just feeling him there made everything feel right. Perfect. All my worries melted away like ice cream on a hot day.

I turned slowly, my heart pounding like a drum. Our eyes met, and I gasped. "Jude."

My prayers had been answered. My mate was my best friend, the boy I'd loved since we were kids.

"Peaches," he whispered, a goofy smile spreading across his face. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him. For a moment, he froze like a statue. Then he kissed me back with so much passion, I thought I might melt.

We pulled apart, both grinning like idiots. Jude took my hand and led me away from the whispering crowd. He was the Alpha now, and he'd found his mate. Me.

I was going to be Luna, queen of the pack. It felt like a dream, too good to be true.

We snuck into the palace, giggling like naughty children. In Jude's bedroom, everything felt right. Perfect. Magical. It was the start of my fairytale story.

Or so I thought...

I woke up the next morning, squinting against the sunlight streaming through the open curtains. The sheets smelled amazing, like Jude's cologne mixed with pine. I reached out, but the bed was empty.

"Jude is my mate," I whispered to myself, grinning like a fool. "We're meant to be together."

I got dressed, humming happily. Our clothes were still scattered on the carpet, evidence of last night's passion. Jude had told me he loved me, and it felt different from before. Deeper. Truer.

I bounced downstairs, eager to find him. Instead, I found his parents, Jude himself, and a woman I'd never seen before. Jude's parents looked at me like I was something nasty stuck to their shoe. I was used to it - they'd never liked me because I wasn't royal like them.

I smiled at Jude as I walked down the stairs, feeling so in love I thought I might burst. I bowed to his parents, then turned to hug Jude like always.

Instead, he shoved me away so hard I nearly fell on my butt. I stared at him, hurt and confused.

"What... what's wrong?" I asked, my voice small and shaky.

"Lois, meet my future wife and Luna of this pack, Octavia Hunter," Jude said coldly.

I felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over me. "What do you mean? What's going on?"

"She's an Alpha's daughter. You're just an orphaned omega," Jude sneered. His words cut deeper than any knife.

"You're my best friend! And now my mate. How could you say that?" I cried, but Jude's face remained hard as stone.

"Lois, please, let's not make a scene," he said, sounding bored. But I barely heard him over the roaring in my ears. Tears streamed down my face as I watched Octavia wrap her arms around Jude. He gave her a quick kiss, and I thought I might throw up.

They both turned to me, and then Jude spoke the words that shattered my world: "I, Jude Canan, reject you, Lois Kent, as my mate."

...

My banishment came in a letter just hours later. My best friend, my mate, couldn't even face me when he crushed my heart and took everything from me.

That night, I was dragged outside the pack's boundary and threatened with death if I ever returned. As I stood there, alone and broken, I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

"Well," I said to the empty forest, "I guess this is what they mean by 'love hurts'. Too bad no one mentioned it could also kick you out of your home and threaten to kill you."

What was my mistake? Loving too much? Trusting too deeply? Or just being born an omega in a world that only valued power?

As I turned to face my new, uncertain future, I made a promise to myself. I would survive. I would become stronger. And one day, I'd return to show Jude exactly what he had thrown away.

Little did I know, fate had a much stranger plan in store for me...