Half

Chapter 2- Mate

The party was great. Everybody was having fun, chatting or dancing around. I was chatting with Dorothy about school. She was 2 years older than me and it was her last year at school. She hasn't find her mate so she was trying to get scholarships for nearest universities. Other three girls approached us - Ashley, Georgia and Florence. They were giggling and explaining something aloud. Georgia and Ashley were my age. Florence was an year older. Werewolfves are beautiful creatures. They have toned bodies and I'm grateful I had a least inherit it from dad but Florence who had both her parents werewolves was a lot plumber than expected for a werewolf. Maybe it was the reason why she was seeking attention from the boys in the pack. I could understand that - always wearing too revealing outfits, always talking and giggling louder than normal just to be the center of their attention but she was still my friend and I was trying not to judge her.

I hugged the three of them and hurried to inform myself about the latest gossips and events in the pack. They were constantly living here and I was just visiting from time to time so it was their due to inform me the latest news.

We were talking about the boy that caught Ashley's attention. He was from neighboring pack that her family visited for business.

"Goddess, he was so handsome!"

"But he was not your mate." - I mocked her.

"So what? I don't wanna spend my life waiting for someone who could never come."

Werewolves are extremely s****l creatures most of them don't wait to find their mates and have s*x at the age of 15. But I wasn't one of them. I knew that your mate is the person that the Moon goddess have chosen for you it's your perfect match, like it's designed just for you than why you should spend your time with someone who is not so perfect for you.

"Or he would have slept with all the girls in the pack..." - Florence commented. "Like our future alpha."

"Please, Flo, don't be disrespectful! You are talking about the alpha's son." - Dorothy interrupted her.

"Yeah, but he's known as a player. The rumor says he has slept with a lot of girls around the country during his alpha training." - Flo continued. "But who can judge him? He is... Yummy!"

"Yeah, Luna Florence!" - Ashley laughed.

"She is not his mate for sure." - Georgia interrupted. "We met Peter a few months ago when he had returned for a short break. Florence had already turned 16 then, so if they were mates we would all know by now."

Florence stayed silent but she kept looking at Georgia with hatred.

"What? Did I just brake your dreams" - Georgia kept laughing at her. "I'm sorry, I'm just telling the truth."

Dorothy was pissed. We were supposed to have fun, not to bark at one another. "Girls, quit the drama! Flo, please, she is just messing with you."

We were so caught at our little quarreling that we missed the excitement at the first floor. We heard noice downstairs and a loud grow erupted the whole building. The door of the party room burst open and Owen - the beta's son entered the room. He hurried at our direction and reached. It was strange, he was looking directly at me. Than I heard it:

"Mine." - it was more like a whisper but loud enough for everyone to hear it.

"What?... Wait a minute!... How?... No, no, no..." - I was beyond shocked.

"I guess you are my mate, Jessica." - Owen smiled and reached to hold my hand but I stepped back. It was normal for most of the werewolves to mate the moment they find their mates but not to me. I couldn't feel the mate bond because of my lack of werewolf genes. I've heard so many times what it is to find your mate and it is the happiest moment in your life. First you find their smell and it is the most intoxicating thing you've ever smelled, than when you see your mate you feel the sparks through the mate bond and it makes your heart beat only for him and when you touch your mate you feel tingles and you know that it's the only person you want to hold for all your life. But none of that happened to me I didn't feel anything.

I looked at Owen he was handsome. He had dark blond hair, his eyes were big with the color of aquamarine and he was looking at me with so much adoration as if I'm the most important thing for him. And I felt sad an guilty. Why the f**k I didn't feel anything? My gorgeous mate was in front of me and all I felt was fear. I didn't even know whether I want a mate. I couldn't imagine myself bonded with someone forever, I wasn't ready for that. I had dreams that didn't included mate and kids at the age of 16. I wanted to travel, I wanted to study in an university, I couldn't stay at that pack for the rest of my life... But what about my wolf? I would never be able to meet her, would never be able to shift if my mate doesn't mark me. Do I want that? Do I want to be a human forever?

I was so caught in my thoughts I felt my throat dry and started panicking. All I wanted now was to be out of that place.

As if sensing my condition Owen spoke:

"Are you afraid of me Jessica? Do you think that I will mark you here without you permission?"

I didn't answer I just looked at him guilty.

"Come on Jess, we know each other since pups I would never hurt you!" - he laughed. He seemed amused by my fear.

I heard the girls laughing, than I realized they were here too.

"Ah, that's so sweet!" - Ashley coed at me . "You two will be a perfect couple!"

I just stared at her. Why they were happy for my agony?

"Jess are you OK?" - Dorothy asked.

"I don't know... I hope I will be..." - I tried to answer.

That moment the door opened and my father entered the room and I ran to him to hide myself in his arms.

"What's going on here?" - he asked. I could see the worries in his eyes.

"I think everything is fine Mr Spikes." - Owen answered him. "We just found that Jessica and I are mates."

Shock was written on my father's face.

"What did you do to my daughter?" - I've never seen my father so angry. He was looking as he is about to shift and tear Owen apart.

"Calm down daddy! I'm fine!" - I try to get myself together and stop him from doing something stupid.

"My apologies Mr Spikes, I will never disrespect your daughter... I just wanted to talk to her." - Owen tried to calm him down.

Dad turned to me:

" Are you alright, sweetheart?"

"Yes, I'm just shocked with the news."- than I turned to Owen.

"Look I'm sorry to say that but I don't feel the connection between us as you do... You know I'm half a human and maybe it's the reason I can't feel the mate bond..." - I was no longer able to hold my tears. I felt so guilty that I couldn't feel anything for that gorgeous boy.

Owen grabbed my hand and gently hold it to his chest.

"I understand your shock and your fears but please trust me when I say that I will never hurt you. I want nothing from you just to talk and know you better... Don't blame yourself that you can't feel the mate bond. It's not your fault. Just don't cry, you're making my heart hurt."

I heard the girls gasped. It was so sweet of him to say that things to comfort me.

Even dad looked surprised and somehow pleased. I smiled at Owen and he continued.

" I know you are confused now. You have all the time in the world. When you feel comfortable you can come to me so we can talk more." - he placed a gentle kiss on my hand and turn to leave but in a few seconds he turned back.

"Goog night Jessica and... happy birthday!" - with these words he left.

By that time I was a crying mess. He was the most understanding and carrying person and what was l - a stupid excuse of a mate. He doesn't deserve someone like me who couldn't even feel that is his mate.

Dad hugged me and in his arms I could cry myself out.

"I wanna go home, daddy! The party is over for me." - tried to smile.

Hi didn't say anything just held my hand and lead me through the door.

The ride home was fast and quiet. I rushed to my room and headed to the bathroom. I needed to wash the night away and gather my thoughts. When I changed to some more comfortable clothes I decided to call mom.

"Honey! Are you alright?" - she sounded worried. Did dad tell her something.

"When Nick called me I knew something was wrong with you." - she cotinued. Yes he called her.

"I'm fine, mom. I'm just confused I has so many questions... I wish you were here."

"Oh, you don't know how much I wish it too. You can come home tomorrow if you want."

"I'll think about it, mom." - I had so many things to ask her about. I didn't know what to start with.

"Mom, what did you feel when you first met dad? Did you feel the mate bond?"

"Aw, honey it was so long ago... I met him at a concert hall crowded with people. The music was loud and I could barely hear what he was saying but I was fascinated by him. I felt attracted to him..." - mom stopped as if she was caught in the moment. I guess it wasn't easy for her to talk about their past now when they were separated.

"Did you feel the connection, the mate bond?" - I got her out of her trance.

"Not exactly, honey. I am not a werewolf I didn't feel what he felt. I just couldn't stop staring at him he was so handsome."

I laughed.

"He still is mom!" - I hope she wouldn't answer me. And she didn't.

"I felt something more was when he first kissed me. I felt like some sort of higher power is connecting me with him, like my soul was being tied to his. Than I felt tingles on my lips that traveled to my whole body. That moment I realized that something was different with him. I always had my doubts that he is hiding something but everything came to place when he finally got the courage to confess that he is a werewolf."

"So you are telling me that you didn't feel he was your mate at first, right? You just felt attracted to him as a man."

"Yes, but I started feeling the mate bond when I spend some time with him."

"I see." - I felt a little bit less guilty that I couldn't feel anything for Owen. " Thank you, mom!"

"Look honey, you don't have to rush yourself to like that boy. Mate ot not it's your decision whether to be with him and when... I don't know that kid I've heard from your father that he is the beta's son but if he doesn't treat you right you have the right to refuse to mate with him or ask him to wait till you're ready."

"I know mom, I'm a warrior's daughter I won't let someone force me to do something. For now even I don't know what I want... I didn't expected this so soon."

"Ah, my brave baby girl! I'm so proud of you and I will always be no matter what you decide. "

" Thank you mom. I love you."

" I love you too. Have a rest sweetie, call me if you want to come home tomorrow."

"OK mom, I will. Good night!"

"Goog night!"

After the conversation with my mother I felt a bit more relaxed. I got downstairs where my father and grandfather were waiting for me.

"Are you feeling better, kid?" - grandpa asked.

I nod my head and smiled. "Yes, I talked with mom. She told me how she felt when she met dad."

"Ah, and what did exactly she tell you?" - my father hurried to ask.

"I will tell you later dad." - I mocked him. " I wanna ask you a few questions first."

"I'm all yours." - he smiled and offered me a cup of tea.

"I will leave you two to talk. Good night to both!" - dranpa headed to his room.

I sit at the table and sipped from the warm tea. It smelled nice and calming.

"Dad... " - I started. "will you be mad at me if I don't let Owen mark me?"

"Of course not, honey! What are you talking about? You are my little baby girl, how could I be mad at you for something like that?"

"But it means that I won't be able to shift..."

"Stop! You're my gorgeous daughter, werewolf or not you will always be the most precious thing that ever happened to me. When you were born and the healers said that you have not so much werewolf genes, the only think that I regretted was that you will not be able to protect yourself if something bad happens. I was happy that you was like her - tiny and fragile and pure, I was happy that you were part of the human world not from mine and you wouldn't be forced to spend your life in the pack."

"Ah, dad! Did you regret that you stayed here? Did you regret that you didn't follow her?"

Dad was silent for a while I felt he was hurt.

"I regret every single day that I'm not with you everyday when you wake up or come from school. I regret that I'm not the father that you should have..."

"Dad, you are the best father I can have! But you didn't answer my question - Did you regret for letting mom go?"

"With every beat of my heart." - dad whispered and I saw the tears pricking in his eyes.

"But you broke the mate bond...?"

"Yes but it's not the only thing that keeps two souls together you know. In human world where nobody have heard about werewolves and mates people still have relationships and stay together their whole lives cause they love each other. Mate bond is something special and strong but love is something strong either."

"So you love her?"

"Of course I did, but weren't we talking about you? - dad wanted to change the topic.

I smiled. "I think that I should give that boy a chance... I've heard that he is a good boy and I think that it will be better if I know him before I decide what do to."

"That's my smart daughter!" - dad agreed. "But if he try to force you to do something you don't want, just tell me and I will rip him apart beta or not... You are just sixteen, he should wait for you to get ready and at least finish school."

"How old was mom when you marked her?"

"That's not important now!" - dad laughed. "I just want you to know that I will always love you and protect you no matter what you choose to do with your future."

"Thank you dad! I'm happy that I have you and mom for my parents." - I felt happy that I cleared my thoughts a bit. But it was getting late and felt drained from all that emotions this night so decided to sleep first and than to decide what to do with Owen.

"Dad I'm going to bed. I'm really tired."

"I guess you are." - dad hugged me and wished me good night.

"And dad..." - I stopped wandering whether to tell him or not.

"What honey?"

" She still loves you too."

His expression changed immediately.

"Mom got really emotional when she was telling about your first meeting and how you started your relationship."

The next morning I woke up late. Dad was already at the field for training. I wondered if Owen was there. He was the future beta, so he probably trained every day. It came to my mind to visit dad at the field but I decided not to do that.

I met grandpa at the garden. He was watering the roses that my drandmother had planted when they had that house. After her death he paid a lot of attention to those flowers as if it was his due to take care for them. He was very relaxed every time he was in the garden.

"Hi!" - I greeted. "They are beautiful! You're doing a great job."

"You know... I feel connected to her bye taking care for them." - he confessed.

"I'm sorry drandpa, I didn't mean to make you sad!"

"You didn't sadden me, dove! I'm happy that I had the chance to meet her and spend my life with her. I'm a lucky guy not everybody could meet their mate, to start a family and live their life with."

"I miss her too."

"I know. She would be so proud of you if she could see how beautiful young lady you've grown."

"Yeah, proud of what? That I'm afraid to face my own mate?"

Grandpa laughed. "She would be scared too if she were you, you miss the most important - the mate bond, you don't feel what other wolves feel when they find their mates. Some strange boy comes to you and tells that he is your mate and that you will be bonded to him forever. And it's f*****g scary if you don't feel the mate bond."

"I think I should meet him today." - I said.

"You don't have to if you don't want."

"I wanna know him better. Maybe than I will start feeling something... like mom."

Grandpa's face got more saddened.

"It was not only the mate bond between your parents, kid. They really loved each other... and I believe they still do."

"Oh, I think the same..."

It's strange my parents still loved each other but they refused to fight for that love. I knew the circumstances that they separated but I couldn't understand why they were so stubborn and hurt themselves.

Early at the afternoon I called Dorothy.

" I'm glad you've come to your senses. You looked really terrified last night. " - Dorothy said.

"It's not so bad to meet your mate, huh? Especially when you can feel that he is your mate." - I tried to joke. "Actually I'm calling to ask you did you have Owen's number?"

"Yes, I will text it. So... you're meeting him?"

"I wanna know him better before I decide what to do. He looked really gentle and patient last night, maybe he will understand my situation and won't mark me unless I'm ready."

"Good decision! He really looks like a good guy. I hope you will be happy with him."

"Thak you Dot! I appreciate that."

"You're welcome. Just call me if you need something or if I have to come and kick his ass."

I laughed.

"And don't forget to call me with all the details after the meeting."

"Of course, sis! See ya!"

I few seconds later my phone beeped. Dorothy sent me Owen's number and I started to wonder what to do. It wasn't a good idea to call him. Probably I wouldn't be able to mutter a single word. So it was better to text him. After a couple of minutes I spent of thinking what to text him I came up with that: Hi! I'm Jessica. I'm sorry for last night but I was confused and still I am. But I want to know you better. - I read it a few more times and sent it.

It wasn't long after that and my thone started ringing. It was his number. God, I should answer him.

"Hello!" - I breathed.

"Hello to you too... Sorry for cracking your birthday party!"

"You're not the one who should apologize." - I started but he interrupted me.

"Would you like to meet me at the cafeteria? At least I could buy you a cake cause you couldn't eat your birthday cake last night."

I froze. He wants to meet me. Today!

"I'm sorry! It is too soon to ask you out but I couldn't stop thinking about you since I saw you. "

Of course he couldn't, he can feel the mate bond.

"Ah, no, it's OK. I will meet you there." - I tried to sound confident.

"That's great! How long will take you to go there?"

"About half an hour?"

"OK. It sounds good... Jessica please don't be afraid of me. We will just sit and talk."

"OK. I'll try!"

After that I called dad to inform him that I was going to meet Owen.