Page 20 of Two Years Gone

“He said ‘I, Zane Davis, reject you Ella Matthews, as my mate’. It just about killed me. It was the worst pain I’d ever felt in my life.

“Then I stood and said ‘I, Ella Matthews, accept your rejection.’ And even though he tried to hide it, I could tell it hurt him as well.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it. Why?” she asked.

I shook my head, my brow wrinkling in thought.

“You did everything right, but I don’t see why his mate pull still exists.”

She looked shocked.

“How is that possible?”

I shrugged.

“You were supposed to be his luna. But he messed up, so he will have to live with the consequences.

“I don’t see how he’ll be able to be alpha without one. He might just have to take a Luna and deal with the fact he’ll never have a true mate.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Ella asked.

She was such a sweet girl. I liked to think she was treated well, but after seeing the last few days and knowing what I did now, I knew she hadn’t had it easy.

I smiled and reached over to squeeze her hand.

“I don’t think so.”

Ella nodded her head and stood to leave.

“Ella.” I looked up at her with genuine sadness in my eyes.

“I thought I raised him better. I thought I taught him the importance and meaning of a mate. I am so sorry that he was too blinded by his pride to see just how good you would have been for him.”

“Thank you, Alpha.” She gave me a warm smile and made her way inside.

I watched her walk back into the house before doing the same. I made my way to the office and was pleased to see my son sitting exactly where I left him.

I sat behind my desk and stared at my son in silence for a few minutes.

“Dad—” Zane broke the silence but was quickly hushed when I raised my hand.

“Zane, I thought your mother and I raised you to appreciate the importance of a mate. You rejected that girl without even the slightest thought at the implications of your actions.”

Zane looked up at me, his guilt showing in his eyes.

“Dad, I know I messed up. But I didn’t want her. I want Mariah.”

I glared at my son.

“Did you ever think that maybe that girl isn’t what you want, but what you need? What did we teach you? What are mates?”

“Mates are two halves of one soul. They complete each other,” Zane mumbled.

“Did you think about that when you rejected her? That she is part of your soul? Something about her is meant to complement you, and you her.

“But in your pride, you lost her, and I don’t know if you’ll be able to get her back.”