Eclipse

MAYA

I stood outside the pack house, looking up at the moon, holding my arms tight. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, imagining a life where I had a mate who wanted me.

The life I had dreamed about so many times.

“Maya?”

I turned around to see Penelope standing behind me with worry on her face. I attempted a smile, and she let out a long exhale as she realized what had happened.

“He is a fool,” she said as she pulled me in for a tight hug.

A few stray tears that hadn’t fallen yet slid down my cheeks as she held me.

“She’s right...he’s a fool,” Aspen whined in comfort.

After a few moments, Penelope pulled back, placing her hands on my shoulders. “Well, I guess you get to join the mateless club with me and Gavin.”

I chuckled. “You aren’t mateless, you just haven’t found them yet.”

She shrugged. “Potato, potahto.”

She threw her arm around my shoulder, and we walked back into the pack house.

Gavin joined us, and we sat on the couch in the common area for a movie and much-needed hangout session.

As I lay in bed, I thought of the past few days and how I felt. I was hurt and felt rejected and unwanted.

My wolf was upset, constantly pacing in my head, telling me we should have fought for him. But I wasn’t about to fight for someone who wouldn’t even give me a chance, someone who rejected me without even knowing me.

Being rejected had possibly been the worst pain I’d felt in my life. It had ripped through me like a knife, tearing out the mate bond from inside me.

I rolled over in my bed at the thought of it, pulling my knees to my chest as I closed my eyes and fell asleep, once again dreaming of a day when I would have a real home.

We had an entire week of rest. It was my favorite time of the year when the harvest had been brought in and we got to relax for a week before having to clear the fields for the next crop.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I sat in a rocker on the front porch, enjoying the small moment of peace.

“Maya…”

My eyes snapped open, and I saw Chase standing above me, the faint smell of sage still lingering in my senses.

“What do you want, Chase?” I asked with a slight scowl.

Chase frowned. “I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”

I rolled my eyes and looked away. “You don’t care how I feel. You just want to know I’m okay so you don’t have to feel so bad.”

Chase growled. “That’s not it, Maya.”

I snapped my face toward him. “So what, then?” I stood from my chair with a huff. “You want to rub it in?”

“Rub what in?” he asked curiously.

“The fact that you don’t need me. That we were supposed to be mates, and instead of making a life with me, you decided to choose someone else,” I snapped.

Chase stepped forward aggressively. “Whatever, Maya... obviously, it was a bad idea trying to speak to you.”

He turned and walked away, leaving me standing on the porch, frustrated and alone.

I sat back down and wiped away the angry tear that fell down my cheek. I knew I shouldn’t have spoken to him like that. He was a beta, he could have my hide for being so defiant.

In the evening, I sat at a table with my dinner, hoping if I kept my head down, I could just go unnoticed and maybe get over this horrible situation.

I was surprised when Chase sat down beside me. I looked up at him with a glare. “Can I help you?”

Chase shrugged. “I’m just eating dinner.”

I shook my head. “Find somewhere else to eat. You made it clear you don’t want me, so go away.”

Chase stared at me for a moment. “I was serious earlier. How are you?”

I exhaled, wishing he would leave me alone. “I’m fine, okay? You don’t need to feel bad. Go and have your fun with Andrea. I’ve gotten used to being unwanted.”

Chase shook his head. “I’m sorry.”

I scoffed. “No. You don’t get to feel sorry. You rejected me without even the slightest thought of the consequences. Just leave me alone, Chase.”

I stood from the table and walked to my room, still angry and hurt.

***

The next morning I woke early and got dressed, mentally preparing myself for another day of hard work. As I walked down the hallway toward the pack kitchen, I was stopped again by Chase.

“What do you want, Chase?” I asked, yanking my arm from his.

Chase looked at me with narrowed eyes. “I don’t know. I can’t seem to keep away from you. For some reason, I feel drawn to you, and I don’t want to be.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s the mate pull. It will go away soon if you just ignore it. Like how I’m about to ignore you.” I stood and walked away, wishing he would just let me live in my misery.

After breakfast, I went to work, clearing the fields to prepare them for the next planting with the rest of the harvesters. I looked up at the sun, straightening my back as I let the sun warm my face.

“Maya!”

I turned to the side to see Penelope running toward me. “Maya! You won’t believe it!”

“What?” I chuckled, amused by her excitement.

“We are having a party!” she hollered.

“Really?” I replied in disbelief.

Aurora didn’t exactly believe in major parties and celebrations. The only time we ever had a big event like that was on the anniversary of the pack. We would have a big dinner with dancing and music.

“How did they convince the alpha?”

“It was his idea!” she said, still attempting to catch her breath.

“No way,” I replied, shaking my head.

“It’s true! Apparently, a few of the neighboring packs are coming to renew their contracts with us, so we are having a party while they are here!” Penelope squealed, obviously ecstatic about the event.

I laughed. “Are you excited because it’s a party or because you have a chance to meet your mate?”

Penelope nudged me. “What do you think?”

“Well, when is it?” I asked.

“Day after tomorrow! The house is in absolute chaos right now, trying to get ready.”

I groaned. “There’ll be no sleeping tonight.”

Gavin walked over from where he had been working, wiping sweat from his brow as he approached us. “You two going to work today or are you just going to gab about the party?”

We both stuck our tongues out at him before starting back to work, talking about what we were going to wear.

As we walked back up to the house to change before dinner, Chase passed us, looking down at me as he wrapped his arm around Andrea.

I didn’t have anything against her, she was a nice girl. But knowing he rejected me to be with her rubbed me the wrong way. And I don’t think she even knew.

I passed them, trying to be strong so he wouldn’t see how hurt I was. I walked past, wishing I could run away and never have to see him again.

“Maya?”

I looked up to see Gavin and Penelope staring at me. “Hmm?” I asked.

“You okay?” Gavin asked as he watched his big brother walk down the hill.

“Yep, I’m fine,” I replied. “Pretty much over it now.”

Penelope and Gavin gave each other a knowing look before humming back at me, letting me know they didn’t believe me.

“If you want, I can punch him for you,” Gavin offered with a smirk.

I laughed. “How did that work for you last time?”

Gavin’s hand subconsciously rose to his jaw as he remembered the last time he and his brother got into a fight. “Not well.”

Penelope laughed at her brother before turning to me. “After dinner, come over, and we can look through my closet to find something for the party.”

“All right,” I replied hesitantly, hoping I wouldn’t see Chase.