Chapter 4 Her Challenge

Alpha Kael's POV

"Jessica, I have to let you go, I'm so sorry if I've hurt you, but, I now have a fated mate", I said plainly, my voice void of any emotions.

Her full lips curl up in a sneer, "So that's it, Kael, after everything I've done for you."

A subtle sigh escaped my lips, this will definitely be harder than I initially thought. Jessica was the best choice for a Luna, since I thought I wouldn't get a second chance mate. But now things are different, I could barely take my eyes off my mate at the welcome dinner three nights ago.

"What we have is real, Kael", she continues, "I love you so much, I'm even ready to let go of my mate for you", she pulls me close, with a soft pout on her lips and tears streaming down her face.

I take a wide step backwards, "First, it's Alpha to you not Kael, and the deal is until we find our mates, which is the case right now".

She quickly wipes the "crocodile" tears off her face, and said, "I will have you no matter what, I will be damned if I let anyone else have you", she takes one last look at me and stomps out of my office, slamming the wooden door behind her.

My thoughts drift to my beautiful mate, it has been three whole nights since the scary attack by the rogues. I wish I had acknowledged her as my mate. My fears had resurfaced at the sight of her.

My past and scars held me back, now I regret all of it. I want her by my side as my Luna.

I wonder how she and Martha were able to fight off three fully grown male wolves, all by themselves.

A loud knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts. The door is pushed open by none other than my best friend and Beta, Aldin. His warm brown eyes meet mine, with a look of mischief.

"Hi, Princess", he said aloud as he plopped himself into a chair, lifting his feet and placing them on MY TABLE!!!

A look of disdain crosses my face, giving him a menacing glare, "Take your stinky feet off my desk, and I told you a million times to stop calling me princess."

He just throws me an annoying grin, "Since you don't want me around, I won't tell you that your precious Luna is awake, and definitely not asking about you."

I shoot up so fast from my seat and speed downstairs towards the infirmary. Aldin's hard footsteps follow closely behind me.

My heart pounding so hard against my chest, beads of sweat coated my palms, my usual cold demeanour looking extremely antsy as we approached the door.

"I never thought I'd see the day the great Alpha Kael will be so scared of a woman's wrath", Aldin cackles at my expense.

I give him one last look before twisting the door knobs gently and letting myself in.

My beautiful mate and Maria roar with laughter, but stop abruptly at the sight of me.

Martha gives me a dark look and spins towards my mate asking, "Would you like me to stay or leave?"

Aria gives her a warm smile, "It's okay, you can leave, I'll be just fine."

"I'll be right outside the door, just call out when you need me", Martha states, her feet padded softly past me going out the door.

Aria's once cheerful demeanor turns cold almost immediately. "What do you want, Alpha", she said expressionless.

"I-I...... I'm sorry for not acknowledging you as my mate at the dinner, I take full accountability of the attack", I utter stuttering, "If I would have accepted you then maybe the attack wouldn't have happened at all."

I take a pause, staring at her entrancing hazel eyes, she let out a long sigh.

"Can I ask one thing, why did you ignore me completely?" She asks.

I don't like the coldness towards me but I deserve it and will work hard to get her back.

"I was scared, I never thought I'd get a second chance mate, Lycans are known to have just one mate for life", I mutter, with my head hung low, "I was scared of getting attached and losing you, like I did my first mate."

"Did you even care how that will make me feel?" she said, gritting her teeth, "You made me feel so worthless."

"Anyways it's all in the past now, you can go on with YOUR JESSICA, I don't care anymore", she screams.

I draw closer to the edge of the bed taking her tiny hands in mine, "I know you might not believe me right now but I will spend the rest of my life if possible showing you how much you mean to me."

She gives me a long look and replies, "I now know that I deserve so much more, prove your words to me, then I might consider giving you a chance."

"I'll prove it to you, I promise", I answer with conviction.

"You can come in now, idiot, and quit eavesdropping", I tell Aldin through the mindlink.

"Whatever, you are lucky to have me", he answers as he steps into the room.

"Well, well, how are you doing, pretty Luna?"Aldin said cheerfully, "Oops, I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Handsome Aldin, Kael's Beta". He stretches his arm out giving my mate a firm handshake.

"I'm Aria, it's nice to meet you", she said with red cheeks.

Meant for me alone, I think, already getting jealous already at their interaction.

I shake off the thought as fast as it came, what is happening to me, my little Kitten was making me feel things I never felt before.

The door knob twists open, with Martha's head popping in with curiosity, "Can I come in now?"she asked, staring at my mate.

Aria nods briefly with a smile and turns back towards Aldin.

Martha steps into the room with a steaming cup of coffee placing it carefully by the bed for my mate.

She joins in the conversation with Aldin as well, sporting a huge grin.

"I hope you made things right this time Cuz, you disappointed me that night, she is the strongest and most genuine she-wolf I've ever met" Maria said across the mindlink.

"I've started working on it, but I'll prove to her how much she means to me in time", I reply with a smile.

"Thank goodness you're finally getting rid of that, barbie doll, Jessica", she mutters with disgust.

I release a low chuckle, "You've always never really liked her, you know, though almost every other she-wolf in the pack adores her."

"She may be strong because of her Beta blood but she is an arrogant, egotistical bully and you know it", she replies.

I shake my head at her antics and let her be.

The door is pushed open abruptly, in a blink I stand protectively in front of my mate, before her scent hits me.

"Speak of the devil", Martha mutters under her breath.

A deathly silence envelopes the room as we all wait for the "guest" to state her reason for being here.

"I, Jessica Woods, challenge you, Aria, to a duel for your place as Luna, let the best woman win."