Chapter 24: Beggin'

Landon

Trust me, I am as confused by this as you are.

I was on my way to the indoor garage when I was surprised by Rhiannon's eyes shining as if she was raging, turned on or mated. Naturally she stopped right away. Of course I stopped too. What was I supposed to do? This is what we came for.

My mate told me that there were no more unmated people inside the pack house. Did he lie? He has absolutely no reason to. Even if he tried to hide someone from us, he wouldn't risk us finding the individual here anyway.

Why would Harry keep anyone from being mated? It makes absolute zero sense! I am at a loss here, I truly am. Why do Rihannon's eyes are shining? I mean, to whom?

I had no choice but to have the warriors escort the buses [with my pack members who just got mated] back to our pack and return later to collect us. I am not going to leave my friend behind, not when her eyes are shining like she is scenting her mate.

This is exactly why I came here in the first place. Among other things, I admit.

None of us have any choice in the matter, except to follow her and see this through. I am dreading this already, I just have the strangest feeling about it, to be quite honest with you.

Rhiannon arrived in a room at the end of a large corridor and entered it. Ares, Harry, the Alpha couple, Kyle, Mathew and I went in after her.

"MATE." She declared in a deep, husky tone.

There was only one person inside the game room. A very spooked man who is now looking at us - at her - as if he was seeing a ghost. All of us are gobsmacked by this, most of all the Staedlers.

"What the fuck!? Is this some kind of prank to humiliate me?" He asked me in an accusatory tone, looking angry at me. He is ignoring Rhiannon's presence and her shining eyes. His eyes are not shining, though that is not exactly the surprising part.

"NO! Of course not, Aaron! What the fuck do you take me for?" I barked at him, irritated that anyone could think I would stoop that low.

"You already killed my mate! Now you're bringing some random chick to humiliate me in front of my parents?" He cried out to me, revolted. He is absolutely livid.

"Aaron, Landon would never do that to anyone, not even to you!" Harry defended me, standing in front of him as he got up from the couch where he was playing a video game.

"Then why is he here? What are you people doing here? I thought you'd be gone by now!" He shouted at us, incredulously. He is purposefully ignoring Rhiannon's presence so far.

"She scented her mate and came here. It was not his fault, Aaron!" Harry tried to explain it, not that he was buying any of it.

"I'm already mated, Harry! She died, remember? Why are you twisting the knife even more in my heart? Do you want to drive me to suicide, is that it?" He accused me, still ignoring the shining-eyed woman in the room.

Both of his parents are so perplexed by all of this, that they don't know how to react or what to believe. No one in their right mind would ever think I would pull something like this... at least, I do hope so.

"Aaron, I swear on my father's memory, I'm not pranking you! We were just about to leave when my friend scented her mate. I swear to Goddess!" I pledged, wholeheartedly.

"I'm already mated, you stupid fuck! You had her killed! Get the fuck out of here! All of you!" He started crying and I truly felt horrible for him.

"I don't understand what's happening..." I'm baffled by this, beyond being confused. But mainly I am worried for my friend who is silently gazing upon him.

Ares was taken aback by the events just like the rest of us, though he is glaring at Aaron for his aggressiveness towards me. Under the present circumstances, I cannot say that I blame him. None of us expected this to happen. It has never occurred before in our history.

"Maybe her wolf got confused..." Harry turned to me, trying to make sense of it.

"I'm sorry, whoever you are. I'm sure you're great. But I'm already mated. She died a few months ago." Aaron finally turned to face Rhiannon, whose eyes finally stopped shining.

"Ri, let's just go home. We can talk to a doctor if you want or..." I tried to reason with her, not sure what else to do at this point. I am so confused by this.

Before I could finish my sentence, she ran past me in the direction of her mate startling everyone. She ran past Harry - who barely avoided being knocked out of the way - and jumped on top of her mate, dropping them both on the couch.

The Alpha couple was horrified by this, but no one had any time to react. It was so fast, all of us could only gasp in shock at her sudden move.

As she dropped with Aaron onto the couch, her lips touched him for a few seconds before he could push her aside. He felt disgusted. He got away from her as fast as he could, he was furious. He rubbed his hand on his lips, as if trying to erase the impromptu kiss.

"What the fuck! Show some goddamn respect, lady! I already told you I. Am. Mated!" He cried out, revolted by her attitude. He looked so angry it is amazing his eyes are not shining at all. It happens when we are raging, signaling the presence of our inner wolf.

"Regent, please take your friend home. It's best if you give my son some time and a little space." Alpha Staedler spoke for the first time since this whole ordeal began.

Rhiannon took a few steps back from her mate towards the door.

"Yes Alpha, I will. I'm sorry for the miscommunication." I apologized, mortified by all this. I have no idea what happened here, but I am worried for my friend. Disturbed, even.

"Before I leave, I need to say this." Rhiannon spoke out, feeling enraged.

"First off, not me nor my wolf are confused. You really are my mate." She stated confidently, looking directly at Aaron, who scoffed at her remark.

"Second, I didn't ask to be mated to a washed up loser and a murderer. I didn't ask to be mated to a person who is already mated. I don't understand this any more than you do, but I can't deny my own wolf!" She continued and we all gasped in shock at her bold statement. The Staedlers were all gobsmacked.

"Let's go, Ri. NOW!" I commanded in a stern tone. I cannot take this situation any longer.

All five of us started walking out of the playroom when we heard Aaron scream.

"What's wrong, son? What is happening?" His mother asked him, concerned while he was screaming in pain as if his skin was on fire.

"I don't know! Something is wrong with my skin! It feels like I'm burning!" He cried out, taking his shirt off in the process as if he needed to get some relief.

As he did, his white skin was flaming red, it was looking like he was breaking out in hives.

"Oh my Goddess! Let's get you to a doctor right away!" His father was horrified by the scene. Aaron was squirming in pain and it was hard to witness it.

"If he is your mate, why didn't you scent him before you went to the bathroom?" Ares questioned our friend, looking at her suspiciously.

She glared daggers at him for the suspicion.

"Didn't Harry say he was in his bedroom?" She shot back, sassily.

"Any werewolf could scent my presence here. You're not that special." Aaron snapped at her, mistrustful. He still looked pained and his parents were baffled by the redness of his skin.

"Except she had never met you before today. It's her first time ever in our pack." Harry refuted his argument, annoyed at his brother. You can't pinpoint someone's scent without ever coming into contact with them before. She scented her mate, but didn't know who it was until she came here.

"Let's go to the hospital before your rash gets worse, Aaron." Luna spoke, worriedly.

"Yeah, let's go home guys. I'm tired." I breathed out a sigh.

Aaron was walking towards his parents when Harry cried out.

'Oh Lord, what now?' I thought to myself.

All of us watched a scene so miraculous it needed to be witnessed to be believed. Even Kyle and Mathew gasped together with us. The Alpha couple looked horrified.

"What? What's happening to me?" Aaron asked his family, puzzled. Harry pointed at his brother's neck, which seemed to be healing his mate mark right before our eyes.

This is impossible! A mate mark is impossible to heal, not even widowers lose theirs. My grandparents celebrated their 50 year mate anniversary and they were still marked.

"What the fuck! How is this happening? I thought mate marks were impossible to heal!" Aaron shouted, utterly gobsmacked.

"They are!" His father gasped in shock. All of us were horrified by this.

I turned around to Rhiannon who was smiling at this scene, feeling vindicated.

"Oh my Goddess, you really are his mate!" I am baffled by the turn of events. As I said these words, the entire room began to realize it, to see what I can so clearly see now.

"Wolves don't get confused about mates, Landon. Humans can go crazy, but wolves are immune to disease." She said, smugly.

Aaron's skin healed instantaneously. All the rash, redness, the burning sensation were gone in a flash. It's like he is an unmated person all over again. I mean, unmarked.

"OK, now we can leave." She declared, walking out the door.

"Wait, what?" Aaron cried out to her, not that she listened to him. She continued on. The four of us followed right behind her.

Rhiannon rushed as she walked the long hall, as if trying to escape her mate.

"I'm sorry for what I said, I didn't know this could happen!" He ran towards her in the corridor, chasing after her like a lost puppy.

"I didn't know either! But I didn't look at you like you were a stalker! I also never accused you of anything. I can't believe you thought Landon would create such a ruse to humiliate you! Who the fuck do you think you are, dude?" She called him out in the middle of the corridor. I gasped at this.

"I'm sorry for suspecting him. I've never heard of anyone getting a second chance mate! Ever!" He exclaimed, as if that was any excuse.

"None of us did. But if you lead with respect and empathy, you can learn a lot. Your pack killed my mother when I was 11 years old. You don't see me disrespecting your father because of it, do you?" She snapped at him, causing the Alpha to get uncomfortable at the revelation.

"I'm really sorry for everything." He insisted, feeling bad.

"I'm sorry too. I REJECT YOU AS MATE." She stated, sounding profoundly hurt.

Aaron dropped to his knees.

"Please don't do this, I beg of you! Don't reject me! I'm sorry for my reaction, I was an idiot. Give me a chance!" He begged, as tears fell from his face.

"You didn't even realize you were my mate until a minute ago! Get up from the floor, you're embarrassing yourself!" She reprimanded him, trying hard to keep her composure.

"I know. You're right, but I feel it now. I'm sorry for how I reacted. I'm so very sorry." He humbled himself before her, it was incredibly difficult to watch.

Rhiannon turned to look at me, all of us still in the hall.

"Let's go, Lan. I need to get away from here." She gestured for us to go ahead.

His parents are watching this scene play out dreadfully. Harry is crying beside his parents. Aaron is a mess while still on his knees.

I had no other choice but to go ahead to the garage. I already forced her to come here, I cannot force her to stay, though we still need to wait around for my escort to arrive.

As we took the final steps towards the end of the hall, we could still hear her mate pleading:

"I'm sorry, mate. Please don't reject me. I'll do anything you want, I beg you!"

My heart broke for my father's murderer. I couldn't help but to relate to him in this situation. I know what it is like to be rejected. I know how bad it hurts.

Rhiannon continued walking non stop until we reached the garage. Once we were alone, she broke down.

My friend cried for the longest time, I held her to comfort her. Ares was tearful at the scene. Even Mathew and Kyle were taken aback by all the drama unfolding.

Some time later, my mate showed up in the garage as we were still waiting for my escort to arrive. He didn't come too close to us, giving some room to Rhiannon not to feel pressured I guess.

I walked up to him while we were still here. It seems rude to ignore him.

"Hi. Is he any better?" I spoke first, not exactly sure what to say.

"Not really, no. But I didn't come here to talk about him. I came to ask about how you are feeling. I know that watching the rejection made you think back to yours." He inquired about my well being and I gulped at his question. He is right, it really brought back memories.

"Sometimes I hate that I can't hide my feelings from you." I complained, embarrassed about it.

"You didn't answer my question." He insisted, frowning.

"I was heartbroken for sure. But I don't want to make this about me. It's her choice and I support her." I replied, feeling cornered.

"Seeing first hand how badly it affected my brother, I have a new appreciation for what you have suffered because of me. I'm so sorry for what I've put you through." He spoke, remorsefully.

I can feel how much he means it and he is regretting the rejection more each day.

"Thank you, mate. I don't hold it against you, it's your choice and I have to respect it as much as I respect hers." I said, politely. I cannot play hypocrite now, though if you asked me an hour ago...

"You're so..."

"Lan, they're here!" Ares informed me, cutting off my mate inadvertently.

"I'm so what?" I asked him, curiously.

Harry kissed me and I melted under his luscious lips. After we parted, I started walking back towards my car.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to Regency Falls? There's room in the car if you want." I invited him, flirtatiously.

"No, there isn't." He rebuked, seeing as there were five of us.

"You can take your own car or go with the other warriors." I countered, playfully.

"Goodbye, Landon. Have a safe trip." He waved me off.

"The offer still stands. Whenever you want, my house and my heart are open to you." I said before getting into the backseat of the car with my friends.

Before we could leave, the warriors swept the neighborhood for possible threats. Several cars made up the motorcade, there was even a warrior on a motorcycle.

This day took such a turn none of us could have ever seen it coming.

My friend is devastated, probably not sure if she made the right choice. But that is something that only she can decide. There is no amount of begging that could influence her decision. If only...

With this much security in place, my departure goes smoothly as expected. Though inside the car, there is turmoil in our hearts.

"So, from what I understand, even the murderer gets two mates and I still have none." Ares whined, to which both Rhiannon and I glared daggers at him.

"Too soon, my friend. At least wait for us to get to the bar." I chastised him in a sour mood.

"I'm too tired to go anywhere, honestly." Rhiannon breathed out a defeated sigh.

"I have an idea. Let's go to the pack house. Drink up in my room and later you can both crash in the guest bedrooms." I suggested it before we arrived at home.

"Deal." They both agreed.

What a day! I am exhausted just thinking about it. Though if my mate had returned home with me [this time], I too would be begging for a chance to stay with him. Preferably forever.

A|N: That's the first time this has ever happened in any of my books.

But I guess there's a first time for everything.

Love,

Léo.