43

~Vanessa~

I glowered at Christine, hating her plan. After my leg was healed she wants me to find Veloces and make him apologize. I didn't want to see him, it's already bad enough that I'm still sleeping in the same room as him. Not that I want to, Claytona and Christine insisted on it. I swear they want me killed.

"Maybe you two will have some....nice conversation time?" she said, saying it as more of a question.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed, "Yeah, we'll just sit down and eat cupcakes while gazing into each other's eyes."

"You can't just leave your mate though...I mean, you're his second chance mate."

"And he's my first mate. I have a second chance one...somewhere."

She shook her head, clearly disappointed with the way I'm acting towards him. I let my guard down and he attacked me during the night. This is abuse, I shouldn't have to stay with his sorry ass. I groaned, only thirty more minutes until my leg is healed, thank you werewolf genes. Christine left after our little conversation about Veloces, which I was thankful for. I'm getting annoyed with her and Clayton, can't they see that he's abusing me? Are werewolves supposed to accept this?

I know the female in a wolf pack is just used for breeding, but we're not just animal. We're human too and I am not going to put up with this. I shook my head, after my leg heals I have to leave. This is the second time he abused me, I can't keep doing this to myself. Usually, after the first time the man hits you like Veloces did to me, you're supposed to leave him. Well, the first time he attacks you. He murdered his first mate and he will most likely kill me. I can't stay with him.

I grabbed my bag and walked out of the bedroom, ignoring Christine as she tried mind-linking me. I walked outside and right into Veloces who seemed confused and shocked.

"Va-

"I'm rejecting you, Veloces." I stated, glaring at him.

He frowned, "What?"

"I, Vanessa Rose Crescent, reject you, Veloces Black, as my mate and Alpha." I sighed.

His eyes were wide with shock, his jaw was clenched and his whole body froze. I didn't have time to wait for him to accept my rejection, so I placed the strap of my bag in my mouth and shifted. I sprinted through the forest, propelling myself forward so I could get past the boundry line before he's able to catch me. I jumped over it and back into my father's territory, sighing with relief. I looked back over the border, not seeing anyone following me.

I shrugged it off and ran back to my packhouse, relieved to be away from my abusive mate. I shifted back and slung my bag over my back. I barged through the front doors and sighed, taking a deep breath. I'm free.

I walked up to my room and placed my bag on the ground, plopping myself onto the bed. I rolled my eyes when I saw I had six missed calls from Christine. I could care less if she's against this, Veloces is a dangerous man. He's cruel and abusive, just like everyone said. He's everything Alpha Jeremy had said, he's a monster and deserves to be punished at least. I still can't bring myself to agree to kill him though.

I walked downstairs to find my parents in the kitchen, I grinned and hugged them.

"Vanessa? What are you doing home?" my mother asked.

"I left Veloces after rejecting him." I explained, sitting down.

"Why?"

"He abused me mom, he attacked me last night. I know it was only four days and he only attacked me twice...but...he would have done it again. I can't put up with that."

She frowned and hugged me, "Sweetie, I am so sorry. You'll find your second chance mate, so don't worry."

"I hope so."

"Well, why don't you come with me to Alpha Jeremy's pack?" my father asked. "He's been telling me that his daughter was excited to meet you."

"That sounds great!"

~Veloces~

I stared at the ground, watching the water rush by me. I have no idea what to do anymore, I killed my first mate and now my second left me because of what I did. I don't even remember attacking her during the night, neither does my wolf. I guess I was having a nightmare about those wolves attacking my pack. Maybe I was seeing them instead of seeing Vanessa. Maybe I attacked her thinking she was them.

Guilt made itself known in my heart and I hated it. I cause everyone's death whenever I'm around them. I can't do cause deaths when I'm the Alpha. I got up and punched the tree, my anger coursing through me as I began to hate myself even more.

I'm a monster.

I'm a monster.

I'm a monster.

~Vanessa~

We shifted and took off into the forest, ducking under logs and rocks as we made our way to Alpha Jeremy's territory. I found out this meeting between them is about their attack plan for Black Thorn and what Jeremy will do with Veloces. He said he won't kill him, but punish him. My father assured me that he wouldn't deliver an unjust punishment, but I was still a little reluctant to agree with my father on it.

As we ran past Black Thorn I watched it, my heart hurting at the memory of Veloces looking so broken. I shook my head, I can't feel guilty for leaving him. He deserves it. We crossed the borders and continued running until we reached the packhouse, shifting back into our human forms. Alpha Jeremy greeted us outside, along with Olivia's mother, Tiffany.

She was tall, but shorter than my mother. She had long blonde hair and hazel eyes, she was pretty but not as pretty as she thinks she is. I forced a smile, already disliking her. She acted as if she was a queen and even started to flirt with my father. I growled at her, causing her to look at me with shock.

"He has a mate, Luna." I snapped. "Unless you don't want us to help you, back off."

She swallowed, looking at me with annoyance mixed with a little fear. I smirked at the fear; Jeremy gently grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him. He flashed her an annoyed glare.

"I'll make sure she keeps her hands off of your father." he said.

"Thank you." my father breathed out, glaring at the she-wolf.

I smiled, I know my father will never cheat on my mother but I still don't want an unwanted she-wolf touching him like she was. It's gross when you're his daughter and you're seeing it. We walked inside where I was tackled into a hug by Olivia. I laughed as we parted.

As they walked off to their meeting Olivia and I walked up to her room. I laughed when she told me about her friend finding his mate and knocking her into the lake. They're together now, but it wasn't the best way he planned on meeting his mate.

"So, your father actually agreed to let me hang out with you?" I asked, relaxing on her bed.

She nodded, "Yeah, he's not the nicest Alpha there is. I was shocked when he did let you."

"Not the nicest?"

"Nope, he's very cruel. Worse than Veloces himself. You should hear the things he's going to do to him."

"What?"

She paled, "I can't tell you, I've already said too much."

"Olivia, tell me. I need to know."

"Why?"

"Veloces...he's...special...in a...um-

"He's your mate." she stated, giving me her I-know-don't-lie look.

I sighed, "Yes, he's my mate."

"Fine, only because I hate my father and you're my friend." she quickly closed her door before running back. "He's going to abuse him just like his father did when he was younger."

"Who's father?"

"Veloces'."

"Veloces was abused?"

She nodded, "That's why he's the way he is today. He wasn't raised to love, he forgets his mother's love and doesn't know how to love. He knows to only deliver pain, he's had a horrible life. His first mate tried killing him, so he killed her in order to defend himself. She was angry at him for kicking her mother out of the pack, so she used their mate-bond to get to him. I'm guessing you think he murdered her because he can?"

"I..." I trailed off.

I didn't know any of this and I didn't give him the time to tell me. I ran my hand through my hair, how could have I been so rude? I didn't try to figure out why he abused me and why he hated that it did do it. Why he got so upset when I said he was a monster and why Clayton and Christine wanted me to spend time with him. They wanted me to get him to spill, to tell me all about his past. Yet, I pushed him away and left him. Convincing myself that I hated him because I didn't want to give him the time of day to find out what his issue was.

Guilt flooded me, I screwed up my relationship with him when I could have helped him. Instead, I was being selfish and decided to leave. Saying that my second chance mate will be better.

"Olivia, I screwed up." I whispered.

She furrowed her eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

"I rejected Veloces."

"What? Why?"

"He abused me and I didn't try to figure out why. I convinced myself that I hated his guts and left. I thought my second chance mate will be better."

"Is he?"

"I don't know, haven't met him yet and I don't think I want to. Damn it, I'm such an idiot."

"No, you were scared and did what you thought would be right. Abuse isn't just something you can pretend never happened. As werewolves, we can handle abuse better than a human, but it does still scar us. Veloces is perfect proof of that. He just needs to be fixed a little. Once he's fixed and learns to love, you never know, he may actually be the best mate to have. All you have to do, is pick up the pieces and put them back together. Teach him how to love and get him to open up." she said, smiling.

"Thanks." I grinned.

"Welcome, oh and Vanessa?"

"Yeah?"

"You need to protect him from my father. He'll hurt him...badly."

"I will."

She nodded, "Good."

That afternoon we left and headed back home, my mind going crazy with the information Olivia gave me. The minute I got back into my territory I made the decision to run back into Black Thorn territory. I mind-linked my dad that I need to tell Christine. I need to warn Veloces.