Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

- Jace -

It was vitally important that we plan out our next steps. I couldn't afford to make a mistake.

We were all gathered in the living area, it can't be past 3am. We were all still awake, Mum refusing to leave Alora's side...it won't be long before cars from Clear Waters arrive to take her home.

I keep pushing back that very thought...I had to remain focused.

I had sat with Auntie Alora in silence; wrapped in my own guilt for fucking dodging that bullet.

She saw it coming...and she didn't make any attempts to move. It's like she had accepted her fate in that very moment.

Rosa was upstairs with Mum, refusing to leave her side...as was Ezra. All had said goodbye, all but Cleo.

She was nestled into my lap, her head resting against my chest as her breathing and heart rate finally starts to slow down. She was close to falling asleep, yet kept fighting it.

"What of the pack members?" Orpheus asks out.

"What of them?"

"What if they rise up against you and Cleo." His concern is valid, however they were so quick in accepting me...perhaps they were ready for a new type of leadership.

"They won't, they've already accepted me. I guess Dad being the original heir speaks volumes...it's in my blood."noveldrama

"What of the Clear Waters?" Dad leans forward, his hand moving through his dark unkept locks and rubbing at the back of his neck. We were all beyond exhausted, so much has happened since I found out back at Clear Waters that Cleo was pregnant...that she had been put in to a position of danger...because of me.

"I don't know, I can't lead both...not whilst keeping a closer eye on this pack. That wouldn't be fair to the Clear Waters, they deserve an alpha that can give them their all. I just can't do that now." I shrug out, the movement making Cleo moan out.

“The Clear Waters needs an alpha

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Jace, and your mother won't be able to step up again, not after this. The loss of Algra will be like losing a mate bend...she won't recover from this." Dad was right, the loss of

Auntie Alora will be felt by all of us

for a long time...but Mum of us

will feel it

in her very being.

Part of her soul has gone...I know it, because I couldn't ever imagine losing Josie

or Jaxon. I could never recover from that.

“I've been thinking about that...what

better person to take on the legacy of the White Wolf than her daughter, the Red Wolf." Jaxon offers out, his eyes firmly locked on our sister Josie.

"The red wolf? Really?" Josie scoffs out in reply.

"Why not. You fight like an alpha, you think like an alpha...heck, your mate is an alpha trainer. What better two people to take on the Clears Water pack. Kit is alpha by blood, I can't think of two people more better suited." Jaxon continues, his suggestion making complete sense. Why hadn't I thought of that.

"Yes, that would work..." I mutter out in agreement.

"Hang on...as much as that appeals to me, what about you Jace. The Clear Waters is your birth right, what if you regret it in time." Josie interjects.

I look down to my mate, her body finally succumbing to sleep as she rests in my lap.

As well as keeping Cleo safe, I never truly felt that the Clear Waters was for me... there was something

always in the back of my mind that kept me accepting the pack, even without a Luna by my side.

I tried to create that feeling with Callie, but I would have been living a lie...in more ways than one.

Something that Jaxon would never ever contemplate doing would be giving up his birth right. He has always known the Dark Phantom would be his, and I Clear Waters.

He never once showed any sign of hesitation.

Yet it never sat easy with me...something was always stopping me...now I understand.