Chapter two

CHAPTER 2

Mavericks POV

The day I turned 16th—three years ago—was the day I discovered that Jolene was the mate the moon goddess bestowed upon me.

I was on my way to pick up some important documents my father asked me to fetch when the most beautiful scent I have ever smelled drifted into my nose.

'Mate!' Killian hollered loudly in my head due to excitement when we saw Jolene.

Jolene was beautiful like she has always been, and she looked at my face with a shy smile that revealed her dimples, "Hi." She waved at me which made me stop in my tracks.

'Mate!' Killian growled in my head as a response and that made the excitement of finding my mate vanish, immediately.

I have always longed for a strong Alpha female wolf, but I never expected it to be someone like Jolene; Jolene is a weak human compared to the strong person I planned for my Luna position.

Jolene is weak, she doesn't know how to fight, she doesn't have courage, she couldn't keep up with the pack training, and several times the pack had to protect her from the rogues' attacks, unlike Mother who perfectly stayed by my father's side.

I have always hoped for someone like Mother; Mother can fight during the war, and she always helps Father in his official position of taking care of the pack.

I never wanted someone like Jolene, so I ignored her and stopped paying attention to her instead of belittling her because I know that my parents would be angry, telling me the future alpha couldn't act like that. Blah Blah Blah.

So throughout three years, I held in the pain of being without my mate and lied to everyone that I had never found my mate even though Killian was furious by my actions.

I have always held the belief that everything would be like that; I would pretend that there was no existence of my mate, and I'll get married to someone strong and capable like Cynthia who was yet to find her mate also.

Until I came across Jolene in the training center yesterday. Perhaps she realized that she was really weak and was dragging the Sharpedges pack, so she wanted to keep up by training. I sneered in my head and chose to hide my disrespect.

"Al. Mate," Jolene suddenly stopped in front of me and called with excitement, her green eyes were twinkling brightly.

The beads of sweat that trickled down her face made me gulp unconsciously, "You're my mate." Zoey said while showing off her cute dimples.

"I know," I replied, brushing her off in the most annoyed tone I could ever muster.

I've always tried to forget that I've been bestowed with someone stupid and incapable like Jolene, but she just had to remind me again which sent a trace of fury through my spine.

"Then…" she said behind me.

I didn't realize she was trailing behind me until I heard her voice. This weak human must be interested in being my Luna so much, unfortunately, I don't need a weakling like her.

"Listen carefully…" I declared and rejected her immediately in a cold voice due to the loathing and disgust I felt toward her.

I seemed to hear the sound of something breaking over, it must be my heart. Killian immediately howled loudly in my head due to pain and anger, but I tried to hold it in with a feigned cold and calm expression.

I watched how the trace of pain filled her eyes, and it made me ashamed until she told me she didn't agree with my rejection.

Her shaky voice made all the pity I have for her vanish immediately.

What does she not agree with? That she's a weak and incapable human who can't rule and would instead drag the pack down due to her lack of strength?

I took steps toward her due to anger and began to express my opinions of her, which made Killian howl loudly in my head. I hissed and was about to scold it when I realized that he had blocked me.

By now it felt as if all the power in me had disappeared, I kept feeling a striking pain that made me unable to breathe and with the sight of Jolene's pained expression, I couldn't stay there anymore and ran away immediately.

I kept trying to forget the whole episode with Jolene, but I couldn't. She was worth nothing to me, but I don't know why I kept thinking about the rejection over and over again.

I and Collin, Jolene's brother, have been friends since we were young, so I decided to go over to his place in order to get over the pain and depressive feeling when a guard came toward me and bowed. "Your Highness."

"Speak."

"Alpha asked to see your highness in the office." The guard said, which made me stride toward my Dad's office, immediately.

Dad was sitting behind the table, and he had an eyeglass on his face which wasn't necessary since he could see very well. He removed the eyeglasses and placed them on the table neatly when he saw me enter.

"Alpha," I bowed to Dad in respect, and he motioned me to sit. "What did you call me here for?" I asked him.

"You've come of age," Dad suddenly began, which made me clench my fist in excitement. I hope it's what I'm thinking, what I've been hoping for.

"So I had a talk with the council to make you take over the pack during the weekend."

My heart skipped a beat due to happiness. Finally! Father finally bestowed all I'd been hoping for, but I never expected it to be this quick. "That's, two days from now," I replied with a quickened breath which was caused by excitement.

"Yes, I know. Since we have tested you, and you showed that you're capable enough to lead this pack, we have all decided on this option. Congratulations, son." Father said and squeezed my shoulder before he left me in a happy dazed state. I didn't even know when the thoughts of Jolene disappeared without a trace.

"Hey Alpha. Congratulations on your upcoming post," Collin teased with a happy voice. Collin's father is my Father's close beta; Collin will also be my beta.

Collin raised his glass and I clinked my glass with his. "Thank you."

"It's such a pity that our capable future Alpha hasn't seen his mate yet. Perhaps you can arrange for the big mating festival for all packs." Liam suggested, but before he could finish his words, Jasher smacked his head.

"You stupid playboy, just admit that you want to flirt with the beautiful werewolves from other packs."

Liam eyed Jasher with unhappiness, "Stop looking at me as if I'm a flirt all the time, I'm just thinking on behalf of our Alpha. Hey Alpha, what do you think?"

He abruptly turned to me which almost made me jolt; their discussions about my Luna kept making my hair stand on end.

My mind can't help but drift toward Jolene.

Thinking about it now, she's my mate; it wasn't her fault that she was chosen.

Have I been too harsh with her? Why did I even tell her to die?

My stomach churns due to nervousness and fear.

Father and mother mustn't hear the words I said to Jolene, or they'd scold me for it and if it comes to worst, Father may refuse to hand over the alpha's position, and ask me to reflect on my behavior.

Liam turned to me again, "What do you th…"

Before Jasher could finish his words, Mrs. Lilian, Jolene's mother, suddenly rushed toward us with a frown.

"Mom, is anything wrong? Do you need anything?" Collin stood up immediately while asking his mom with concern.

Mrs. Lilian was jittery, and her nervousness was revealed on her face as she explained, "It's almost the full moon celebration, but I can't find Jolene yet. Your father and I have been looking for her all day, but we can't find her in the pack…"

"What do you mean you can't find Jolene in the pack?" My expression changed, and my heart began to pound in fear because I knew that if anything happened to Jolene, it was all my fault.

Collins looked dumbfounded as he was still shocked by his mother's words.

"Let us help…" Liam quickly spoke out.

"Really? Thank you." Mrs. Lilian said with a sob.

"Let me try to trace her scent," I spoke up.

No one looked at me in surprise at how I could trace Jolene's scent because I'm an Alpha endowed with a sharp nose. They only stare at me with eyes filled with appreciation for my empathy.

Trying hard to regain my calm, I began to look for her scent amidst the scent of others. It was quite hard, but I finally caught a faint trace of Jolene's beautiful scent which led to the forest.

"To the forest please," I uttered and everyone began to follow my directions until I stopped at the cliff. My heart skipped a beat in shock, but I tried to force the feeling down. Jolene had…

"Jolene!" Everyone began to call. "Jolene baby." But I couldn't bring myself to call. I was feeling guilty because I knew that whatever happened to her was caused by me.

A man's voice suddenly spoke up, "I… I found her shoes on the shore. It seemed to be washed from that direction. I think…"

"No!!!" Mrs. Lilian yelled as if understanding that Jolene had committed suicide.

Inwardly, we all knew she had jumped down the cliff and probably died already because underneath the cliff is water and rocks so the possibility that Jolene is dead is 99.9%, but we still try hard to find her, with everyone letting out no words of complaint.

I decided to call my wolf, he'd know better, "Killian…"

(...)

"Killian, please." I pleaded.

"Exactly. I couldn't feel her, I think our mate is dead." Killian replied with anger and sadness which made me freeze.

I caused it! I just killed my mate.

I held my palm out, and it felt as if I could read the murderer's words on my palm. My chest stung in pain! Why did I do it? Even if she's weak, I could have just rejected her. Why did I ask her to die? Why!

"Mom, please" Collin and Mr. Conan, Jolene's father, kept begging Mrs. Lillian as she wept bitterly.

I felt a trace of tears trickling down my right eye, but I quickly wiped it away.

Would they ever respect me if they knew their future Alpha caused the death of their beloved daughter because of his heartlessness? Would they? But thinking about it, I never asked her to jump, I only said it in a fit of anger, how can she be stupid to do so? Why?